Cosy Country Cottage
Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
In this project, we were asked to transform the two guest bedrooms in our client’s home near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire.
This cosy country cottage was full of character with it’s sloping ceilings and rustic details, but storage was a problem for our clients and a space to work from home was also a priority. We converted the smaller of the two bedrooms into a home office complete with bespoke storage, and the larger of the bedrooms underwent a total transformation to include custom-made wardrobes and dressing table.
We managed the whole project from concept to completion - you can read all about the process below.
The Before
The Design Process
From the moment we first set foot in our client’s home, the need for a dedicated home office space was evident - the dining table had been set up as a desk which was disrupting the owner’s work/life balance. Key to solving this issue was an extra guest bedroom upstairs that we felt could be put to much better use as a home office, giving our client the ability to (both physically & metaphorically) close the door on work at the end of the day. The larger guest bedroom had slowly but surely become a dumping ground and the lack of suitable storage was a source of constant frustration for our clients.
After visiting the site and taking detailed measurements we began work on the spatial planning and design concepts for both rooms. Our clients loved the collaborative way we work and fully embraced being involved in the design process, enthusiastically reviewing samples and swatches.
The team of trusted tradespeople who worked on this project included our electrician, joiner, decorator, flooring contractor, upholsterer and curtain maker. We project managed the works from start to finish, regularly liaising with everyone involved to ensure the works stayed on track and were being completed according to our plans.
Once all works were completed, we co-ordinated deliveries of the furniture and prepared for the final installation. We hung the gallery wall and dressed both spaces with all the finishing touches - most of which we took from the client’s existing collection of treasured keepsakes, the end result has a joyful and truly personal feel.
We set about designing bespoke storage for both rooms and worked with our joiner Simon to create a wall of storage for the office which included a cupboard specifically sized to house a set of golf clubs and for the guest bedroom some much-needed floor to ceiling wardrobes plus a cheeky little dressing table for a touch of glamour. It was important to our clients that we incorporate some of their existing pieces within the designs, along with some of their eclectic and extensive art collection, so we deliberately left the walls in the office neutral to allow space for a selection of artworks to create a gallery wall. We also sourced a vintage desk and chest of drawers to fit in with this characterful home. For the guest bedroom we carefully curated a mix of pattern, colour and texture to revive the space and create a cosy, warm retreat.
The Results
