Make a room within the volume
The sofa, chair and rug form a close conversation group inside the larger architectural space.
All rooms
ROOM 109 · Living Room
A place to sit inside the view
Published
A glass, concrete and timber rural self-build, conceived for Scottish Borders.
The concrete pier has to be part of the plan. Here the seating gathers beside it, with a route around the group and the larger landscape still visible beyond.
See the product sourcesTHE DESIGN
The view from the entrance should explain the room. A clear sitting group sits within the larger volume, with circulation passing around it. You can cross to the garden without negotiating the coffee table or walking between two people talking.
Two rounded blue chairs give the broad space a recognisable point of colour. Their padded shapes have enough presence beside the concrete pier, while the round marble-topped table softens the geometry at the centre. The rug belongs to the conversation, not to the entire floor.
A large print provides a second point of recognition from further away. The lighting then works at two scales: the architecture admits the winter day, and a reading lamp attends to one person. The room can feel expansive without requiring its occupants to shout across it.
WHY THE ROOM WORKS
Big architecture still needs a small enough place to talk.
Colour palette
- Cerulean
- Apricot
- Pale concrete
- Warm maple
- Graphite
Walk around the group
The garden route passes behind the furniture, leaving the coffee table gap comfortable.
Keep the columns honest
The concrete pier remains part of the layout rather than disappearing behind upholstery.
Colour can cross a big room
Cerulean provides a clear point of recognition from the far entrance. Smaller objects need not fight for attention.
WHAT TO BORROW
Use a fixed pier or change in structure to locate the sitting group. Measure the distances between occupied seats before deciding how much of the large floor to furnish.
THE PIECES BEHIND THE DESIGN
Shop this room
The design began with these pieces from our Shop. Open each product for its exact size, finish and retailer details.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our retailer links, at no extra cost to you. Our affiliate policy.
Freda Dark Grey Cotton Velvet 3 Seater Sofa
Living With Luxury
The dark grey Freda creates a clear seating centre beneath the taller structure, bringing the great room back to human scale.
£1,199.95
Ubi Armchair
The Roost
The blue Ubi makes cerulean a furnishing decision as well as an architectural colour, with a distinct shape beside the sofa.
£1,006.99
Myan Natural Acacia Wood and White Marble Round Coffee Table
Living With Luxury
A round marble-topped table lets circulation flow around the seating group without another strong rectangular axis.
£499.95
Titan Black Marble Floor Lamp
The Roost
Black marble gives the Titan lamp a grounded base within the large volume, with light brought down towards the seats.
£695.00
Blue Stripe At Concorde Print by Sofia Lind
The Roost
At 100 by 140 centimetres, Blue Stripe At Concorde can hold its own on the larger wall without an invented mural scale.
£230.00
Penny Falls Handtufted Wool Rug
146 x 213cm - Charcoal/Cream
The Roost
Penny Falls introduces a purposeful floor pattern that gathers the seating rather than trying to cover the entire great room.
£980.00
Puli Recycled Linen Cushion Cover: Natural · 60 x 40 cm
Natural · 60 x 40 cm
Nkuku
Linen gives the velvet sofa a quieter companion surface, keeping the large seating group from feeling too formal.
£65.00
Muturi Floor Lamp: Aged Bronze
Aged Bronze
Nkuku
A second floor-light position makes the room usable beyond the main sofa, rather than relying on the high ceiling for everything.
£365.00
Khari Marble Vase: Round · Beige
Round · Beige
Nkuku
The marble vase repeats the table's cool material in a much smaller object, keeping the accessories restrained.
£25.00