I'd like to suggest that the most important thing here is more about who is using the room. If It's a child's bedroom use lovely children's curtains - there's so much around and any pattern could pick up the wall and floor colours. If a guest room and not used often I'd suggest a beautiful velvet or good quality Linen and forbid the little ones from going in to that room!!!!!! alternately a blind attached at floor level could be raised or lowered so the view is still there but with privacy from waist height perhaps. Good luck. Bee

Hi, we have an unusual space where the bottom cupboards are actually head space for a stairway downstair. We are running the bench (700wide) over this along the wall (the glass door is being replace by wall) and looking at an on bench panty system. Has anyone used the Hettich Vertico mono system in a large 1200 wide 700m high (maximum extent) installation? We would have all the appliances behind it and potentially lit glass display shelving on the top 700 to the ceiling. I'm just curious as have only seen this in small appliance cupboard type installations to date. thanks

Hi Angela, this space has mega potential. For starters it has fantastic symmetry. However as the space is very long I would recommend you break it down into 2 zones. The front zone as the place for bride and bridesmaids to get ready and the end wall zone as the sleeping area. Divide the space with a set of luxurious pooling drapes, and keep the lighting in the sleeping zone dimmable wall hung bedside lights and and a conversation piece chandelier. Go for warm colours and a touch of gold. A high oversized shallow tufted bedhead will add luxe. A upmarket Bohemian theme could work well. The bridal preparation zone needs to be well lit, (daylight) bars, with floor to ceiling opposable mirrors, (side lit also). Remember this is a functioning space, there needs to be ample hanging for dresses/clothing, clear space, formalish seating (no bride or bridesmaid wants to get stuck in a low lounging sofa and need a hand-up. Have sideboard space for jewellery, flower holders etc and keep the colour palette very neutral, a blackwhite, and mid range neutral grey will work with any bridalware. If you would like any further advice you are welcome to contact me. As an interior designer I often work alongside a styling company that specialises in weddings and other events.

The number you need for adequate lighting is dependant on the light fitting, its brightness and the angle the light will cover. The physical size of the fittings will also affect the number that looks best. Two very small fittings may give adequate light but look lost, while three larger ones could seem crowded. You may even find some very small fittings that work well as a group of six. Take into account the width of the surface as well as the length so you can ensure it is all well lit. You may be able to change the brightness of the lamp in the fittings to give a good work light in the number of fittings that look best. Avoid creating strong bright/dark contrast areas on a work surface. More overlapping less-bright light is better than few brighter ones that leave dark patches between them. Also consider whether there are other elements in the space that the group of light fittings could relate to, whether window mullions, cupboard doors, seating etc. If something else is creating a strong rhythm, decide whether you want to echo, or offset that or have the lighting as a background element that doesn't have a strong relationship to it.