Favourite rooms in December

As usual, and I am sure like many of you, I have been down the rabbit warren of Instagram and Pinterest and my head is full of gorgeous rooms.  I have a few of my favourite rooms in December to show you, together with why I think these rooms are particularly good.

My favourite kitchen

Why I love this kitchen

• Firstly, I absolutely love this room because of the lined cathedral ceiling.  When you hear the expression that a house has good bones, high ceilings is one of these features.  Often though these can be a challenge when you are installing a kitchen, or any type of joinery.  Clearly, you can't take the joinery to the ceiling, or create a bulkhead for that height.  It's therefore really important that you consider how to finish the top of the joinery to make it work and be in proportion to the ceiling. This has been achieved here and with perfect symmetry, the cabinetry works really well.
• I also really love the generous size of the range hood which spans between the two tall cupboards.  Again, this adds to the perfect symmetry of the space and keeps the line unbroken.
• The soft cool grey of the cabinetry also works really well with the fresh white in the room.

My favourite pantry

Why I love this Butler's Pantry

• I just really love this soft greige which is almost an olive green colour.  This is what drew me to this pantry and demonstrates how powerful colour in interiors can be.
• The drawers are also deep and generous and offer plenty of storage and I love the shelving with the v groove panelling. This is just a simple room, but very effective.

My favourite dining room

Why I love this dining room

• I have to admit, it was the drinks' cabinet that drew my attention here.  How fabulous is it?  I really like that although the kitchen joinery is in white, the bar section has been detailed in black and the interior has been finished beautifully.  Always ensure that when you select glass doors for your cabinetry that you consider the interior material and ensure that this works with the rest of the room.
• The simple pedestal table in oak and black with dining chairs in rattan and black, tie in perfectly with the joinery.  A beautiful corner for an intimate supper or a wine tasting!

My favourite living room

Why I love this living room

• This living room just looks so comfortable.  I love a neutral soft grey sofa as it is so versatile when it comes to styling.  It has been partnered here with warm neutral cushions which link to the warmth of the lovely coffee table and also soft blue/grey and white cushions which cools the palette down and works with the sofa.  There is a misconception that if you have cool coloured upholstery that you need to maintain this colour scheme, but you can introduce warm neutrals too, particularly when there are other warm elements in the space.
• I love the built in joinery and the simple curtains.  The styling is lovely too.  A very welcoming and comfortable living room.

Related: 7 tips to style a living room

My favourite home office

Why I love this home office

Isn't the evolution of the home office amazing?  For a while now, people have worked at home, but with the explosion of home based online businesses, and more flexible work arrangements, the majority of homes now have a dedicated home office.  Even smaller homes usually have at least a nook set aside for this purpose.  I therefore am intrigued by the different designs that you see for home office arrangements.

I love this one where a cosy built in sofa has been included, and it ticks all the other boxes too.  A simple desk at a good height, built in shelving, good lighting and the most beautiful styling.  Just because you are going to work, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't have an amazing environment.

The warm colours in this space are conducive to creativity.  The sofa is also a great overnight solution for the occasional guest too.

Related: My guide to the perfect home office

My favourite powder room

Why I love this powder room

• The stunning marble basin caught my eye and I love it.  It is a beautiful piece and works perfectly with the dull brass wall taps.  But, what I really love about this room is the colour palette.
• You don't often see rich brown tones for walls, but you can really pull it off with the panelling.  These dark brown bitter chocolate tones are the perfect neutral as they are warm and welcoming, rather than being too oppressive.  This colour works perfectly with the tapware and the rich timber vanity.
• Finally, the flooring completes the look and is linked to the fabulous wall lights.  A really successful colour palette has highs and lows, which are light and dark tones.  It's a bit like a piece of music.  If everything is one tone it can be boring, but if you introduce some high and low notes to mix it up, you have a piece of music.  This sounds corny, but is actually how I was taught to put colour schemes together so it really does work!

My favourite hallway

Why I love this hallway

• I really like the mood that has been created in this very generous hallway.  Although the panelling is very dark, there is lots of light flooding in from the stunning doors and highlight window.  If the panelling was very light, you would create a completely different mood and you would need to work harder with the space to get the wow factor.  Rather than just considering colours, you should always consider the mood that you want to create.  As white is a lovely backdrop for furniture, so is black, and used in the right areas, the look is very appealing.
• I love the colour of the oak flooring.  The boards have some lovely variation, but with the overall tone a mid one.
• Notice how the dark background is perfect for the artwork, lighting and sofa.  The gold in the cushion and artwork are perfect.  Just small additions that make the colour palette perfect.

Related: 7 tips for the perfect welcoming hallway

My favourite bedroom

Why I love this bedroom

• I am an absolute fan of Studio McGee, so pretty much anything that they put together goes into my favourites list.  This bedroom is no expception and is the perfect room for a teenager or a guest.
• The wallpaper highlights the beautiful design of the ceiling and the panelling is at a perfect height.  I love the simplicity of the oak bed and the oversized navy rug is both extremely smart and practical.  It grounds the space really well.
• A beautiful colour palette of off white, oak, navy and greige.

Related: 5 tips to create a calm bedroom environment

I hope you love these rooms too.  I would love to hear from you in the comments section below.