Canary Yellow with a 50s Vibe

Firstly, let me apologise for my absence of late. Many things have kept me distracted. Firstly, my long time boyfriend finally proposed after 10 years (!) of “courting”. As you can imagine, I have 10 years build-up of marriage related ideas which I had to explore immediately. This has lead me to look into designing my own wedding stationary and has developed into a little business idea. So, with daydreaming of weddings and my possible business venture (which shall remain an idea for a little while longer I imagine, if ever becomes anything more) I have not thought about anything remotely interior design based which would be worth noting on here. Add to that, my daughter is at a rather interesting age (10 months now, blimey its gone fast) and is trying her level best to walk. This is causing me to be both physically and mentally exhausted come the evening, when I usually dedicate my spare time to The Blog.

 BUT, did you notice spring has suddenly arrived?! Yes folks, spring is officially here and the fresh spring light has shined through my windows and into my humble home… which is still in need of decorating. And in true spring-cleaning like gusto, I’m back on the case and keen to get cracking again.

One room which has not been touched yet is our Spare Bedroom. For a long time, in fact since we moved it, it has been a junk room. All the stuff which we’d acquired in our old house and didn’t have a place for has been piled up and I had mentally closed the door to the issue. Temporarily. But with lovely weather and that burst of energy that seems to come with spring, I’ve managed to clear most of it away. So, now to the fun part: getting a moodboard together.

I’m LOVING yellow at the moment – not sure if I’m a couple of years behind a trend here or too trendy for my own good, but there is not a vast amount of yellow currently on our high streets. Green, yes. Teal, yes. Red, yes. Yellow… not so much. But it’s such a gorgeous colour in my opinion, so fresh and gender-neutral, I’m really keen to use it in our Guest Bedroom. I’m also looking for a little bit of a quirky edge on it too, and would love to incorporate a 50’s vibe. So, for the time being, I’ve done a little sketch and am working on a moodboard. Most of our furniture will be second hand here, so I want to pull it all together by making bold statements of Black, White and Yellow. Its gona be great… trust me, I’m a designer.

Mx

His & Hers: The Future of Bedroom Design?

I was watching UP the other day (of course, my 9 month old daughter was watching it and I just happened to glance at the TV while doing housework. Yeah right) and just after the heart-breaking story of Ellie’s death, we see Carl Fredricksen sitting in his bed. It’s a sad little scene: Old Carl, grumpy face, clearly sitting on his side of the bed; Another day without his wife, sob. And in this momentary view, we see a teeny tiny insight into their love.

So many stories focus on the beginning of love: the exciting part where it’s all lust and passion and “I can’t live without you” and “I must have you now”. We’ve all been there. But few stories look at love in the real sense: the part beyond the throws of passion, beyond the marriage proposal, wedding and honeymoon period. This is day to day love – the boring kind. But look into your grandparents eyes, and that’s what they have. That’s what we all want, really. And that’s what Karl and Ellie had.

So, how did they survive a lifetime together? What was their secret? We’re shown how they were total polar opposites from the moment they met: Carl the quiet type, with a passion for the mechanics of the world and with a rather square face; Ellie with her bold personality, passion, love of adventure and Oval face. But they share a single dream: to travel to South America. That’s like America, but South. I think the answer is simple: They are two halves of the same whole. Ying and Yang, slotting together to make a compete piece. Carl brings the stability Ellie needs, and Ellie provides the excitement. It’s a mutual, equal relationship.

Anybody who has been in a relationship for a long time will tell you it’s about Compromise. So, when it comes to the Bedroom (and I mean Bedroom Design of course), should there be compromise here too? Design can easily sway to the Feminine or Masculine. Shabby Chic = Feminine. Urban Modern = Masculine. But can the two exist together? Compromise says yes, as long as they complement one another. And no, I’m not saying that shabby-chic-urban-modern is a new upcoming trend that you should watch out for, because that’s just silly.

So, I’ve drawn together a little “his and hers” bedroom scheme. I’ve opted for a monochromatic palette (neither male nor female as a rule) and have allocated the black to the feminine and white to the masculine side (which is maybe a little unconventional). I think by using simplistic furniture with some feminine detailing for the female side and dynamic, solid pieces for the male, a real fusion can be achieved. And I’ve done it all on super bargain budget as 90% of the items are available from Ikea!

