Houzz Tour: A Family Home Gets an Injection of Vibrant Colour
Turning up the dial on both colour and comfort was vital when the owners returned to the period house they’d rented out
Coming back to their Edwardian house after living abroad was a fresh decorative start for this family. It wasn’t that they hadn’t liked their home’s look first time around, just that they were ready to be braver.
Enter designers Caroline Nicholls and Deborah Moor with a mission to create a colour-confident scheme that would prove durable in the face of three small children and be comfortable for the whole family.
Enter designers Caroline Nicholls and Deborah Moor with a mission to create a colour-confident scheme that would prove durable in the face of three small children and be comfortable for the whole family.
Caroline and Deborah chose to keep the backdrop neutral in the living room, adding vibrancy with furniture. “The sofa was the focus, and the colours fed in from there,” Caroline says.
The softness of its velvet upholstery makes the sofa a great place to snuggle up with the kids, and the fabric adds luxury, too. It’s been teamed with a leather sofa, which contrasts in colour and texture as well as style.
Velvet sofa, Sofa.com. Leather sofa, West Elm. Coffee table, Swoon Editions. Marbelle floor lamp, Habitat. Mirror, Omelo. Cushions, Graham & Green. Ercol side tables, Barker and Stonehouse. Curtain fabric, Christopher Farr.
The softness of its velvet upholstery makes the sofa a great place to snuggle up with the kids, and the fabric adds luxury, too. It’s been teamed with a leather sofa, which contrasts in colour and texture as well as style.
Velvet sofa, Sofa.com. Leather sofa, West Elm. Coffee table, Swoon Editions. Marbelle floor lamp, Habitat. Mirror, Omelo. Cushions, Graham & Green. Ercol side tables, Barker and Stonehouse. Curtain fabric, Christopher Farr.
The homeowners requested white woodwork and walls for the hallway. “It was the only stipulation they had,” Caroline says. The two whites extend through hall, stairs and landing, repeating a pairing the family really liked when they lived in the house before.
Walls painted in All White; woodwork painted in Strong White, both Farrow & Ball. Midcentury console table, West Elm.
Walls painted in All White; woodwork painted in Strong White, both Farrow & Ball. Midcentury console table, West Elm.
The kids’ playroom scheme had to flow harmoniously from the home’s other spaces. Also vital? “It had to be fun and a place where the kids could lounge – and there would be no worries about the sofa getting ruined,” Caroline says.
Layered rugs add colour and are also practical to clean up if there are spills.
Walls painted in French Grey Pale, Little Greene. Sofa, Barker and Stonehouse. Cushions, Graham & Green. Rugs, homeArama. Floor lamp, Made.com.
Layered rugs add colour and are also practical to clean up if there are spills.
Walls painted in French Grey Pale, Little Greene. Sofa, Barker and Stonehouse. Cushions, Graham & Green. Rugs, homeArama. Floor lamp, Made.com.
The property’s original fireplaces had been retained over the years and, as with its other period features, became part of the new scheme. “We think it’s important to have a design that’s complementary to the architecture of the house,” Caroline says.
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Future plans to extend the kitchen meant the cabinetry stayed in place, and the blind above the sink was also kept. The designers’ task was therefore to work with these elements and echo colours from the other rooms for a cohesive effect.
They picked up blue from elsewhere in the choice of dining chairs, mixing them with wooden ones. “They would have been too much if they were all blue, or all wood,” Caroline says. “It was a nice way to introduce more colour and interest.”
The chairs are celebrated Ercol designs. “The owners have a real love of classic pieces and styles,” Caroline says. The chairs were teamed with a dining table that seats eight and extends to accommodate 10. “They see a lot of family and friends,” she says.
Dining table, BoConcept. Butterfly chairs (at either end); Stacking chairs, all Ercol. Curtain fabric, Christopher Farr.
Find out how Ercol furniture can transform a room.
They picked up blue from elsewhere in the choice of dining chairs, mixing them with wooden ones. “They would have been too much if they were all blue, or all wood,” Caroline says. “It was a nice way to introduce more colour and interest.”
The chairs are celebrated Ercol designs. “The owners have a real love of classic pieces and styles,” Caroline says. The chairs were teamed with a dining table that seats eight and extends to accommodate 10. “They see a lot of family and friends,” she says.
Dining table, BoConcept. Butterfly chairs (at either end); Stacking chairs, all Ercol. Curtain fabric, Christopher Farr.
Find out how Ercol furniture can transform a room.
The original wall hatch – which connects with the playroom – was left in place.
The designers hung a mirror to add depth to the kitchen-diner. It’s a convex design to give extra interest, and the strong frame colour makes it an eye-catching feature, too.
A midcentury-style sideboard below complements the iconic chair designs.
Cavetto mirror, Omelo. Midcentury sideboard, West Elm.
A midcentury-style sideboard below complements the iconic chair designs.
Cavetto mirror, Omelo. Midcentury sideboard, West Elm.
The main bedroom’s scheme had to work with the existing blinds and built-in wardrobes. It was influenced by the couple’s love of Scandi simplicity and midcentury style, with a beautiful Ercol bed taking centre stage.
The designers selected a sophisticated blue for the wall behind the bed. “We wanted to create a wow factor coming into the room,” Caroline says. “It also makes the headboard stand out more, because you can see the colour through the spindles.”
A mirror above the bed increases light in the room and is proportioned to make a statement. Meanwhile, rugs either side add comfort underfoot as well as introducing contrasting texture.
