Mike lives in a regency property built in 1826. The historical 3 storey house sits on the south coast, between the South Downs and the sea.
Like many of us, Mike recently found himself spending a lot more time in his home office. The space wasn’t working for him, years of stuffing documents in drawers and not spending much time in the space had taken its toll.
Mike told me he’d like the room to feel smarter and have a warmer, professional, yet cosy feel. I instantly set to work, noting that the room is North facing meaning that warming up the walls isn’t as easy as you would think.
A lack of natural light is a challenge but when it’s done right it really can work. One trick I had up my sleeve was to paint the ceiling in high gloss with a mid tone.
Colour is key in a space like this. I ordered a few samples and the winner was Farrow & Ball Red Earth
To complement the richness of Red Earth I chose Elephants Breath and Skimming Stone which both have a mid tone. I opted for a high gloss on the ceiling which reflects light beautifully.
Last but not least I sorted through the clients existing art and accessories and chose what I would keep in the room, Mike gave me a budget for a few new pieces, like the plants, the mix of old and new looks perfect.