A Characterful Living Room, Lakenheath
Living Room & Bespoke Bar Design, Lakenheath, Suffolk
Project: Interior design scheme for a characterful living room and bespoke foyer bar in Lakenheath, Suffolk.
Rooms: Living room and entrance foyer.
Key brief elements: Characterful, layered, practical, sympathetic to the existing architecture, improved lighting, considered space planning and bespoke joinery.
Timeline: 1 month design and drawings; 1 month furnishing and bespoke joinery.
Services: Interior design, furniture layouts, furniture and lighting sourcing, fabric selection, styling, bespoke cabinetry design and visualisation.
The owners of this characterful Suffolk home approached Bloombry Interiors shortly after moving in, looking for help bringing together their living room and creating a bespoke bar within the adjoining entrance foyer. The aim was not to completely reinvent the spaces, but to work sympathetically with the existing architecture and selected pieces of furniture, introducing greater cohesion, warmth and personality throughout.
The client brief
The living room already contained several pieces the clients wanted to retain, including a leather sofa and traditional legal bookcases, while a second sofa was due to be reupholstered in a beautiful blue patterned Linwood fabric. A new wood-burning stove was also planned for the existing fireplace.
The challenge was therefore to build a new scheme around these existing elements rather than starting from scratch.
Improving the way the room functioned was particularly important. The clients wanted a more considered furniture layout that would create a comfortable and sociable setting for both everyday living and entertaining. Lighting was another priority, as the room felt particularly dark in the evenings and needed additional layers of ambient light.
The adjoining foyer presented a different design challenge.
Rather than treating the structural support as part of the cabinetry itself, I designed the scheme with the steel independently boxed in. This creates greater symmetry within the joinery while ensuring the structural element remains accessible without compromising the cabinetry in the future.
The resulting design combines dark timber cabinetry, a stone worktop, open shelving and considered lighting, with the existing exposed brickwork deliberately retained as part of the composition.
Blue and teal accents reference the adjoining guest bathroom, helping the bar feel connected to the wider house rather than appearing as an isolated piece of fitted furniture. The proportions and shelving were carefully considered to provide a practical drinks-making area while retaining the character and informality of the original property.
The design approach
For the living room, I began with space planning, developing three alternative furniture layouts alongside three furnishing schemes. Each explored a slightly different direction while working around the pieces that were staying within the room, particularly the existing leather sofa, bookcases and newly upholstered sofa.
The final arrangement centres the seating more deliberately around the coffee table, creating a much more intimate and sociable conversation area. A pair of upholstered tub chairs adds flexible seating without visually overwhelming the room, while a slim console behind the sofa provides an opportunity for decorative lighting and artwork.
The furnishings build on the blue tones of the client's chosen sofa fabric, introducing pattern, warm timber and natural materials to give the room a collected feel rather than making everything appear newly purchased at once.
Patterned curtains add another layer of colour and softness, while a combination of table lamps and wall lights addresses one of the key practical elements of the brief: creating a warmer and more atmospheric room after dark. Following the initial presentation, the scheme was refined by combining the client's preferred furniture layout with elements from their favourite furnishing concept.
Artwork was intentionally treated more individually. Rather than specifying an overly coordinated collection, the scheme leaves room for antique, folk and collected artwork to be introduced over time, allowing the room to continue developing with pieces that have personal meaning.
The results
The completed design scheme brings together old and new, using the clients' existing furniture and architectural features as the foundation for a more considered interior.
Rather than replacing everything within the living room, the design demonstrates how thoughtful space planning, carefully selected furnishings, textiles and layered lighting can transform the way an existing room looks and functions.
The foyer bar extends the same design language into the adjoining space, turning a previously underutilised area into a distinctive feature of the house while working sensitively with its exposed brickwork and architectural character.
Together, the two schemes create a home that feels more cohesive, comfortable and personal, while retaining the sense of character that initially drew the clients to the property.
My lovely client said:
“Thank you so much for all your hard work and for your detailed (and user-friendly!) proposal. I’ve quite enjoyed the last few days looking over everything. I’m a happy customer!”
If this Suffolk living room interior design project has left you feeling inspired to transform an existing room in your own home, get in touch to arrange a consultation.