'Cocktail Hour Has Never Looked So Good' – How Uns Hobbs Used Rich Red Walls to Create a Living Room That Beckons You in for a Drink
This month, we look at a living room designed by Uns Hobbs – where grandeur and comfort live side by side
What gives a room its character? Is it the architecture, the color palette, the furniture, or something else entirely? In Design DNA, we dissect remarkable rooms piece by piece, exploring the design decisions that help create spaces with lasting impact.
At first glance, it’s the color that stops you in your tracks in this space. Painted in Farrow & Ball’s Eating Room Red, this living room by Uns Hobbs proves that period homes needn’t take themselves too seriously. Set within a Georgian manor house, the room was designed as a place for gathering, entertaining, and unwinding – 'it beckons you in for a drink,' says Uns. 'Classy, characterful and just a little bit playful.'
The room's rich red paneled walls provide a dramatic backdrop for layered art, skirted upholstery, and woven textures, proving bold color can still feel inviting.
Describing it as the home’s 'grown-up room', Uns set out to create a theatrical first impression – 'something that would stop guests in their tracks the moment they walked in'. The aim was to impress 'serious wow factor', while honoring the character of the house. 'Our clients are young and wonderfully playful, so they enthusiastically embraced the idea of a space that was vivid and memorable.'
The architecture was the natural starting point. With its original paneling and arched alcove, the room already possessed a strong identity. 'Those paneled walls were crying out to be celebrated,' says Uns. 'Painting everything in one unifying color was transformative,' she explains. 'Suddenly the moldings felt properly integrated, historic, and intentional, as if the room had always looked this way.' Inspired by traditional gentlemen’s clubs, Uns chose a deeply atmospheric red to create what she describes as 'a room that wraps around you'. Rather than interrupting that cozy feeling with contrasting trim, each surface, including the bar, works to further the sense of intimacy.
The bespoke bar celebrates the original alcove, where antique mirrored glass and patterned wallpaper create a striking focal point.
Every room needs a focal point, and here, the answer was obvious. 'Your eye travels to it the moment you enter,' says Uns of the home bar. The alcove is original to the house, and she respected the existing architecture, 'which gave us the most wonderful starting point and the most challenging installation'. Uns lined the sides with wallpaper and antique mirrored glass, and painted it in a high-gloss finish to 'command attention'. Murano glass wall lights add another layer of glamour. 'Cocktail hour has never looked so good,' adds Uns.
On paper, it could be easy for this room to feel overstimulating. In practice, pattern is the peacemaker that softens the entire scheme. Stripes sit comfortably alongside florals, botanicals, and scallops – the secret, Uns says, lies in scale. 'I always mix small-scale prints with larger ones; they balance each other rather than compete,' she advises. 'And florals with stripes? A combination we use all the time,' she adds. Red may be the defining tone, but Uns relies on two supporting shades to connect everything in the space. 'Red, blue, and green. Layer those three together, and you cannot go wrong,' she suggests.
From the striped ottoman to the floral drapery and scalloped rug, carefully layered patterns soften the bold color palette while bringing warmth and personality to the space.
For all its grandeur, the room’s greatest success may be how comfortable it is. Rather than pushing furniture to the perimeter, the seating is drawn in from the walls, while window seats create another place to pause. It’s a conversation-friendly atmosphere with 'no wasted corners' and multiple places to 'settle and linger'. Throughout the room, every dramatic detail is balanced by something softer – bold color offset by pattern, heritage details muted by curves and frills, and a glossy bar grounded by plush seating. 'The bar is undeniably the showstopper in the room, but I have such a soft spot for the curtain and bench seat at the window,' says Uns. 'I think there is something so glamorous about them.'
Ultimately, this space embodies her belief that beautiful rooms should never come at the expense of practicality or comfort. As she puts it, 'you don’t have to choose between drama and livability'. In a room filled with many memorable moments, that may be its most valuable design lesson of all.
Shop the Look
Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that breaks down beautiful rooms into their essential elements. Each installment dissects one interior and shows readers exactly what makes it work, from the anchor furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and styling details.
Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.
