Sitting Room For New House
Did I mention I like green? Its many tones were also typically found in Victorian homes – I’ve spotted it lurking in the layers of wallpaper and paint we’ve so far scraped away. So despite liking the dark, inky blue tones enjoying a recent renaissance, it’s not, in fact, a shade of blue you’d typically have found in the Victorian colour palette. This gorgeous green, on the other hand, really hits the mark on all fronts and, similar to the on-trend inky blue walls, also makes a great backdrop for accents of other, brighter colours and patterns.I’m not a complete purist when it comes to restoration, but I am keen on keeping this room more traditional than some of the others downstairs. For example, the original dining room is becoming the utility and the kitchen is doubling in size, so the new snug, originally the parlour room we think, is one of the few rooms downstairs that will keep both its original dimensions and its purpose. It will become the new living room’s dark partner – a cosy space, probably only to be used after hours and embracing a more historically accurate palette.
I’m drawn to this room for its ‘feels’. While it’s quite far from how I envisage our own snug, it’s a brilliant example of a design that gives off a sense of a room that has a story to tell; memories have been made here and, for me, it achieves a combination of both being grand yet accessible at the same time. And that is something we aim to achieve.The colour green seems to be cropping up in an awful lot of my ideabooks, too. While it might be a bit much to paint the whole house green, the great thing about the colour is that not only can you mix numerous shades of it together, it also makes a great backdrop for other colours, too – you only have to look outside the window at nature for evidence of that.
I’ve been browsing countless images since this journey began, on a mission to work out exactly what it is that makes certain schemes look as if they belong, versus those that lack authenticity. It’s the difference between a room that has the wow factor but feels a bit pristine showhome-y, and one that still feels inviting enough to put your feet up on the sofa, enjoy a cup of tea and not be concerned you’re knocking something out of its place. In terms of that idea in the context of a snug/smug room, I can’t stop looking at this scheme. It absolutely has that appeal for me – I love the vibrant flash of red in the sofa, the beautiful wall-hanging and the mix of pattern created by the addition of the rug.
With the living room next door housing bookshelves and plenty of storage, we have the added luxury of not needing to build in alcove storage units to make use of every available inch of space. Instead, in our new snug, there will be the opportunity for vintage pieces, maybe a sideboard.We’re also hoping to transport a lovely wood and glass cabinet from its current position in the original dining room alcove into the snug. We plan to repurpose it as a bar area. (You can see the cabinet in a video on my Renovationwreck Instagram feed.)I like what they’ve done with that idea in this room – the smart glassware and mirrored back add a touch of retro glamour. In reality, we have no matching sets of glassware to our name (one of the joys of moving), but once we’re in, we’ve promised to treat ourselves, and no doubt we’ll be needing a stiff drink by then, too…Check out the couple’s progress on Clare’s Instagram feed @renovation_wreck and look out for her next diary instalment in a couple of weeks.What kinds of features and décor would you put into a ‘snug’ room – and do you have any tips for Clare’s renovation? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments section.
Q