Wall painted in Deep Space Blue, Little Greene. Shalstone bedstead; Shalstone two-drawer bedside tables, all Ercol for John Lewis & Partners. Sphere + Stem table lamps, West Elm. Chair, Swoon Editions. Mirror; throw, both Cox & Cox. Cushions, Amara.
The designers selected a sophisticated blue for the wall behind the bed. “We wanted to create a wow factor coming into the room,” Caroline says. “It also makes the headboard stand out more, because you can see the colour through the spindles.”
A mirror above the bed increases light in the room and is proportioned to make a statement. Meanwhile, rugs either side add comfort underfoot as well as introducing contrasting texture.
Wall painted in Deep Space Blue, Little Greene. Shalstone bedstead; Shalstone two-drawer bedside tables, all Ercol for John Lewis & Partners. Sphere + Stem table lamps, West Elm. Chair, Swoon Editions. Mirror; throw, both Cox & Cox. Cushions, Amara.
The guest bedroom has soft grey walls and richly toned wood pieces. “It’s for visitors or family, so it’s reasonably sophisticated, with the furniture the main interest,” Caroline says. “We wanted it to feel like a contemporary, grown-up room.”
Walls painted in French Grey Mid, Little Greene. Curtain fabric, Christopher Farr. Midcentury bed; Penelope bedside tables; Midcentury six-drawer chest of drawers, all West Elm. Table lamps, Made.com.
Walls painted in French Grey Mid, Little Greene. Curtain fabric, Christopher Farr. Midcentury bed; Penelope bedside tables; Midcentury six-drawer chest of drawers, all West Elm. Table lamps, Made.com.
The children’s bedrooms had to strike a careful balance. “We wanted to have continuity of colours and flow as you go through the rooms, but still create individual spaces for the different ages and activities,” Caroline says.
The youngest girl’s bedroom was designed to be “everything a little girl wants”, Caroline says. Pink was the occupant’s choice, and the scheme had to complement the bed linen the family already owned.
Walls painted in Middleton Pink, Farrow & Ball. Bed, bedside table, both Cuckooland. Rug, Ikea.
The youngest girl’s bedroom was designed to be “everything a little girl wants”, Caroline says. Pink was the occupant’s choice, and the scheme had to complement the bed linen the family already owned.
Walls painted in Middleton Pink, Farrow & Ball. Bed, bedside table, both Cuckooland. Rug, Ikea.
Her sister’s bedroom was already wallpapered.
New York metal kids bed, Cuckooland. Fjord Vintage multicoloured four-drawer chest of drawers; Fjord Vintage two-drawer bedside table, both Maisons du Monde. Table lamp, Loaf. Rugs, Ikea.
New York metal kids bed, Cuckooland. Fjord Vintage multicoloured four-drawer chest of drawers; Fjord Vintage two-drawer bedside table, both Maisons du Monde. Table lamp, Loaf. Rugs, Ikea.
A desk area had to be included in this room because of the occupant’s age. A rug helps zone the area as well as adding to the fun mix of colours. The bold yellow of the desk chair repeats one of the home’s confident accent hues.
Rug, Harlequin. Blush Vintage desk; chair, both Maisons du Monde. Wall painted in Starling’s Egg, Little Greene.
Rug, Harlequin. Blush Vintage desk; chair, both Maisons du Monde. Wall painted in Starling’s Egg, Little Greene.
The boy’s bedroom scheme had to work with an existing window treatment. “Because the children are quite small, the owners wanted them to have things that were familiar to them,” Caroline says.
Furniture, including the bed and bedside table, were selected for their lasting appeal, so the scheme will work for the child beyond his immediate years.
The wall beneath the roof slope alongside the bed was painted in an accent blue. “It feels cosy and makes a feature of that area,” Caroline says.
Wall painted in James, Little Greene. New York metal kids bed, Cuckooland. Loft metal bedside table; wardrobe; chair, all Maisons du Monde. Table lamp; cushions, all John Lewis & Partners.
Furniture, including the bed and bedside table, were selected for their lasting appeal, so the scheme will work for the child beyond his immediate years.
The wall beneath the roof slope alongside the bed was painted in an accent blue. “It feels cosy and makes a feature of that area,” Caroline says.
Wall painted in James, Little Greene. New York metal kids bed, Cuckooland. Loft metal bedside table; wardrobe; chair, all Maisons du Monde. Table lamp; cushions, all John Lewis & Partners.
The bathroom used to be slate grey, with the scheme liked by one half of the couple and hated by the other, but a rethink pleased both parties. The room’s fittings were retained, but the space was given a new look with a turquoise wall.
“The colour is striking and a nice contrast with the while tiles and chrome. It’s a little bit of wow,” Caroline says.
Wall painted in Turquoise Blue, Little Greene.
Tell us…
What do you like about this colourful home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
“The colour is striking and a nice contrast with the while tiles and chrome. It’s a little bit of wow,” Caroline says.
Wall painted in Turquoise Blue, Little Greene.
Tell us…
What do you like about this colourful home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? A professional couple with three children
Location Reigate, Surrey
Property A detached Edwardian house
Size Five bedrooms and three bathrooms
Interior designers Caroline Nicholls and Deborah Moor of Slightly Quirky
Photos by Anna Stathaki
Neutrally decorated during its time as a rental property, the house was once again going to be a family home.
Evolution rather than revolution was called for. “The owners showed us photos of how they’d had the house before,” Caroline says. “They wanted a similar vibe.” However, the designers had licence to push for the stronger colours the couple had shied away from in the past.
The furnishings and decoration also had to be suitable for a young family.
Rug, Designers Guild. Artwork, Yvonne Coomber.