This Top-Floor Bedroom’s Whimsical Wallpaper Makes It Feel Like a “Magical” Treehouse
When sisters and interior designers Caroline and Sarah Stemp, of Sascal Studio, were brought on to refresh a London house for a couple and their young daughter, the house only had two bedrooms. Instead of finding space within the existing layout, the designers built a new bedroom and bathroom on top of the house.
Creating a room at the top of the house where there wasn’t one before obviously meant ceiling height would be limited, but the designers decided to turn the restriction into an opportunity. “We wanted it to feel like a magical sanctuary for [their daughter] to grow up in and wake up in every morning and go to sleep in at night,” Caroline says.
When it came time to work on the child’s bedroom, the Stemps’ first — and arguably the most important — step was choosing the wallpaper. They and their clients chose Sanderson’s “Hedera,” a gorgeous leafy-patterned wallpaper that Caroline describes as the “‘hero’ piece” because it inspired everything else in the room.
“We sourced a wonderful leaf print wallpaper and included the matching fabric for the window treatments so the whole room was drenched in the leaf pattern to make it feel really whimsical, almost like a treehouse, for the little girl,” Caroline shares.
From the wallpaper, the designers incorporated blues, whites, and greens into other areas of the room, like the bedding. The bed, which was custom-built by the clients, is painted with Farrow & Ball’s “Pointing.”
“The bed being tucked up under the eaves was a massive space-saving solution that really makes the room feel even more special,” Caroline says. “It’s around the corner from the entrance into the room, so it feels like it is revealing itself as a bedroom slowly, which is great.”
The bed is gorgeous, but it’s super functional, too. The built-in storage underneath is great for the daughter’s bed linens and toys, and the top ledge doubles as a surface for books or drinks — especially because there wasn’t enough space for a nightstand.
Unsurprisingly, the clients and their daughter adore the finished space. The mom sent Caroline and Sarah a video of the young girl clapping her hands and smiling the biggest smile after seeing the room for the first time. Caroline says that reaction made everything worth it. (It’s also the designers’ favorite room in the house.)
“I love how magical it feels; it feels fitting for any age, which is important to us,” Caroline sats. “We wanted it to feel whimsical to a child, but also to be able to grow with her. The treehouse leaf wallpaper isn’t necessarily a childish print; you could swap out the toys for other styling items, and the room could belong to someone of any age.”
Product List
- Wallpaper — Sanderson
- Fabric — Sanderson
- Bed Handles — Beata Heuman