Thorpe-le-soken

Interior Design - Project Nine

Photography - Anya Rice

This top-floor remodelling project at a period home near Thorpe-le-Soken was driven by a careful balance of preservation and playfulness. Tasked with upgrading and reworking the entire upper level, our brief was to create spaces that felt both respectful of the home’s heritage and genuinely joyful for a growing family.

Given the history of the property, every intervention was approached with sensitivity. Original features were retained and celebrated, with new elements layered in to enhance rather than compete. The ‘grown-up’ spaces lean into a sense of calm and tradition, from considered colour choices to a beautifully wallpapered master en-suite that feels both elegant and timeless.

The project included a full interior design service alongside new electrics and plumbing throughout. The reconfigured layout now accommodates a guest bedroom, two children’s bedrooms, a children’s bathroom, and a master en-suite discreetly introduced behind a secret door. A once-overlooked hallway was transformed into a cosy reading nook, complete with bespoke joinery designed to sit naturally within the architecture of the house. 

Particular attention was given to the bathrooms, where bespoke joinery and layered finishes play a central role. Tongue and groove panelling was introduced to add texture and a sense of tradition, while carefully designed framing highlights the original cast iron bathtub as a focal point. Playful wall tiling and wallpapering bring pattern and personality, balanced by traditional sanitary ware that feels appropriate to the age of the house. Carpeted floors run throughout the top floor - including the bathrooms - adding warmth and comfort.

In contrast, the children’s bedrooms were designed to be expressive and full of character - spaces that invite imagination and fun. A bold red gloss ceiling in one room adds a playful surprise, reinforcing the idea that historic homes can still embrace colour, energy and modern family life.

The result is a top floor that feels cohesive yet varied: a collection of spaces that honour the past while comfortably supporting the rhythms of contemporary living.