Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Relaxed, Classic Style in Dorset
A mix of traditional design and fresh touches gives an informal elegance to this Victorian house in England
When the owners of this beautiful Victorian property moved in, they were slightly overwhelmed. “Developers had reconverted a large care home back into two adjoining properties,” says interior designer Helen Winter. “Everything was in good condition, but it was a blank canvas.” The couple asked her to help them work out room layouts and a color scheme.
Built-in cabinets made of medium-density fiberboard provide storage on either side of the fireplace. “We added a gold mesh grille to these,” Winter says. “It breaks up the furniture and gives it a more delicate look. The owners can also display things inside.
“Scale was very important,” she adds, referring to the large proportions and high ceiling. The large mirrors above the cabinets suit the space.
A soft-weave wallpaper in delicate gray is complemented by warm white above. The floors were already carpeted when the family moved in, but Winter zoned the seating area with a pale vintage-style rug.
Rug: Wayfair; mirrors: Exclusive Mirrors
11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them
“Scale was very important,” she adds, referring to the large proportions and high ceiling. The large mirrors above the cabinets suit the space.
A soft-weave wallpaper in delicate gray is complemented by warm white above. The floors were already carpeted when the family moved in, but Winter zoned the seating area with a pale vintage-style rug.
Rug: Wayfair; mirrors: Exclusive Mirrors
11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them
Two teal lamps sit on a console table behind the sofa. “We wanted to create a nice surface to give some added interest to the space,” Winter says. “The lamps provide another layer of light in the evenings.”
Calia console table: John Lewis; lamps: Fearne Cotton via Very
Calia console table: John Lewis; lamps: Fearne Cotton via Very
At the rear of the living room is a more informal area where the family can relax together. A peppermint-green L-shaped sofa offers place to hang out and can be accessorized with pillows and throws according to the season. The coral pillows give the space a lovely, light feel.
Winter replaced the original plaster wall lights with these modern alternatives, while both spaces have traditional-style chandeliers hanging from the ornate ceiling. Winter also reinstated the ceiling roses, cornicing and corbels using specialist materials. “It’s a very easy and relatively cheap way to reinstate lost period plasterwork,” she says.
Reinstated plasterwork: Orac Decor products via UK Home Interiors; sofas in both areas: The English Sofa Co.; chandeliers: Marie Therese via Wayfair; wall lights: Castleton Home via Wayfair
Winter replaced the original plaster wall lights with these modern alternatives, while both spaces have traditional-style chandeliers hanging from the ornate ceiling. Winter also reinstated the ceiling roses, cornicing and corbels using specialist materials. “It’s a very easy and relatively cheap way to reinstate lost period plasterwork,” she says.
Reinstated plasterwork: Orac Decor products via UK Home Interiors; sofas in both areas: The English Sofa Co.; chandeliers: Marie Therese via Wayfair; wall lights: Castleton Home via Wayfair
The couple had a few Poole Pottery pieces, so Winter found a cabinet to display them with shells and other local finds. A glass door leads through to a family room and the garden.
Florence corner display cabinet: Bedroom Furniture Direct; pillows: Marks and Spencer
Florence corner display cabinet: Bedroom Furniture Direct; pillows: Marks and Spencer
The grand hallway is full of beautiful period features, so Winter kept things traditional here. “The console table is new but has been made to look vintage, and the foxed antique mirror adds to the old-world atmosphere,” she says. The paned front door leads to a porch.
A large downstairs powder room got a fun and lavish look. “We wanted it to feel quite feminine and luxurious,” Winter says. A decorative metal console table sits in front of patterned wallpaper that has a slight metallic touch.
Wallpaper: Harlequin
Wallpaper: Harlequin
The bathroom fixtures and floor were already installed, but Winter warmed up the space by painting the cabinetry.
Taupe faux-silk curtains contrast beautifully with the gray cabinets, while a smoked glass pelmet adds to the glamorous feel of the space. “The pelmet helps to create a feeling of proportion in the high-ceilinged room,” Winter says.
