France's bedroom
Bhavin made the most of the existing curtains by adding items that complement their colour and design. The dark green cushions, for example, help to tie the palette together and create a harmonious scheme. The two-toned lampbase matches the panelled design of the curtain fabric, which also helps to balance the room.
Painting Radiators: Can I use spray paint? Yes. There are a number of spray paints specially formulated for radiators. Semple suggests using an enamel spray, as these harden to a durable finish. “Patience is the key when spraying,” Semple explains. “Don’t over-apply, as the paint will simply run. Give it time to settle and apply multiple coats at a distance of 300mm.”
Go up and over the bed If you lack both floor and wall space for storage, your only option might be to go over the bed. Before you dismiss the idea – imagining those dated Formica up-and-overs from back in the day – repeat the mantra: hotel style, hotel style, hotel style. That means filling the void with an upholstered headboard, fitting lights either side, and building in bedside tables to match. Swish…
Make storage look like a wall The most efficient storage is often bespoke-fitted to make the most of every inch of space. If you’re going to fit wardrobes, consider flush-fronted, handleless doors rather than more traditional designs. Why? Because detail-free doors will recede into the background, just like a wall would, while fussy details will make the wardrobes visually advance. Sliding doors are better space-savers than opening ones, too.
They tailor to fit Be creative about how you think of storage,” Eva says. “Bespoke storage can fill any awkward nooks and crannies.” Think about using shallow cupboards, too. “A conventional wardrobe, 60 centimetres deep, is not the only option,” Eva says. “Shallow wardrobes, 45 centimetres deep, will be a lifesaver in a tight bedroom.
Crittall screens frame the entrance to the bedroom to demarcate the space and boost daylight (the bedroom door is to the right of the light switches). A new Crittall window, just visible on the left before the bedroom, overlooks the open-plan space below. This was previously an external wall window before the extension was added.
The master bedroom is wallpapered in a large floral design. “The motif is based on a three-square-metre panel repeat,” Garry explains. “If you put a large-scale pattern on too small an area, you don’t get the benefit. People are often nervous of putting a pattern all over a room, but there are so many windows here and it’s very light, so this large pattern just sings out.” Foglie Di Vite wallpaper, Lizzo. Ceiling and woodwork painted in Stone II, Paint & Paper Library. 18th century Italian chest in bleached walnut, antique. Button chair, Julian Chichester. Odino curtains, C&C Milano.
Fit contemporary cladding Panelling does tend to create a vintage feel, so if you want a more modern look, it’s all about getting the scale right. Here, large panels made with simple, square-edged beading have created a streamlined style that’s super-easy to replicate. Match it with a muted, matt paint shade that reflects lots of light to enhance the space further.
Make your own classic square panelling How to create cladding like this? It’s pretty simple, actually. Fit a deep, level skirting board, then measure up for long and short lengths of MDF, which your DIY store might just cut to size for you. Simply pin and glue them to the wall (assuming it’s in good condition). Top with a dado rail, then, once the glue has dried, fill any gaps and apply a coat of primer followed by a couple of coats of your chosen paint colour. Sorted.
Say bonjour to French country style If you’d like a boudoir rather than a bedroom, panelling with plenty of detailing is a must-have. You can do this by customising plain panelling with mouldings (check out specialist suppliers), which are simply glued to the wall then painted. Here, a paint colour a couple of tones darker than the base shade has been dry-brushed (where barely any paint is used) over the mouldings to highlight them for dramatic effect.
Loft rooms – or those with sloping ceilings – are the perfect setting for all-over panelling. Suddenly, all the room’s awkward angles look country cottage cute, while the parallel lines of the panelling actually help to straighten them out a little – visually, that is. Stick to a light paint colour to keep the space feeling airy and bright, and add extra detail – and storage – with a charming peg rail.
The dark-toned panelling behind the bed here envelops the sleeping area, while the soft textures on the cushions and throw add even more warmth. The white bed linen and brick wall help to lift the scheme and show off the grey elements even more.
cushion pattern & colour
The wardrobe doors were finished with wallpaper to create a more interesting feature. Shanade was keen that it didn’t overpower the room, though, so its colour is harmonious, and the size of the motif is relatively small.
Try your hand at papering your walls with vintage magazine pages, old newspapers or pop culture publications from decades gone by for a creative, unique feature that will look great with contemporary style.
Lighting is a set of hanging birdcages, which float ethereally against the black backdrop.
Lengthen your curtains In a similar vein to fitting tall doors, long curtains will work wonders in a low-ceilinged room. Instead of installing a curtain rail at the top of the window frame, position it flush to the ceiling. The curtains will hang down from the top of the wall to the bottom and make the ceiling appear higher.
interesting mural
nice mural
high & low cabinets instead of closets. & balcony instead of small window
lighting
Here, drum shades throw light upwards – to show off the room’s high ceiling – and downwards – to provide reading light. By contrast, tapered shades will direct the majority of the light downwards, a trick to have up your sleeve if you’d rather create a cosier atmosphere.
Display mementos Your bedroom is the most personal space in your home, so it’s the ideal area to display the objects that mean the most to you. A selection of photos, for example, will provide something uplifting to look at in the morning. To keep your bedsides and dressing table free from clutter, hang your pictures on the wall as the homeowners have done here. The area behind the bed is completely covered with photos and drawings, but the uniform layout of slim, black frames keeps the look calm and balanced.
very deco
paintwork on chest of drawers
cool space-saving bed-desk
nice paneling
Simplify with paint Simpler (and cheaper) still, you could paint a grid-effect pattern on your walls with no more kit than a tester pot, a roll of professional masking tape, a paintbrush and a steady hand.
Kind of my idea but in Art Deco Break up fitted wardrobes A run of all-white or all-wood fitted wardrobes can be monotonous, so why not paint yours to create a feature wall? Here, a sponged, blended effect takes the wardrobes from pale pink through dark pink to a glowing ochre, making the previously all-white bedroom a warm, welcoming space.
Baby room bunting (use scraps?)
desk
desk
Fresco-embellished ceilings In villas and palaces in the region, Mediterranean style evolved into a richer décor that included ceiling frescoes and sophisticated floor designs, often featuring floral motifs or depicting mythological scenes. These elements can be melded with contemporary furniture for a more modern take or to create deliberate accents within the Mediterranean aesthetic.
same dark bedroom (Edwardian) wallpaper & black bed
wallpaper & deep tones
painted dado walls to bring character to a new build
for study - bed folds up into a cupboard
bedside light
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