No.6
SITTING ROOM FOCUS
Elegant design is paired with family-friendly touches in a scheme that's equally suited to chilled evenings and entertaining
PROJECT DETAILS
DESIGNER Annabel James, senior designer at Alexander James Interiors (aji.co.uk)
PROPERTY Modern sevenbedroom house
WORK Part of a larger project
LOCATION Surrey
Designer Annabel James was called in to help a couple with kids – and dogs – to get a do-it-all sitting room. ‘They wanted a living space where they could relax with guests without feeling reluctant to put a drink on a table or worried they’d ruin a sofa.’
1 FIND BALANCE
While the clients wanted an element of sophistication, they were also aware that, with dogs and children, the room would be used, so fabric and wall colouring choices needed to be family-friendly. Ample, comfortable seating was also a must.
2 SET THE RIGHT TONE
‘The room is painted in a charcoal shade, which we felt was perfect for the atmosphere the owners wanted to create,’ says Annabel. ‘It became the starting point for choosing the furniture.’ The coffee tables have a shagreen textural finish with warm bronze legs, while the sideboards with washed grey wood and carved intricate doors were added to create an element of interest to the background. ‘The room needed warmth against the depth of charcoal so we added cushions with rich burgundy tones, warm creams and a cosy throw,’ says Annabel.
3 ADD FINISHING TOUCHES
‘Our styling team sourced beautiful accessories to enhance the colour palette and textures throughout the room,’ says Annabel. ‘Because the house is set amongst tall trees, we added n