Have you achieved a perfect unity of male and female in your bedroom design? If so, we’d love to hear how!

Inspired by Fashion: Kendi's Buildings & Books

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Interiors follow Fashion. By fashion, I mean those rags you casually throw on every morning without second thought. Or rather, I mean it follows the fashion of those folks who do give a second thought to their daily attire, and in fact give rather more than just a second thought - they give a third and fourth thought too I imagine.

Sadly, I am not one of these people. Though I am quite capable of appreciating a good outfit, I am not and have never been, a fashionable trend setter type person. I am at best a distant admirer of fashion. I'm aware its there. And I do follow a couple of fashion blogs - one of which has given me a swell idea for an ongoing series of posts.

If you are not aware of its existence, I recommend you hop along to Kendi Everyday - a fashion blog which focuses on the fashion of one young trend setter in Dallas. Not every day, but almost, she uploads some snapshots of her outfit for the day with a few choice words and makes it look incredibly easy. And though I know that those great outfits will not look anything like that on me (having not been blessed with a model-like physique) the colours, fabrics and patterns do inspire me.

So, in a round about way, I'm trying to tell you about my new post idea. I shall compose a little interior scheme around an outfit which had been caught in my peripheral vision and has thus inspired me. Hence, Inspired By Fashion. And, to kick start this all of, I have selected this outfit showcased by Kendi last week.

The colour palette is dark - rich warm browns and black. The outfit incorporates contrasting fabrics: leather boots repesented above in the chair, and a sheer blouse represented above by the soft voile window treatment. The wallpaper options pick out the pattern detail and are both available from Cole & Son. The overall look Kendi achived looked smart, yet comfortable, so i've tried to reflect that here with non-fussy furniture with soft detailing.

So... what do you think? x

Colour Wheel: OLIVE GREEN

This is a new type of post I’m trying out. Basically, I plan on selecting a colour and creating a little bedroom scheme around it. This week, I’ve opted for Olive Green.

For paint, I’ve picked Olive by Farrow & Ball – it has a little bit more pigment than Lichen but isn’t as overpowering as a lime would be. Green is also a great basic colour to work alongside dark woods – I’ve shown it here with Walnut Engineered flooring though Thermo Fumed Oak would work just as well. In the furniture, I’ve mixed walnut and wenge – I find that with wood its often good to mix, especially when the wood is darker in tone. This gives more depth to a scheme and helps create highlights. I’ve used walnut and wenge combinations many times and really like the overall effect.

To complete the palette, I’ve teamed the Olive with a rich Dark Chocolate and Mink, with white linen bedding and a selection of green shaded scatter cushions. I love the chair as it gives a nice strong statement – very masculine – and opted for a feature pendant light to add interest.

Though I haven’t used any in the visual I’ve drawn up, there are some nice wallpapers which would work with this palette. Here are a couple from Graham and Brown – I particularly like the Brown “Jazz” swirls which add a little feminine touch.

Have you used Olive in your bedroom? If so, what colours did you mix it with?

Mx

HOME IMPROVEMENT: Master Bedroom Photo Showcase

So, its not quite complete just yet, but the room is finally coming together. To summarise the scheme so far:

• The walls have been re-neutralised to a "contemporary" off white with splashes of lime/mint and chocolate.
• Curtains are a recycled feature of our old living room, by Montgomery
• The Bedstead is the Leamington by Next
• Throw from (*shocked face*) Sainsburys
• Bedding from Next
• Wardrobe by Argos
• Bedsides & Chest Of Drawers by Ikea

A lot of our bits and pieces are not new, as we've lived together for almost 8 years now and have acquired things along the way. But the two large pieces (bed & wardrobe) have been bought with longevity in mind and we searched around for the bargains.





The room is not completely dressed yet. I'd like to really make a feature of the bedding and am considering buying some egyptian cotton of a good quality high thread count (600 if i'm lucky). Also, when money is not such a deciding factor, i'd like to incorporate a stunning wallpaper, like the "Elementi Fiamma" by Zoffany. This would look amazing with the zesty greens already used.

