Private rooms at the ancestral home of the Montagu family have opened to the public after a redesign by students.

The rooms at Palace House, Beaulieu, which were previously unseen by visitors, were redesigned by BA (Hons) interior design decoration students from Southampton Solent University.

The project began in 2022 when Lord Montagu invited the students to pitch design concepts for the renovation of two bathrooms and bedrooms at Palace House.

The students were tasked with leading on surface designs and the use of space, designing bespoke wallpaper, furnishings, and embroidery.

The project has now been completed, and the rooms have been opened to the public.

Lola-Mia Gurr, one of the students involved in the project, said: "It was really great to work on a live client brief, as that's something I do a lot in my job now, so it was good practice to begin with.

"It was a great experience getting to pitch to Lord Montagu during the process, and it's so exciting seeing the finished project now."

The students took inspiration from the gardens of Palace House, Montagu family history, and the Solent which borders the estate.

Lord Montagu said: "The design of these bedrooms and bathrooms comes from a very fruitful collaboration with students who came up with some wonderful ideas to ensure that each room has a distinctly different theme."

The project has provided the students with valuable work experience, boosting their CVs and portfolios.

Course leader for interior design decoration, Lydia Southwell, said: "This has been a unique experience for the students involved.

"We are very fortunate that we have worked on numerous live projects in recent years but never one with such a prestigious history.

"From initial ideas to the final outcomes, the students have created some wonderful bespoke surface designs which help bring the narrative of Palace House to life."

The new themed rooms, which were once part of the private apartment of Edward, Lord Montagu, can now be seen as part of a visit to Beaulieu.

For tickets and details see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.

Find out more about Solent's interior design decoration degree at www.solent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/interior-design-decoration-ba.