A Journey to Renovate - The Snug
Join us on an inspiring journey through the art of designing four stunning interior spaces for our clients' exquisite Victorian home renovation project.
Impressed by our unique style, meticulous process, and dedication to sustainability, clients from Ross-on-Wye sought us out to design four rooms in their Victorian home: the dining room, lounge, snug, and master bedroom.
Despite our Scottish base, we seamlessly provided online interior design, considering storage needs, preferences, and the delightful company of Cooper the dog and their teenage son.
Moving from the lounge, our third feature invites you into the snug, set to transform into a cosy vintage whiskey lounge with its high ceilings, promising comfort and character.
Snug
Interior Design Brief
Our goal was to transform this room into a cosy haven, reminiscent of a vintage whiskey/bourbon lounge. Vintage-style wall panelling and bookcases were introduced to infuse character and elegance. High-backed winged armchairs were carefully selected for comfort and relaxation, creating an inviting space to enjoy a good book and a wee dram. With warm, soft lighting, the room now exudes an atmosphere of sophistication and comfort, blending nostalgia with modern luxury.
Walls & ceiling
The room boasts traditional shaker-style wall panelling in a 3x grid formation, extending gracefully to meet the picture rail. All surfaces, from skirting boards to picture rails and coving, are adorned in Farrow & Ball Railings No.31 — a softer black with subtle blue undertones. This rich colour envelops the room, setting an inviting atmosphere that pairs perfectly with ambient lighting. The ceiling is painted in Farrow & Ball De Nimes No.299, a quietly elegant blue inspired by the workwear fabric of Nîmes. This lighter ceiling shade accentuates the room's height without feeling confining. These colours and finishes create a balance of warmth and airiness. For added functionality, we've replaced the pendant light with discreet recessed ceiling lights, providing efficient illumination for various tasks while maintaining the cosy ambiance.
Bookcases and Cabinetry
Our transformation seamlessly integrates custom-made bookcases and cabinetry into the alcoves that frame the chimney breast, striking a harmonious balance between ornate and contemporary design. These cabinets not only exude elegance but also offer practicality, with spacious cupboards tucked beneath the shelves, discreetly storing games and other items.
An antique brass rail stretches along the length of the bookcases, accompanied by a convenient ladder, making the higher shelves easily accessible. To further elevate the aesthetics, the cabinet doors have been embellished with contemporary gold knurled bar handles, infusing a modern touch of sophistication.
Enhancing the overall ambiance, a trio of antique brass swan-neck wall lamps cast a soft, enchanting glow over the bookcases, marrying functionality with timeless charm in this cosy yet sophisticated space.
To maintain a cohesive look, the bookcases and cabinets are adorned in the same Farrow & Ball Railings paint as the walls. The striking contrast between the cool tones of the Railings paint and the warm antique brass hardware is visually captivating, and when the shelves are filled with colourful books, they will add vibrant pops of life to the room, completing the inviting and stylish atmosphere
Chimney Breast
Fireplace
Imagine walking into the room, and your eyes are immediately drawn to a breath-taking focal point – the ingeniously repurposed fireplace recess, now transformed into a glass-framed drinks cabinet. It's a piece of functional art that commands attention and admiration.
The backlit shelves inside the cabinet emit a gentle, inviting glow, casting a warm and welcoming ambiance throughout the space. This illumination not only creates a cosy atmosphere but also serves as a stunning visual contrast against the dark, richly painted woodwork that envelops the room. It's a harmonious blend of light and shadow, of old-world charm and modern sophistication.
At the top of this extraordinary feature, a custom-fitted rack stands ready to cradle your cherished glassware collection. The glasses glisten, catching the play of light, making them not only practical but also a decorative element in their own right.
To frame this remarkable creation, decorative moulding has been meticulously applied, echoing the style of the ceiling cornicing. It's a seamless integration of architectural details that ties the entire room together, creating a sense of cohesion and luxury.
The use of the same knurled gold bar door handles as on the rest of the cabinets is a masterstroke of design consistency.
