Room 24 (click for details of the room refurb)

This selection of pictures show what the room was like before we transformed it into the room you see today. It was essentially the main first floor drawing room of the house. I didn't want to change its shape or size which it would have done if we had just installed a shower room in one corner. so decided to knock through into the room behind and create the bathroom in there.

You can see how I measured out the bed and sofa space (shades of the Marriage of Figaro anyone?) by using pieces of wood. I find this method so much more illuminating that just using a tape measure and cms. That way you can immediately visualise the room and how you might place pieces of furniture in it.

Similarly I have found that this method also works with bathroom design. Use an old loo (or at least a seat) , a basin pedestal and a light plastic bath to place in a room so you can move them around easily to see what works.

The oak bed came from a supplier in Birmingham who delivered and set it up. It's quite magnificent and dominating but I think it works well as a statement bed which is what I wanted to achieve.

The small drawer dresser came from an auction in Sandwich nearby. The Edwardian wardrobe has been with me for years and sits nicely in the corner. The rug and heavy coffee table came from a friend in London who was redecorating and wanted a change of style. The lamps are from TK Maxx (which does come up trumps sometimes).

The Edwardian sofa and chair (which we recovered) came from a house in Vale Square in Ramsgate which was being sold. The lamp table with the distinctive bottle opener mark on it was my mother's. The bottle opener stain has been there for years and has now become part of its character which I am loathe to change.

When hanging a collection of pictures on one wall I find it very helpful to first lay them out on the floor so you can then play around with their layout and design before committing to banging nails in the wall.

I had the ship cushions and curtains made up locally. It's great that there always seems to be someone who can do this sort of work

The paint is Copenhagen Blue (flat matt) from Dulux Vintage and the carpet is a brown Tretford, hardwearing and being brown tends to go with any colour.

PS the twins in the picture are my nephews who were a great help moving furniture up and down the stairs!