Contemporary Drawing Room - Wretham

Contemporary Drawing Room

Location:

Wretham, Norfolk

Project Type:

Residential

Services:

Fully project managed renovation

The Brief

This project forms part of a complete renovation of a Grade II listed Georgian manor house. The brief was to design a formal, but elegant drawing and reception room that would showcase two large commissioned oil paintings. Overall the design needed to be in keeping with the period property 

Georgian drawing room with oak floors
Drawing room with an oil painting above a bespoke built-in bioethanol fire
Drawing room with twin sofas and high windows
Georgian drawing room with Laveplan Hope suspension lights
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About The Project

This was a hugely enjoyable design to work on. The room has such beautiful dimensions, wonderful French doors and sash windows, with over three metre tall ceilings. Whilst my clients love strong and bold colour schemes, I convinced them that in order to showcase the wonderful bright blue colours in their two oil paintings, the rest of the room needed to be more subtle and neutral. I therefore designed the wall panelling in a heritage shade called ‘French Grey Dark’ by Little Greene. The walls are ‘French Grey Mid’. For the sumptuous velvet curtains I chose a rich, dark blue, colour matched with the darkest blue within the paintings. The solid walnut floor provides a rich and textured contrast to the soft, muted and heritage wall and panel colours.

This room needed to fulfil a variety of functions; to be a formal reception room, a space that can be used for large parties and gatherings, and also a space that can easily become cosy and inviting for smaller, less formal family gatherings, or even just relaxing in front of the television. My clients requested some fun elements to be incorporated into this room as well such as a hidden doorway leading to their office space, a concealed TV and a bar. I designed a new stud wall to run the length of the room. This was to incorporate a lit bar area with solid oak worktops and shelves and a wine fridge, hidden behind bespoke cupboard doors built in to match the wooden wall panelling, which runs the entire circumference of the room. This entirely bespoke, hand made and hand painted panelling was then built on site to ensure a perfect fitting. Balancing these tall cupboards to the right hand side of this wall are the tall cupboard doors, that actually conceal a secret passage way leading to the snug and home office space, and also a back way into the hall. This was really just a bit of fun, but one that allowed me to create a beautifully symmetry within the room.

The central feature was to be a large granite fireplace with one of the paintings above. I originally designed this at the request of my clients, to have a contemporary style inset wood burner, however once work began, my team discovered no less than three disused fireplaces that had been modified over time and no longer had good enough access to the shared chimney. This would have meant a lot of additional work and cost to rectify, so I suggested a new bio-ethanol fire instead. We supply the best, and safest bio-ethanol fires. The great thing about them is the lack of smoke particles in the air, and the fact they can be controlled instantly with a remote control, but provide a real open flame. They are incredibly beautiful and eco-friendly at the same time.

Once my clients were on board with this alteration, I designed the bespoke solid granite fireplace around it. I chose Ivory Fantasy Granite as this has veins and markings in blues, greens and some browns, and work really well with the overall colour scheme then designed the oil painting to be built onto a frame to create a sliding door. The oil painting then slides into a pocket within the wall panelling to reveal the television behind it. Once closed, the oil painting creates a wonderful central feature above the fireplace, framed by the wall panelling and no one would ever know a TV was behind it.

Overall I was really delighted by the finished room. Our team worked incredibly hard during a difficult time to create an absolutely fantastic finish to every aspect of this room. We are very proud of them! It was so close to my design in every way, even though we had to incorporate a different kind of fire. Whilst the pandemic prevented the large party planned for this room last Christmas, hopefully this year my clients will really be able to make full use of this wonderful new space.

Rebecca Coulby

What Our Clients Say

'Helen and I are both very pleased with the final result and are looking forward to using them in the months and years to come both for ourselves and with family and friends. They are both lovely spaces in different ways and once we have the finishing touches of some rugs, the coffee table and plant they will be beyond perfect.’

Mr T. Harris


‘My expectations were high as all the projects we’ve had from Coulby Interiors have been remarkable, of exceptional quality, workmanship, detail and finish. There is no doubt the Drawing room and office are beautiful and just as you designed. We are both very very pleased with them. We had the family round yesterday, showing them all the rooms you designed with lots of compliments and wows! And All asking which room next.’

Mrs. H Andrews