Layout and finishes

Layout and Finishes

With our brief set, we could begin to plan how the space would be laid out, as well as the key design details and finishes we wanted to include.

There were a few key elements we knew we wanted to include.

• Statement fireplace
• Large dresser
• Mud room
• Dedicated dog zone
• Flower area
• Drapers table

Once we had established these elements, we began to carve out the different areas. Our final layout was very symmetrical, with two 'cubicles' on each side of the space that created our mud room and dog room, then the fireplace and dresser with our flower area sat opposite each other in the larger main space. The drapers table sits centrally as a hardworking storage piece, as well as a surface to display plants and magazines.

Design Details

• The fireplace is made from Arabescato marble.
• The dresser is an antique from the early 19th century and was turned into a flower area by adding a shallow sink for filling vases with water.
• I designed the Drapers table, and was inspired by similar antique pieces. It has plenty of storage for busy family life.
• I combined herringbone brick tiles with timber planks on the floor to differentiate between the zones - I would recommend considering how your thresholds will work between different floors early on.
• Ceilings can often get overlooked, but we were keen to introduce interest to the ceiling in this project. In the main room, we opted for a gridded design in softwood timber beams and painted it in a creamy off-white. In the mud room and dog room, we made the spaces feel different by cladding the ceiling in rough timber beams.
• On the walls is a statement wallpaper with a blackberry motif, which really helps to communicate the language of countryside living.
• In the far corners, I added fabric to the walls, which has a sound-deadening effect and helps to create a lovely warm atmosphere.
• The Delft tiles in the mudroom were a collaboration between Sims Hilditch and Marlborough Tiles, and each motif is inspired by the different seasons.
• The screens encasing the dog room and mud room are a clever way to delineate between zones; they make it feel like you are in a separate room, while keeping the overall space open plan.
• We used the same fresh green on the screens and panelling, then opted for a slightly darker green inside the mudroom to create a subtle moodier atmosphere.
• The bespoke joinery throughout is what makes this space really special. By going bespoke, you're able to create something completely unique and perfectly suited to your needs.

Sourcebook

• 'Blackberry' wallpaper by Marthe Armitage
• 'The White Hart' Delft tile collection, Sims Hilditch x Marlborough Tiles
• 'Barefoot in the Grass', by Benjamin Moore
• 'Courtyard Green', by Benjamin Moore
• Titchmarsh & Goodwin