Transforming a women’s refuge

Charity Furnishing Futures teams up with interior designer Rebecca Wakefield

For many women and children escaping domestic violence, being offered a place in a refuge is life-saving, enabling them to receive specialist support in a place of safety while planning their next steps. So with Furnishing Futures’ expertise in helping women to set up and furnish new, safe homes, it’s no surprise that the charity has been approached by refuges to offer similar warm and soothing environments.

Furnishing Futures ambassador and interior designer Rebecca Wakefield is working with founder Emily Wheeler to transform a refuge for Kiran Support Services, a specialist service for Asian women in east London. The first phase of the project is the recently completed communal living room and entrance hall.

‘I wanted to create a sanctuary, somewhere that felt really special for the women to socialise, while at the same time feeling relaxed and comfortable for the children,’ Rebecca explains. ‘I wanted it to feel like a home, no different from any other of my client projects, because these women deserve a healing, safe space more than anyone.’

The living room is used by up to seven women and their children to relax and chat, for the children to play, and for groups and meetings too. Initially, the space was functional but felt cold and uninviting. Amtal Rana, CEO of Kiran, welcomed Furnishing Futures’ involvement: ‘Their approach was warm and friendly and they engaged with some of the women to talk about their needs,’ she recalls.

Having spoken with the women and staff, Rebecca and Emily created a soothing scheme that feels like a comforting home-from-home, using trauma-informed design principles. Trauma-informed design is a set of principles resulting in spaces that soothe, nurture and reduce stress. Often taking inspiration from the natural world, it carefully considers elements including light, noise, shapes, colours and textures.

Bespoke cabinetry designed by Rebecca was built by the charity’s partner Jungle Fit Out Collective, using materials donated by Wickes and painted in a serene sage green paint by Morris & Co. The majority of furnishings and materials were kindly donated by the interiors industry. This includes the orange sofa and armchairs from Soho Home, the rug from Cheerful Twenty First and a large canvas artwork from Tracey Turner.

‘The huge rug was critical in pulling the room together and anchoring the furniture,’ says Rebecca. ‘It was also so important to have something soft on the floor to encourage the babies, children and mothers to sit and play together. Rethinking the furniture layout allowed enough seating for the families, while an ottoman is a soft and child-friendly alternative to a coffee table.

‘Lamps give soft, ambient lighting at night and linens at the windows create crucial privacy,’ she continues. ‘I added original artwork donated by generous artists to create a completely unique space and layered textures like velvet, rattan, bouclé and timber to give a luxurious feel.’

The transformation is remarkable and will provide a blueprint for the other spaces in the refuge, forming the next phases of the refurb. Perhaps the greatest achievement is how it has transformed the way the women and children feel about being in a refuge, supporting their emotional wellbeing and relationships with each other.

How you can help

Donate goods by contacting donate@furnishingfutures.org, volunteer to help at volunteer@furnishingfutures.org or buy a charity gift online.