My client wanted a smart classic feel but not too formal. They wanted it to feel relaxed and the seating arrangement to work well for guests. I decided to mix the sofa and chair styles to give a more relaxed and eclectic feel. Both sofas were different styles and colour – our client visited our bespoke upholsterers to make sure they were the perfect size, and construction to be comfortable.
I then introduced some cane arm chairs to avoid that ‘3 piece suite’ feel. It is also the case that visitors tend not to sit on the sofa next to you – so providing some individual chairs provides the perfect solution – they are also easy to move around the room to accommodate different occasions.
There are 2 designers trick to achieve this. Never select a colour that is opposite on the colour wheel to the view beyond – always pick something complimentary. The second, is go easy on the pattern – bold prints will draw you eye, but will also stop you looking beyond the window.
So I selected a plain neutral linen style fabric that would not detract from the garden, I then added a beautiful trim to the leading edges to add interest, and also bring the blue from the colour palette across to the windows in a subtle way.
