Paul Mellon Centre
The Paul Mellon Centre for studies in British Art
Bedford Square, Bloomsbury - Grade 1 Listed Heritage Building
Cultural / Educational
Interior Architecture, Space Planning, Furniture & Styling, Colour Consultancy
FFE Procurement
A sensitive and bold heritage refurbishment for a landmark of British art history
Trifle* was appointed to redesign and refurbish the Paul Mellon Centre, a renowned research institute and educational charity dedicated to the study of British art and architecture. Located on Bedford Square in Bloomsbury, the Centre occupies two combined Grade I listed Georgian terraces, rich in original architectural features.
The brief was to update the Centre with a more contemporary expression of British art, while reconfiguring the layout to improve functionality, flow, and staff wellbeing—all while preserving the building’s historic integrity.
Beautiful bespoke joinery and rug create a wonderful welcome to the new reception space
The sunny yellow kitchen and striped banquette seating create a fun vibrant space for the regular staff get togethers
Developing the concept
Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, Trifle* approached the project with a clear ethos: to celebrate craft, heritage, and material honesty, while creating an uplifting, functional and contemporary environment.
A refined and balanced colour palette—with tones of burgundy, mushroom, terracotta, and sunny yellow—brought energy and depth to the interior without overwhelming its architectural character.
Original fireplaces, cornices and panelled walls were carefully retained and sensitively integrated into the new design scheme, bridging the gap between historic and modern..
Trifle* considered how the Centre would be used daily - The staff kitchen and breakout areas were reimagined to foster a culture of connection. Striped banquette seating, refurbished tables, and walls painted in warm yellows now support regular communal moments and team interaction. Another key decision was relocateing the reception to a larger, brighter room—creating a more intuitive and welcoming arrival experience. Bespoke joinery, modern sofas and curated accessories bring comfort, while respecting the period setting.
The double-height Georgian office of the Centre’s Director was transformed into a multifunctional showpiece—hosting meetings, dinners and networking events. Terracotta walls, vintage furniture from Vinterior, contemporary pieces from SoHo Home, and a custom rug by FLOOR_STORY create a layered, tactile and confident space.
Director’s office showcasing vintage pieces alongside contemporary furniture and art
“The team at Trifle really helped us to be brave in thinking about reconfiguring the use of our spaces and introducing bold colours. They understood the needs of preserving our beautiful historic interior and introducing a more contemporary and vibrant feeling to our spaces for staff and visitors.”
Typical Georgian colours are already used successfully in the space. Trifle*’s concept evolves these tones by adding modern and complimentary hues such as mushroom, burgundy, deep greens and sunny yellows. Lighter pastels help to open-up stairwells, make entrances feel more inviting, whilst deeper shades in rooms with high ceilings, feel rich The natural light that floods in, gives even more life to all of these colours.
Subtle updates to the lecture room included warm pink tones and contemporary feature lighting—elevating its usability while retaining its academic feel
We curated a mix of vintage and modern furniture from Carl Hansen, Case, &Tradition, and SoHo Home. Lighting from Liang & Eimil, Pawson, and Dowsing & Reynolds adds softness and quiet drama.
We collaborated with FLOOR_STORY to design two bespoke rugs, inspired by heritage emblems and rendered in rich textures and modern palettes.
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