How to style a home away from home
PUBLISHED: 10:45 02 August 2016 | UPDATED: 10:45 02 August 2016

The shelving unit accommodates the TV, books and much more
Lanassir Lawes
Lanassir Lawes of Swank Interiors opens the door on her styling of a new holiday home with a little coastal inspiration

Now that my clients have had their first stay in their beautiful new holiday home, I am able to share some of the design with you. Having worked on other properties for my clients I had a good understanding of their personal style and what was expected - this was good, as the timescale for completion was tight but manageable.

As a holiday retreat we were looking to create a relaxing and comfortable home from home. Although the property is a new build, the style needed to have a sophisticated, more traditional approach with a nod towards the coastal, while maintaining a quality finish.
The window configurations in architecturally designed new builds can appear challenging. In this case there is a corner window and a square bay to the front and pair of doors in the kitchen area. Bay windows can make a room darker as the light is tunnelled into the room, so it is important to pull the curtains away from the window as much as possible. I have used bespoke curtain poles that have been made to fit the shapes of the windows and overlap enough for the curtains to stack back on to the wall. Choosing a heading that was not too bulky was also important.
As the windows are at street level I also specified and installed muslin-style rollerblinds that sit discreetly at the top of the window but can be pulled down for some privacy without blocking the light when necessary. The curtain fabric is a sophisticated version of a deckchair stripe in taupe and blue printed on a smooth cotton satin, in contrast to the deep pile darker blue velvet that the armchairs are upholstered in and the two-tone textured weave of the sofa.
As always I like to combine lots of different textures and colours (in this case more total for a relaxing feel) with a small amount of pattern. The coral print wall covering has a soft pearlescent sheen finish that helps lift the light in the room. A wall covering is a great way to add personality and style to a new build. Although the print is quite large for the size of the room it works as only specific areas are papered, forming a backdrop to the sofa and the dining table.
So as not to clutter the room with lots of pieces, I designed a shelving unit that fills the wall to accommodate the TV and books. This was made by our local cabinetmakers to complement the kitchen; it is finished in Bone China Blue Mid by Little Greene paint.
Next month, I will be sharing some of the other rooms in this beautiful holiday home.