Stripping and redecorating a period boardroom, Newcastle-under-Lyme

What did the customer need?

The customer needed their boardroom fully redecorated so it felt fresh, smart and fit for meetings again. The room has lovely period features, including deep ornate cornicing, a ceiling rose, a six-panel door and an original cast-iron fireplace with a tiled insert. The finished scheme uses Cole & Son geometric wallpaper on two walls, a rich Johnstones yellow on the door wall and chimney breast, and a soft pale grey on the remaining walls. Scheme chosen by the customer. The boardroom table and chairs stayed in the room throughout, so everything had to be worked around and protected.

What condition was it in?

The walls looked tired and worn, with marks and discolouration showing through the cream paint. The worst patches were above the radiator and along the long back wall, where the finish had stained and looked uneven. Taking everything back to the original wall was the only way to get a finish that would last and look properly smart.

What preparation was needed?

The walls had to be stripped back completely and replastered before any decorating could start. This was a Full redecoration rather than a Refresh because every wall surface was taken back and rebuilt, not just repainted.

Which paints and materials were used?

I used Cole & Son wallpaper and Johnstones Durable Matte colour matched to a Little Greene colour, well-known British brands. Cole & Son is a London wallpaper maker famous for bold and heritage designs. The cube pattern here, in ochre yellow, charcoal and white, creates a striking 3D effect. Geometric papers need very flat walls and careful pattern matching, or the lines look crooked, which is why the replastering mattered so much.

What was the result?

The boardroom is now a bold, characterful room that still feels calm enough for meetings. The yellow chimney breast frames the original fireplace and makes it the centrepiece of the room. The crisp white cornice, skirting boards and door stand out sharply against the new colours. The two papered walls give the room energy, while the pale grey walls give the eye a rest from the pattern. The whole job took around two weeks, most of which went into stripping and replastering. The room now makes a strong first impression on anyone who walks in.

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