DESIGN INSPIRATION I
Written By Frances Healy •
I woke up on Christmas morning 2019 to this glorious sunrise and its these colours that inspired me to decorate this small dining room in this bold deep burnt orange paint colour. Small rooms look wonderful in deep colours and this room is a perfect example of this – the rich, warm hue just wraps around you and invites you into this cosy space.
A simple neutral flatweave carpet was laid and two layers of neutral blinds have been hung at the windows to balance the wall colour. The striped rattan roller blind offers some privacy or shade on a sunny summer day and the soft cream crewelwork roman blinds add cosiness and softness for winter nights.
The client’s eclectic collection of artwork adds layers of interest and colours to the strong walls which are then picked out in the patterned seat cushions and kilim floor rug, all of which add additional texture and pattern to the otherwise plain surroundings.
A simple but stunning oak bespoke dining table was made to suit the space and the six rattan seat and oak dining chairs make for comfortable dining whether it’s a casual lunch or formal dinner. The client loves the room so much, that we also included a large deep buttoned armchair and created a quiet corner away from the rest of the house to escape and enjoy some peace and quiet. A perfect reading (or snoozing) spot.
Books, photographs, personal mementos and collections make a home personal to the owner, so it’s wonderful that this room is full of all these items which add the final layer to this room. Lit with soft table lamps, many candles in a variety of vessels and twinkling fairy lights, this will be a room that will shine for every event, not just Christmas!
I was always taught that every room should have some black in it, so the chunky bookcase made from reclaimed wood with black metal supports ticks this box (as well as a black frame on one of the paintings) and refers neatly back to my original sunrise picture, proving that our glorious scenery and environment here in Cornwall and the South West can be a very natural influence on our home environment.
Be brave and add some colour into your life in 2022!
Frances
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Frances Healy,
Interior Design Director,
Frances Healy Interiors Ltd
About the Author: Frances Healy, Interior Design Director, Frances Healy Interiors Ltd
Frances has spent her entire career working in premium luxury residential properties across the whole of the UK and also into mainland Europe, the United States and Caribbean. Having completed Art School, Frances joined Charles Hammond Ltd on Sloane Street in London where she carried out her apprenticeship working as a junior member of one of the Design Teams. Her experience in classic period houses and riverside apartments during the 1980’s and 90’s within London and the luxurious country estates of the home counties, gave her a training, knowledge and address book, which is still with her today.
Returning to her home in the South West 20 years ago, Frances now heads up her own Interior Design business where she can still be found in prestige properties in the exquisite seaside towns of Salcombe, Fowey, St Mawes and Rock or high on the moors of Bodmin and Dartmoor still working her magic, still loving her trade and making many, many old and new clients very, very, happy.
Frances lives in the Southern Tamar valley right on the border between Devon and Cornwall with her husband and their beloved spaniel Barney. Weekends will be spent boating, walking the beaches (come rain or shine) or pottering in her greenhouse.