Functional bedroom wall treatment

Small bedrooms in city apartments is nobody’s idea of a new phenomenon. Bedrooms are the most straightforward room in the home, so coming up with new designs to solve the tiny-bedroom functionality dilemma can be a lot of fun.

We used four layers of materials fixed to the wall to serve multiple functions. This solution took up no space yet provided depth, texture, and the functionality of a headboard as well as a shimmering backdrop to bounce back some bedside lighting. Hanging the pendants from the ceiling meant we could use smaller bedside tables (where the closet door needed to open).

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First, we start with a written plan. Always. Measuring to the millimetre and modelling the design allows you to avoid costly mistakes, test how the room will feel and is a great way to check the balance between positive and negative space. All are important!

Do things in the right order, destructive elements first, then work your way inward. We started by ripping the carpeting off the floor and calling in an electrician to move the electrical wiring and fixing the lighting in place. Roy repaired walls and ceilings, and I painted. And then again for the wall panels and trim, Roy constructed, and I painted. We hung the wallpaper. I made the pendants from some fishing wire and glass orbs purchased from Crate & Barrel, hanging on custom made lighting wires from Urban Cottage Industries. Finally, literally on our way ‘out the door’ we installed new flooring.

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And voila! The bedside tables were up cycled with paint, gold leaf and new knobs, the foam headboard upholstery and the bedding soft furnishings were all custom made with fabric we found in Shepherd’s Bush fabric shops.

Bookshelf wall panels

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In any design, you are constrained by the age and style of the exterior architecture as well as the physical space. This was especially true of this project. A new modern building in central London with small open plan living space and a client request for a library feel meant we had to get creative. Winking at the idea of a library, we designed and built these sleek and trim book wall panels.

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The model always comes first, for space planning and mood assessment.

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The books spines were glued onto wall panels which were then screwed into studs in the wall. These are novel architectural details and you can bet not to everyone’s taste, so this installation method made them easy to remove.

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One layer of primer and two layers of semi-gloss onto a wall full of tiny grooves. Not the most enjoyable job I’ve ever done, but I was happy with the result.

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And voila! Five years after we designed this London flat, it was put on the market. I reminded my client that the wall panels come off easily in case they were a deterrent in viewings. “On the contrary” she said. “Everyone loves them.”