Project Before and After: A Family Living Room
“I absolutely love my new living room! The brief was based on a new sofa we had ordered. Hannah designed the room around that, adding a chimney breast and built in shelves to give what was a very plain room lots of character. Using things collected from our travels, books and pictures we love, the room now looks stylish while still being the hub of our busy family home.”
This bright and sunny family home in West Sussex belongs to a young family with three boys. Their living room is a busy space where all five often spend time. They had totally fallen out of love with the room that they wanted to reflect their family life but also wanted it to feel more stylish and luxurious. They had chosen a gorgeous Borelly Sofa from Barker and Stonehouse in a rich midnight blue velvet and asked me to help with the design of the rest of the room.
What was apparent immediately was that the room was almost square in dimensions with windows down almost the whole of one side but there were no features at all in this 1960’s built home. I learned from the couple that they had both traveled a lot and had a collection of keepsakes as well as a library of books they didn’t have the space to display. This for me was really exciting as I wanted to create them a space that they not only loved and were proud of, but that was packed full of happy memories and really reflected their family’s personality.
I designed a back wall of built in shelving that could display their happy memories and also house the TV. They were really excited about the prospect of being able to have a fire. To compliment the sofa the walls would be a warm neutral. Accents of copper were used in the lighting to reflect a collection of pictures they had brought back from Indonesia and the wooden floor was softened with a rug.
A fake chimney breast was constructed to allow for shelves to be built in either side and house the TV and fire whilst hiding all the wires. This creates a smart focal point and adds character to the room. It also gave my clients the space to display the things that make them happy and turn the room into a space bursting with personality.
Here’s the room ready for action. Styled for real life, full of things that make them smile.
Even Dexter is a fan!