How to design a room with a TV

Incorporating a TV into an interior design scheme is not always easy and sometimes we all need a little inspiration. Is it me or has anyone else noticed that a large proportion of magazines and websites do not feature rooms with a TV making inspiration hard to come by. Admittedly, they are not always stylish and can shatter the illusion of a beautifully styled home and throw the balance of a room but I like nothing more than settling down with a good film at the end of a long day/week. So there must be a compromise?

For me it is not realistic to have a room without a TV, on one hand I think that a seperate TV room would be ideal but on the other I love the relaxed atmosphere of watching TV in the living room, I do not want our living/family room to be formal. I am sure plenty of you feel the same. We also do not all have the option to have a dedicated TV room so, with this in mind I wanted to share with you some inspiring images which incorporate a TV and remain stylish whether country, modern, classic, luxury or contemporary is your choice of style.

This is the route I am going to be taking in my own home to remain loyal to my original Victorian features, personally I do not feel it right to hang a TV on the wall here and would like something more sympathetic so will be taking a less bold approach with shelving above the TV so it almost disappears with the books and vignettes.

 For those of you who want to completely conceal the TV, here are some great options; TV hidden behind a mirror, a bespoke storage unit which can be pulled back to reveal/disguise the TV or my favourite, the mirror TV. When switched off, the TV appears as a wall mounted mirror - These can incorporate all the current technology including 3D and many companies offer a number of sizes to suit your requirements - I love these but your bank account may not feel the same!

Alternatively, a solution which works well in the more contemporary home, a Wall hung TV which has been sunk into the wall to create a super sleek and stylish finish.

I hope this has given you some inspiration on how to fit a TV into your home and work with your design rather than the TV stealing the show!

Images: Pinterest, Magic Mirror, House to Home

Interior Design; Current Projects

I have been extremely busy recently completing projects and starting new, including my own home so not much time left for blogging. But, today I thought I would share some of those projects with you.

Project 101; Bathroom
The start of my own home renovation. The bathroom was small with no storage so my client brief (yes, I completed a client brief) was a room with built in storage, relaxing and luxurious. I designed a built in unit behind the toilet as this was wasted space, this worked extremely well as it also concealed the toilet cistern. The room was completed with travertine tiles, under floor heating and a 2 way dimmer switch lighting system, which I love - complete control over the lighting and in turn the atmosphere of the room, there really is nothing nicer than relaxing in a bath at the end of a long day, glass of chilled white in hand!
The dark silk curtains and dark wood mirror add a hint of luxury and depth into the scheme, layering colour and texture.
 

Before

After 

Project 103; Living Room
A classic design with plenty of light. The gentleman who this was designed for wished to source his own wood furniture but all other furniture and materials were sourced by yours truly. I used a mixture of taupe and grey to keep the scheme light but also with a more masculine feel in mind, the stripes also echo my desire for a soft classic, masculine room. The views from the clients double doors out into the garden were beautiful so I replaced the blinds which obscured the view with silk curtains to frame the garden.

Before

Mood Board

After

 Project 106; Cellar
This project is still on going so I cannot show you any before/after photos but imagine a cold, dark and damp cellar............ Now being transformed into light, bright office, the builders work is complete and all that remains are the finishing touches. Mainly, a wall gallery fit for the photographer using this room. Here are a few sneak peek images and the colour scheme.

Other projects I am working on include my living room, a grand entrance and dining room for client 103! And I'll leave you with some of the mood boards I am now working on for these new projects.

Homespun Style, Selina Lake

Homespun Style

Just like fashion, interiors styles go in cycles. We’ve had minimalism; we’ve done neutrals; we’re slightly over our love affair with grey. So it’s time for something completely different! We’re ditching serious, understated schemes, in favour of colour, pattern and bags of personality.

Spotting this trend for unpretentious, colourful, crafty interiors, Selina Lake put together Homespun Style. Together with photographer Debi Treloar, Selina sourced and shot homes as far afield as Norway, Sweden, France and Denmark, as well as in the UK. Each one shares a love of colour - whether splashed abundantly across walls or used to punctuate an all-white scheme. Upcycled and repaired pieces that are bursting with character, sometimes set alongside design classics, are another feature of the homespun home. Anyone can give an old wooden chair a bright coat of paint. Experimentation is key - simply get stuck in! 

You might be surprised how easy it is to create something gorgeous and unique.

Most importantly - enjoy yourself! With an open mind, a dash of imagination and a sense of fun, you can take any home from humdrum to homespun in a flash.

Extract from Issue 3 of 91 Magazine – read more of this article & see more images at www.91magazine.co.uk

All material is copyright of 91 Magazine & their contributors.

Words by Joanna Simmons / www.joannasimmons.com

Photos by Debi Treloar / www.debitreloar.com

Homespun Style is by Selina Lake (http://selinalake.blogspot.co.uk) and is published by Ryland Peters and Small (http://www.rylandpeters.com)

Colour Psychology - Green

These last few days I have spent alot of time in my garden trying to tame the jungle and create a beautiful space to enjoy al fresco dinng with a chilled glass of white and weekend breakfasts in the sunshine, this has inspired me to write about green for this months colour psychology series.

The colour of nature, there is no doubt that green is a calming colour that is very pleasing to your senses. The natural greens, from forest to lime, are seen as tranquil and refreshing, with a natural balance of cool and warm undertones.

Green is considered the color of peace, harmony and support, it helps to relax you mentally as well as physically, soothing you and your thoughts.

I particularly love green used with grey or black. The darker colours provide depth to the scheme and the end result is a feeling of luxury and sophistication. But if you want to follow nature, stay with natural shades.

I hope you have enjoyed this months post and you were able to enjoy the great outdoors this weekend.

Laura. X

Images: Pinterest