A library that transforms into a guest room

The best rooms are often the ones that quietly do more than one job.

For this East Sussex home, my clients had dreamed of having a dedicated library for years. A peaceful room to read, work and escape to. But they also wanted it to double as a comfortable guest bedroom for family and friends staying for longer visits.

A sofa bed wasn't the answer.

Instead, we designed bespoke joinery to conceal a full-sized wall bed with a proper mattress. When closed, it reads simply as elegant cabinetry. A cleverly engineered swivel mechanism reveals the bed in just a few moments, allowing the room to transform without compromising its character.

The challenge wasn't hiding the bed. It was making sure the room always felt like a library first.

Colour drenching the walls, ceiling and joinery in a soft green creates a calm, enveloping backdrop, while layers of books, artwork, textured fabrics and pattern give the room warmth and personality. Nothing feels temporary or compromised.

I love designing rooms that can adapt to the changing rhythms of everyday life. The most successful multifunctional spaces don't announce what they're capable of. They simply feel like beautiful rooms until the moment they need to become something else.