First things first, we had to rig a camera and sound for ourselves this time round as we were isolating at home with covid. Terrible timing, heartbreaking moments, but adversity is sent to test us and we loved the design we had made so wanted to do all we could to help remotely.
Life has a funny way of throwing you massive curve balls and all you can do is pick yourself up, dust yourself off, get dressed in something that makes you feel fabulous and give it the best you've got.
Here comes the sun! our celebration of the artist that we designed the room for, with colours based on the homeowner's own vibrant mosaic artwork. Not a pastel in sight for this lover of rich warm tones.
The layout was not functioning and the room lacked any character or warmth so we addressed that with a new layout and colour palette of warm earth tones, sunshine yellow and rich blues. It's a departure for us as designers, but it's so much fun to take on a challenge.
Luckily for us the neighbours were absolute troopers and worked so hard to make every element the best it could be under Whinnie's fabulous guidance. Our design was in safe hands and executed with love.
There was a lot to build and we designed two full walls of bare plywood joinery and cladding to unify the messy elements of the room, adding a darker floor and lost of pattern and natural texture.
As part of our design we wanted to customise a high street lamp. Whinnie was a star and video called us to have a sneak peek of the homeowner's wardrobe as we had planned to base the painted motif on a favourite piece of the homeowner's clothing.
A great way to bring your personal style into your room with a functional piece.
The upcycling continued with this sectional ombre painted treatment on the homeowner's original chest of drawers. Giving a great base for the painted lamp and curated art pieces.
Many elements of our design involved us using painting or drawing elements and it was so hard to not be there... Not least the big mural on plywood, involving painted landscape and pyrography motifs. A plane we sketched as a witty nod to the Luton location made it onto the wall.
The affirmations that the homeowner wanted, plus a few of our own, were burned into the wood of the bespoke joinery we designed, making them part of the fabric of the space. Something to remind you each day of what's good in the world as you open your bathroom or wardrobe.
This was all softened by the richly layered window treatments. Grounding the rich colours of the room with black and white texture.
All's well that ends well and on this one the emotions was high from start to finish. Tears of joy by the end though!
It takes a huge amount of people to make this happen and we are beyond graetful to the whole amazing team, especially on this one as we couldn’t be there. With special thanks to:
Eva Sonaike for her beautiful pouffe and West African inspired textiles on the headboard
Hillary’s for the curtains and blinds. See them here
Do South for the rug and african laundry bin
And of course Dulux, for those beautiful paints.