SURREY HILLS 2 | Living & DIning

After renovating their kitchen, my clients soon realised their living and dining space was looking a little tired and needed a refresh. I was asked to provide a decorating solution that felt more contemporary and suited to the renovated areas, yet remained respectful to the home’s traditional style. I was to work with the existing finishes and asked to create a space that was warm, welcoming and comfortable.

There were several challenges to decorating this small, yet cosy space. Existing artificial light was inadequate in the evenings and needed addressing. Natural light into this open plan space was inconsistent, with a skylight flooding bright, natural light into the dining space, but the living space, although North facing, only receiving filtered light in from the beautiful, tree filled courtyard. This meant both lighting and colour specifications needed to be carefully considered.

We were also working with Jarrah flooring which has a deep red undertone. Red can be a tricky colour to decorate with but tends to work best with softer neutrals that don’t emphasise or clash with the red tone in the timber.

During the briefing process, it was very clear my clients wanted their space to be comfortable and practical. With a gorgeous fluff ball (cat) to be mindful of, durability was also a key factor in specifying. We spent considerable time reflecting on how this family of three used these two key spaces throughout the week, to ensure it functioned the way they needed it to.

The design direction took inspiration from nature, in particular the local flora, fauna and the birds chirping in the courtyard. The colour palette was directed by existing wall colour and Jarrah floors, looking to soft, warmer neutrals with accents of navy and rust, a subtle nod to the the floor. Soft furnishing in bespoke fabrics, some hand printed locally, means this space is distinctive and not a replica of what’s been done before.

Artwork recommended is by local artists (Sally Browne + Jessica Anderson) and provides a stunning focal point as you enter each of these spaces.