This study-come-sitting room is all about creating atmosphere. It was already panelled, but Alidad took it one step further by using a specialist paint finish to achieve a faux inlaid effect. This creates additional depth and richness, against which he has introduced a combination of old leather, antique textiles, a 19th-century carpet and some new fabrics to create further layers of warmth and comfort. In a modestly proportioned room such as this, scale is important. The bookcase is oversized, standing just half an inch from the ceiling, but it completely changes the feel of the room. Height has also been accentuated by the Grand Tour obelisk on the coffee table and double or treble-hung pictures.