Pretty as a picture

Reconciling a period look with a contemporary lifestyle is the task of any designer involved in an historically accurate restoration.

The bedroom suite shown on these pages forms part of a whole-house restoration project of a property built in the late 19th century.

The current owners were dedicated to restoring the home within the parameters of its period, which required certain features to be present throughout the home. At the same time, functionality and personality were to be just as important in the bedrooms, says interior designer Martin Potter of MJ Berries Design.

"In the daughter's room, there is still a formality that references the rest of the home, but it's been relaxed to let her individuality shine through."

The designer was given a base palette of pink and yellow from which to build the design.

"Other than the colour scheme, there were no special requests, which allowed us to evaluate each piece on its own merits, rather than whether it fitted predetermined criteria," says Potter.

The result is a carefully assembled mix of custom and repurposed pieces, alongside those in the Second Empire style, all working together to complete a room that wouldn't look out of place in any home, says Potter.

"The room appears to have evolved over time, with a varied collection of pieces some family heirlooms, some newer just as you would find in any teenager's bedroom."

One of the more imposing elements in the room is the headboard, which the designer found and which was formerly a bookcase.

"This piece works on a number of levels. Its size helps ground the room, and it conceals contemporary lighting that can be used for reading, augmenting the chandelier without encroaching on the period aesthetic."

As part of the renovation project, an ensuite bathroom was installed to service both this and another bedroom.

"As with the bedroom, the bathroom has something of an air of formality, but again the period dictates have been relaxed," says Potter. "We used traditional materials such as marble to impart a suitably classic feel, but this is balanced by the treatment. The mix of mosaics and subway tiles, combined with the pattern on the floor and the wall frieze brings a touch of whimsy that adds a lightness to the whole."

"The custom vanity, with its clean lines and simple Shaker-influenced styling, matches the bookcase and chest of drawers in the bedroom and provides a visual link between the spaces," says Potter.

Story by: Justin Foote