The brief for this recently finished renovation was to create a home that felt calm, uncluttered and helped to simplify the owners’ busy lives. We decided on a neutral colour palette to achieve this using warm white instead of bright white for a softer feel. Adding plenty of texture was key so that surfaces were matt rather than reflective creating a cocooning effect. Read on for our moodboard, tips to achieve the look, and product sources for the living room.

Coffee table, sofa, television, lamp, vase.

Firstly we had to create a neutral foundation that would complement our calming palette. The orange-brown floors were sanded back and stained as light as we could possibly get them. There used to be an old fireplace and hearth that jutted out from the wall in a rough stone. We had the surround removed, replaced the fire to a gas model, and created a column from floor to ceiling to give the room a focal point. The column was hand-rendered in plaster for a textural look, and a recess for the TV added. Custom designed cabinetry was added either side of the fireplace column to add additional storage, double as bench seating and create a styling opportunity. The living area is an open plan space that joins the kitchen, so creating a sense of separation was key to give the room a more intimate feel. We achieved this with a beautiful sofa in putty-coloured leather in a modular configuration to ensure plenty of seating for this social couple. Selecting black sofa legs is a little detail but links the piece with the TV and fireplace. Every neutral interior needs wow factor and we fell in love with this marble coffee table in a circular shape to break up all the clean, modern lines.

Chair, coffee table, birds from a vintage store.

The cylindrical shape of the occasional chair in ivory boucle fabric adds an organic feel and is the perfect spot to curl up with a book. Rather than formal, heavy drapes we opted for sheer curtains that look like linen but are actually a great polyester imitation so they’re super practical for the baby of the house - a French bulldog. Roman blinds allow loads of natural light, and are made in the same fabric as the curtains but with backing added for privacy.

Kristina Dam ceramics available through SF Studio, please enquire.

The built-in shelves create the perfect surface for a little styling moment. We used the owner’s books and added a couple of gorgeous sculptural ceramics. You can see how the hand-plastered walls have a soft, textural finish that white paint just wouldn’t achieve. We asked the plasterer to match the colour to our wall and ceiling paint throughout the home for a really seamless look. Here’s our moodboard for the living space, we’re super happy with how lovely and relaxed it turned out and so are the owners!