When a home is designed without proper consideration for function and flow, even the simplest of daily rhythms can become unnecessarily fraught. If you've ever wrestled a coat into an undersized wardrobe or cooked for a household with not nearly enough worktop space, you'll understand completely.
This was the challenge facing interior designers Jessica and Ellie Pile, founders of House of Norica, when they were hired to redesign a client's new home in north London. 'The house was spacious, but its rooms hadn’t been properly considered and didn’t function as well as they should have,' says Ellie.
The bedroom in particular presented a near-impossible puzzle – four walls, each one occupied by a doorway, fireplace, or windows without any space for a bed. Rather than taking the costly route of removing or repositioning its structural elements, the team found a more considered workaround.
Below, Ellie walks us through the renovation process and explains the clever layout solutions that made it all possible.
Tell us about the original space and why your clients chose to renovate
EP: When our clients moved in, it was clear the house needed some attention. While spacious, many of the rooms hadn’t been properly considered and the lack of planning made everyday living more challenging than it needed to be.
Talk us through the plan for the bedroom
EP: The main issue in the bedroom was that all of its walls were ostensibly occupied – one with a bedroom door, one with a fireplace, one with large windows and one with an archway that led into a walk-in wardrobe. None of them left enough space to accommodate a king-size bed without disrupting the flow, so it was difficult to see how the room could function effectively.
An obvious option would have been to completely remove the chimney breast or reposition the doors, but we wanted to keep costs down. Ultimately, we removed the fireplace surround – thankfully it wasn't part of the home’s original features – and blocked up the chimney, extending the chimney breast to accommodate the full width of the bed.
A lot of time was spent refining the design of the walk-in wardrobe to better accommodate the client’s storage needs. As a result, the bedroom itself no longer has to work so hard functionally, allowing it to simply be a space for rest.
We also replaced the large archway with a concealed pocket door, so the bedroom could be fully closed off when needed, creating a calmer, more cohesive space.
You've created a bold colour scheme – did your clients need much convincing?
EP: Our clients wanted their home to feel fun, joyful and full of personality. They were drawn to the pastel tones of Miami, so we used this as a key reference throughout, layering soft blues, playful pinks and sunny yellows to create spaces that felt vibrant yet cohesive.
Get the look: the bold blue bedroom
Do you have a favourite feature?
EP: The bespoke joinery surrounding the bed. Hidden storage has been seamlessly integrated on either side of the chimney breast adding practicality without visual clutter, and open shelving above frames the bed beautifully.
The panelling on the lower half spans the full width of the wall creating an impression of an extended headboard and giving the bed a strong sense of presence within the room.
'By introducing bespoke elements that combine storage and structure, the room gained both purpose and a clear focal point, proving that bold layout decisions can significantly improve everyday use.'
Any lessons learned along the way?
EP: One of the key lessons was the value of physically testing ideas rather than relying solely on plans and visuals. We encouraged our clients to trial different furniture arrangements to give both of us a much clearer understanding of how the space would function and feel before committing to structural changes.
What was the biggest splurge and best bargain?
EP: The best bargain was the bed, as we worked the design around the client's existing one, and the biggest splurge was the bedside lamps from John Lewis. They’re made of the most beautiful stone.
Sourcebook
- Wall paint, Dix Blue by Farrow & Ball
- Woodwork paint, Stone Blue by Farrow & Ball
- Ceiling paint, Pointing by Farrow & Ball
- Striped bedspread, John Lewis
- Floral throw, Rhool
- Bedside lamps, John Lewis
- Custom embroidered artwork, Norica Studios
- See the rest of House of Norica's projects on houseofnorica.com, or on Instagram @houseofnorica.
