Victorian Sitting Room
Designing a jetsetters oasis
This Victorian sitting room design project sought to celebrate the traditions of the room but bring in colour, variety and fun to reflect the clients personality and zest for life. The client needed storage and display space to showcase their diverse art collection, along with fabrics and objects collected while working across the African continent. They also wanted sustainability kept as a central focus.
The room was rich in original features; the cornicing, picture rails, and fireplace were still in situ. Discovering the original pine flooring in excellent condition underneath a grotty carpet was a delight. The fireplace provided an obvious focal point and so the sofas were placed adjacent to emphasise this. Storage and display space was added by commissioning a joiner to build modern alcove units with a simple shaker cabinet and floating shelves above. The walls behind were painted a vibrant green.
Shades of green formed a bedrock of colour; repeated in the alcoves, curtains, rug and a pair of armchairs. Alongside the white walls this grounded the space and allowed that splashes of other colours be brought in without feeling chaotic.
Sustainable interior design was key on this project. Firstly, we focused on achieving a look and feel that the client would love for a long time, and that would give the versatility they needed over time too. This meant keeping a white base so the room would always be a good blank canvas for introducing thing's into, and utilising the picture rails for artwork, so that it might be rehung down the line. Natural paints were sourced from Edward Bulmer, we sourced a rug made of recycled plastics, re-finished the original floor instead of introducing new flooring, and the coffee table and antique armchairs and other decorative objects were largely second hand helping to give a lived in feel as well as being a good sustainable choice.
The armchairs were given a new lease of life by a local upholsterer, with a vibrant green geometric fabric and a yellow piping which helped to link it to the yellow sofa. The clients collection of African wax cottons was made into a range of cushion covers to scatter around the room.
When I approached Gemma for help designing my sitting room I already had some ideas of what I wanted, which she really helped me develop. She gave me the confidence to take things further with colour and styles. She understood what I needed and I’m delighted with the outcome. I later went back to Gemma for further help with my hallway - she had some really creative and practical ideas as to how to transform a relatively dark space into a welcoming entrance for my home. I would definitely recommend!
Sally, Bristol.