Contemporary Lounge in a Victorian Home

Brief: To design and co-ordinate a new decorative scheme for the main living space and ‘snug’ area on the ground floor of the home. The purpose was to create a useful, attractive space where the client can socialise with friends and relax. The idea was to refurbish as much of the original features as possible rather than buy new and replace.

Features:

• The room was zoned into two distinct areas after a consultation identifying the client’s key interests; reading and relaxing
• The client’s style and personality was bought out in the room by using bold colours and prints, along side a more neutral sophisticated palette of grey and off white
• The outdated and unattractive fireplace surrounds were refurbished and painted black and new slate hearths were added showing off the original tiled centre
• The tatty original floorboards were given a new lease of life and were finished in a chalky grey which worked in perfect contrast with the darker furniture and funky colours used within the room, as well as complimenting the paint and woodwork
• Bespoke built-in alcove units and modern radiator covers were designed and produced especially for the project
• A wonderful specially designed library-snug area was created to house the client’s vast book collection, complete with bespoke sliding library ladder
• Money was saved by re-upholstering an old but good condition sofa in a fabulous hot pink wool
• Using my furniture maker, an exact replica of a famous designer chair was made for less money and in a fabric that was unavailable on the original
• Accent wallpaper was used on each chimney breast
• The paint colour in each area was slightly different to clarify the zones but keep them working in tune with one another
• The client wanted to keep the existing concertina room divider, so this was refurbished and rehung to work better with the new additions

Library-Snug Before

Library-Snug After

Loft Style Apartment, London

Brief: to create a modern living area for a city-based couple who loved their technology, to suit the ‘loft style’ feel of the space. Essential was the need for the space to feel cosy and for it to be a place to snuggle up and enjoy watching the huge TV!

Features:

• The use of a rug and an L-Shaped sofa helped to zone off the seating area for TV watching, creating a more cosy feel in a vey open and high ceilinged area.
• Modern glass table based on the design classic from Japanese-American Sculptor Isamu Noguchi
• Clean and simple chunky Limestone surround to the fireplace
• Deep red accent colour to chimney breast brings warmth and an injection of colour to the scheme
• Bespoke built-in shelving units either side of the fireplace give a tidy home for the AV equipment
• All wires are channelled into the wall and fed into the unit to the left creating a ‘floating effect’ for the TV
• Existing spiral staircase was utilised two-fold, 1) to get to the mezzanine and 2) as a permanent ladder to reach books on the top shelves
• Black and white print of a young Mick Jagger in a chunky black frame looks great on an otherwise plain wall

The Before:

The After

French Boudoir Chic
Brief: To create an area within a large master bedroom where the client could relax and read

Features:

• The floor standing lamp is from a range available at Bella Figura Lighting and has a pleated silk Empire shade
• The chaise longue was made bespoke with carved feet painted the same colour as the woodwork in the room and covered in Dedar Tabularasa available at Fox Linton
• Accesorised with White Company embroidered cushions with small floral detail

For details on anything you like in the images email Emma at designs@emmavictoria-id.com or visit the Contact Us page

A Modern take on a French inspired Boudoir:

Brief: To create an elegant, sophisticated retreat for a hard-working female client in a pallette of blues and greys with a parisian boudoir influence

Features:
• An accent wall of stunning metallic wallpaper from the Emporer’s Garden range at GP&JBaker
• The French inspired bedroom contains a bespoke reproduction bed from La Maison London including intricate carving
• The reproduction furniture is hand-painted in the same colour as the woodwork in the room and hand distressed down
• An large rococo style dark bronze mirror is casually propped against the wall within the recess between the wardrobes as a balance to the formality of the room
• Specially made shutters from The New England Shutter Company were made for the windows to add to the french-feel of the room
• A combination of finishes helps to complete the room including glass, crystal, distressed wood, linens, velvets, wool and silks
• If you’d like to see the items pictured in more detail have a look at the Closer Look section

Dressing Table Area

The chair has a beautiful patterned linen on the outside back to echo the shapes and colours of the wallpaper
Reading Area

The chaise and the dressing table chair both use the same fabric – Tabularasa by Dedar

Romantic Damask Bedroom

Brief: to create a luxurious feeling bedroom using rich colours and textures

Features:

• Using a pallette of rich aubergine and chocolate browns, combined with strong patterned wallpaper and simplistic but bold soft furnishings helped to deliver an indulgent and romantic bedroom.
• The bold purple damask wallpaper is used on a feature wall behind the bed to add an eye-catching sense of drama upon entry to the room
• The clients invested in bespoke handmade curtains in a lush velvet, with a triple pleat heading to add fullness without being too fussy
• The arching shape of the triptych mirror used on the dressing table works in harmony with the flowing lines of the wallpaper
• The furniture lines are clean and simple, due to the strong wallpaper using overly detailed furniture would have been too much, it is important to have a sense of balance with detail and simplicity
• Accessorising is of utmost importance in a bedroom of this style; scatter cushions and and a quilted silk throw from The White Company create great layering to keep it feeling rich and opulent
• An unfussy chocolate bown silk drum lampshade helps to break up the purple feature colour by working with the brown leather beadstead and tones of the wood furniture

The Before:

The After:

For details on anything you like in the images email Emma at designs@emmavictoria-id.com or visit the Contact Us page

Brief: to source a dining table and chairs to fit within the open-plan living space, which would feel seperate from the ‘Living’ area but also work with the rooms overall scheme.