HOME IMPROVEMENT: Master Bedroom

We’ve been in our new abode for a little over a month now, and I’m disappointed with myself that it hasn’t all been completely converted to reflect my tastes. But, as keen as I am to transform this place into my dream home, there have been a few things hindering the process: Christmas for one thing, and my daughter for another. Before motherhood, I saw my maternity leave as a wonderful, restful place where I could finally focus on completing my dream of writing a childrens book, improve my sewing ability and explore new and exciting recipes in the kitchen, and of course redecorate our new house. But as it turns out, children need nurturing. They need entertaining and you really need to keep your attention focused on them. Hmmm. So I’m now just three weeks away from returning to work (albeit part time) and have achieved none of the above. Hmpf.

But it hasn’t all been dirty nappies and bottle feeds this past month. I did manage to make chutneys and pickled onions for Christmas gifts, as well as mince pies and Christmas cake. And in the very miniscule amount of spare time I had, I painted our new Master Bedroom. Hurrah! And what wonderful scheme have I gone with, I hear you ask? Well, it’s all very exciting. The room was painted BRILLIANT WHITE (gasp) which in my opinion, really should only be used in rooms with immaculately plastered walls and excellent light. Our room does not have these things – it has textured wallpaper (double gasp) which I despise. I could have stripped the walls, or have applied Polycell filler everywhere but I didn’t. I’ve just painted on top, but I’ve managed to achieve a much better finish by opting for matt paint as this doesn’t highlight the texture as a silk paint would. And the colour of the newly painted walls is (drumroll please)….. CONTEMPORARY. Oh, that’s not a colour? Well, it’s what it says on the tin. It’s actually the colour of Double Cream. Yes, that’s right – its off-white. Haha! A whole month and I’ve transformed the room from BRILLIANT WHITE to OFF WHITE. But it looks much better, I swear! I’ve also covered up the feature wallpaper which was had a floral vine design on in black and blue-grey.

Now the canvas is restored to a more aesthetically pleasing neutral tone, the room is looking much bigger and lighter. The textured wallpaper, though still present, is not nearly as noticeable. I’ve recycled the curtains from our old house’s living room (as curtains can be a costly affair for good quality and we simply can’t afford that at the moment) and have been hunting for an appropriate light fitting. The new bed has arrived (hurrah) and the wardrobe is on its way. When the main furniture is all in situ, I’ve got to start looking at dressing the room which I’m in two minds over. For the moment, I’ve just used bits we already had and I’m not very happy with the overall look at all.

The curtains are a green/yellow leafy design on an ivory shimmer background, They aren’t my first choice for bedroom curtains really – like I said they were in our living room. And with duel aspect windows, they affect the feel of the room quite a lot. And unfortunately, they don’t fit in with either of the schemes I had in mind. I had been toying very indecisively between a Kelly Hoppen inspired room of very sophisticated taupe and grey and a desperate housewives Susan Mayer style room of a more country, homey feel. I’m not decided yet. But then I came across an article on vintage bedrooms with reconditioned antique finds and REALLY liked the look. So I’m going to sit on it until the robe arrives and decide then. At the moment, vintage is winning out, but it depends on how I feel tomorrow. Hmmm.

So, here for your viewing pleasure are some snapshots of the room at the moment. I will of course post a Completed Room post at a later date, so bets are being taken on which design route we decide to go down.

Get The Look: HOME ALONE for the Festive Season

Now most of us like to put up a tree at Christmas, drape every available surface in tinsel or maybe place a festive wreath on the front door. Some go to the extra hassle of adorning their whole home exterior in Christmas lights. But few of us coordinate our whole Interior for the festive season.

The 1990’s genius film, Home Alone, however shows us just how, if we ever chose to do so, a Festive Interior can be achieved. With a rich Berry Red and Holly Green colour scheme running throughout the entire house, the house oozes Festive cheer. It makes me want to crack open the Advocaat and Lemonade just looking at it. Quite a design choice for a family who chooses to spend Christmas anywhere but in their home. Hmmm.

Anyway, taking the Festive cheer of Home Alone and looking at the Master Bedroom in particular (the location for the pivotal scene and exclamation “We slept In!!” which kick-starts a mad rush to the airport) I’ve had a little try and creating a very merry bedroom scheme. If you’re a Christmas nut (haha) then maybe this is for you. It’s not for the faint hearted and a liking of red is a must.

