Lobby Lounge with Tufted Sofa and Sunburst Mirror

It is a cream button-tufted sofa with rolled arms, the centrepiece of the seating. Deep buttoning like this is a traditional detail that gives the back some depth and shadow instead of a flat panel. The rolled arms soften the lines and suit the classic room around it. Cream keeps it light and formal. The honest downside is upkeep, because a pale tufted fabric catches dust in the buttoned dips and shows marks, so it wants regular care and ideally a stain guard.

There are two gold sunburst mirrors, one over the sofa and a round bevelled one above the console. A sunburst shape adds movement to a formal wall and catches the chandelier light in its metal rays. Mirrors also make a lobby feel larger and brighter, which helps near an entrance. The bevelled edges throw small rainbows when light hits them. Placed centrally on the panelled walls, they act as the artwork so the room needs little else hung up.

The floor is white marble with a slim dark inlay border that frames the space like a picture. Marble suits a formal lobby for its shine and the way it reflects the chandelier. Over it sits a navy patterned rug that marks out the seating zone and adds the one dose of strong colour in the room. The rug also warms the hard stone underfoot and softens the sound. Marble does stay cold and needs sealing, which the rug partly offsets.

In layers, as a classic room should be. A gold chandelier is the centrepiece, giving the main glow from the middle of the tray ceiling. Wall sconces flank the feature walls for a softer light at eye level, and table lamps on the side tables add a low, warm pool near the seating. A cove hidden in the tray ceiling washes the edges. Recessed spots fill in the rest. Together they let you drop the light from bright to intimate.

It can, with a lighter hand. The panelled walls and a single sunburst mirror carry most of the style, and both work on a small wall. Drop the second seating group and keep one sofa with a pair of chairs. A smaller chandelier or even a flush classic fitting suits a lower ceiling better than a large drop. The key is to keep the symmetry and not crowd the room, because classic detailing needs a little breathing space to look elegant.

More than a plain modern room, mostly because of the pale fabric and the marble. The cream sofa and light upholstery want regular vacuuming and quick attention to spills, ideally with a fabric protector applied. Marble flooring needs sealing and gentle, pH-neutral cleaning. The brass and gold finishes should be dusted and wiped dry to keep their shine and avoid tarnish. None of it is difficult, but it is a room that rewards a steady routine rather than occasional deep cleans.

The joinery and finishes lead. Panelled walls with mouldings are carpentry work, priced by the running foot, and they cover a lot of wall here. Marble flooring with an inlay border is the next big line, followed by the chandelier and the sunburst mirrors. The tufted sofa and gold-framed tables are quality pieces rather than budget buys. Decide how much wall panelling you truly want first, because that single element sets much of both the cost and the classic character.