Helping someone create their dream home is always exciting, and it's been an absolute joy to create four new interior design schemes for this ground floor apartment renovation.
The brief
My client is a single retired lady who has recently downsized to a two-bedroom apartment in East Sussex. It's part of a much larger converted Victorian country house, set within several acres of beautiful parkland, and has fabulous views of the countryside from every window. My client loves the quietness of her new setting, and her friendly neighbours, and is eager to have a well organised, fresh and bright home to enjoy.
The kitchen, sitting room, bathroom and master bedroom will be the first rooms to be renovated.
Sitting Room
A working fireplace and bay window with French doors leading into the garden give this lovely reception room some great features. The lighting, flooring and electrics need attention, though, and more storage is required as my client is seeking a calm, organised environment.
Space on either side of the chimney breast provides the perfect opportunity for some built-in storage and I’ve advised my client to camouflage her TV within the new cabinets. I’ve also suggested she either paint her existing cedar cabinet to blend in with the new scheme or replace it with some bespoke cabinetry.
When it came to working out a new floor plan for the room, I needed to add a dining area as there’s no space in the kitchen for a table. I was able to keep the dining zone fairly small though, as any entertaining is likely to occur outside on the terrace.
A common problem resulting from downsizing is that existing furniture is too big for its new environment, but in this setting, my client’s lovely grey sofa works well within the room. We will be replacing the current chair, however, as its proportions don't suit the scale of the apartment.
A fabulous piece of Amanda Page artwork, similar to the one shown below, is already hanging in the room and I used this as the inspiration for the new colour palette.
Kitchen
The kitchen is where this ground floor apartment renovation will have the most impact. It currently serves as the main entrance to the apartment as the route from the doorway cuts across the room. It's not ideal and once a measured survey has taken place, I will be reconfiguring the space.
The sink also cuts across the window and due to the numerous demands this space must meet, I’ve suggested to my client that she install bespoke cabinetry as it will make the most of the room and allow us to utilise every clever storage solution available.
Layers of accent lighting will further enhance the room and I’m going to ensure all the appliances are integrated to give the room a seamless visual appearance.
I believe a light, classic country style will work best in this room and my client has chosen a pale grey and white colour scheme accentuated with wooden worktops and flooring.
Bathroom
The bathroom also needs a complete renovation to make it feel clean and bright and my client has chosen a fresh blue and white colour scheme.
The bath is being replaced with a walk-in shower and new flooring, lighting and cabinetry will be installed. The pipework is, unfortunately, a mess but this will be sorted out when the room is tanked for the new shower. Better wall storage will also be fitted, and a back-to-the-wall toilet will enhance the feeling of space.
The room has been designed with a classic feel to fit in with the rest of the apartment.
The Master Bedroom
Finally, I’ve given the master bedroom an elegant pale grey and crisp blossom pink colour scheme with golden accents to create a fresh, luxurious feel.
The room has a lovely wide bay window but is a slightly unusual shape as one corner has previously been altered to allow for the creation of the second bedroom. This means there isn’t, unfortunately, room for my client's beautiful king size brass bed so we will be replacing that with a smaller standard double. We will also be fitting wall-to-wall wardrobing to make the most of the space available and give the room a calm, uncluttered feel.
I’m really looking forward to seeing this ground floor apartment renovation progress over the next few months and can’t wait to show you the finished photographs.
In the meantime, 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
I look forward to hearing from you.
Nicky