In 2016, when Anne Marie Boyhan and her husband, Ivan, bought their new-build, three-bedroom, mid-terrace home, located in Drumcondra, Dublin, the builder offered the couple the opportunity to extend into the attic.
‘We put in a staircase and landing, which initially provided us with extra storage, so it became a bit of a dumping ground,’ explains Anne Marie.
Two years on, with a second baby on the way and Ivan working from home, the couple needed the extra space, so converted the loft to add a main bedroom with an en suite.
‘As we were adding a fourth bedroom and putting in a dormer window at the front of the house, we needed planning permission. It took about six weeks and gave us a chance to de-clutter,’ explains Anne Marie. Once the building work was complete, Anne Marie could finally start planning the luxurious, bold bedroom she’d been imagining.
Anne Marie envisioned a striking panelled feature wall, which she imagined painted in a rich, green hue. ‘My inspiration came from hotels. I adore luxurious hotels, like the Hoxton Hotel in London and The Devlin Hotel in Dublin, and would always take note of the décor, so I went for a really bold colour for the panelling, which I knew in my heart of hearts would be lovely,’ she explains.
However, the colour did cause some concern initially – when Ivan went to pick it up and saw it being mixed, he rang Anne Marie to tell her it was awful! She managed to convince him it would work, though, and once it was on the wall Ivan agreed it was perfect.
Anne Marie had been gathering inspiration on a Pinterest board for a while, so knew the look she wanted to create with the furnishings. ‘One of our priorities for the room was, of course, the bed.
The space allowed for a super king-sized bed, so we splashed out on one. It’s a King Koil bed, which we discovered in a hotel. After the best night’s sleep we had ever had, we couldn’t help but look under the mattress to find the supplier!’ laughs Anne Marie.
She wanted the headboard to be a complete contrast to the green wall. ‘It contrasted perfectly with the wall and, surprisingly, it was much easier than I thought persuading Ivan that it would look fabulous,’ she says.
To complement the scheme, Anne Marie picked up a pre-loved velvet IKEA chair and footstool on a classified site. ‘It’s as good as new and was the exact colour I wanted for the space. I dressed it with a faux fur throw and pink cushion. It provides the perfect place to relax and read in comfort,’ she adds.
For the rest of the room, Anne Marie opted for a neutral palette of subtle greys for the walls, wardrobes and carpet. ‘I knew gold finishes would add a luxurious touch, which is why I chose the bedside tables, lamps and accessories.
I added greenery with faux plants, which I matched with the fabric for the blinds. The tropical fabric, full of birds and leaves, is from an Etsy seller in Greece,’ explains Anne Marie.
A chic pendant light and crisp white bedding, cushions and throws provided the finishing touches. ‘With the lighting, I knew the large dormer window would make the room really bright and light, but I wanted a statement piece for the central light, so chose a Sputnik-style pendant. I love it every time I see it,’ smiles Anne Marie.
Lastly, she added a mix of oversized cushions in a variety of cosy textures to the bed. ‘I love our little sanctuary. It’s colourful and bright, and really has that hotel feel to it. I’m chuffed with how I was able to put my own stamp on the interior. I really enjoyed the design process and how it all came together,’ concludes Anne Marie.
Shop the look
Wall panelling painted in Breathe Deeply Valspar, £46 per 5l, B&Q. Walls painted in French Grey Pale, £45 per 2.5l, Little Greene. Velvet headboard, £479, MADE.com. King Koil Hotel Elegance 2200 super king mattress, £1,721, Meubles. Dublin Twist carpet, £16.45 per sq m, Carpet Express. 130x180cm blind, £202.39, DecorativaDesign, Etsy. Gold nesting tables, £229.99, Zara Home. Strandmon velvet wing chair, £229, Strandmon foot stool, £65, both IKEA. Plain duvet set and sheet, £24.99, Aldi. Gatsby fringe cushion pink, £18, Sterling Furniture. Mongolian lamb cushion covers, £34.95, West Elm. Green Jacquard cushion, £9; jewellery box £18; candlesticks, £17,99, all H&M Home. Pink extra large throw, £12; small grey faux sheepskin, £10; pink velvet cushion cover, £2.50; small glass faux flowers; £3.50, draping faux plant, £6; gold stand faux plant , £20; bedside lights, £45.60, all Primark Home. Opal Globe Sputnik light, £149, Marks & Spencer.
This is a digital version of a feature that originally appeared in Your Home magazine. For more inspirational home ideas, why not subscribe today?