skip to main content

London new build is a blank canvas

8 years ago

Hey guys! Moving into my first flat, based in London - it's a new build and I'm relatively clueless on where to start. The only thing I've bought is a sofa from sofa.com (Otto, corner sofa) in a slatey/browny colour for the living room. Everything else is up for grabs. I'm a young professional and it's not going to be far from Shoreditch... I like neutral colours, blues, modernity - very keen for ideas. Budget is probably £5-10k total! Thanks!

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

I would highly recommend visiting auctions in your local area if you have the time. You can find some fantastic pieces which you only need to add a lick of paint to - it will save you fortunes!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

minnie101
8 years ago
Hi. Do you have any pictures of the flat and a plan with measurements? Do you know which way the rooms face in terms of light for colours for furniture, ŵalls etc. What type and colour of flooring is down? Do you need a dining table and chairs? Are wardrobes fitted? Is it also possible to add some photos of rooms you like to your Ideabook as it's often difficult to define modern which will help people make suggestions. If you like industriał style I find french connection have a number of great pieces which are quite reasonable. Will you paint any rooms yourself or does the budget include getting a decorator in?
Related Discussions
Bedroom blank canvas!
Q
Comments (6)
Hi Jenny, the low cornice in your bedroom is a good feature to play with in the colour scheme. It is always effective to paint wood works in a darker shade than the walls. It gives character to the room. In warm greys, we would suggest Farrow&Ball Ammonite for the walls and Purbeck Stone for the cornice and door next to the window. These are the 2 shades around Cornforth White in the colour chart. You will have a nice contract with the white ceiling coming down to the cornice. Think also about window dressing to incorporate to your scheme. What about a roman blind with white and grey borders to echo the walls and ceiling and a 3rd colour to add some interest? See the example of the blind in the picture below where the warm blue brings live and interest to the neutrals grey and white. A roman blind is always a good solution for a sash window with a radiator below. The Pret A Vivre team
...See More
Blank canvas grey bedroom, what would you do with it?
Q
Comments (51)
Yes you’re right about that Love your home bed, the wings are deeper than our wardrobes (which are half recessed) so if we had little shelf bedsides they’d be really hard to reach, we‘d have to sit up and reach around the wings. If I’m honest I don’t think we can face doing anything too complicated like false wall or moving the sockets to allow for the full width headboard! New lights.... maybe... husband is predictably Not Keen. So, I think that boils it down to the naturalmat Prideaux bed, in linen 😁 with the bigger headboard size if they will do that. I’m up for painting that section of wall though - we could either use the mid grey green shown on the door, or a much darker grey green (the mid is Blanket and the dark is Squid Ink, both Paint & Paper library). If we use the mid paint then the bed colour would be dark and vice versa. Linen curtains - need to look at all my samples in the room later on today! Not heard of vinterior, I will have a browse. 😁 Yes I hope the cat is real!
...See More
Advice required with our ‘Blank canvas’ garden
Q
Comments (43)
Hi Rachel, Sorry for the late reply again, full day in the garden..🤷‍♂️ gotta make the most of the weather! Thank you for this design, I really like your presentation and it does encourage me to ‘have a go’ with the art work, although I don’t think I’ll be posting any of my efforts on here! I wish I also shared your enthusiasm about growing green fingers, but I will try and I’m quite determine to give it a go. Thank you so much for all your ideas and designs over the last few days.. it is really quite humbling the help and enthusiasm from all on here, especially in these days of unprecedented and bizarre circumstances. It has also given me a boost and of course something to focus on whilst on lockdown (I’d never would have had the time/or the weather to have launched myself into this in normal times!) Hopefully I’ll be able to come back to you with some early stage pics of the garden and some design ideas that we’ve taken up. Many thanks again, stay safe and enjoy this glorious weather (😳 this might just be ‘Summer!’) Best regards Bob
...See More
Help for styling and furnishing a new build kitchen please
Q
Comments (32)
😂 You're welcome I'm just putting your ideas together in one place! I used the walnut table but as I said before I think it may need a rug against the dark floor but see what you think. The rug size may be do'able (8x10), you would need to tape it out when you're in the house so it doesn't encroach on the bar stool area. I have zero photoshop skills so just chose a rug I could edit in but just to give you an idea (Although obviously the table is the wrong way round!). Maybe have the clock over the table to zone it and bounce some light and some marble and brass shelves would look great by the breakfast bar?
...See More
Rich Brick
Original Author
8 years ago
no pictures - it's literally not even built yet - apologies, thought i had attached the below picture showing the plan.

the light will primarily come in from the right side to left. walls will probably come as white but i'm open to changing that obviously! wood flooring apart from bathrooms and bedrooms. yes need full dining table and chairs - everything apart from a sofa is what i need!

i will add fitted wardrobes with mirrors when it's all done, but it doesn't come 'as standard'. i'll try and add some photos of rooms to the ideabook but basically i like the feel of boutique modern hotels, that's the sort of thing i'm trying to recreate...
minnie101
8 years ago
So the living space is east facing? Is the bedroom North or South? I associate a boutique look with dark furniture, neutrals colours, rich textures (and lamps!). I've had a quick at India Jane which I think would match this look well so it's more or less a one stop shop! (sale finishes today!). If you're going for a fitted wardrobe are you keeping the layout the same as on the plan? I might also get the builder to change the way the door opens so you can make use of the entrance. I'd go for an upholstered storage bed, there's one on Made.com for £649 (Skye). Have a look at the Elmore bedside tables, with maybe the small white canister lamps and the Pearce chair to go in the top left corner of the room all from India Jane. Perhaps wallpaper behind the bed in a grey grasscloth effect paper. If the room doesn't get much light have a look at strong white paint by farrow and ball which is a light grey. I'd add cushions and a throw in greys and taupe. Maybe some Roman blinds for the window in a faux silk in a pale taupe or grey. Blinds2go are very reasonable. If the living space is east facing try just walnut paint by Dulux for the walls. Have a look at the Langdon coffee table and the Alhambra dining table by India Jane. I've found some cheap chairs on ebay which would match (will copy the link separately or I'll lose all the text!). Accessorise the dining table with maybe a patterned ginger jar or a vase of faux flowers. I'd then go for either a mirrored sideboard to bounce light or maybe something in oak so all the furnture isn't dark. Put a pair of matching lamps on the sideboard, again India Jane have some great ones, you could try the nickel urn shaped ones or maybe the pineapple or Palm. Get some patterned and plain cushions for the sofa in lighter greys and taupes, oka direct also do some great ones (I'd go dear on the patterned and then get cheap ones for plain texture). You could also get a rug to zone the living space, I'd keep the colour close to the floor colour so it doesn't make the room feel smaller. Again Roman blinds for the window in a faux silk. Art hung symmetrically in sets of anything from 2 to 12 always looks good. Again, IJ and Oka have a few sets. Hopefully that's the kind of look you're going for! I'll add pics
minnie101
8 years ago
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blue-Dining-Chair-With-Stylish-Knocker-Navy-Velvet-Dining-Chairs-/321922208410 I've found a chair in navy as you mentioned blue but they also do different colours. Any rich colour would work well. Sorry the pics came out really small!
Rich Brick
Original Author
8 years ago
hey - i am unit B2. would really love some help on this still! turns out the living room is south facing

Sponsored

More Discussions

Skylight over kitchen island??

22

No common toilet…deal breaker?

5

Which layout do you think would look best for our renovation project?

1

How to decorate window on landing

6

Need advice on small ensuite layout

7

United Kingdom

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.