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INTERIOR DESIGN AND DECORATION OF SETON
CASTLE:
AN OVERVIEW BY MALCOLM W. DUFFIN (MBIDA)
HEAD OF DESIGN, ZEBRANO LIMITED.
Entrance Hall & Staircase
The staircase was fully restored,
including the ironwork to an original Robert Adam
design. This was the inspiration for the design of the
carpet, runners and rugs which were made in a scarlet
and gold ballustrade design. Walls are painted in a
deep red high sheen eggshell finish. This required 5/6
coats to achieve the depth of colour required. The hall
is finished with a pair of rich red Louis XV Chairs
upholstered in a wool silk damask. The chairs are all
French nailed with a walnut finish. The blinds on the
left landing have been made in a matching wool, finished
with deep red/ gold and green bespoke bullion fringe. A
pair of round pedestal tables (not matching) were
sourced from a cabinetmakers in Edinburgh.
Dining Room
All existing furnishings were removed.
The flooring, doors and woodwork were reconstructed to
incorporate a hi-fi system. Period radiator covers were
manufactured and installed. Ironmongery, fireplaces and
windows were either replaced or restored. The dining
room is a feat of architecture and decoration. The
French Lampas silk was made in emerald green. This silk
damask was then hand battened to the walls and finished
off with a gold gimp concealing the hand stitching and
upholstery pins. Curtains and pelmets were made to
match Adams architecture. The 18th century
chandeliers and commodes sit either side of a stunning
and rare Robert Adam fireplace were personally sourced.
All the woodwork is hand finished with a gold leaf
detailing. Two cupboards were restored as a butler's
pantry and a glass room.
Ante Room Corridors
Both these passageways have been fully
restored using emerald green, gold and ink wallpaper
specially designed by a London wallpaper manufacture
Cole & Son. Enhanced with a window seat and blinds in
green lampas silk, these passageways are an
aesthetically pleasing way to link the principle
reception rooms.
Drawing Room
This stunning D shaped room with a trio
of arched windows looking down the estate to the River
Forth. It has been completely restored. A subtle and
timeless Trompe L' oeil decoration was chosen for a
panelled room. Three shades of coral add warmth to the
rooms, as do the silk taffeta curtains with hand made
trimmings in coral/ blue and pink. An Aubisson rug,
baby grand piano and a selection of Scottish Georgian
and Victorian furniture complete the design. A secret
door connects the drawing room to the morning room.
Morning Room
This perfectly proportioned room has been
decorated with rare Colefax and Fowler wallcovering,
again picking the coral/ green which link all 3
principled reception rooms. The grand curtains, sofas
and chairs were all manufactured and/or upholstered to
an exact specification. A rug designed by Colefax
coloured by Duffin reinforced the look with a soft pale
green dragged wallpaper from Coles. The furniture plan
gives this room a flexible use and has its own en suite
toilet / powder room facilities. The kitchen can be
accessed from this room.
Master Bedroom
This room has retained the same
proportions and scale of the drawing room below it,
resulting in one of the highlights of the house. This
room was fashioned on 17th/18th
century decoration from the Orient. Hand painted silk
wallpaper was commissioned in pale blue and a design
that was chosen to suit the contours of the room.
Detailed paint work and painstakingly beautiful curtains
in these colours add luxury. A beautiful 4-poster bed
was built specifically for this room and is finished
with pale blue and green silk curtains. A Regency
Fauteille is upholstered in satin, adding some feminine
luxury along with a glorious rug purchased by the
client. Accessories from the owners' private
collection add atmosphere to a room which is wrapped in
silk and satin and allows for retreat and seclusion.
Dressing Room/ Bathrooms
A stunning suite of rooms comprises of
bespoke cabinetry for the cupboards, all painted in bone
and ivory colours to reflect the pair of simple
fireplaces with ochre marble detail. The bathroom, with
shower and steam room and WC are all fully fitted with
marble and chrome finishes.
Children's Rooms
The children's rooms are interconnected
ranging from a vibrant pink room for the teenager
daughter to a Disney styled film set bedroom for the
youngest daughter. Trompe L'oiel has been used
extensively to create exceptional rooms for the
children.
Guest Bedroom 1 (Fuchsia)
This twin bedroom follows the theme of
Chintz and colour using Colefax & Fowler Fuchsia on the
walls with the woodwork picks up the colour detail.
Twin sleigh beds and furnishings complete this charming
room.
Guest Bedroom 2 (Bowood)
Situated at the North West corner of
Adams' House this room has a stunning skyline view to
Edinburgh and North Fife. A traditional design of roses
has been used to provide a comfortable retreat for any
guest.
Guest Bedroom 3 (Southeast)
A charming 'Gentleman's' Guest bedroom is
decorated in sporting Toile De Jouey featuring hounds,
in reds/ creams . The en suite bathroom has been
decorated in a strip. A sumptuous sleigh bed and
delightful accessories collected by the owners give this
room charm and comfort.
Study
Centred at the top of the house and
afforded similar views as the guest rooms, this room
offers escapism for thinking time. A French fabric by
Pierre Frey has been applied to the walls, curtains and
pelmets, which is complimented by an unusual mix of
colour on the woodwork. A desk, leather chairs and
complementary accessories complete this room.
Kitchen
Formerly a dark and disused basement this
area was converted to a fully bespoke kitchen, fully
equipped to suit a house of such a scale. An uncut
large slate floor adds atmosphere, as does the choice of
Trompe L'Oiel detail. Miniature chandeliers add some
glamour and offer practical additional lighting.
Billiard Room
This room was completely restored to form
a Billiard Room. The walls have all been panelled in a
dark oak with chestnut leather armchairs. There are
sporting scenes in the curtains and window seats , which
have been lined with a coffee and blue plaid detailing.
The fireplace has been reopened and a Victorian drinks
trolley adds to the detail created for the relaxing
sportsmen that will enjoy the luxury of this room.
Playroom
The children's recreation space has been
decorated with Trompe L'Oiel, with a canopied ceiling
and practical matting on the flagstone floor. Leading
out to the East Garden this room will be well suited and
robust to the rigours of a young family.
EXTERNAL
Parterre Garden
Formerly overgrown and out of control,
the courtyard foliage was completely removed. The
geometry of the parterre was designed by Malcolm Duffin
and landscape gardeners completed the construction and
planting to compliment the Robert Adam structure of the
property. This and the linear movement has been echoed
with structured formal planting and Versailles tubs.
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