Above Photo by Francesca Iovene | All other photography by Boz Gagovski
When choosing to extend her Somerset schoolhouse, Joa Studholme, Farrow & Ball Colour Curator, had a big decision to make: should the new addition blend in or stand out? In true Joa style, she opted for the latter.
The new addition stands in place of a former extension built in the '70s, which, after spending a few years in the property, Joa and her husband deemed problematic — not only for the flow of the home but also for safety, after discovering it was riddled with asbestos.
This discovery prompted Joa to enlist the help of architect George Dawes, co-founder of the architectural studio Bindloss Dawes. A definite upgrade, George's design, partially sunk to respect the original structure, uses modern elements while referencing the old architecture. The extension maximises countryside views, with a unique link building and a new chestnut and concrete staircase. What’s more, the design has just won a prestigious RIBA award for architecture in England's south-west.
As you might expect, choosing colours for the new space was a key part of the journey. Soft shades such as School House White (originally created by Joa herself especially for the property) felt very at home in the original structure but Joa felt the pull of more saturated shades for the extension.
Hallway
Walls: Setting Plaster No.231 in Dead Flat
Walls: Setting Plaster No.231 in Dead Flat
In the space that links new and old, the walls are painted top to bottom in Setting Plaster. As the space is flooded with light, Joa wanted to find a colour that would feel warm in the summer and cosy in the winter.
She settled on Setting Plaster, not only because of its warmth but also because it complements the stone used on the exterior of the main house.
The lower section of the hallway leads to two guest bedrooms, meaning lots of visitors and suitcases passing through. To keep up with the high traffic, Joa used our Full Gloss finish on the lower half of the walls, paired with Dead Flat above, adding an extra decorative twist while also ensuring longevity. Thoughtful touches like these are just what we expect from Joa, and she never disappoints.
Guest Bedroom
Walls: Inchyra Blue No.289 in Dead Flat | Upper walls and ceiling: Light Blue No.22 in Dead Flat
Hallway: Setting Plaster No.231 in Dead Flat | Walls: Inchyra Blue No.289 in Dead Flat | Upper walls and ceiling: Light Blue No.22 in Dead Flat
Walls: in Modern Emulsion | Door: in Modern Eggshell
Joa wanted something strong and deep at the end of the corridor, so she used our beloved Inchyra Blue on the walls. To make it extra cosy, she took the colour three-quarters of the way up the walls and paired it with Light Blue on the upper quarter and ceiling. For an added detail, the door to the adjoining bathroom has been painted in , which is then carried through onto the floor of the bathroom.
"This is the great thing about decorating at the moment; there aren’t any rules. You can do exactly what you want."
Sap Green Bedroom
Walls and woodwork: Sap Green No.W56 in Dead Flat | Ceiling: Pink Cup No.9801 in Dead Flat
Walls and woodwork: Sap Green No.W56 in Dead Flat | Ceiling: Pink Cup No.9801 in Dead Flat
When deciding on the colour to paint this guest bedroom, Joa wanted the space to feel like it was almost in the field outside. Sap Green fit the bill perfectly, and to truly drench the space, Joa used our multi-surface Dead Flat finish across the walls and woodwork.
Pink Cup has been used on the ceiling, which not only flows nicely with the pink hallway but also with the Pink Cup and Sap Green harlequin patterned floor in the bathroom next door.
Primary Bedroom
Walls and ceiling: Stirabout No.300 in Dead Flat
Walls and ceiling: Stirabout No.300 in Dead Flat
Almost every single surface in this space is painted in our earthy neutral, Stirabout.
Joa wanted this room to feel zen, light and neutral. Most importantly, she wanted it to feel lighter than the Setting Plaster hallway, so that upon entering the bedroom, there was a feeling of the space opening up.
To connect the inside with the outside, the reveals of the windows are painted in Stone White, a soft neutral with an unmistakable green undertone from our archive collection.
