New interior project – a cosy, beige bedroom in a Shoreditch loft apartment – part 1

It’s time to share a new client project – a cosy, beige bedroom in a cool Shoreditch loft apartment. I spent a lovely morning the other week shooting the space with photographer Kasia Fiszer and I’m so excited to reveal the final images. In the past I’ve taken my own photographs but for this project I wanted to invest in a series of proper, professional shots for my portfolio. Let’s start the tour!

Interior design and styling: Cate St Hill, Photography: Kasia Fiszer

This project involved transforming and redecorating two bedrooms in a converted warehouse apartment in east London – this is the guest bedroom and tomorrow I’ll be sharing the home office. The brief was to add a softer, more feminine touch to the modern, industrial-style spaces. Having previously been used as a bachelor pad flat share, the owner wanted to add a hint of colour and give the rooms a relaxed, Scandinavian feel.

Before, this room was simply decorated with plain white walls, a metal bed frame and dark grey painted wardrobes that made the space feel quite dark. The room boasts tall ceilings, exposed brick walls and beautiful sash windows but it needed a few finishing touches to soften those hard, industrial features. Now the space is warm and inviting – a calm, soothing setting to escape from urban life in the city.

Interior design and styling: Cate St Hill, Photography: Kasia Fiszer

This is a section of the mood board I first presented to the client. I wanted to envelop the space in a soft beige colour to give it a cosy, cocooning feel. The idea was to give the room an element of understated luxury so it feels like you’ve stepped into boutique hotel room. The key was keeping it simple with minimalist designs and monochrome touches that nod to the industrial heritage of the building. Clean lines and soft, relaxed textiles in velvet and linen, together with the rough brick and warm wood floor, help create a sensuous, tactile space.

The finished result is not too far from my initial visualisation. The walls are painted in Donkey Ride by Earthborn, a versatile, light beige that adds a warmer touch than pure white. The existing joinery and wardrobes have been painted the same colour as the walls so they don’t feel so obtrusive in the space – it all blends into one neutral backdrop.

A velvety rug adds some cosiness under foot and the linen bedding looks effortlessly stylish. I love Ren London’s linen textiles, they’re handmade by a small female-led team in north-west London. They’re dedicated to careful material sourcing, using European linens, handwoven and naturally dyed organic cottons from India, recycled cottons and other innovative, eco-conscious alternatives to synthetic fabrics. A large print by my favourite artist Liza Giles hangs above the bed, creating a bold focal point.

My favourite piece has to be the Crown easy chair by Massproductions. It’s got such an elegant, sculptural shape. The designer Chris Martin wanted to streamline the form of the upholstered chair by reducing it to four simple moulded panels. The backrest appears to balance atop the armrests – the steel joint is actually cleverly concealed under the upholstery.

Then it came down to the little details to bring it all together – adding some plants to give a pop of colour and a couple of minimalist Ferm Living shelves to display objects and artwork. I love the James Wilson sketch – he’s another of my favourite artists at the moment.

So there we have it, a cosy, beige bedroom – proving I think that beige is anything but boring! I’m often recommending light beige or soft grey over bright white to clients – it feels less cold and stark, while still being simple and pared-back. The result is oh so peaceful, just what you want for your guests when they come to stay.

What do you think? Come back again tomorrow where I’ll be revealing part 2 of the project – a cool, contemporary home office. It’s a slightly different space in terms of style compared to this one and it was such a joy to work with a client who was so open to my ideas for each room. Can’t wait – see you tomorrow!