RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR DESIGN PROJECT; SHOP YOUR HOME - SALE, MANCHESTER

The interior of this Victorian terrace in Sale was originally decorated with a bold and vibrant colour palette. The new homeowner wanted her mixture of beautiful antique pieces to work within the current scheme within a minimal amount of re-decoration. Her furniture and accessories needed to be positioned and styled in the best way possible, to achieve a cosy, comfortable and functional space. 

Its not always about buying more, it can be about using what you have to create something amazing, and even something unexpected in its environment and that’s what I love so much about interiors. You can create absolutely anything within four walls; any functionality, mood, environment, meaning and style. 

For a little context into the background of this home and this article have a read of a previous blog post here. 

After I decorated and styled this house so lovingly when I lived there, to completely reflect me and my style, it was now time to make it work for the new homeowner, my mum.

The Cole & Son flamingo wallpaper took on a calmer mood when housing this beautiful dresser and William Morris textiles.

So… my furniture came out and mums went in, and it was amazing to see how the new mix of antique and beautifully crafted furniture gave a whole different spin on the existing colour palette. With my collection of more modern furniture and kitschy, colourful accessories, the walls looked fun and bright, and well, modern.

More traditional crockery worked just as well with the orange plate rack as modern geometrics

With the shift to the more classic furniture profiles and sophisticated accessories belonging to the new owner, the colour palette suddenly looked like a British Heritage paint chart, teaming with the older woods beautifully, showcasing the elements of brass and gilt antiques making them really stand out. It was remarkable how the same colour palette could work so well for two completely different styles. It was like it had been painted specifically for this furniture and aesthetic and looked like a room (albeit, a much smaller version!) straight out of Chatsworth House.

Proof that bold colours can work just as well in more ‘classic’ homes as in modern. Love the bright pink on the wall and the fridge full of magnets tells stories about the homeowners travels and adventures

I was called upon to help make some decisions on smart furniture positioning and styling to ensure that these gorgeous pieces could sing in their new environment. After taking the measurements of the larger pieces, it was apparent that the three seater sofa was just too big for any of the rooms. We donated it to the British Heart Foundation and have since found out that it went to a good home. The smaller tan leather two seater was perfect as the main sofa, sitting opposite the TV, and there was just enough room for 2 recliners, the other two also had to find a new home. 

The homeowner’s love of Emma Bridgewater and mix-matched crockery work great with ticking stripes and floral textiles

I knew that the onyx and brass coffee table would look strong in front of the fireplace, whilst the blue antique vase would sit distinguished against the white of the hearth. The wooden bureau fits snugly into the left alcove, dimensions and aesthetics wise, and all of the furniture is anchored by a large patterned wool rug and heavily ornate gilt mantle mirror. A selection of antique lamps, curious, heirlooms and trinkets were curated around the room utilising shelving and interesting surfaces. 

Chatsworth House in miniature; The stately home feel of the yellow paint against the smart stripe wallpaper and onyx table gives all the ‘traditional with a twist’ feels

In the bedroom the beauty continued. It was decided that the Marimekko wallpaper should stay (thankfully!) but I opted for the same charcoal grey (as the living room) for the alcoves in place of the raspberry, for a more tranquil and neutral feel. The modern jagged edge spots of the wallpaper again strangely and amazingly teamed fabulously with the traditional and classic elements of the furniture and textiles. 

The delicate ducky pink damask duvet working in perfect juxtaposition with the bold black and white Marimekko wallpaper

I selected the Christy pale pink jacquard duvet cover for its prettiness and the mauve velvet bedspread for its depth of colour. They were both muted enough to maintain a sanctuary feel, perfectly juxtaposed with the almost abrasive wallpaper. 

The bedroom furniture was something that had to be considered as the previous pieces were unfortunately too large in size, even for this spacious room. Knowing that the homeowner loved furniture with history and meaning, and favoured this over new and modern designs, I thought that a second hand furniture treasure hunt was called for. 

Measurements of the areas were taken, including alcoves and a space for a set of drawers. The homeowner didn’t have a car so it’s good to know places that deliver as part of their service. As part of the selections, a beautiful chest of drawers, a glass fronted bookcase and antique jugs and vases were purchased. The end result is an extremely happy homeowner and an interior which tells precious and meaningful stories about the owner and her life. 

Houses are so much more than bricks and mortar, they are the place when you are completely you, and where special memories are made. We should treat them as such and allow them to speak of the stories they see and hear over the years.

If you have a penchant for traditional with a twist in your home but don’t quite know where to start, take a look at my services page as I’d love to help reflect the vintage style in you, within your interior design. I also offer a Digital Interior Design Service which is a fabulously convenient and contact free service. You can read all about that here and email me to request a full pack explaining the process in the Get In Touch area.