The smoking room

It was a rainy cold wintery weekend and I wanted an inside project, so I decided to do a makeover on my lounge. I'd been thinking about it for quite some time. I'm also becoming a little more bold with bringing colour into the house.

Inspired by friends who recently created a dark moody lounge, I decided to give it a go myself. I wanted it to feel like the kind of smoking rooms you see in old films set in gentlemen's clubs!

When I first moved into the house 10 years ago, the whole inside was painted an off-white colour. So I really did have a blank canvas to work with.

I brought in a little bit of colour in the form of old shipping charts that I used as wallpaper creating a cosy snug feel to the room. But I was ready to be bolder!!

I put the green in a corner first of all and gasped a little at the bold colour (and this was only one coat!).

The cats didn't get the memo that said - stay out of the lounge while I'm painting it!!

As soon as I completed the first coat, I LOVED it (thank goodness!!)

This fireplace has been painted so many different colours! I decided to bring some gold into the room - wait until you see how it turned out. It's delicious!

I sent this photograph to a friend when she asked what I was up to! She sent a reply saying: "Don't get green paint on that beautiful couch!" I didn't.

And here is the lounge, all painted, all put back together as seen through my sari curtain. I LOVE this curtain so much, it's on a tension wire with little clips, which means I can swap it out for any material I come across that I like.

This is just before dusk so it's very dark and moody. The next step is to introduce more mood lighting.

I LOVE how the fireplace turned out and there's Grace who can usually be found in front of the fire in her favourite spot.

I bought a second squishy totally comfortable couch which has brought with it a softness into the room that was lacking (see first photograph). I loved the chairs, they were playful and jaunty, but I wanted an indulgent and comfortable space to relax and entertain.

Here we are in daylight.

I think the shipping chart wall really pops now!

And finally, a place to house my favourite book!!

P.S I just wanted to add a little personal note and a nod to my mum who passed away two years ago. She was a smoker and a very practical and down to earth Mancunian woman (a woman from Manchester, UK). She told me: 'when you're dead, you're dead, none of this passing away nonsense."

Shortly after her passing, I was in my lounge having a big cry when the whole room filled with the smell of cigarettes. There were no windows or doors open.

It might sound strange, but it was the most comforting and familiar smell and I was immediately filled with so much love for her, I knew she would be always with me.

So calling my lounge, 'The Smoking Room' is very much a tribute to her.