HELP - Turning a bachelor pad into a family home

9 years ago

I bought my apartment, in a grade 2 listed building, about 7 years ago and set about making it quite minimalist, modern, clean and uncluttered as possible. Fast forward and i have just moved back into this apartment with my wife and 6 month old son, meaning it just doesn't make sense anymore and it's a mess. So i'm after some ideas to freshen it up and make it a little more homely. Current my plan is to;

1) Move the large chandler near the kitchen table to directly over the kitchen table and replace with a large cream original pendant.
2) Put some shelves up where the clock currently is to store pasta, sugar, etc in nice containers on them.
3) Replace brown console table at the back wall behind the kitchen table with a nice white wine storage cabinet.
4) Re-paint the entire flat, probably white, the kitchen being black and white gives very little scope for more colours here IMO.
5) Replace knives on the wall with some small shelves for spices.
6) Get rid of chandelier light in main living area and replace with something - not sure what yet?

So any advice, suggestions etc would be fantastic

Featured Answer

minnie101

9 years ago

I have the same issue with sash windows! As I said, the blinds look great anyway, curtains were just a suggestion to make it homely. The light looks good and will coordinate with the red and green you already have in the room. I would probably veer away from a cream unit against the White walls. Perhaps you could try a combined storage and wine rack? This one is from barker and stonehouse. Shelves would be great. The kitchen is contemporary with clean lines so would try and go for similar shelving. Are you after a contemporary light for the lounge or maybe a softer crystal chandelier? Maybe 1 or 2 larger pieces of artwork with elements of your accent colour would look good?

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Comments (13)

minnie101
9 years ago
I think you can add colour if you want although I do like the white. The only issue is the storage. I would invest in a tall bespoke storage unit to house the tv and the baby's toys. I'd run it along the wall where the tv and shelves currently are and make sure there are cabinets at the bottom that are deep and high enough to be able to house the baby's toys. Hopefully the baby's toys will get smaller as he/she gets older but you will still need good storage! Design it yourself and get a chippie to build. I'd go for a contemporary light in the lounge, either one of the globe type ones ie dandelions or wire or paper style or a big drum pendant. I'd get it in a bright colour and match the new kitchen pendant to this. Curtains would soften the room although I do like the look of the blinds. Maybe some new coloured cushions and a coordinating rug? Do you have room to add some coloured stools to the breakfast bar?
User
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for comments - we do have room for stools at the breakfast bar but they would only be for decoration as we always eat at the kitchen table and my thinking is they would just take up space. We couldn't have curtains as we have 9 huge sash windows and the cost for curtains would be considerable plus, with blinds you have the ability to let light in and have some privacy where as with curtains they are either open or closed. This is a ground floor flat and people do walk past. My son does have his own room downstairs and like you say the size of his toys will reduce in the next few 4-6 months, so storage for him isn't the concern it is more kitchen storage thats needed which i think putting up some shelves (picture shelves) for things like spices and nice jars and containers the same colour as the pedant light below might do this.

This is under consideration at the moment

Behind the kitchen table at the end of the wall - https://www.oakfurnituresolutions.co.uk/p/12133/Provence_Two_Tone_Console_Table_with_Wine_Rack.html

Lighting for above dining room table - http://www.castlegatelights.co.uk/lighting-type-c16/reclamation-single-light-ceiling-pendant-in-soft-sage-green-p25926/s26607
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Hi - I think you should paint the wall where the tv and pictures are in a darker shade and definitely add a fire feature. Have you considered getting a larger tv? - I think that would look good. A lighter rug would change the look of the coffee table and if you didn’t want to change it you could always have a glass top made to soften the look. The paintwork would look better an off white -it looks a touch too creamy. If you add a couple of dark cushions that would give you a nice contrast. Hope that has given you some ideas.
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User
Original Author
9 years ago
You know what, i've spent ages looking for a wine rack / cabinet like that and couldn't find one. Thanks for posting, going to purchase the exact one. I do have some art work that is still in storage from the move so i will have a look in there. As a person i prefer a splash of vibrant colour here and there rather than big vibrant colours everywhere (like a sofa). I attempt to keep this clutter free and make areas look as spacious as possible. Not really sure for the lounge light, thinking of a large version of this in navvy http://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-gemma-shade/p1815735?colour=Cassis
Tom Flanagan
9 years ago
This is such an interesting project - can't wait to see where it goes!
minnie101
9 years ago
That's funny! Glad it helped and not overly expensive either which is a bonus
mrsrawlie
9 years ago
With regards to the pendant light in the living area, it's not a massive space so I would suggest getting rid of a centre overhead light altogether. It'll tidy the view of the room from the kitchen and if you find you need more light then add another small table lamp or floor lamp. If you really need an overhead lamp this is where I would add some colour in. Something like this http://tinyurl.com/nkyuq2g could add some nice colour (comes in other colours) and it's also dim-able and would fit in with your modern theme. Hope that helps.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks Mrs Rawlie, good suggestions - i had considered removing the lamp in the lounge area altogether - which i will not give some thought to. I'm not sure if the photos show that the ceilings are incredibly high, so it might make it seem more spacious with it gone.
Louise LeVell
9 years ago
Has your wife got any particular requests / preferences?

If I am honest, I think it looks great as it is!! And you'll probably find that minimalist is good for now. In time, you will naturally acquire more & more 'stuff' that needs to be housed anyway!

White is great, but if you wanted to break up the hospital chic, you could make one wall, or even a clearly defined part of a wall, a very pale grey or fawn (faun? Faune?)
everylittlethingconsidered
9 years ago
As you dont use the breakfast bar have you considered utilising the space under the counter to possibly create storage for your drinks which at the moment are on top of the unit. Fast forward another few months and little hands will reach these. Then you could extend your kitchen cabinets / shelving along the wall or possibly even create an integrated corner seating space for you kitchen table. This would in turn give you more clear space if your table is pushed up ☺ I would avoid too much upper shelving or storage as this may make your space feel less open and create shadows. Lovely place btw.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Ok, been a while but we have (slowly) but doing some things.

1) New kitchen shelves and new wall mounted spice rack (ikea picture shelves),

2) New white unit at the back of kitchen (with new coffee machine on it)

3) Mirror on the wall about white unit

4) Two new more modern ceiling flights to replace the chandeliers

5) Painted the entire room myself, except the ceiling as you can see. I simply don't have a ladder tall enough to get up there as the ceilings are so high.

6) New PVC table cloth to stop my 8 month old ruining the wooden table.

7) To the left of the new white unit, got rid of wine fridge (did shed a tear) and bought a new standard fridge to help with the load of the other fridge - so we now have a fridge for veggies / fruit and my sons food and one for meat / drinks/ cheese etc

The result, i think, is a much nicer, lighter and spacious room and we've managed to create a hell of a lot more cupboard and fridge space for ourselves which was much needed. I hated the old chandeliers and i'm delighted with the new lights we chose. I'll do some better photos soon but wanted to update this.

Thanks to all who made comments and suggested things !

(of course all the entire apartment is 100% High CRI Dimmable LED Lights (my own company).

Chris
Alison Heppell
8 years ago
The only way is up !get rid of the drinks cabinet and get a tall set of white shelves or enclosed shelves in white ,to hide lots of stuff ,the same in the lounge
User
Original Author
8 years ago
I just bought the drinks cabinet and love it. Don't want anymore shelves now, everything works nicely.

HELP - Turning a bachelor pad into a family home

minnie101

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