Modern Country Lounge – A 1980s Living Room Transformed for Everyday Living
Near Evesham
The Brief
The clients asked us to rework a dated sitting room that had become disjointed over time — a mix of mismatched furniture centred around a stone fireplace they’d never particularly liked. It’s hard to picture now — keep reading to see how it all began!
As business owners working full time and frequently travelling for work, time had been a barrier to making progress. They were conscious of getting the right pieces and didn’t want to risk costly mistakes — which meant the room had remained unresolved for some time.
Inspired by their time at The Scarlet Hotel in Cornwall, they wanted to create a space that reflected this — something considered, relaxed, and designed to feel just as relevant in twenty years. They wanted to create a room that felt comfortable, cohesive and uncluttered – a space for reading, watching TV, playing games and hosting family and friends.
Natural materials, earthy tones, and brighter accents were key, along with a few carefully chosen quirky pieces to bring character. Lighting was a particular focus, wanting a layered scheme that would shift naturally from day into evening. With views over the garden, they also wanted to avoid anything that might block the light or interrupt the connection to the outdoors.
Our Approach
We began by understanding what ‘comfortable’ meant to the clients, drawing on their connection to The Scarlet Hotel to inform tone, colour and material choices.
We considered how the room would be used throughout the day — who they’d entertain, and when — shaping a layout and lighting scheme to support everything from quiet mornings to sociable evenings.
Visualising the Design
We created a 3D visual of the living room to show how the layout, materials and lighting would work together in the space. This allowed the clients to see exactly how the layout and finishes will work — giving them clarity and confidence before moving forward.
The Result
Timeline : 8 months
The space is vibrant yet composed, with natural textures and saturated tones adding warmth and energy. Built-in storage and low-profile furniture keep the room feeling open and connected to the garden, while playful details and carefully curated finishes bring a quiet sense of personality and refined character to this modern family home.
A pleasure to work with! Julia and her team are creative, responsive and friendly. They are uber-professional and manage everything seamlessly. Excellent combination of design know-how, creativity and superb project management and commercial skills. We knew it would involve some building work and several tradespeople too and we didn’t have the creativity or time to manage a project like this ourselves. We highly recommend them.
Project Highlights
Getting to know what our clients were instinctively drawn to was a highlight in itself. When we came across the Margo Selby rug, we found ourselves saying, “This is so Jayne.” It felt unmistakably right. We had it customised to the exact size needed for the room — with Margo herself tweaking the design.
Finding the navy and gold cork wallpaper for the niches was another delightful moment. Designed with built-in lighting, the gold detailing catches the light in the evenings and adds a special touch.
Designing the TV wall with dressers either side was a lot of fun, it gave us space to balance storage with styling.
But perhaps the most rewarding moment was revealing the finished room to the clients — and hearing how much they love it.
Before & After – The Transformation
Previously, the space felt enclosed — with heavy curtains, a dominant TV unit, and darker furnishings closing off the room and interrupting the garden views. The new layout brings a greater sense of ease and balance, with lighter textures, low-profile furniture, and a softly layered palette that now allows the room to feel calm, open, and more thoughtfully connected to its surroundings.
Replacing the unloved fireplace with a purposeful, bespoke media wall has redefined the room — introducing a more considered focal point and creating a better balance between storage, display and everyday living.
What was once a blank, underutilised wall has become a vibrant focal point. Reimagined with bespoke furniture, bold colour choices, and quirky detailing, it now brings a distinct sense of style and personality to the room.
Planning a renovation or reconfiguration of your own?
Book a Discovery Call and find out how we can help you create a home that works beautifully and feels effortless to live in.