Woodland House
Timeless Vibrancy, Woking
726 sqm / 7,819 sqft
Set within expansive grounds in Woking, Woodland House is a grand family home surrounded by private woodland, sweeping gardens, a natural pond and a traditional coach house nestled within the estate. While the property already had strong architectural bones and had been well maintained by its previous owners, our clients were keen to gently reshape the interiors to better reflect their own relaxed, family-oriented way of living.
Rather than embarking on a full renovation, the brief centred around thoughtful cosmetic transformation — retaining and reworking wherever possible to avoid unnecessary waste. Existing joinery, curtains and architectural details were carefully considered and incorporated into the new schemes, with each room softened and layered through colour, texture, upholstery and bespoke furniture. The result is a home that feels elegant yet deeply comfortable; balancing the scale and grandeur of the property with warmth, personality and a sense of ease.
Relaxed Reception
Although grand in scale, our clients were keen to avoid the feeling of an overly formal reception room. To counter this, we layered the space with warm terracotta tones, tactile fabrics and playful geometric patterns to create something far more welcoming and liveable.
Curved furniture silhouettes and rich upholstery soften the architecture, while contrasting rust and teal tones bring depth and warmth to the neutral backdrop. The result is a room designed as much for relaxed evenings with family as it is for entertaining guests.
The Heart of the Home
At the heart of the home is an expansive open-plan kitchen, breakfast and living space flooded with natural light from the surrounding glazing and roof lantern above. The existing kitchen cabinetry was retained, allowing us to take a more sustainable approach by working with what was already there and layering in warmth through furniture, textiles and styling.
Tailored for Family Living
A large modular sofa creates a relaxed snug area centred around bespoke TV joinery painted in a rich deep green, while a pair of Minotti armchairs tucked behind offer a quieter corner for reading or morning coffee. Nearby, the round breakfast table creates an informal setting for everyday family meals, helping the large open-plan space feel intimate and connected despite its scale.
Dramatic Dining
The dining room balances formality with warmth through rich walnut tones and carefully considered detailing. We designed a bespoke walnut dining table with sculptural cylindrical legs and subtle brass accents, manufactured specifically for the space to complement the walnut Gubi dining chairs.
Additional sideboards provide practical storage and display space, while decorative lighting and layered textiles soften the architecture. Throughout the home, the clients collaborated with an art consultant to curate pieces that complement each room scheme, bringing colour, narrative and individuality into the interiors.
Playful Playroom
Originally intended as a more formal reception space, the playroom was reimagined as a playful retreat for the younger members of the family. Existing red joinery was retained and embraced as the starting point for the scheme, allowing us to create a room full of warmth and character without unnecessary replacement.
Soft patterned fabrics, playful artwork and layered textures help the room feel youthful yet still cohesive with the wider house, striking a balance between practicality and sophistication.
His & Hers Studies
Positioned back-to-back, the house features separate studies for husband and wife, each tailored to their individual working styles while remaining visually connected to the wider home.
In both spaces, we retained the existing curtains and used their colours and patterns as the foundation for the new schemes. Bespoke desks were designed for each room, including an adjustable sit-stand desk within his study to support more flexible working. Painted joinery, natural oak finishes and layered textiles create spaces that feel calm, practical and quietly characterful.
Botanical Cloakroom
The cloakroom became an opportunity to introduce a bolder moment within the house. Working around the existing sanitaryware and beautifully made yellow patterned Roman blinds, we refreshed the space with Boråstapeter’s Rabarber wallpaper in a deep navy colourway scattered with playful botanical motifs.
The rich backdrop transforms the compact room into a jewel-box space, while pops of pink, green and ochre woven through the wallpaper connect subtly back to colours used elsewhere throughout the home. By retaining the existing fittings and layering in decorative impact through surface finishes instead, the room perfectly encapsulates the project’s wider approach of thoughtful, low-waste transformation.
Main Bedroom Suite
The main bedroom already featured an architectural joinery element dividing the sleeping area from the dressing space, which we retained and refreshed rather than replacing. The existing bed and headboard were reupholstered in richer, more tactile fabrics better suited to our clients’ aesthetic, while bespoke bedside joinery and carefully layered textiles brought softness and warmth to the room.
Within the bay window, a pair of Minotti swivel armchairs create a peaceful seating area overlooking the grounds, framed by new plush terracotta velvet curtains that replaced the original heavier treatments. Above the bed, a sculptural pendant light by Karen Henriksen adds a gentle sense of drama and artistry.
Dinosaur Dreams
One of our favourite spaces to design was the little boy’s bedroom, inspired by his love of dinosaurs. A playful feature wallpaper transforms the room into an imaginative world, while a tent-style bed nook creates a cosy retreat for reading and play.
As with much of the house, we worked around existing elements that were still in excellent condition, including the curtains, allowing us to focus investment on bespoke details and decorative layers that brought the room to life.
Softly Layered Nursery
Designed to function both as a nursery and guest bedroom, this room was conceived as a calm and flexible space that could evolve over time. Soft blue-grey tones, layered textiles and playful accents create a soothing atmosphere, while the clients’ existing navy velvet bed was repurposed within the scheme to reduce waste and bring continuity from their previous home.
Restful Guest Retreats
In the first guest bedroom, we retained both the existing curtains and the clients’ previous bed, building a timeless and versatile scheme around them. Gentle blue and sage tones, tactile fabrics and classic detailing help the room feel welcoming and restful for visitors of all ages.
The second guest bedroom centres around a bespoke upholstered headboard designed specifically for the space. Paired with bedside tables from Chelsea Textiles and a layered mix of patterned cushions and textiles, the room balances classic detailing with a more playful edge.
A palette of navy, rust and soft neutrals brings warmth and depth, helping the space feel inviting while remaining timeless enough to evolve with the house over the years.
Space to Reflect
The entrance lobby sets the tone for the rest of the house; bright, practical and quietly playful. Full-height built-in joinery provides generous storage for coats and shoes, helping to keep the busy family home feeling calm and organised. To soften the symmetry of the space, we introduced a deep red Ercol bench alongside practical wall hooks for everyday items, bringing warmth and personality to an otherwise functional area.
Photographer: Chris Snook