Of course, as the film was made a whopping 20 years ago now, a like for like scheme isn’t very easy to achieve so excuse the poor substitutions for some items. However, the overall look still takes inspiration from the film. The items could be acquired from the following suppliers:

·         Cherry Blossom wallpaper by Graham & Brown

·         Four Poster Bed by Stokers

·         Antionette Bedside by Willis & Gambier

·         Rug by The Rug Company

·         Bedside Lamp by Graham & Green

·         Red Bedding by Debenhams

Do you have any items which you think would complete the festive scheme? Or is there another Crimbo Film which has a fabulous Festive cheery interior? For me, Home Alone is my Christmas guilty pleasure without a doubt! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

Achieving a Titanic Interior: get the look for 2012

With 2012 marking a century since the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic, many eyes are looking fondly back through design archives, looking to re-acquire the magic of Titanic. The White star Line giant was constructed primarily in the shipyards of Belfast, Ireland and housed some of the most spectacular interiors in history. Itself taking influences from many design eras including Jacobean, Louis XVI, Louis XV, Georgian and Queen Anne, the Titanic style is now becoming a hot trend for Interiors of 2012. Though achieving the magnificence of Titanic to a smaller budget and within the limitations of a family home may seem somewhat daunting, it is none the less achievable.

The key to taking inspiration from historical influences is not to create a replica of the style, but to take flavours of the era and fuse these with more contemporary elements. To cover your 8ft x 10ft dining room in wall to wall, floor to ceiling mahogany panelling with hand carved detailing in homage to the first class smoking room would not work. But taking the principles of the colour palette, displaying a print from the era or opting for a titanic inspired lighting theme may be more successful.

As always, I’m looking at bringing a little Titanic glory into the bedroom design. For anybody who has seen the 1997 blockbuster of the ships sinking, you may remember the labyrinth of rooms which Rose and Hal occupied on the maiden voyage. I think the film portrays a fairly accurate example of first class accommodation and its worth examining for inspiration.

Though many of Titanic’s rooms were panelled to recreate opulent stately home-style décor, this is not really practical for modern home design as most homes don’t have rooms of the correct dimensions to allow this to work. But achieving a panelled look can be easily achieved by applying MDF panels and dado detailing to a single wall. Rather than dominating the space in a Mahogany stain, opt for a more neutral colour like Taupe or Stone. This way, you are adding architectural detailing without distracting from other elements. Keep it simple and make the panelling proportionate to the room, with simplistic moulding rather than an over embellished cornice.

Wallpaper was a real luxury of the early 20^th century and some designs are being revampted for the modern market. Little Greene have some reproduction wallpaper prints which have been tweaked but are heavily based on original designs. The 1915 Marlborough design is a few years late for Titanic but certainly contains the right elements. Alternatively, the Rococco design by Cole & Son would work perfectly. Again, I prefer the muted greys, taupe and cream designs where the pattern design is subtle as I find the design is more impressive when subdued.

Lighting is another key element – spotlights & halogens are a no go on this one – instead look for creating a more intimate lighting scheme to create a quiet romantic air. For a contemporary take, use low hung pendant lighting for bedside illumination rather than table lamps, keeping your nightstand free and uncluttered.

Finally onto the Furniture and accessories: I think that if you have kept with a fairly neutral colour scheme up to now, opting for richer furniture and bold colours will pay off to complete the titanic vibe. Don’t be afraid to mix styles – the more dramatic the better. Graham & Green have lots of gorgeous pieces which take inspiration from early 20^th Century design. If you’re after detailed dark wood items, Stokers are also a good place to look for Bedsteads and Nightstands with a huge selection to choose from. In Accessories and staging, I love the idea of having three staggered mirrors like these Lucille Mirrors – they’re decorative and have an eclectic vibe and I can imagine being dolled up in full Dinner Attire and using these to get the full 360 of an outfit.

So there you go – Titanic style in bite sized pieces. Here is my take on using titanic influence within bedroom design, hope you like!

