FIREPLACE ROOM UPDATE – FINAL PLANS

We are almost there! Just a few more weeks left until our alcoves will be installed and I can finally pick the finishing touches for our fireplace room. This has been the longest reno ever but looking back at the progress it has been well worth it. I’ve had to make some adjustments to my original plan which is something I’m pretty used to by now. But the design of the room itself hasn’t changed. I’ve stuck with the same design theme as I feel quite strongly about how I want to experience the room. The fact that I haven’t changed my mind during the process tells me my instinct was right. This room is slowly turning into the most special fireplace/TV room I could have ever imagined. And I love every single piece of furniture and accessories I’ve picked so far!

Here’s what’s been happening lately..

ALCOVES

I always knew I wanted alcoves next to the fireplace. It is the perfect solution for hiding clutter and making the most of this awkward space. I’ve commissioned a local carpenter to build my dream alcoves that will not only look pretty but will be functional too. They will hide all our home cinema equipment, sky boxes etc. I’ve picked the timeless Neve colour by Fired Earth for the wood and chosen beautiful rattan drawer door fronts to add some warmth and texture. I can’t wait to have them installed. This room is going to feel so much more complete with alcoves on each side of the fireplace. I even picked the perfect antique brass furniture knobs to go with it!

LIGHTING

We had an electrician convert all our light switches to dimmers which has made a huge difference already. I also bought my dream lamp, Gubi 5321, as a piano desk lamp and I can’t stop admiring it. The lamp, originally designed in 1941 by Paavo Tynell, has been on my wish list for ages. The rattan-covered stem and brass-covered shell shape look striking together. I love that it is inspired by nature but also has a lovely romantic, vintage flair going on. I definitely think it was well worth the investment.

SOFT FURNISHING

I love how the new full-length curtains add a bit of drama to this space. They were a splurge but worth every penny, don’t you think? We had half-length curtains here before that just looked so wrong. They made the ceiling look much shorter and claustrophobic. The drapery and thickness of the fabric adds sophistication and, most importantly, stops cold air from coming in. This particular colour has now been discontinued but luckily we convinced the manufacturer to weave more fabric but I will have to write another blogpost about that!

I still need to find the perfect area rug for this space, although I pretty much know what I want already. I’ll wait until the alcoves are installed, so I can see how they impact the design dynamic. I couldn’t of course help myself from getting a new cushion from my favourite Iittala Oiva Toikka Cheetah collection. Isn’t it perfect?!

ART

I’ve been on the hunt for some vintage wall art for this room and lucked out last weekend at a local antique shop. How gorgeous is this 1940s London print featuring Monument? I love the dark and moody feel. It will go perfectly with our original 1930s beams and rustic pendant light. I’m desperately trying to keep this room 50/50 modern and traditional, so this picture will help me massively to achieve that. And it was only £5 so it would have been a crime to leave it in the shop, right?

I hope you are as excited as I am for the big reveal! I promise to share the alcoves as soon as they are installed and then will buy all the finishing touches. I’m excited but also relieved to have this room make-over completed soon. It’s been a long journey but hopefully a worthwhile one.