Interior choices at The Pad, West Didsbury’s newest short stay rental / non-hotel room

What with working on other people’s homes, projects and restaurants, it felt at times as though The Pad was never going to get finished but whoop whoop, it finally is and I’m so happy with it! Set in a Victorian property, I wanted it to feel calm, classic and restful, yet still vibrant and contemporary, using a palette of greys, off-white, soft walnut and neon yellow. The walls are Farrow & Ball Ammonite and I’m also totally in love with their Yellowcake colour used on the re-upholstered chair, the upcycled once-gold mirror and the homemade shelving around the TV, it gives a bright and surprising foil to all the grey which is very on trend but can be a bit boring if left to it’s own devices.

The picture rail, bathroom panelling and metro tiles are a nod to a period feel for the building, whilst the Ikea Brokhult kitchen with floral handle detailing and inset deep grey box shelving add a modern touch. Most hotel rooms don’t have a *kitchen* but as this will be used for short stay rentals of a month or so as well as overnight stays, it was needed for practical reasons. There’s a fridge, sink and microwave, enough for light cooking but who needs more when the culinary delights of West Didsbury are on your doorstep?!

Fabulous fabrics from Romo – Penthouse Platinum on the headboard & bolster and Byzantine Mimosa on the chair – have allowed me to add a truly luxurious feel for a fraction of the cost of doing a full suite or curtains for example. It’s amazing what a difference a couple of metres of spectacular patterning can do to a room. 

On the floor is a simple but foot-warmingly deep carpet and I added visual interest with a funky Harvey Maria vinyl floor, perfect for those rooms or schemes when tiles aren’t appropriate/possible and a hardwearing finish is required. This Neisha Crossland pattern looks lovely with the chair and the linear timber feel to the kitchen doors, what do you think? I spent absolutely AGES looking for a main pendant light, not wanting a shade, not wanting girlie chandelier, not wanting patterned fabric, and finally found this brushed nickel mix of old and new at John Lewis. A hexagon silver plant pot and Pitfield’s white parakeet finished off the bed shelf nicely.I chose a dark cream metro tile with deep grey grout for the shower cubicle and sat that next to vertical wood panelling in a new Farrow & Ball colour, Mole’s Breath, which I also used on all the skirting boards and door architraves. I have heard advice given not to use dark colours in small spaces… pah to that 😉 With a detailed mirror chalk painted and distressed, nickel & glass bathroom fittings and lots of bright HomeSense accessories, it’s a really cute little space.

Room costs are £75 per night, £350 for a week or a longer stay can be negotiated.

We can organise local restaurant bookings, food & wine on arrival, a chocolate & champagne welcome – get in touch with your requirements.

Contact us on 07789 220121 for bookings or via Twitter @Moregeous, we look forward to welcoming you at The Pad 🙂

Addendum – I’m entering this blog post & The Pad into an interior bloggers competition to win a fab Tom Dixon light with Little Greene Paint Co, wish me luck!