Homestyle Q&A

By Olivia Abbott on February 24th 2010

Got an interior design dilemma? Nick Lee takes your questions to Cambridge's leading interiors specialists

I would like to have a ‘piped’ music system throughout my apartment. Is there a product available which can link the system or systems throughout by bluetooth or similar, avoiding messy and complicated wiring systems?
Martin, Riverside, Cambridge

Mike Cunningham at The Audio File (audiofile.co.uk) says: A Sonos system will feed audio from a hard drive and internet radio around your home via its own network. The system isn’t completely wireless as the performance of truly wireless speakers is poor (the best sounding type still require a mains feed). Each area, or ‘zone’, where you would like music will require a zoneplayer and a pair of speakers (which can be discreet in-ceiling/in-wall type). Alternatively, the new S5 is an all-in-one unit that can be placed in any location within network coverage, and with a mains supply. Once installed, any of these systems will access a hard-drive-stored music collection and literally thousands of internet radio stations, with each zone having adjustable volume and the ability to play different music in all zones at the same time.

It seems big bold patterns are the preferred choice of wallpaper for interior designers on TV programmes at the moment. Would you recommend such a wallpaper for the whole of my 14ft x 11ft Victorian sitting room or would you opt for a feature wall? I don’t want the room to be boring and neutral and I’m not afraid of colour!
Jeannine, Stapleford

Carrie at Paint & Paper Emporium (paintandpaperemporium.com) says: I think the size of your room would perhaps lend itself to having two walls papered rather than all-over pattern. I imagine if your house is Victorian you may well have a period fireplace. You could paper the alcoves either side of the fireplace and the opposite wall at the other end of the room with a feature paper such as Sanderson Pear & Pomegranate. The chimney breast and remaining walls could be papered in a corresponding plain paper e.g. a plain metallic paper, such as Osborne & Little Quartz, or painted using a colour from the feature wallpaper. This strategy allows you to add plenty of colour and pattern to the room without it feeling like the wallpaper is taking over too much.

I have read and seen that media rooms are becoming increasingly fashionable. I would like to change the use of my dining room to a media room. What advice can you give me with regard to choosing either a projector or a large LCD, and is it possible to still make the room part of the rest of the house?
Jack, Barton

Hugh Jamieson of At Home (athome-interiors.com) says:
I would advise a projector and hideaway screen if you have a large room. Converting a dining room into a media room would probably suit a 50in flatscreen TV which is the preferred and more practical option for family homes. The media room shown shows a Bang and Olfsen flatscreen television neatly situated in a fireplace recess with seating all around in a U shape to allow the largest of families to watch a film or DVD. It’s up to you how to integrate the design of the room with the rest of the property, but voile curtains and recessed downlighting give a cinematic feel to the room very easily.

• Nick Lee has worked with some of the UK’s top interior designers over the past 10 years. If you would like Nick to answer your design-related question and help you to make the most of your home, email him at nick@niche-pr.co.uk

Members Comments

• Comment by: Anja 01 March 2010 - 16:11

  What a fantastic idea this article is, I am thinking of re decorating and know where to come for advise when the time is right

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