flooring/furniture choice in south facing open plan living space

5 years ago

Looking for some advice on what sort of flooring material and furniture to put in the new open plan area for our extension.

It has 5m sliding doors and 2 veluxes and is completely south facing and would like to avoid fading of floor and furniture as much as possible. We’ll be having solar glass in the doors and windows as a start.

Piece of furniture I’m most worried is the dining table which will be parallel to the doors and under the veluxes so very exposed.

Would have dearly loved to have a solid wood dining table but I know they don’t like UV rays much. Am open to other options.

Flooring wise, we like wood or wood effect, don’t mind tiles either. There’ll be wet underfloor heating in the room and would like the flooring to be low maintenance.

The kitchen is towards the back of the room out of direct sunlight, going for a dark blue (probably Hague blue) for the doors and a light coloured quartz worktop.

Any advice welcome!

Featured Answer

Tani H-S

5 years ago

the solar glass per panel we got quoted around £200-250 so laminate was the cheaper option (we paid a few extra £100's for this) BUT I would just double check about the laminate and the UV filters. Solar glass would probably be more efficient and keep the heat in check whereas the laminate was just for the fading aspect.

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Comments (12)

minipie
5 years ago
We are building a similar room, also S facing and will have a wood look tiled floor (Rex Selection Oak) with ufh. Should be pretty much fadeproof and definitely low maintenance.

Our table is wood but we’ve had it for years in a S facing room so it’s already faded. I quite like the look, unlike a floor it has faded evenly across the whole table without patches. It started off a greyed oak colour and is now just paler grey. So you could choose a wood which looks ok faded for the table? As long as the light on it is fairly even - just avoid eg a big light fitting that would cause a constant shadow.

Another option would be a table with wood legs but a painted or zinc top, that way you get the feel of wood but avoid the worst of the fading.

The real issue is upholstered furniture. There I think the only solution is to choose pale colours... with washable covers :)
rinked
5 years ago
Pick a 'ceramic wood', great for floor heating.
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It looks like you like brown and it does contrast with the floor which is good (yin/yang). Adding a tall halogen lamp in the corner between the wall and the sofa would help you to read and help your eyes when you are watching the TV. The room would also welcome a lush plant in the South west where it can thrive or a bouquet of silk flowers in pink and white . A coffee table, preferably oval or a puff in the middle of the carpet will help conversations flowing. Avoid putting everything against the walls as your energy runs out of the window. As it is the south, you can add candles, perhaps scented ones too. The picture on the wall is too small in proportion to the size of the room. A red sunset or sunrise, a field of flowers, an image of trees, would give the room a happy lift. Browns can be complimented in the south with reds, orange, greens. White or cream walls would be better than grey. Too much of the same color in a room creates a dull effect and a boring life. So just add accessories in the colors that appeals to you. I would not recommend blues but yellows, oranges, or greens. Just a touch here and there, a throw, two cushions, a red lampshade. Perhaps some floral curtains rather the stripes that are too symmetric and promotes arguments. Add a pair in the Southwest for love. Have fun.
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Everything you've done so far is very neutral. It blends together the two different areas in one open space, yet I think you'd get a more pleasing effect defining them and adding interest. In the simple form of one dimensional carpet you can achieve this. I would suggest a bright and geometric carpet as a stark contrast to the neutral, coordinating (that same mustard) or using opposite (Aubergine?) or tertiary (brighter yellow and goldenrod or into greens) colours with the cushions to separate living from dinning while also bringing continuity. When it comes to colours, ask yourself how you want to feel in this space. Choose colour to guide your mood. Two other small details: 1. The lamp beside the couch should be higher and darker. That charcoal you've used would be an appropriate colour repetition here. 2. The art on the wall above the dinning table is too small. What about bigger and brighter, but keep a charcoal element in either the frame or the art? Lovely job so far :)
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I might get overruled on that one! (Although my husband is obviously wanting to watch it for different reasons!). I'm pleased that you're happy with it! That's great that they're washable, so handy, and that the dog likes it!! No Xmas took over... I need to look at it urgently as damp has now appeared in one room, I feel like I've cursed it :( we went to Bruges last week and I admired numerous houses, as you do (!), and I'm now thinking of slightly less traditional colours.... I just can't make my mind up, i wish whoever hadn't rendered it in the first place as it would be so much easier!
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Hey! I've just seen the last comments. I live in Spain and there doesn't seem to be as much choice over here as there is in the USA after browsing at lot.. the Gubi light does look similar to one of the Tom Dixon beats shapes and I like the oriental vibe they give.. I am leaning toward that style for the pendants and will probably end up going with one. As for the splashback.. it's a nightmare.. I really have no idea.. I think dark like black and I think it will look to much and take away from the accents.. I think of grey and I think it's too boring and monocromatic.. I think of colour and I get scared lol.. really don't know and to be honest... I do regret going all white in the kitchen and not going with something darker or mid tone on the lowers at the back to ground it a bit more. I see so many kitchens on Instagram and Pinterest and I am always drawn to the darker ones.. but as I have a darker floor, I thought it would be too much. Anyway, it's done now and I guess we all have things we would do differently. I could always relacquer the lower doors quite cheaply if it came to it I guess. I really love Hague Blue by farrow and ball and have always wanted to use it but I think it wouldn't fit in anywhere and I'm not brave enough anyway🙈 Some good news is that I have finally managed to get the stonemason to change the island worktop which he destroyed after cleaning it with paint thinner.. after 4 months of fighting and the carpenter also finished up all the last details this week.. after 5 months. Stonemason has offered to give me a big discount on the splashback if I put a slab on the wall but really have no idea.. options are Dekton, Silestone, Neolith and Compac colours. By the way.. just saw this flat on pinterest and it reminded me of mine a bit but well done and with a more interesting kitchen.. trying to get some inspiration from it: https://hot-walls.ru/portfolio/сердце-столицы-99/ My favourite designs seem to all be Russian for some reason.. 😅
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Carolina
5 years ago
Sorry, off topic, but hi Rinqreation. Good to see you again :-) Hope you're well.
rinked
5 years ago
Hey Carolina! Been a while! Yes I'm well. New job since 3 years, kitchen design+sale. Kid now 4 already. Still renovating (and adding) to our home. And back on Houzz. The itching never stops, right? ;)
Heather
Original Author
5 years ago
So we are thinking porcelain tiles wood effect floor now, found a really nice one at the weekend and I gather porcelain won’t fade/is good with UFH and is hard wearing and easy to maintain.

