Room Tour: A Large Attic is Opened Up and Creatively Zoned
Texture and pattern are layered against a neutral scheme, helping to define each area of this multifunctional space
When this handsome house in Tunbridge Wells was built in the Edwardian period, its large attic, complete with fireplace, was perhaps used as servants’ quarters. By the time interior designer Nicky Percival saw it in 2021, it was home to a small bedroom and not much else. “One half of the space was boarded up and used as storage for the odd suitcase,” she says.
The owners had always wanted to make more of this generous top floor. It was everyone being housebound and a little cramped during lockdown – mum and dad, three children and a dog – that supplied the eventual motivation. Having worked with Nicky before, the owners called her in to redesign it.
“We opened it up to become one enormous room,” she says, “and put in two huge dormer windows to let the light flood in.” Scroll down to see how Nicky then layered different patterns and textures to give this multifunctional room distinct, zoned spaces and bags of personality, too.
The owners had always wanted to make more of this generous top floor. It was everyone being housebound and a little cramped during lockdown – mum and dad, three children and a dog – that supplied the eventual motivation. Having worked with Nicky before, the owners called her in to redesign it.
“We opened it up to become one enormous room,” she says, “and put in two huge dormer windows to let the light flood in.” Scroll down to see how Nicky then layered different patterns and textures to give this multifunctional room distinct, zoned spaces and bags of personality, too.
Nicky initially created three different concepts for the space, and the owners chose this option, which draws on influences from several sources. “It was about making it all monochrome; a light, bright, open space, full of greenery” she says, “then, having decided to keep the scheme neutral with a dark oak floor, we went to town on the pattern. We had so much fun!”
Here, a patterned rug zones the living area, while a blind made from crewelwork fabric hangs in the dormer. The chaise longue belonged to the owners already, but Nicky sourced the new sofa with linen cover for them.
Oak flooring, Naos Floors. Rug, Designers Guild. Sofa, Love Your Home. Crewel fabric, Coromandel.
Here, a patterned rug zones the living area, while a blind made from crewelwork fabric hangs in the dormer. The chaise longue belonged to the owners already, but Nicky sourced the new sofa with linen cover for them.
Oak flooring, Naos Floors. Rug, Designers Guild. Sofa, Love Your Home. Crewel fabric, Coromandel.
More patterns meet and mingle in the corner housing the freestanding bath, alongside walls painted in standard pure brilliant white. The wallpaper has a softly Japanese feel, “but it’s spruce rather than the more predictable cherry blossom,” Nicky says.
The tiles add a contrasting design, zone the bathing area, and help to protect the floorboards from splashes. “I researched screens to go around the bath,” Nicky says, “but in the end the owners felt that, as there isn’t going to be anyone else in here when someone takes a bath, they wouldn’t bother with one.”
Bath, Catchpole & Rye. Floor tiles, Mandarin Stone. Pine wallpaper, Sandberg.
Easily find and hire a local interior designer on Houzz.
The tiles add a contrasting design, zone the bathing area, and help to protect the floorboards from splashes. “I researched screens to go around the bath,” Nicky says, “but in the end the owners felt that, as there isn’t going to be anyone else in here when someone takes a bath, they wouldn’t bother with one.”
Bath, Catchpole & Rye. Floor tiles, Mandarin Stone. Pine wallpaper, Sandberg.
Easily find and hire a local interior designer on Houzz.
The playfulness continues on the blind by the bath, which is fringed in beads.
This wall behind the bath was originally exposed, but as the brick was not in great condition, Nicky decided to plaster and wallpaper it. “That’s where the idea of wallpaper on both ends of the room came from, providing some symmetry,” she says.
This window was not replaced during the redesign, “but we did have to take it out to get the sofa and bath in,” she says.
Beadwork, Samuel & Sons.
This wall behind the bath was originally exposed, but as the brick was not in great condition, Nicky decided to plaster and wallpaper it. “That’s where the idea of wallpaper on both ends of the room came from, providing some symmetry,” she says.
This window was not replaced during the redesign, “but we did have to take it out to get the sofa and bath in,” she says.
Beadwork, Samuel & Sons.
The pine wallpaper is picked up again at the far end of the room, in the bedroom area. Behind this wall is a small shower room, accessed off the landing.
Cluster pendant lights, Fritz Fryer. Berber rug, Heal’s.
Cluster pendant lights, Fritz Fryer. Berber rug, Heal’s.
The bed and bedside cabinets were pre-existing pieces from the daughter’s previous bedroom. “I like using furniture and accessories that have been accumulated over time,” Nicky says.
More original brickwork and a period cast-iron fireplace flank the work space that is tucked into the dormer nearest to the entrance. Again, a rug is used to zone this as a work area and introduce some pattern.
Desk, West Elm.
More: Do These 7 Things to Get an Organised Home Office
Desk, West Elm.
More: Do These 7 Things to Get an Organised Home Office
The floor plan shows the extent of the room. The dormer nearest to the entrance contains the desk, with the fireplace jutting out next to it, while the second dormer houses the chaise longue.
Unsurprisingly, the family’s feedback is glowing. “Everyone is absolutely loving the space,” Nicky says, and one of the owners is plotting a future move. “I know Dad is certainly looking forward to moving in there once the kids have left home,” she says.
More importantly, transforming the attic has had long-term impacts for this family. “The owners said that having done this work, they never have to move house again. There’s room for their children, grandchildren, anyone.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this spacious, multifunctional attic space? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More importantly, transforming the attic has had long-term impacts for this family. “The owners said that having done this work, they never have to move house again. There’s room for their children, grandchildren, anyone.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this spacious, multifunctional attic space? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A professional couple and their three children
Location Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Property A double-fronted Edwardian house with five bedrooms and three bathrooms
Room dimensions Around 6m x 18m
Designer Nicky Percival
Project year 2022
Photos by Matt Gamble
You might imagine this is the master suite, but there is already a main bedroom with en suite on the first floor. In fact, this beautiful open-plan attic space was designed for one of the owners’ daughters, then in her late teens.
“They wanted to make it all-purpose, so she had everything she needed up there and could be self-contained,” Nicky explains. “So, somewhere to work, hang out and sleep.” With a small shower room off the landing on this floor already, the freestanding bath is a luxurious bonus.
The apex of the roof is nearly 3m high, so the sloping ceiling never became restrictive. “In fact, we brought the wall forwards to create wardrobe space and storage in the eaves.” (This is just out of shot.)
The chimney runs up through the room from the floors below. “We debated whether to plaster it, but the brick was in quite decent condition,” Nicky says, “so I said, let’s clean it up and keep it.”