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Room Tour: Dark Hues and Period Details Revive a Dull Living Room
Deep, smoky-brown tones are the perfect foil for the curated vintage finds and bold artwork in this cosy room
The owner of this Victorian home – a former stables and tack room – is a keen art collector and lover of interesting vintage pieces. He wanted somewhere comfortable to sit, read a book, listen to music, play his guitar, and spend time with friends. Step forward interior designer Karen Knox, who was enlisted to create a calm and cosy room scheme with oodles of period character.
“Based on the initial consultation with my client, it was clear he was drawn to dark and cosy spaces with dark wood tones,” Karen says. “I couldn’t wait to reinstate the period details this lovely room deserved.”
“Based on the initial consultation with my client, it was clear he was drawn to dark and cosy spaces with dark wood tones,” Karen says. “I couldn’t wait to reinstate the period details this lovely room deserved.”
The small fireplace before it was knocked out.
Working with Carlton House Fireplaces, Karen created a larger opening. An imposing black slate surround and black hearth were added to create an elegant and sophisticated feel, while the back was lined with brick slips and the existing wood-burning stove was refitted.
“The room now has a striking focal point that’s much more in keeping with its 2.6m-high ceiling,” Karen says. The smart fireplace was finished off with chic fireside accessories.
Log basket, Ligne Roset. Mirror, Dunelm.
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“The room now has a striking focal point that’s much more in keeping with its 2.6m-high ceiling,” Karen says. The smart fireplace was finished off with chic fireside accessories.
Log basket, Ligne Roset. Mirror, Dunelm.
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Reinstating the period joinery was the next step. A beautiful new ceiling rose, cornices, picture rails and architraves were added to give the space depth and personality.
“The newly added rails and architraves instantly made such a difference, while the picture rails have been put to very good use throughout the room, hanging a mix of old and new artwork,” Karen says. “It always surprises me how different a room can feel when it’s wearing the right outfit.”
Rug, Soho Home.
“The newly added rails and architraves instantly made such a difference, while the picture rails have been put to very good use throughout the room, hanging a mix of old and new artwork,” Karen says. “It always surprises me how different a room can feel when it’s wearing the right outfit.”
Rug, Soho Home.
Updating the radiators was a challenge, but one that was well worth the effort. The solid concrete floor prevented Karen from fitting any pipework below it, but she was reluctant to lift the existing wooden floor, as that would have meant taking off all the skirting boards and inevitably disturbing the plasterwork.
Luckily, the plumber and joiner were able to remove just a section of skirting board and lift one plank of flooring to fit new copper pipes, and then installed beautiful bronze column radiators that complement the brown walls. “If you’re going to go to the trouble of paying for fancy-pants new rads, then get your pipes sorted. Your eyes will thank you for it,” Karen says.
Bronze column radiator, Mr Central Heating.
Luckily, the plumber and joiner were able to remove just a section of skirting board and lift one plank of flooring to fit new copper pipes, and then installed beautiful bronze column radiators that complement the brown walls. “If you’re going to go to the trouble of paying for fancy-pants new rads, then get your pipes sorted. Your eyes will thank you for it,” Karen says.
Bronze column radiator, Mr Central Heating.
As a keen collector of art, the owner wanted his bold pieces to play a starring role, particularly the large canvas above the sofa.
“Being on and in the water has a special significance to my client, so this striking painting was a major reference for the room design,” Karen says. “I loved the idea of a warm, smoky brown for this space, as I knew it would provide a great backdrop to the earthy, autumnal tones of the artwork and furniture.”
The actual paint colour wasn’t chosen until the end of the design process, when the main elements of the room were in place and the space could be seen as a whole. The selection was honed down to a beautiful brown that changes colour depending on the light.
Walls and woodwork painted in Char Brown, Benjamin Moore UK. Art by California-based artist Isabel Emrich. Velvet sofa, Love My Sofa. Cushions, Oka and Neptune.
“Being on and in the water has a special significance to my client, so this striking painting was a major reference for the room design,” Karen says. “I loved the idea of a warm, smoky brown for this space, as I knew it would provide a great backdrop to the earthy, autumnal tones of the artwork and furniture.”
The actual paint colour wasn’t chosen until the end of the design process, when the main elements of the room were in place and the space could be seen as a whole. The selection was honed down to a beautiful brown that changes colour depending on the light.
Walls and woodwork painted in Char Brown, Benjamin Moore UK. Art by California-based artist Isabel Emrich. Velvet sofa, Love My Sofa. Cushions, Oka and Neptune.
This ‘before’ shot shows the previous, full-height window shutters and old radiator.
The white shutters were sold to someone local and replaced with darker ones. The half-height design allows more light to flood into the room while retaining daytime privacy. The Roman blind softens the window, offering evening cosiness when needed.
“I love how the antique Georgian bow-fronted chest of drawers provides a warm, mahogany backdrop to the ‘rare as rocking horse droppings’ Arne Norell chair – a midcentury classic we had shipped over from Poland,” Karen says.
Shutter, Shutter Emporium.
“I love how the antique Georgian bow-fronted chest of drawers provides a warm, mahogany backdrop to the ‘rare as rocking horse droppings’ Arne Norell chair – a midcentury classic we had shipped over from Poland,” Karen says.
Shutter, Shutter Emporium.
Using dark colours in a room can be transformative and completely change the feel of a space, but they’re not for everyone. Karen suggests that, before committing to a rich wall tone, you ask yourself how you want to feel in the room and what you’ll do in there, as it will definitely feel darker and more closed in once you’ve added a deep shade.
“If you’ve thought about going dark for more than a few weeks, then my advice is to just do it,” she says. “I’ve never had a client who hasn’t loved their dark space. And, if you do find it’s not for you, it’s just paint, and you can be back over to the light side in a couple of days.
“If you do decide to go dark, don’t leave your ceiling and woodwork pure brilliant white,” she adds.
“If you’ve thought about going dark for more than a few weeks, then my advice is to just do it,” she says. “I’ve never had a client who hasn’t loved their dark space. And, if you do find it’s not for you, it’s just paint, and you can be back over to the light side in a couple of days.
“If you do decide to go dark, don’t leave your ceiling and woodwork pure brilliant white,” she adds.
Karen is proud of this room and how it’s come together. “It really is one of my favourite rooms to have worked on, as I got to mix lots of vintage and antique goodies with modern touches to create a place my client could finally call home,” she says.
“Also, having complete creative control was a dream,” she adds. “I really got to flex my design muscles on this one. I can’t wait to complete the rest of the house!”
Wall light, Holloways of Ludlow. Velvet armchair, &tradition from Nunido.
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“Also, having complete creative control was a dream,” she adds. “I really got to flex my design muscles on this one. I can’t wait to complete the rest of the house!”
Wall light, Holloways of Ludlow. Velvet armchair, &tradition from Nunido.
Tell us…
What’s inspired you about this project? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A retired single man in his fifties
Location Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Property A two-bedroom Victorian house converted from stables, a tack room and workers’ lodgings, which would have been part of a larger coach house estate in the 1800s
Room dimensions Approx 5m x 3m
Designer Karen Knox of Making Spaces
Photos by Karen Knox
Despite good dimensions, there were plenty of areas in this living room that needed attention before any decorating could start, such as the 1980s polystyrene coving and plastic ceiling rose.
“As well as these, there was a small fireplace with a wood-burning stove squeezed into the gap [see below]. It was the wrong scale for the space and looked awkward, so the first thing we did was sort that out,” Karen says. “It’s always important to start with the messy jobs.”