Making Over a Coastal Home

At this Victorian terrace in the seaside enclave of Brighton and Hove, a stunning kitchen renovation and a full Farrow & Ball makeover have been over four years in the making –and we’re sure you’ll agree it’s been worth the wait. “We’re still finishing off the rooms,” says homeowner Sophia, “but for us the colours are the building blocks that pull it all together.”

Bedroom

 Sophia’s vision for the master bedroom was something “very calming and fresh” but still with “a more muted feel”. We think this tonal combination of Mizzle walls and Pigeon panelling, plus Shaded White woodwork – fits the bill perfectly.

The beautiful result that Sophia has achieved is as much down to her choice of paint finishes as her choice of colours. The low-contrast colour palette pairs superbly with the low-sheen finishes of Estate Eggshell, Estate Emulsion and Dead Flat® to create a soothing space that’s restful on the eye.

Snug

When choosing colours for the snug, Sophia’s method was one we’re very much in favour of here at Farrow & Ball HQ. “This room doesn’t have its own windows,” she explains, “so we embraced its darker side with Inchyra Blue Modern Emulsion on the walls and Estate Eggshell on the woodwork. What better colour to embrace you?”

As well as enhancing the room’s cosiness with its deep tones, Inchyra Blue gives a nod to the blue kitchen units in the next room, creating a visual link through the open archway from the snug.

The School House White ceiling is also a clever choice, repeated in each room of the house for a cohesive feel, while the moss-green sofa calls out to the palette of Green Smoke and Studio Green used in the hallway beyond.

Kitchen

“The kitchen was the first room we decided on the colours for, and then we went room by room,” says Sophia. “We wanted the rooms to have a flow between them.”

To this end, and to make the most of the kitchen’s south-facing aspect and plentiful light, Sophia has created a bright, breezy and laid-back scheme that repeats the shades of School House White, Shadow White and Shaded White from elsewhere in the house.

Using a small selection of neutrals from the same family in this way is a great method for adding dimension to a scheme, without introducing more colours, which lets a standout feature like the blue kitchen take centre stage.