Modern grandeur

Four-poster beds aren't for historic houses alone. A new generation of designers is using them to create a pared-back contemporary look, finds Arabella Youens

- Arabella Youens

IN an era when space is a valuable commodity, a four poster might seem an anachronism. However, when the interior designer James Thurstan Waterworth (020-8129 5855; www.thurstan.co) was asked to breathe new life into Templeton Garden, a revamped hotel in west London, he decided scale was the secret to injecting drama. ‘The aim was to refer to the history of the building, as well as introducing a contemporary, simplified look that felt young and fresh and wouldn't detract from the garden views.’ A pared-down fourposter bed was the obvious choice; its crisp, clean lines and classic form strike a balance between modern and traditional. Designed in-house and crafted from blackened metal, it features a straight box pelmet with smart corner pleats in a honey-toned linen and cotton-blend fabric.