Get our look: Guest bedroom

Our guest bedroom

On Mondays, we usually publish one of our Get their look posts which features someone’s interior or exterior space that’s caught our eye. Today, we’re giving it a little twist and looking at a room in our own house. We’ve been doing up our cottage for about 18 months now. It’s coming together nicely and we’re actually reaching completion in some areas. This has brought us to the point of sharing this first space, the guest bedroom, which we consider is just about done and ready to receive visitors.

This room has seen quite a transformation. We started with the essential maintenance & repairs. We extended central heating and installed a radiator; improved insulation; stonework was repaired; pipes & wires boxed in; the ceiling was clad in tongue & groove timber; floorboards cleaned & sanded – and all the walls and woodwork painted. We chose a variety of complimentary colours – a slate grey floor paint, Shirting white distemper for walls, a greyish white matt emulsion for ceiling & beams – and a pale brown ‘rolling fog’ eggshell for cupboard doors and window frame.

After all that, we were ready to add all the furnishings and accessories. We love the character & patina of country antiques and have been able to find space for a nice old chest of drawers, stick back Windsor chair and small coffer. We’ve introduced more natural materials in the form of large sisal rug and wicker baskets. Copper highlights are dotted throughout the room – lamps & shades, candle holder & reflector,  jugs, artwork – and the water pipes, which we left exposed. It’s such a welcoming, warm shade. We’ve used a pair of vintage wooden tea chests as bedside tables – and old luggage for extra storage. And finally some welsh textiles to soften the space, including a welsh wool tapestry bedspread and roller blind.

For details about sourcing the furniture, fittings and accessories we’ve used in our guest bedroom, please scroll to the end of this page.

We hope you like what we’ve done!

We’ll feature further rooms as and when they’ve been completed.

Guest bedroom looking towards the ceiling

Looking towards the Velus window

Antique coffer and Windsor armchair

Antique metal candleholder, match holder and copper reflective backplate

Antique chest of drawers and vintage bentwood linen drum

Antique wooden bowl filled with various pine and spruce cones

Antique wooden clothes hanger on a coat hook

Flowers in an antique white ironstone jug

Get our look

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Globe style vintage Edison light bulb
Globe style vintage Edison light bulb
Edison 60W squirrel cage light bulbs
Edison 60W squirrel cage light bulbs
Vintage wooden tea chests
Vintage wooden tea chests
Copper sequin cushion
Copper sequin cushion
Sisal ‘Small Boucle Classics’ rug with caramel linen boucle border
Sisal ‘Small Boucle Classics’ rug with caramel linen boucle border
Antique copper Wee Willie Winkie chamber stick
Antique copper Wee Willie Winkie chamber stick
Antique Windsor armchair
Antique Windsor armchair
Welsh wool tapestry blankets
Welsh wool tapestry blankets
Endon Waldorf copper lamp
Endon Waldorf copper lamp
Grande black gold-lined lampshade
Grande black gold-lined lampshade
Vintage pigskin luggage
Vintage pigskin luggage
Vintage industrial wicker laundry basket
Vintage industrial wicker laundry basket
Dorma 300 thread count 100% cotton sateen plain black bedding
Dorma 300 thread count 100% cotton sateen plain black bedding
Lucia king size bed frame
Lucia king size bed frame
Little Greene ‘Rolling Fog’ flat oil eggshell
Little Greene ‘Rolling Fog’ flat oil eggshell
Little Greene ’Shirting’ distemper
Little Greene ’Shirting’ distemper

Silk king size duvets – luxury bedding to experience & enjoy

Summer and spring/autumn weight luxury mulberry silk king size duvets from Silk Bedding Direct | H is for Home

As winter approaches, thoughts turn to hunkering down and snuggling in. So, it was timely for us to receive these luxury mulberry silk king size duvets to review.

Unpackaged summer and spring/autumn weight luxury mulberry silk king size duvets from Silk Bedding Direct | H is for Home

Silk Bedding Direct specialises in supplying mulberry silk-filled bedding in a variety of prices to suit all budgets. Their affordable premium range is made using a silk/polyester mix. The luxury range is 100% mulberry silk filled with a hand stitched finish which, unlike machine-made versions, improves the insulation quality of the duvet.

Summer and spring/autumn weight luxury mulberry silk king size duvets from Silk Bedding Direct | H is for Home

Mulberry silk is hypo-allergenic and, unlike other bedding materials, it doesn’t support the growth of dust mites, bed bugs or other microscopic beasties. It’s also contains the amino acid, sericin, which has been proven to improve skin elasticity and has anti-wrinkle properties… it gives new meaning to beauty sleep!

All Silk Bedding Direct silk products (as well as duvets they produce mattress toppers, pillows and eye masks) are OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 Certified and have been awarded the ‘Confidence in Textiles’ OEKO label.

Unpackaged summer and spring/autumn weight luxury mulberry silk king size duvets from Silk Bedding Direct | H is for Home

Each has a number of ‘Easy Clip’ clips around its edge that allow you to fasten together the summer and spring/autumn weight duvets to form a cosy winter version – 3 for the price of two!

Silk is a wonderful insulator and regulator of temperature. If you feel too warm in bed, it allows excess moisture and heat to escape, it also retains heat to keep you warm and snug if conditions get colder.

'Easy Clip' clips that fasten together two luxury mulberry silk king size duvets from Silk Bedding Direct Joining 'Easy Clip' clips that fasten together two luxury mulberry silk king size duvets from Silk Bedding Direct

We’ve been testing the duvet for a week or so now – an unusual trial that involves lots of sleeping! We’ve certainly enjoyed the experience… and have been very impressed by the product. The duvets feel comfortable and luxurious – you can actually feel the smooth, silky nature of the product even through a duvet cover. They’re not too heavy, yet warm and cosy.

