Designer Tips To Decorate Confidently With Colour

The kitchen’s tonal green cabinetry connects the space with the garden beyond. The abundance of natural light, created by the new windows and skylights, allowed us to use a deeper colour without making the room feel dark. The marble splashback is the focal point. The client sourced the slab herself, and the exact shade of green on the cabinetry complements its natural tones. After exploring a number of shapes, the studio settled on a classic arch – distinctive enough to feel special, but restrained enough to stand the test of time. Antique brass hardware adds warmth, while the combination of natural stone, painted cabinetry and considered lighting gives the kitchen a relaxed but quietly luxurious feel.

Wall Lights: Fisher Wall Light, Jim Lawrence
Handles: Grove Grooved Rounded Knob in Antique Brass, Rowen & Wren
Linen: Linen Hemstitch Guest Towel, Initially London 
Tray: Wicker Tray, Studio Ham
Jug: Vintage Tamegroute Jug, Etsy 
Hanging Rail: Grove Hanging Rail in Blackened Brass, Rowen & Wren

The dining area was designed around the client’s largest piece of artwork, allowing it to be fully appreciated and giving the room a strong focal point. A custom upholstered dining bench provides plenty of seating when the client is entertaining, while a mix of natural textures keeps the space feeling relaxed. Throughout the open-plan ground floor, rugs help zone the different areas while adding softness and warmth beneathfoot. The pattern used across the house is deliberately bold but controlled, creating impact without visual clutter. Here, the combination of jute, linen, timber and colourful tableware gives the space an informal, inviting feel.

Jute Rug: Rectangular Jute Rug, Zara Home 
Bench: Rochester Double Bench, The Dormy House 
Plates: Vintage Tamegroute Green Plates, Moroccan White at Maison Flâneur
Blanket: Tweed Wool Throw in Urquhart, Johnstons of Elgin
Linen Napkins: Washed Linen Napkin in Celery, TOAST
Cutlery: Bistrot Tortue, Sabre Paris

The entrance hall sets the tone for the rest of the house, introducing the studio’s playful approach to colour. The small cloakroom is finished in an almost neon gloss orange, which is balanced by the soft, stony green used across the adjoining open-plan spaces. Although the house embraces colour, the palette has been carefully controlled, so the rooms feel connected rather than jarring. The bright Roger Oates stair runner picks up on the orange cloakroom, while antique furniture, including the hall table, adds warmth, longevity and a sense of history.

Tap: Vola
Mirror: Jolly Mirror, Porta Romana
Stair Runner: Fitzroy Bright Stair Runner, Roger Oates
Artwork: Collins & Green Art

Designed for cocktails, reading, relaxing and watching television, the drawing room is layered and inviting. Grasscloth-textured walls add depth, while the fireplace and cabinetry are painted in the same green shade, creating a scheme that feels both traditional and contemporary. A Rachel Bottomley artwork above the fireplace brings energy and humour to the room. Gathered-shade wall lights and table lamps offer a softer, more flattering glow in the evening, helping the space shift effortlessly from daytime living to night-time entertaining.

Artwork: Rachel Bottomley
Wall Lights: Double Astor Wall Light in Antiqued Brass, Pooky
Sofa: Crescent Sofa, Camerich
Cushion: Archibald Cushion Cover in Spruce, OKA
Cushion: Grassetto Check Cushion Cover in Green, OKA
Roman Blind Fabric: Linara in Lichen, Romo

The main bedroom started with the headboard fabric. The client loved colour and pattern, so we explored a wide selection before settling on the design that best captured her personality. To balance the bold fabric, the walls, ceiling, curtains and café curtains were all colour drenched in a calming shade. This enveloping approach allows the pattern to make an impact without overwhelming the space. The layout was also completely reconfigured to create a private dressing room and bathroom tucked discreetly to one side. This gives the client a peaceful retreat – particularly useful when hosting family and friends.

Bedside Table: Holden Four-Drawer Chest, The Trove 
Cushion: Le Manach Lumbar Cushion in Greuze, The Trove 
Bed Linen: Ruffle Super King Pillow Slip, The Trove 
Lampshade: Pleated Lampshade in Brass, MG&Co.
Lamp Base: Adjustable Brass Table Lamp, MG&Co.

The guest bedroom houses both antique and contemporary pieces to create a room that feels luxurious but welcoming. The aim was to capture the freshness of a hotel bedroom with crisp white linen and carefully chosen furniture, while retaining the warmth and familiarity of a much-loved home. A green-toned neutral on the walls gives the room a calm, grounding quality. Patterned cushions, layered throws and a velvet pouffe introduce softness and character, while aged brass wardrobe handles add a final decorative detail.

Artwork: Meridith Martens, Trowbridge Gallery 
Throw: Kala Quilt, John Lewis
Cushion: Ocellus Cushion Cover in Bronze, OKA
Bed Throw: Chenille Jacquard Throw, Zara Home 
Pouffe: Velvet Pouffe with Walnut Plinth, Six the Residence
Console Table: Hampton Grey Console Table, Olivia’s  
Wardrobe Handles: Star Backplate and Clear Brass Knob, MG&Co.

Strong aubergine tones in the Viola marble set the tone for this characterful bathroom. Crisp white elements balance the intensity of the stone. The layout was central to the design. A generous open shower dissolves elegantly into the rest of the room, preserving a sense of lightness and space. The clients’ love of colour also informed the decision to make the bathroom feel more like a room to linger in than a purely functional space. An antique-style chair, decorative lighting and a marble candle add to the feeling of a private sitting room, while white zellige tiles provide a simple, tactile backdrop.

Light: Wall Light, Pooky 
Chair: Edwardian Mahogany Bergère Armchair, Custodian Antiques 
Basin: Edwardian Basin with Basin Stand, Burlington Bathrooms
Candle: Leather & Oud Candle, Soho Home
Shower Tiles: Fes White Zellige, Otto Tiles

This room was simply intended to be fun. Its intense pink colour is bold but surprisingly enveloping. During the design process, it was nicknamed the “womb room”. The strong wall colour is softened with an antique chair, tactile textiles and a patterned blind. It is a joyful example of how embracing one colour can create a room that feels both dramatic and comforting.

Cushion: Le Manach Lumbar Cushion in Greuze, The Trove 
Chair: Gillows Hall Chair, Thakeham Furniture
Throw: Triomphe Throw, Yves Delorme
Blind Fabric: Linara in Radicchio, Romo

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Photographer credit: Astrid Templier