M x

Get the Look: An Abercrombie & Fitch Inspired Bedroom

Owing to the popularity of my Hollister Bedroom post, I have decided to also put a quick “how to” for their ever-so-similar competitor store, Abercrombie & Fitch. I might point out, this is not a like-for-like copy of their Store decoration but rather an inspired piece – simply using Abercrombie and Fitch as a bouncing off point: if you’re keen on the shops and the style they sell, you might like this style too. So, on with the scheme:

I think a nice deep blue wall colour is appropriate to create that Aladdin’s cave feel, something like Hague Blue by farrow and ball could do the trick. I’ve used this colour in a bedroom before and it’s delicious – rich and deep, yet mellow in tone. Marry this with Vivienne Westwood’s tartan wallpaper by Cole & Son, in homage to a lumberjack style shirt.

The Furniture could be a real eclectic range:

• A slatted modern type bed like the Zanzibar bed by Willis & Gambier
• A rustic Armoire, antique or replica
• Rather than two matching bedsides, how about a drawer chest to one side, with tall legs elevating it from the floor for variation
• Tan leather armchair, like the Hugo from Graham & Green
• This compilation rug by The Rug Company pulls inspiration from many styles, for an almost flea market mixture of patterns and colour but with a luxurious feel under foot.
• To go for the store look, why not integrate an open clothes rail to show off some of your favourite and most worn garments.

Now, something which all the American youth stores remind me of is Taxidermy – though of course I don’t recommend you mount a real stags' head above your bed. However, there are lots of ways to represent this within your interior. There are loads of taxidermy inspired pieces on the market at the moment and Graham & Green have some of the best, including these Rhino Wall Lights.

Moooi (That’s Danish for Beautiful, with an extra “o” to make it Very Beautiful didn’t you know) launched the Rabbit lamp a while back and would make an excellent bedside light. In fact, Next have done a copycat design available for 1/10^th of the price, a snip at £35 and a nice feature piece. Finish the scheme with wood: wood venetians and wood floor, either a walnut or cherry for best effect.

The K factor: Kelly Hoppen

I read today that Kelly Hoppen is starring in new interior design programme, Superior Interiors, on Channel 5 starting on Tuesday evening. I confess, I was a tiny bit disappointed at first, as it means the Kelly Hoppen brand will truly be accessible to the masses, and therefore loses a little of her exclusivity. On the other hand, I was super excited as it means we'll really get chance to see how she pulls schemes together and how well she can budget-manage. I'm in two minds as to whether I'll watch it as the great british bake off is on the other side… we'll see. Anyway, as I'm sure much of it will feature on the show, I've had a browse through her collections and have selected my personal favourites. As you know, I tend to focus on Bedroom design so have opted for items with this in mind.

Hoppen's bedrooms…

Here are a couple of her bedroom designs shown on her website. I love her simplicity and adore the colour palette – you just know that this will still be a knockout interior scheme in 10 years' time which people are still trying the replicate.
Hoppen uses quite a unique headboard in one room, and unfortunately this isn't included in her ranges. However, I think the Ameilia Bed from High Fashion Home is maybe a nice alternative, though you may need to break open your Piggy Bank for this one.

Her Wallpaper range in exclusive to Graham & Brown and perfectly represents her brand, using black, taupe, grey and beige as her primary palette. She has also included a deeper than deep purple shade which is just beautiful. I particularly like the Tattoo design, available in four colour-ways at just £30 a roll. I'm seriously contemplating this now for our master bedroom.

Hoppen also has her own paint range, but I've not personally used it and as you may have figured out by now, I'm rather addicted to Farrow and Ball paint; it applies wonderfully for a supreme finish. The muted tones of Farrow & Ball complement Hoppen's much loved Taupe, in particular Elephant's Breath, so I'd be more inclined to select a colour from F&B. They also have a slightly broader colour range. I do intend to try some Kelly Hoppen paint and if it matches F&B in quality, I'll happily revise the above comments J

Now, two items I REALLY, REALLY LOVE are these chairs which Hoppen has designed with Barker & Stonehouse. The first armchair reminds me of a classic mid-20^th century chair by T.H. Robsjohn. It's upholstered in a taupe/grey leather with beautiful detailing. The second is the dining chair, upholstered in a linen blend with simplicity in form and decoration. Either would be suitable for a bedroom chair, as they are interesting enough to stand alone without dictating a style to the other furniture or fittings.

