Open plan kitchen and living space
The Brief
My client had been living in her 1960s house just outside Tunbridge Wells, Kent for a year and a half, so was already well settled in, with a good understanding of the orientation of the downstairs rooms and the remodelling possibilities for better use of the available space.
As seen in the plan below, the kitchen/dining room/TV space was to be opened up to form an open-plan living area, with each distinct space flowing smoothly into the other whilst still retaining its original functions and the necessary levels of practicality and comfort.
My role was to provide ideas for the best use of the space and suggestions for interior decoration, including a new colour palette for the entire downstairs area.
Kitchen/dining area – the ‘heart of the home’
The kitchen area would substantially change, losing some wall space but gaining an island. The client wanted underfloor heating here, possibly to flow into the dining area, and to overhaul the lighting.
My research here involved finding a style which would suit the decorative theme throughout the rest of the house and finding suppliers who could provide quotes for the work involved.
The client knew right from the outset that she wanted the kitchen area to be blue and white, to go with the timber floor and exposed brick for the new wall especially as it is on an angle – it needed to be a feature
The design for the kitchen cabinetry, which came from DIY Kitchens turned out to be quite a simple one – tall units on the wall behind the island. This is a combination that works extremely well when you have the space.
And although the working area around the kitchen sink was a little tight, the large utility in the room adjacent was more than adequate for any spillover. We also created a large, walk-in pantry behind the cloakroom, enabling us to hide away the food storage, thus creating a generous dining space for social occasions.
For the lighting, we wanted something natural and organic in shape to offset the often angular and hard surface areas found in kitchens. We chose the gold pendants from Skandium. These lights are made from laminated birch ply. Grouped together in this kitchen they provide a focal point and a warm, soft and luminous glow.
Centrepiece dining table
To suit the new design direction, we needed to introduce some new furniture, with the client originally wanting a bespoke fitted banquet seat (possibly with storage) for the dining room, with a new table and chairs which would blend nicely with this. We also considered the possibility of a mirror, shelving feature or perhaps some suitable art for the wall above the table.
But, best of all, the client constructed her own dining table from herringbone floorboards – a beautiful piece of bespoke, personalised, one-of-a-kind furniture, a real centrepiece for this showcase, open-plan hard-working room.
Dividing up the downstairs space in style
We chose Crittal-style glazed doors to divide the study from the seating area in the kitchen.
These are large, double sliding doors which can be opened up when needed. Locally, we also found some lovely 1950’s doors with reeded glass panels, using these both in the hall and in the doorway between the kitchen and utility room.
Living area
This area was already well-established and in daily use by the family. The client already had a corner sofa and sideboard which perfectly suited this space. Nevertheless, there was still some work needing to be done, as the space needed both a functioning fireplace and storage on the TV wall.
The pale oak porcelain flooring throughout the ground floor is warm and blends well with the oak dining table and unites the spaces. To help zone the seating area, we chose a flat weave rug in the same blue and white as the kitchen cabinets to add a soft texture to the relaxation part of the room.
But it’s a rare building project that reaches completion without its minor disappointments and disasters. The only item we could not include was a rattan hanging chair we had chosen to place beside the television. Out of stock when we tried to order it, and it remained unavailable. Instead, we ended up re-using a chair and foot-stool which the client already owned and loved.
Map wallpaper in entrance hall
The house remodel created a large entrance hall, which is almost a room in and of itself. And although the bulk of the work was to be in the open-plan area, we felt it was important to introduce some of the client’s personal style into this bustling but welcoming area.
We did this by using the clients idea of having a map of the local area printed into wallpaper. A wonderful, inspiration which worked beautifully, making the hall look amazing and giving it a real sense of her own, personal style.
Downstairs WC
We filled the smallest room of the house, with character and personality. We chose patchwork tiles from Porcelain Superstore, which created impact in this small room. I found a vanity unit that fit exactly in the recess space and hung a large mirror over the unit, that gives the illusion of width in the room, (an old trick). We made good use of the space above the concealed cistern as in so many of the bathrooms I design which my client filled with personal family items.
Tasteful, personal flourishes
It’s always good to work with a client who knows their own mind and can give a firm steer on what they would like, style-wise. This was a project which was absolutely bursting with the client’s tasteful, personal flourishes – from the handmade herringbone table in the kitchen/diner all the way through to the map wallpaper in the entrance hall. The entire kitchen/dining area had morphed into a real, multi-purpose, ‘heart of the home’! perfect for a busy mum with teenage kids
If you would like a hand creating your dream home or just want a second opinion, give me a call on 07773 372 158 or send me an email via nicky@nickypercival.co.uk