Intricate dark oak panels in a listed house can be imposing but with a little finesse and by painting ceilings and other elements in a lighter tone, you can preserve the unique craftsmanship of the wood whilst melding into a contemporary style.

Adding panels half way up a room then painting it a dramatic dark blue is a great way of bringing both drama and interest to a dull wall space.

It’s good in its natural state but equally painting panelling is an old tradition and allows you to add a modern touch . See it in its full glory against cutting edge furniture and bright fabrics as well as bringing texture and history to a home that has a more bland start.

Another advantage of panelling is to bring form into a blank space or even up a very irregular surface. The wooden panels can effectively cover up unevenness in a difficult property.

You can also use Lincrusta to create this look. This is much cheaper and is only adhered to the wall and therefore can be removed if your taste changes.

It’s an old look that can be adapted to suit many properties adding style and substance to bland, blank walls.

The post Panelling appeared first on Louise Swarbrick.

A good solution is to break up a solid colour by introducing texture to the walls. The Victorians used Lincrusta (a linseed based thick wallpaper) to cover their walls. I think you would probably associate it with the interior of a pub or a dark Birmingham Peaky Blinder room.

I would urge you to look again at the variety of wonderful patterns in Lincrusta which can be used in any space. The old reputation is more to do with choice of colour – often brown or dark red. Nowadays it is available in pale pastels such as Mylands Osterley or Farrow and Ball Calluna.

This then can hang in any room in the house and add texture and depth.

You can also give a modern space a touch of heritage by using it on a feature wall in a bathroom. Thus can be complimented by using a roll topped free standing bath – keeping the traditional theme but in a luxurious contemporary bathing space.

In a hallway, Lincrusta can balance the upper and lower areas. Using it downstairs but not upstairs but painting both areas in the same colour will create a unified room but there will be a subtle difference between the two floors.

The post Lincrusta appeared first on Louise Swarbrick.