Onto soft furnishings, hot on my wish list are these gorgeous Button cushions and this beautiful bedspread from QVC.
So what about the pieces which Hoppen doesn't have yet in her range? (namely bedsides, wardrobes, flooring). Well, the old staple Hemnes range from ikea would be appropriate for a lower budget scheme if you tried to replicate Hoppen's style at Home. Or www.Andsotobed.co.uk for some more unique-looking furniture in dark wood. Kelly tends to stick with angular designs, so even Dwell could be used for a more contemporary look. The key aspect is to go for something quite simple but with nice detailing: if it's a simple shape, maybe the veneer could be turned, or the finish could be mock-marble to make it that little bit special.

I'm surprised Hoppen hasn't yet struck up an alliance with The Rug Company to create her own complimenting range, as rugs do feature heavily in her schemes (please do it Kelly!) so until that happens, I think the Stepevi deep pile collections could work equally well in a Hoppen inspired interior. Be warned, they are pricey but no rug I've come across remotely compares in quality or design.

Do you have a favourite from the Brand? And more importantly, will you be watching the Great British Bake Off or Superior Interiors?

Copycat Design: Connaught Hotel, London

The Connaught Hotel in London's Mayfair is a particularly prestigious Hotel. Tastefully decorated without appearing dated, the Connaught's style is almost like Audrey Hepburn; no matter how many years past, she will always be stylish and fashionable without succumbing to the minute-fashion which adorns our high street. The Connaught has a distinct style which draws from various eras without committing to a particular one – its selective and mellow, opting to explore texture, depth and detail rather than using pattern and colour.

Though much of the Connaught's bedroom Furniture has been handcrafted by Afghanistan Artisans bespoke to each space, there are similar available to purchase off the peg, though unfortunately not at a price for every purse.

Top Scheme Items:

• Bed: The London Bed Company
• Bedsides: And So To Bed
• Wallpaper: Designers Guild, Ernani Opal & Ecru
• Armchair: Designers Guild
• Cushions: John Lewis
• Bedspread/Throw: John Lewis
• Floor Lamp: John Lewis
• Curtains: Debenhams Montgomery range

I love the Headboard used at the Connaught, and simply could not find a close match anywhere, but think that the Vermont bed by Frank Hudson is just as beautiful. I think the Hotel style overall is quite masculine, with dark wood tones, tailored drapes and wallpaper reminiscent of an Italian Business Suit – lush! – with delicate feminine touches in the floral arrangements and dainty lighting.

Cost to achieve? I'd allow for at least £10k in your budget to really go to town and replicate this in your own home, but again, stealing the colour palette and keeping minimal with cute tailored details will achieve a similar result. Happy Decorating!

Beach Chic – a Hollister Inspired Bedroom Scheme

When you tell somebody you're an Interior Designer (or used to be) they can't help but say "ooh, that sounds exciting" closely followed by "I've been wondering how to decorate my living room…". Such a conversation took place a couple of weeks ago, with our Mortgage Adviser:

Mortgage Advisor: "what did you do for a living"
Me: "I was an Interior Designer"
Mortgage Advisor: "Wow, that sounds interesting. I've been wondering how to decorate my bedroom…"

Firstly, the walls need to close in on the space - a dark marine-inspired palette would be best, maybe a deep teal or oceanic blue. "Green Smoke" by Farrow & Ball is an interesting shade: a strange mix of blue, green and grey which oozes masculinity. I think it important to explore further than the usual pale blue hue, white weathered wood and nautical stripes. I like how Hollister create this dark rabbit warren which is in no way nautical and yet undeniably Beach Chic.

Next, the furniture is almost Antique – has a certain worn, threadbare appearance. Wallis & Gambier have a great furniture range, "Zanzibar" which is a beautiful red brown wood which compliments the Green Smoke perfectly. Add in a wrought Iron bedframe, black, with plain white bedding, and a wingback armchair in a rich Grey or Hessian fabric. And finally, this Beach haven isn't complete without the dark wood plantation shutters. Ceiling and floor should be dark too – maybe even a black ceiling – and a walnut floorboard with feature Zebra print rug (the Rug Company has a fab design by Diane Von Furstenburg, or alternately her Climbing leopard design)Then he said that he loved the Hollister Store in Liverpool and would love his bedroom to be styled like that. I can see the appeal, I thought later, and ever since I've been thinking about how that could be achieved.