Valleta curtain fabric: Villa Nova; cabinet paint: Mole’s Breath, Farrow & Ball
Taupe faux-silk curtains contrast beautifully with the gray cabinets, while a smoked glass pelmet adds to the glamorous feel of the space. “The pelmet helps to create a feeling of proportion in the high-ceilinged room,” Winter says.
Valleta curtain fabric: Villa Nova; cabinet paint: Mole’s Breath, Farrow & Ball
“The dining room was an odd space with some funny angles,” Winter says. “For example, there was only enough space for a curtain on one side. To create privacy, we added some sheer curtains too.”
Dining chairs: Wayfair; antique mahogany table: eBay
Dining chairs: Wayfair; antique mahogany table: eBay
The existing Shaker-style kitchen was fine as it was, so Winter simply hung some Roman shades at the windows. “They add warmth to the room and make it feel cozy,” she says.
Roman shade fabric: Jocelyn Warner
Your Windows: Roman Shades 101
Roman shade fabric: Jocelyn Warner
Your Windows: Roman Shades 101
The master bedroom has large south-facing windows that bring plenty of light into the space. “It meant the owners could be bold and go for rich blue walls without it looking too dark or cold,” Winter says.
Picture rails break up the tall walls and make the room appear cozier. “There’s a slight coastal theme with the blue,” Winter says, “but we wanted to bring in another color, so went for mustard yellow. We also chose tall lamps to play with the height of the room.”
Starla curtain fabric: Sanderson; wall paint: Pitch Blue, Farrow & Ball; bed linen and pillows: House of Fraser; lamps: Iconic Lights Store
Color Trend Alert: Make Room for Mustard Yellow
Picture rails break up the tall walls and make the room appear cozier. “There’s a slight coastal theme with the blue,” Winter says, “but we wanted to bring in another color, so went for mustard yellow. We also chose tall lamps to play with the height of the room.”
Starla curtain fabric: Sanderson; wall paint: Pitch Blue, Farrow & Ball; bed linen and pillows: House of Fraser; lamps: Iconic Lights Store
Color Trend Alert: Make Room for Mustard Yellow
The radiator below the window could have posed a problem for the curtains, but Winter got around it by draping them over the edge. The voile sheers diffuse the bright light.
How to Cover Windows Above a Radiator
How to Cover Windows Above a Radiator
For the master bath, Winter continued the blue theme but brought in gray for a cooler feel. She worked with the existing suite and added faux wall panels with the same products she used to reinstate the plasterwork elsewhere in the home. The patterned tiles on the floor add a warm, textured dimension.
The Roman shade is made from man-made silk, which is durable in a bathroom but also has a lovely, luxurious sheen.
Floor tiles: Palau Celeste; Valleta shade fabric: Villa Nova
The Roman shade is made from man-made silk, which is durable in a bathroom but also has a lovely, luxurious sheen.
Floor tiles: Palau Celeste; Valleta shade fabric: Villa Nova
The large ornate mirror behind the gorgeous roll-top bathtub was chosen to soften up the straight lines in the room.
Mirror: Exclusive Mirrors
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Mirror: Exclusive Mirrors
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple and two young daughters
Location: Dorchester, Dorset, England
Size: Four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designer: Helen Winter of Coral Interiors
The large living room is divided into two areas. At the front is the more formal, adult seating zone.
“The main feature here was the huge bay window,” Winter says. “We wanted to make sure it was beautifully dressed.” She chose half shutters, which offer both privacy and light, while the curtains add a sumptuous feel to the room.
To create symmetry on either side of the fireplace, Winter installed two matching chesterfield sofas. These cozy seats are adorned with teal velvet pillows that pick out the blue in the curtains, while bold patterned pillows add another element.
Wall paint: Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball; Weave wallpaper: Albany via Wallpaper Direct; curtains: Romo; plain pillows: Marks and Spencer; Carly pillows: Boeme