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Bringing Brilliance to a Basement

Totterdown Family Living Room

Every Part of a Home Deserves to Reflect What Makes Us Unique


Discovering Totterdown’s Unique Charm


Bristol’s Totterdown neighbourhood has long been a favourite corner of this ever-surprising, vibrant, and fiercely independent city. Known for its steep hills, Edwardian terraces, and higgledy-piggledy streets bursting with character, it’s a place that exudes personality.


As one of Bristol’s more bohemian quarters, Totterdown is a hotbed of creativity and charm. When I was commissioned to transform the basement living room of a Totterdown family home, I knew it was a real opportunity to get creative. Naturally, I leapt at the chance to help it shine, confident that I could apply my skills to truly bring out the owners’ character in this subterranean space. After all, what is interior design for if not ensuring your personality is reflected in the rooms where you spend your time?


The Challenge: A Forgotten Basement Space


Upon visiting the basement living room, it was clear that the issue at hand was more than just a lack of design, it lacked soul. While the rest of the home was bursting with personality, colour, and artwork, the basement space felt neglected and gloomy.

It’s a common situation with basement rooms, even those with as much potential as this one. A lack of natural light often leads these spaces to be forgotten, left as an afterthought, or simply never fully realised. However, this family, who had a deep love for creativity and design, had taken the initiative to make the most of what could be a thrilling addition to their home.


The Vision: Bohemian Meets Urban Modern


During my initial fact finding, I quickly discovered that the homeowners had a clear aesthetic in mind. They were drawn to a bohemian look and feel, but also loved elements of ‘urban modern’ with a touch of Scandinavian minimalism. A strong love for green tones, ranging from deep forest greens to pale turquoise hues (also favourites of mine), became the cornerstone of our design inspiration.


The goal was to transform this underappreciated basement into a space full of life, where the family of four could cook, eat, and relax in comfort and style.


The Design Approach: Light, Space & Personality


Maximising Natural Light

Despite being a basement, the room benefited from a bay front and sizable window. To make the most of this, I introduced lightweight voiles to allow as much natural light in as possible, while maintaining privacy. Thoughtful lighting solutions, including a playful overhead lampshade and a beloved standing lamp the family wanted to keep, ensured the room remained cosy and atmospheric after sunset.


Clever Use of Space

To bring both functionality and personality into the space, we added shelving into the alcoves. This allowed the family to showcase their favourite ornaments, decorations, and artwork. At the same time, a faux antique stove was positioned as a central feature of the room, further emphasised with original artwork above.


The Colour Palette: A Bold Yet Balanced Choice


Bringing colour into this space was key to achieving the desired character and warmth. After much deliberation, we settled on a two-tone approach, using Farrow and Ball colours:


  • Hague Blue for the lower walls – A deep, rich tone that grounds the space, adding depth and intimacy.

  • Arsenic Green for above the picture rail and ceiling – A vibrant, uplifting shade that draws the eye upwards and creates a dynamic energy in the room.


A Statement Ceiling

To enhance the cosy sanctuary like feel of the basement, I embraced the idea of the ceiling as a ‘fifth wall.’ Painting the ceiling in Arsenic Green added a bold design element and created a sense of enclosure and warmth. This also highlighted the architectural features, with the crisp join of the colours at picture rail height becoming a standout element that introduced a playful, curated aesthetic.


The Final Transformation


The end result was a basement that no longer felt like an afterthought, but rather a fully realised and cherished part of the home. With an eclectic yet refined aesthetic, the space became:


  • A functional, family-friendly retreat where the family could cook, dine, and unwind.

  • A vibrant, personality-filled room that reflected the homeowners’ love for design and creativity.

  • A visually striking space with colour, texture, and thoughtful lighting working in harmony.


This transformation reinforced my belief that every part of a home, no matter how overlooked, deserves to reflect the essence of what makes us unique. Interior design is not just about aesthetics; it’s about crafting spaces that inspire, comfort, and truly feel like home.

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