Dealing with the dark side

Time to bring light to a northern exposure and ease to the east, says Kya de Longchamps

Chocolate brown walls, cool creamy furniture — this elegant bedroom plays to its north facing aspect by using dark, enclosing colours to create a sooting retreat.

FEW of us can escape the challenge of rooms with a dimmer aspect: rooms that progress to shadow on the east side or wake to gloom on the west. If you have house on the sunny side of the street, half of your floor plan will be north facing. Upstairs, someone in the family will be dealt the darker room. Still, there’s plenty you can do on a blousy or bitter budget to throw some light on these unexpected, shy space.