Features:
• Ensuring the chairs did not appear too large for the small area designated for ‘Dining’ was important as was the need to select a table which was as inconspicuous as possible.
• A glass top trestle table was the best choice for this room. The colour of the wood blended well with the oak wood floor
• The use of a clear glass top, rather than wood, was important to echo the glass top of the cofee table in the living space but also to keep the space looking as open as possible
• The fully upholstered chairs have a sprung base and back for maximum comfort for those dinner parties that continued long into the night.
• The low back of the chairs ensure they did not intrude into the room more than necessary, so when not in use they would not interupt the eye-line across the space
• The use of a soft textured red chenille fabric from Nina Campbell kept the chairs in keeping with the rest of the room not only by colour but by keeping the feel warm and cosy.

For details on anything you like in the images email Emma at designs@emmavictoria-id.com or visit the Contact Us page

The Before

The After

Open Plan Kitchen-Dining, Clapham

Brief: To encorperate a dining area which can be used as an informal family hub and transformed by night to a formal area for guests.

Features:
• This country-style kitchen and dining area was designed as part of a side return extension
• The client had a clear style brief, preferring a comfortable, informal and traditional kitchen with all mod cons flanked by soft muted greens and painted wood
• The area can be both an informal day dining area, or with a change of lighting and table dressing can be used as a formal dining area by night
• The wooden chairs are robust and easy to keep clean, important as it’s main function will be as a family dining area

For details on anything you like in the images email Emma at designs@emmavictoria-id.com or visit the Contact Us page

Country Style, Between the Commons, Clapham

Brief: To source, design and plan the layout of a new kitchen within a side return extension for this between the commons home in Clapham.

Features:

For details on anything you like in the images email Emma at designs@emmavictoria-id.com or visit the Contact Us page

Modern Apartment, London

Brief: to brighten up a very clinical-looking predominantly stainless steel kitchen and add warmth using the existing layout.

Features:
• Exhanging the orange wood and stainless steel panelled cupboard doors for warm cream shaker-style units instantly gave the kitchen area a warmer more homely look
• The new doors created more of a ‘country’ look, chunky chrome handles were chosen to ensure the kitchen remained modern and would fit with the rest of the modern scheme within the open-plan living space.
• A black granite worktop substituted the mass of steel and gave a real sense of luxury and quality as well as contrasting nicely with the cream units
• A cupboard was removed to allow for an American fridge-freezer complete with a filtered water tap and ice dispenser
• A bespoke built-in wine rack was built above the fridge-freezer for ease of access when entertaining
• The oversized slatted wooden blind was replaced with a metal venetian blind the same colour as the units, which is much easier to wipe down and keep clean

For details on anything you like in the images email Emma at designs@emmavictoria-id.com or visit the Contact Us page

The Before

The After

Brief: to modernise and brighten up a black tiled bathroom and create a bathroom that would befit the styles found in luxury hotels.

Features:
• The bathroom had great potential due to its existing spacious size but was in desperate need of a style makeover.
• Large sandstone coloured porcelain tiles were used on both the walls an floor to create continuity and to significantly lighten up the space
• A bespoke storage unit was built in a rich dark coloured wood to add depth to the neutral scheme and provide seperate ‘his and hers’ storage space
• Large, round modern double sinks were added, plumbed into the storage unit with taps fixed to the wall to add a cleaner, modern feel to the surface
• Beautiful Bisazza mosaic tiles were added below the main mirror and as a panel behind the “rain” shower to add to the feel of a luxury finish
• Flush ceiling speakers were added – wired through the homes main sound system, but on a seperate circuit – so that music or even the sound of the TV or radio coud be piped directly into the room
• In-built spotlights were added around the mirror and along the base of the bath to create a secondary, more calming mood lighting from the main downlights for those relaxing, long baths
• Under floor heating was added throughout and radiators were replaced with handy and more attractive chrome towel rails

For details on anything you like in the images email Emma at designs@emmavictoria-id.com or visit the Contact Us page

The Before

The After

A tailored look grey wool sofa is brought alive with hot pink embroidery. Embroidered cushion from Designers Guild.

It’s All in the Detail…

Creating a space which feels a bit special is a careful combination of factors which can be, unfortunately, overlooked. Accessories, materials and finishing are the fundamentals which are often substituted or left out altogether. When you walk in to a room where these factors are not considered it can feel a little ‘flat’, however, when chosen well they offer a feeling of cohesion and distinction which you just can’t put your finger on but you know it feels good!

Below is an image gallery giving you a closer look at some of the accessories, finishing and furniture I have used in some of my work. Please feel free to add your own wonderful finds and links to the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Please contact us for details of where to buy.

The New England Shutter Company supplied these shutters with a bespoke finished to match the rest of the wood work in this French Boudoir in Farrow & Ball Blackened.

This GP&J Baker printed linen was used on the contrasting outside back of a dressing table chair.
Bespoke storage was made to fit inside the built-in wardrobes to free up space in the room. The inside of the drawers were painted a contrasting colour to match the colour on the chimmney breast wall.

The hand carved detail on the top of the headboard. The fabric is a velvet from Warwick fabrics.

Chandelier Globe by Sweetpea and Willow used in an Emma Victoria ID French Boudoir style bedroom interior

Beautiful real limestone tiles have such stunning character to them. These were from stone specialist Lapicida. See it in an Emma Victoria ID designed kitchen.

Large antique wall clock with Roman numerals. The strong monochrome clock contrasts really well with the muted sage green of the wall. See it in situ

A limited edition Cath Kidston Roberts radio fits in perfectly within this country style kitchen. See it in situ

A modern alternative on a curtain tie-back. Neat and stylish, these chrome studded hold-backs look fab next to the zesty colour of the curtain.

The original tired floorboards were treated with a soft wood lye which bleached the colour from them, they were then sanded and treated with white wood oil. A stunning contemporary finish, complemented the sophisticated grey palette in the room and let the accessories really pop.

An iconic original Platner coffee table was used in the centre of the room to create a talking point and tie together all the modern elements. It looks great garnished with some handsome looking coffee table books.