Planning, discussion, artist drawings, fabric and paint colour selections are often followed by looking at ideas online and in magazines. This all can be included in the process of designing a unique and individual room.
My job usually involves an initial appointment with the client in which I explore possibilities of design and the ideal style they are after. In many cases it works in well to have my artist present to assist by drawing up the idea’s and showing how I feel they would come together. With as much detail and colours introduced into the design as I find this can then give the client the overall layout and feel for the room. We certainly seek to make this a very enjoyable experience for everyone.
This year we had the absolute pleasure of designing a playroom for three siblings to share that would encompass each of their personalities. It began with a blank canvas of a room that had lovely natural light with views of the front garden and back garden areas.
With “good bones” as we call it of both size, natural light and height of ceilings there was a lot to like about the basis we had to work with.
The plan included the client’s request for the space to have a sense of play, dress up, a reading nook and a desk for drawing and craft.
The timing of the project was at the start of the changing climate of Summer to Autumn and so it was important to create a cosy sense to the room as the weather got cooler.
Initially it was a dark room with heavy wood trims and dark brown trim on the sliding doors and windows. So, the first item on the: “To do list” was to paint the room a vivid white on the walls and trims.
The elevated indoor cubby house provided the perfect space below for a dress up area which could be curtained off for privacy. We also made a puppet show area that fitted in below the cubby for when the family wanted to do performances.
This job included making good some old chairs and bringing a sense of both fun and learning into the desk area with a canvas of the alphabet by the artist fabulous work in detailed pictures matching to the different letters. We then added the splash of colour to define the reading nook and some wooden stars to add a sense of dreaming and imagination. A bespoke storage unit built by our carpenter on lockable wheels was designed to house the outfits for dress-ups, making them easily accessible the children.
I then brought together some of the lovely old toys the parents had from their childhood and styled them with some new items that have heirloom quality on the shelves above the fireplace to give the charmed feel of the preciousness of childhood.
The outcome was very evident whenever I popped in on the client and the children were at play but also the report of family gatherings and parties that saw everyone enjoying the space was wonderful to hear.
