Our snug is one of the rooms that had the biggest transformation and I had such a strong vision of what it would like that I couldn’t wait to get started. It was referred to as The Snug before work even began on it as we knew it was going to be our cosy room to snuggle up in with a fire, blankets and our movie collection.
Luckily for me there were already existing bookcases surrounding the Victorian fireplace (which we painted white as it would have been originally) so I copied them on the other side of the room for symmetry. They are now filled with floor to ceiling books and it feels a little like a library. The walls are dark green (quite a bold colour choice but it definitely paid off) and it’s number 4-050 by Papers and Paints from their 1950s colour collection. I saw it in one of Ben Pentreath’s schemes and loved it- my painter when I gave it to him really wasn’t sure but he changed his mind when he saw the finished result! The woodwork is a high gloss finish and the walls are matte; I think the juxtaposition of the two pulls the room together and gives it more depth.
The floors are layered for extra cosiness, sisal underneath a fabulous Oushak (or Uşak Halısı) vintage rug that I found on Etsy which is a traditional Turkish style. It was in Honor’s room in LA so it’s another thing that’s been given a new lease of life. The sofas are from OKA and I put a suzani throw over the back of one of them for a pop of colour. The curtains are the ones that I’ve used elsewhere in the house; the fabric is a velvet Double Cream by Rose Uniacke.
Decoration-wise we found some beautiful oil paintings online and at auction of horses- Mackenzie’s father used to race horses so it’s a nice nod to our family history. The tray is by Serena and Lily and there’s a collection of some of my favourite designers books by India Hicks and Jenni Kayne. The brass candlesticks are from Etsy so the whole room is a great mix of antique, Etsy and high street accessories.
I have to wax lyrical about my ottoman as I’m totally in love with it. Patricia at The Bespoke Footstool Co did the most amazing job. I got the fabric Ticking Stripe in colour Ginger by Penny Morrison but Patricia can also source the perfect fabric too. She’s wonderfully talented, super fast to make your custom footstool, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with my ottoman.
The television we hid behind cupboard doors as I hate having TVs on display. The doors are concertina so they fold all the way back. It is actually designed as a kitchen unit, made by British Standard, who did a lot of the joinery in the house.
The snug is exactly that: snug. The colours, symmetry and bookshelves all work to create a cosy little space that looks even better at the moment while it’s dressed for Christmas.
