In Progress: Reigate, Surrey
Edwardian Sitting Room – A Sophisticated Yet Family-Friendly Redesign
Brief: To create a sitting room that offers a perfect balance between relaxation and functionality: a space for cosy evenings, family time, and elegant entertaining, all while remaining sensitive to the home’s period charm.
Style: Traditional with bright, modern tones—honouring the architectural features while introducing warmth and vibrancy.
Services: Full design and project coordination, including design concepts and moodboards, lighting and electrical plans, joinery design and installation, and sourcing and supply of all FF&E (furniture, fixtures, and equipment).
Transforming an untouched formal sitting room
Tucked within the quiet streets of Reigate, this substantial Edwardian home has already been lovingly restored by my clients, who undertook a full renovation over recent years. The final untouched space—the formal sitting room—stood as the last piece of the puzzle. Though full of potential, it lacked direction and inspiration. Which is why they brought me in, ready to turn this elegant room into something layered, stylish, and functional for the way they live now.
Before
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The brief was clear: create a space that felt like a retreat at the end of the day, while still being comfortable and practical for family life and versatile enough to host guests with ease. It needed to feel calm yet full of personality, rooted in tradition but reimagined with a modern sensibility.
Designing for family life
We began by carefully studying the layout and how the room is used throughout the week. My clients are a busy couple with young children, so the space needed to shift effortlessly between quiet, grown-up evenings and playful family afternoons. From the beginning, it was important that the room didn’t feel too formal; instead, refined, welcoming, and full of warmth.
The existing fireplace provided a natural focal point, but the surrounding walls felt flat and underutilised. One of our first key design decisions was to introduce bespoke built-in joinery on either side. These bespoke units will frame the fireplace beautifully and offer a balance of open shelving for books and decorative objects, along with discreet closed storage below. This feature adds symmetry and visual weight to the room, grounding it and drawing the eye in.
Design: measurements
Design: joinery
Design: fabrics
In terms of colour and material palette, we’ve chosen a soft, earthy taupe for the walls—a grounding backdrop that allows for bolder accent tones elsewhere in the room. We are layering textiles and finishes to create visual depth and texture.
Lighting and furniture in harmony
We designed the lighting with flexibility and atmosphere in mind. A combination of wall lights, table lamps, and discreet ceiling fixtures will offer multiple mood settings, whether it’s an intimate evening or a lively gathering. Each piece has been selected for its function and the character it brings to the space.
We have carefully planned the furniture layout to make the room feel open and intimate. A generous sofa in a textural fabric will anchor the seating area, accompanied by a two-seater sofa to allow for fluid movement and conversation. Footstools will have character with bold upholstery while doubling up as central additional seating or side tables.
Overseeing each stage of development
With the design now fully developed and approved, we are moving into the coordination and implementation phase. Joinery has gone out to tender, and sourcing soft furnishings and FF&E is well underway. I’ll oversee every stage, working closely with suppliers and trades to ensure each detail aligns with our carefully crafted vision.
This project is all about balance: elegance and ease, tradition and freshness, quiet moments and joyful gatherings. I look forward to sharing more as this beautiful Edwardian sitting room continues to come to life—one thoughtful layer at a time.