The Royal Oak, Keswick

The biggest challenge at The Royal Oak was making the very compact size rooms in the old quirky building look and feel much bigger.

I designed some custom made furniture made of solid oak which was all wall fixed so no legs were cluttering the floor, this together with open wardrobes and beds on legs rather than divans opened up the floor space to emphasise the space available and therefore create a more spacious and open feel to the rooms.

The use of the oak and live edges on the furniture gave a rustic feel to the rooms and this was enhanced by the use of rural looking papers, country wool fabrics and cosy blankets. Sheepskin stools and hand knitted sheep tea cosies gave a nod to the local surroundings and the amazing views across the Lake district from the bedroom windows.

The ground floor was refurbished keeping in mind that practicality and numbers of covers was key to the very busy bustling local pub. A vintage wallpaper map, limited edition artwork and photographs combined with rich country greens and browns in wool fabrics and wall finishes give a sturdy yet comfy feel for this welcoming Lake District Inn which was recently awarded a 5 star rating.