HOTEL BEDROOM TOURS: the Covent Garden Hotel

Following on from the first bedroom tour of the Charlotte Street Hotel bedroom, I have decided to explore another of Kit Kemp's creations: the Covent Garden Hotel of London. Here, Kit has used a combination of her winning "English Country" style alongside local suppliers to the Hotel and a few trusted favourites from accross the pond. Though we can't all go trotting off to New York in search of the perfect bedside cabinet, I have included some of the actual suppliers for really specific pieces and alternatives in other cases, should you wish to recreate the style in your own home.

 

Top Scheme Items:

• Headboard: Just Headboards
• Headboard & Cushion Fabric: Galbraith & Paul, Citrus Maize Linen
• Wallpaper: Prestigious, Mystery
• Bedsides & Chest of Drawers: Blanc D'Ivoire
• Bedside Light: Graham & Green, Hector lamp
• Table Light: Andrew Martin
• Mirror: Graham and Green
• Desk Chair: Morgan Furniture, Diva Chair

 

This scheme is much simpler than the Charlotte, with fewer patterns and a fresher palette. I do like the simple geometric employed on the headboard and especially like the French inspired furniture. Were you to create this in your own abode, you could do so easily as the colours and patterns are those which you could find on the highstreet for less than those listed above. I think the items which I wouldn't deviate too far from are the headboard style (tall, fluted) as this really helps achieve the desired hotel look, and the Bedsides which are nicely detailed but could easily be revamped old pieces picked up from a car boot (if you're lucky enough to find such treasures!)
Next stop? You decide! Please leave a comment recommending a Hotel which you'd like exploring :D

HOTEL BEDROOM TOURS: The Charlotte Street, London

To kick start my Hotel Bedroom Tours, (where I try to source the fixtures and finishes of some of the best Designer Hotels to help you recreate the look in your own home) I thought I'd begin with one of my personal favourites: The Charlotte Street Hotel.

Part of the Firmdale Hotel Group and designed by owner Kit Kemp, the Charlotte Street has set the bar for many Hotel Designers to follow. Kit has spent many an hour sourcing lots of different manufacturers in order to create some inspiring and unique interiors. Thankfully, after a bit of research, I have been able to find some of the exact suppliers and source what I think are some good substitutes for the items which were a little more elusive, for what I like to call "the Blue Room"...

The key element for this rooms' design is the wallpaper and headboard fabric: the Jack Damask by Daniel Croyle. At a reasonable £40 a roll (cheaper than many high street wallpapers I may point out) the wallpaper has been used on all walls, rather than just a feature wall. Combined with the matching fabric in a cleaver colour change, the pattern really comes alive yet doesn't seem to overpower the space, most likely due to the calming colour scheme. The Fabric is a little more pricey at £57 a metre, and you'd probably need approx. 4m for a headboard of a similar design which would set you back around £300, making the Headboard an investment at £500-£550

Cleverly leaving the walls to provide the pattern and excitement, Kit has then used some fairly simple fabrics in the Curtains and Upholstery. Though I couldn't find an exact match, this fabric by Designers Guild is a good alternative, and they have a similar armchair design to that used in this scheme too.

Now, onto Furniture, I think the Keraton Range by Lombok works well with Kit's scheme - this costs £3680 for 2 bedsides, a chest of drawers and a wardrobe. The dark wood in a rustic, masculine form, really compliments what could be considered a feminine backdrop. the Bedside lamp is by Graham and Green, a not-too-bad £130 each: simple and classic.

And finally - what Firmdale Hotel would be complete without the Female Mannequin upholstered to match the headboard? I actually consider this a neat and practical addition to a bedroom and worth the extra expense - approx. £50 for a plain mannequin and then maybe 2.5sq m of fabric to upholster.

So how much would it cost to recreate this room's style? For your average bedroom, I would suggest a budget of £6,000 would do it. Of course, to reduce costs you could substitute the Lombok furniture for the Hemnes Range from Ikea and save £3,000.

I've quite enjoyed taking a look around Kit Kemp's design and am sorely tempted to try another one of her Hotels... the Soho perhaps? But in the meantime, let me know of any Hotel you'd like included in this tour