Spacious Nation Abode: Calm and Minimalist Interior Design for Effortless Upkeep in the Designer's Personal Residence
In the heart of the picturesque Somerset Levels, a charming home boasts a main bedroom that exudes a unique blend of traditional elegance and modern practicality. The house, which stands on the edge of farmland, showcases a design philosophy that respects the architecture while catering to the needs of everyday family life.
At the centre of the bedroom is a four-poster bed, part of the designer Nicola Harding's furniture collection, NiX. The bed, with its simple timber frame and bronze railing rods, serves as a striking traditional piece in the room. To balance the grandeur typically associated with such furniture, Harding opted for utilitarian fabrics like Checkmate cotton and ticking stripe bedlinen.
This pairing softens the room, making it feel lived-in and approachable rather than overly formal or staged. Nicola Harding explains that using fabrics with basic, easy-to-sew finishes, such as the curtains with slot headings, enhances the sense of informality and practicality. The contrast between the elegant bed frame and humble fabric creates a "room-within-a-room" effect that encourages a cozy atmosphere while maintaining architectural sympathy.
The main principles of this design approach are choosing traditional, statement furniture, using utilitarian, easy-care fabrics, keeping fabric details and drapery simple and functional, allowing the design to feel unpretentious and relaxed, and balancing scale and proportion to preserve an airy, organic vibe.
To counter-balance the new elements in the room, vintage pieces like a wicker chest were incorporated. These old pieces, such as a Georgian-era chest of drawers found in a flea market, add visual interest and a sense of history to the space.
The owners of the house wanted interiors that were sympathetic to the architecture, relaxed, and easy to maintain. By following these principles, they have achieved a bedroom that is both respectful of traditional design and fresh, comfortable, and practical for modern living. The result is a space that feels like it has evolved naturally, rather than being overly designed.
As Nicola Harding puts it, "Juxtaposing a bed style often seen as the preserve of large country houses with a utilitarian fabric, such as a check, gives the room a more relaxed feel." This approach proves that a bedroom can be both timeless and contemporary, a testament to the enduring appeal of a well-balanced design.
This charming home in the Somerset Levels presents an interior-design style that embodies a lifestyle harmonious with home-and-garden, showcasing a design approach that respects traditional architecture while catering to modern family needs. Utilizing traditional, statement furniture like a four-poster bed from the NiX collection and balancing it with utilitarian, easy-care fabrics creates a bedroom that feels lived-in, relaxed, and practical for the contemporary home-and-garden lifestyle yet maintains a sense of historical charm.