Re: the dining table, would a light-coloured acrylic topped dining table work or is that likely to fade?
PRO
Carrie Cotton Design
5 years ago
Hello - I love Hague Blue and your renovation sounds really nice. We have a south facing conservatory and I opted for synthetic rattan (see pic) furniture. It's holding up really well and a distressed area rug that will handle fading well. Rugs and fabrics made with acrylic, polyester and nylon are less prone to fading. We use a white-washed dining table. It doesn't matter if the sun fades it a bit...as it will only add to the look of it. Good luck...sounds exciting! Carrie
Ally
5 years ago
Hi heather can understand your concerns I am building extension and have 5m door 2 x roof lights and really like the dark shade of navy for our kitchens. Be good for anyone to share their photos ? I have started looking at limestone tile as do many worrying stories on LVT and engineered oak. I think a concrete top table would work . Our dining table is oak and already faded so not too worried . Maybe a thermal glass could help with dining area ? Have you had any costs yet for you doors is it much higher to add thermal glass ? I will be looking into these costs so can share quotes with you ! Good luck with your extension
Tani H-S
5 years ago
We are just fitting our kitchen in a new 8 x 4m south facing extension with 2.4m high x 6m wide bi-folds and have 2 x skylights.

I am worried about the fading so we had laminated glass put on the outside of the doors (rather than 2 x panes of toughened glass). It's supposed to block most of the UV rays that cause fading.

The rooflights aren't directly over the kitchen furniture but there must be some sheer blinds you can fit that have a UV filter and won't block out the light? Thinking when it's super hot and sunny they would be used.

My floor fitted said that as long as you buy a UV stable LVT (should say on the product) and it's fitted with a heat stable glue (to allow for contractions) then there shouldn't be an issue. Not saying it won't happen but will see how our dark kitchen lasts!
Heather
Original Author
5 years ago
Hi ally thanks, yeah we’ve had a couple of quotes in for the sliding doors (3 panels) 5m x 2.3m, aluminium slim frame with solar glass to protect from uv rays, lowest quote was just under 7k and highest quote just under 8k. I have no idea if that’s overpriced or now as have never bought them before!

Re: the velux, I can’t seem to find an option from the velux website for solar glass - so maybe as tani suggests getting a laminate on it to protect from uv rays?
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FAIRFAX FLOORING
5 years ago
I agree with the tiles for the floor. And regarding the table you can try Go Modern company. They have very hard wearing finishes for the tables' tops. Yet very nice in terms of design.
Årm ßåçk
5 years ago
hi

flooring/furniture choice in south facing open plan living space

Tani H-S

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minipie

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flooring/furniture choice in south facing open plan living space

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