Our black bedroom with a winter feel | H is for Home

We think that our top floor bedroom is now ready for anything that winter can hurl at it! The luxury silk duvet, combined with our wood burning stove and ‘chinchilla’ bedspread, will provide all the warmth required during the chilly nights ahead.

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Copper highlights and finishing touches

Our bedroom showing copper highlights with bedside lamps switched on | H is for Home

We’ve been adding some finishing touches to our top floor ‘bedroom-cum-lounge’ area. It’s a room that we spend lots of time in during the winter. Well, that’s an understatement really – we almost hibernate up there! It feels like our cosy den. There’s computer access, Sonos music system, big TV, comfy places to sit (or sleep) – and a wood-burning stove. We gravitate up there from September onwards as the days shorten and weather worsens.

New copper coloured glass bedside lamp | H is for Home

Re-decoration of the space has been a gradual process over the last year or so. We wanted an enclosed, warm and cosy feel. Lots of dark grey and black, with natural wood shades and metallic highlights. This pair of copper coloured, glass bedside lamps was our most recent purchase. We thought they were just perfect, especially considering that they came complete with the ideal shades. They’re from Wayfair, £54.99 each.

New copper coloured glass bedside lamp | H is for Home

We bought a box of LED Edison filament bulbs for them which we thought would be prettier than plain white ones. The lamps are quite magical when lit, lifting and transforming the room with their warm, copper glow.

New copper coloured glass bedside lamp | H is for Home

This is no ‘minimalist look’ space and we add ornament quite freely – particularly antique mirrors, drawers, display cases, candle holders – and objects of interest. We love the ‘collectors’ look’ – so their are lots of fossils, feathers, skulls, pebbles and shells dotted around the room.

You might have noticed that expanse of furry loveliness across the bed – another recently purchased finishing touch.

Detail from our new faux chinchilla throw | H is for Home

It’s a very good quality, imitation chinchilla fur bedspread. The subtle colour tones of cream, brown and grey work wonderfully. It’s very tactile and super warm too.

Large antique copper bin being used as a planter | H is for Home

We’d been looking for a large container for an equally large plant. This fabulous copper log bin arrived in our local antiques centre one day, so it was a ‘must buy’. We love the reflective surface and aged patina of the metal.

Detail from a large antique copper bin being used as a planter | H is for Home

A bottom up blind for this room had also been on our shopping list for some time. We already have one fitted in the ground floor lounge. It lets daylight in whilst adding privacy at street level. Also, the view at the front of our house is much nicer at higher levels. Lower down it’s a bit grubby and industrial, further up is a lovely hillside with trees, shrubs and climbers clinging to the steep valley sides.

Dark grey bottom-up roller blind | H is for Home Dark grey bottom-up roller blind | H is for Home

The blind downstairs is a sandy, cream colour. However, for this room we went for a charcoal grey to match the curtains and compliment the overall scheme. We’re very happy indeed with the results. The view from the bed is much improved now – and we get a glimpse of a passing fox or the occasional deer nibbling at the vegetation opposite. Bliss!

Antique glass bauble | H is for Home

So, that’s the room re-decoration completed in the main. We have the option of picking up interesting objects and nature finds as we come across them. It can just evolve subtly over time. We hope you like the results so far!

Our custom-made roller blind from Contrado

Our downstairs cloakroom with new custom-made roller blind from Contrado | H is for Home

We’ve recently undertaken a programme of home improvements here at H is for Home. These range from quite major jobs like re-pointing gable-end walls and chimney repairs – to smaller scale tasks such as redecoration and general sprucing up of neglected corners.

The old white roller blind in our downstairs cloakroom | H is for Home

One room that needed some attention was our downstairs loo. The window area in particular was very tired – a bit grubby if we’re being honest!

Window sill with rust stains from plant tins | H is for Home

The old blind was dull and way past its best – and the sill had been stained by plant pot bases over the years. We discovered the lovely folk at Contrado on Instagram and they asked us if we wanted to try out one of their roller blinds. Perfect timing!

Vintage 12 Angry Men film poster | H is for Home

London-based Contrado offer a service whereby you can customise & personalise all manner of homewares, fabrics, gifts and clothing.

Pattern on our custom-made roller blind from Contrado | H is for Home

Customisable is a very apt word indeed. We measured the window and recess so the blind fitted perfectly. We chose which side we wanted the chain on, the material the chain was made of… even the pattern (and size of the pattern) printed on the fabric. We looked online and found a copyright-free design that we liked and Photoshopped it to get the exact colours we wanted. The blind was delivered swiftly and exactly as we specified. It’s very well made and the materials used are excellent quality. The large stylised flowers are reminiscent of Marimekko fabric designs we like. There are lots of house plants in our downstairs loo – and the window also looks out onto the garden – so the pattern picks up on all this natural vegetation. We went for a grey & orange colourway on a slightly off-white background. The room has an exposed stone wall with grey tones – also silvery chrome fittings and galvanised metal containers. There were already quite a few orange decorative touches in the room such as the vintage film poster and plant pots. The blind really helps pull it all together.

Our downstairs cloakroom with new custom-made roller blind from Contrado | H is for Home

Installing it was a straightforward 20-minute job. As we were changing the blinds we took the opportunity to touch up all the paintwork. We’re very happy with the results. It’s been a really good return on half a day’s work. It’s overall much brighter and fresher – and the blind really lifts our spirits when we enter the room!

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