As soon as someone steps into the room, their gaze will inevitably be drawn to this stunning centrepiece, a true testament to the transformative power of interior design. It's a statement piece that invites conversation, highlights your taste for elegance, and sets the stage for the inviting and sophisticated atmosphere that defines the entire space.
Within the stunning bay window area, a pair of swivel chairs upholstered in a pale blue silky jacquard weave contribute texture to the room. The chrome swivel bases of these chairs introduce a subtle contemporary touch, enhancing the overall aesthetic.
Window dressing
To enhance the snug's refined atmosphere, we've introduced Graham & Brown's Midnight Restore curtains, elegantly draped from a vintage-style bronze curtain pole. These curtains not only provide privacy but also frame the windows with a touch of grace and luxury.
Within each window recess, we've installed Roman blinds in a lustrous copper hue. These blinds not only offer a captivating contrast against the room's dark walls but also capture the cosy glow emanating from the drinks cabinet.
This combination achieves a seamless and harmonious aesthetic throughout the space, contributing significantly to the room's sophisticated and timelessly elegant ambiance. These window treatments strike the perfect balance between style and functionality, ensuring that the snug remains a place of both beauty and comfort.
Furniture & Accessories
The snug is adorned with an eclectic array of accessories, each one adding its own unique charm and personality to the room. From vibrant tartan patchwork cushions to a wall-mounted stag's head that complements the existing Chesterfield sofa, there's a delightful mix of colour and texture at play.
A vintage steampunk camera tripod floor lamp takes centre stage with its whimsical top hat and goggles, while an antique brass coal scuttle finds new life as a striking planter, blending history with horticulture.
Adding to the character is a brass and leather magazine rack, a functional piece that exudes timeless elegance.
To complete the cosy ambiance, a luxurious brown cowhide rug has been placed beneath the seating area, adding extra softness and comfort underfoot.
These carefully selected accessories, along with the addition of the cowhide rug, infuse the snug with a rich tapestry of styles and stories, creating a space that's not only visually captivating but also irresistibly cosy and full of character.
The snug's furniture selection embodies a fusion of style and comfort, creating an inviting and aesthetically pleasing space. A striking artisan-style Chesterfield sofa takes centre stage, upholstered in a blend of leather and colourful tartan patchwork. This piece not only offers luxurious seating but also adds a bold and eclectic touch to the room.
Complementing the sofa are a pair of vintage high-winged leather chairs, adorned with throws and cushions for an extra layer of cosiness. These chairs invite you to sink in and unwind with a good book or a conversation over a glass of whisky.
Nestled amidst this arrangement is a small vintage-style tulip table, featuring an oak top with an antique brass finish and a matte black pedestal. It serves as the perfect perch for a whisky decanter and glasses, ensuring that you can enjoy a sip of your favourite spirit while delving into the pages of a captivating book. This table marries both form and function, adding to the snug's overall charm and convenience.
Adding to the room's aesthetic charm, three distressed black wooden picture frames hang gracefully from the picture rail, suspended by antique brass chains.
Two of these frames house bespoke artwork that showcases enlarged pages from vintage books, enhanced with carefully overlaid artwork. In one frame, a majestic stag graces the literary canvas, while in another, a glass of whisky captures the essence of indulgence and relaxation.
The third frame is a captivating vintage-style floor plan of the Victorian home itself, a nod to its history and architectural character. These artful additions not only contribute to the snug's elegant decor but also serve as intriguing conversation starters, inviting guests to appreciate the fusion of literature, art, and history within the room.
Conclusion
Our clients were delighted with the designs we showcased, feeling we flawlessly captured their vision. They're eager to see these designs materialise, and we'll keep you posted with real-life updates through photos once everything is finished.
Take a peek at the images below for a preview of our design mock-ups featuring various areas of the snug.
Stay tuned for our next post where we'll explore the master bedroom, the next room in this exciting Victorian renovation.
Designing your perfect space
If you're looking for assistance in designing your ideal space, we're here to help! Whether you prefer physical onsite interior design services or remote online services for convenience, we offer both options. Contact us to learn more about how we can help bring your vision to life.