surrey hills | Formal Living
It’s a common story with many clients. The build is complete, the family moves in and the decorating is put on the bottom of the priority list. This can be due to limited budget after a build or life simply gets busy and before you know it, years have passed, toddlers are now teens and spaces are still feeling unfinished and perhaps not functioning as intended.
My clients, a family of four, two working professionals with two teens and a new puppy. The decorating scope included the hallway, formal living room, master bedroom, teen rooms and outdoor living area.
Working with some existing pieces in the formal living area, the brief was to make the space feel finished, polished and not overly feminine. The space is a ‘Friday Night Retreat’ for the family who like to sit by the fire or play a game of Chess, over a G&T. A bar cart was high on the list.
Firstly, the space needed a focal point. A stunning piece by local Melbourne Artist, Sophia Szilagyi, now takes centre stage above the fireplace. It’s dark and mysterious, yet soothing and helps to set the serenity on a Friday night. Art selection is very personal and subjective. When I presented this piece to my clients for consideration, they instantly connected. With an Irish background, my client said it reminded him of home. There was no second guessing on this special piece.
Carefully considering existing colour and artwork, the space now feels more complete with custom cushions, bronze/mirrored coffee & side tables, wall mirror, artwork, mood lighting and of course a gorgeous bronze/mirrored bar cart.
surrey hills | Master Bedroom
Working with an existing colour palette applied to flooring/walls, the brief included a window treatment for the West facing balcony doors and window, increased storage and a place to sit.
The concept for this space looked to create a classic, contemporary retreat with the subtle formality and a sense of luxury you find in a boutique hotel room. A space of serenity that feels warm, inviting and comfortable. Without being overly feminine, the space still feels elegant and personal. The palette is warm and neutral with calming accents. The space is layered with texture, pattern and classic detailing.
Artwork and custom soft furnishings reference global travel destinations (Ireland and the Orient), personalising the space to the couple who retreat within. Classic, elegant NY style bedside lamps sit on custom designed bedside tables. Calming artwork referencing a familiar coastline is well placed above the custom chest of drawers used for additional storage. A custom upholstered bench seat provides a place to sit and adds another layer of classic detailing to the space.
surrey hills | Teen Bedrooms
Teens need their space and it tends to be the bedroom they retreat to so it's important to create a space that feels uplifting. yet comfortable and relaxed. The space also needs to be multi-functional, a place to sleep, study, and simply spend time in.
A new bedhead and window treatment were the two key requests for each teen bedroom.
For both teen window treatments, it was important was to make the most of the Eastern morning light. Specifying classic roman blinds with black out allows maximum light in through the day, whilst accommodating for a nice, uninterupted Sat/Sun sleep in.
For her, the aim was to create a space that felt creative, with a youthful maturity and not overly feminine. Colour preferences were blues/greens and a recent trip to Japan was a lovely reference. A classic upholstered bedhead in navy blue linen with contrast piping in a lighter sea blue worked alongside an existing turquoise reading chair. Artwork and styling spoke to this accent palette and were reflective of her interests. These can inexpensively be updated as she moves on.
For him, the aim was to create a masculine and relaxed space that wouldn’t be out grown too soon. A matching style upholstered bedhead in a natural linen look with contrasting black piping and custom valance is a classic, contemporary look and cohesive with the family home, yet speaks to his colour preferences (black). Art and styling is personalised with a tasteful nod to Arsenal & gaming interests which can easily be updated as he moves on.
