New bed revealed in Mums annex renovation
As our own house renovations finally begin to pick up pace this summer it’s time to reveal another finished room in Mums annex renovation. It took a long time to discover the perfect shade of pink (Nevada 6 by Dulux for your info) but it’s proved the prefect almost neutral shade to set off the dramatic deep velvet upholstered bed. The whole scheme was inspired for these to die for lampshades by British brand Anna Jacobs. My Mum totally fell in love with them on one of our trips to Heals and so we used the design to base a lot of the room’s colour scheme. Finding a starting point like this- be it a cushion, a painting or an object that holds the mood and feeling you want to create can be the perfect spring board. So with pale pink on the walls and dark navy for the upholstery we picked out the various shades of pink and blue throughout the rest of the room in cushions, fabrics and accessories so the whole room feels pulled togther.
Breaking Dawn lamp, from £210 by Anna Jacobs. Empire bedside table, from £149, by Scumble Goosie . Sophie Stripe bedlinen by Secret Linen Store. Holly bed frame in Midnight Plush Velvet, from £825, by Button & Sprung. Photography for Sophie Robinson by Alun Callender
The bed is undoubtedly the hero in any bedroom design and I just love the tailored style of the Holly that we got from Button and Sprung. Measuring 5.5 x 4.5 meters the bedroom is a really nice size and can take a large headboard really well, but I’d argue you could use a dramatic upholstered headboard in almost any size room. Mum was a real thing about button back upholstery- she thinks they are dust catchers! So I was delighted to find the Holly bed as it has all the luxe drama of an oversized button back bed but has a more contemporary twist which suits the very modern style throughout the annex. However we opted for the very super dark luxurious navy plush velvet to give the room a hint of luxury and drama. Mum really wants her new home to feel uber stylish and a little bit special so the style of furniture and fabrics you choose are pivotal to this. For me velvet is a great choice to get this look and feel.
Photography for Sophie Robinson by Alun Callender
I love the way the fabric is carried around the entire bed base and the sexy little turned legs. If you can go for a raised bed on legs it looks more elegant in my view, allowing the room to feel larger because of the space below it. The only time not to do it is if storage is a premium and you need to make the most of all available space when it’s a great idea to have storage drawers or an ottoman system within the divan base. All of these were options on the Button and Sprung website making it really easy to order online and design the bed that suits your needs. They offer a 100 nights free return policy, which was great peace of mind too, as with any bespoke piece of furniture- you can’t see it until it arrives! Making big purchases online can be full of anxiety as you don’t always know what you are going to get before it’s delivered and I wouldn’t go so far to buy a mattress online without trying it first, so this policy is a great idea if you can’t make it to the showroom. In this room Mum has kept her original mattress from her old bed because it didn’t need replacing at this time, although the sleep council recommend you change your mattress every eight years as the mattress will lose support and comfort after this time, so we’ll need to think about that in the near future but one thing at a time! Meanwhile the bed base has a 10 year guarantee so that’s here to stay.
Holly bed frame in Midnight Plush Velvet, from £825, by Button & Sprung. Breaking Dawn lamp, from £210 by Anna Jacobs. Houndstooth carpet in Pebble, £69.98 sqm by Brintons. Walls painted in Nevada 6, £62.76 for 5L by Dulux. Dufrene fuchsia cushion, £60, by Designers Guild. Regency cobalt cushion, £25, Habitat. Yellow spot cushion, £69, Punica. Photography for Sophie Robinson by Alun Callender
I always aim to go for rather classic pieces of furniture I they are investment pieces and then indulge in my love of colour and pattern on the accessories, with the view that these can be switched about more easily. I love to mix bold stripes in my design so was thrilled that Mum opted for my Sophie Stripe linen from my collaboration with Secret Linen Store. It’s the perfect shade of blue to mix with other tones. For a summer look we’ve mixed it up with some yellow throws and a cushion from Punica to give it a fresh look. I’d probably then switch the look to velvet’s and soften woollens in the winter and switch the summer stripe bed linen to a lovely heavy linen which would look divine in contrast to the plush velvet.
My five top tips on buying a bed
- Go for as bigger bed as your room will allow
- A bed on legs gives the illusion of more space. However if storage is premium, opt for a divan with drawers.
- Big headboards make a great style statement in a room and add another opportunity for colour and texture
- Never buy a mattress without trying it first. Some companies offer up to 100 days free returns policy which is really worth it if you can’t get to the showroom. Button and Sprung offer it on bed frames too.
- Choose a classic style which will stand the test of time and then update the look with linen and cushions. An upholstered bed has the option of being recovered too.
[Photography by Allun Callender]
