A bold, bespoke transformation that set out to divide opinion

This is the story of one of our recent residential projects in Sheffield that was unapologetically created to divide guest opinion. Although the entire internal configuration was reimagined, one thing mattered above all else: this new house still had to feel like the client's home.

Introducing the House: Two Homes Become One

For years, our clients had dreamt of buying the house next door and turning the two properties into a single, expansive family home. When the neighbour finally agreed to sell, it marked the beginning of a five-year transformation – and a deeply collaborative design journey.  Although the entire internal configuration was reimagined, one thing mattered above all else: this new house still had to feel like their home.

The result is a house that feels beautifully coherent – where the architectural bones of the original building flow seamlessly into the newly created spaces.

For potential clients searching for an interior designer in Sheffield or high-end residential interior design in Yorkshire, this project exemplifies how we blend period detail with modern living – in whatever visual language best suits the client, from restrained elegance to expressive colour.

Our Approach: Client-Led, Not Style-Led

At Wilding & Wolfe, we don’t believe in a single “house style”.  Some of our clients want calm, muted interiors with soft neutrals and gentle texture. Others crave brave colour, pattern and personality. Many sit somewhere in between – quiet foundations with moments of joyful contrast.  Our role is to listen – really listen – to how you want to live and feel at home. Every design decision flows from that conversation. Whether your dream home is quietly luxurious or unapologetically bold, we create bespoke interiors that are entirely tailored to you.

 
A House Designed to Divide

One of the most refreshing aspects of this project was the clients’ honesty about what they wanted.  They didn’t want a safe, neutral scheme that everyone would find “nice”.  They wanted a home that would divide their guests. In their words: they would rather people disliked the design than thought it bland.  That level of clarity and courage is a dream for any boutique interior design studio.  So we ran with it, bringing together layers of colour and pattern not just as a token gesture, but as a defining feature of the home:

• Decorative frames and eclectic artwork that tell stories and spark conversation
• Fabric walling and bold wallpapers that wrap the rooms in personality
• Pattern-rich sofas and rugs, tailored to the scale and mood of each room
• Decorative frames and eclectic artwork that tell stories and spark conversation
• Fabric walling and bold wallpapers that wrap the rooms in personality
• Pattern-rich sofas and rugs, tailored to the scale and mood of each space
• Painted joinery that joins in the scheme, rather than disappearing into the background

It’s important to say, though: we design just as wholeheartedly for clients who crave serenity and subtlety. Some of our projects are built on soft neutrals, gentle texture and quietly luxurious finishes. Others, like this one, are full of energy and contrast. The constant is that we listen – to how each client wants to feel when they walk through the door.

The Client–Designer Relationship: Where possibilities open up

One of the greatest joys of this project – and of interior design generally – is the way relationships evolve over time. As trust builds, we begin to understand our clients on a deeper level: the way they want to feel when they arrive home; their priorities for comfort, entertaining and daily life; how adventurous they’re willing to be.

At this Botanical Gardens project, that trust led us towards bold colour, pattern and richly layered spaces. In other homes, the same level of listening leads us to muted palettes, tonal textures and quietly luxurious details. Both are equally tailored and equally considered, and equally.  Knowing how a client wants to feel in their home is the catalyst for the entire design.  Everything else – colour, pattern, furniture, joinery – becomes a response to that.

For discerning homeowners looking for high-end, personalised interior design, this project is a reminder that the most successful homes are those that dare to reflect the people who live in them, whether that’s through a whisper of calm or a shout of colour.

Bespoke Details: Designed From Top to Bottom

This home was designed from top to bottom, with clients who genuinely wanted something unique and bespoke to them. Almost every element was tailored – not only to the architecture, but to the way the family lives.

Some of the bespoke details we designed include:

• Lighting keypads integrated into bedside tables, in partnership with Think Sona.  Discreet, elegant and practical - allowing the entire lighting scheme to be controlled from the comfort of bed – ideal for a calm, hotel-like master suite.
• Rugs in custom colours and sizes. oven by master craftspeople in India and South Africa, each rug is perfectly scaled to the room and its furniture layouts, bringing warmth, texture and a sense of grounding.
• Custom-built sofas designed for both the room and the clients themselves – with tailored depth, cushion filling and proportions to match their exact preferences for comfort.
• A huge French oak dining table for hosting.  Crafted for generous gatherings, this table sits at the heart of the home, where friends and family come together for celebrations.
• Pendant and wall lights in bespoke colours and finishes painted to blend seamlessly into the cloakroom schemes, adding character without visual noise.
• Joinery designed down to the last detail.  Throughout the property, every wardrobe, cupboard and built-in piece is tailored to how the clients live. In the master dressing room, for example, we carefully considered the length of our client’s dresses when determining rail heights and internal layouts.
• Elegant curved metal handrails - custom made to lead up to the front door, setting the tone from the very first touchpoint of the house.

• To respect the property’s original character , we; a) took moulds of the original cornice and recreated it in the newly formed rooms at the front of the house; b) commissioned replicas of the period doors, ensuring continuity throughout; c) worked with talented local joiners to expertly recreate the staircase detail.

These are the touches that define true luxury interior design: not just what you see, but how effortlessly life flows around each carefully considered detail.

 Designing for High-End, Real Life – In Every Style

At Wilding & Wolfe, we specialise in high-end residential interiors that are every bit as practical as they are beautiful. Crucially, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all aesthetic.  Some of our clients come to us craving soft, neutral schemes with layers of texture and quiet elegance.  Others want brave, characterful interiors full of colour, pattern and personality.  Many sit somewhere in between – calm foundations with moments of playfulness and surprise.

Our role is to listen carefully, ask the right questions and translate each client’s tastes, routines and aspirations into a home that feels unmistakably theirs.

If you’re looking for a luxury interior designer in Sheffield, Yorkshire or across the UK – whether your dream home is muted and minimal or vibrant and eclectic – we’d love to talk.

Ready to Start Your Own Transformation?  Whether you’re reimagining a single room, planning a full renovation or, like these clients, combining two houses into one, Wilding & Wolfe offers a fully tailored interior design service for discerning homeowners.

If you’d like to explore what’s possible:

Visit our portfolio to see more of our bespoke interior design projects.
Learn more about our interior design services.
Get in touch to arrange a consultation and begin a project that’s designed around you.