A home from home – new boarding design
Charterhouse School is one of the UK’s leading independent boarding schools. Set in the most stunning grounds in the rolling Surrey countryside, it is steeped in history and tradition. 2022 saw the first intake of girls from the age of 13 and we were honoured to be asked to design the common rooms for the two new girls’ boarding houses which would become their home throughout their time at Charterhouse.
One of the houses was a new build and the other was situated in one of the original buildings at the heart of the school. Whilst rich in heritage and architectural features, the old boys’ common room was looking tired, dull and largely uninviting. We focused on enhancing the architectural character whilst simultaneously incorporating a homely, warm design that created a welcoming space for the female students to relax, study and socialise in.
Reflecting the Sutton House spirit, we conceived a strong aesthetic identity with a warm palette of the house colour – pinks blended with navy and pale blue. This combination was then grounded with a soft charcoal; a nod to Thomas Sutton, the founder of the school, who made his fortune from the coal industry. We weaved this throughout the space using tactile fabrics and soft furnishings alongside hand-picked comfortable yet commercial grade furniture to inspire a home-from-home for the students and their families.
With the pastoral wellbeing of the students always the key consideration, we worked closely with the head of house to ensure that we created a positive, nurturing environment. We zoned the rooms to make the most of the space and offer a flexible way of working and socialising. Housing all the student activities from table tennis to movie nights, studying to craft workshops, these rooms work hard whilst looking effortless. We wanted the students to feel ownership over their space, peppering commissioned photography and artwork throughout. Filling the book corner with students’ favourites enabled them to make their mark, leaving a little piece of them behind while making memories of their own.
It has been such a joy to design the common rooms in the many boarding houses at Charterhouse. This was just a little insight into one of the many projects we have undertaken for this school over the years. Charterhouse is a true forward-thinking school with a real focus on the wellbeing of their students and we are honoured to be a part of their story.
Best wishes from Nikki
