Post Pandemic Living - ideas needed!
We live in a 1930s London semi. We bought it in 2007 after it had been refurbished and extended.
In late 2019 we got an architect to draw up some plans to open up our back kitchen, using the existing bedroom/study as extra space for a more modern kitchen/diner. We also got planning permission to change the use of our garage, and install a wet room / WC in the part of it and retain a small bit for storage towards the front.
The kitchen/diner area is north facing, so one of the issues we have is poor light. We had hoped that opening the back up, with the addition of the extra vulux would help this. Further, due to the existing design, we have a great big supporting pier in the middle of the existing kitchen diner which we wanted to get rid of to facilitate a new kitchen design.
The sketch plan of the existing space and the engineering plan of the proposed are roughly what we wanted to do.
Fast forward 18 months later, and as we approach a post pandemic world, our needs have changed. Like most professional / office workers, it's now likely we will spend more than half of our week WFH. We already have an office cabin out the back, which my wife uses, but I'm using the study/bedroom on the ground floor as my office. It is therefore likely that I would want to keep the existing bedroom / study in the ground floor.
The other thing that has struck me during the last year is how little we use the front room. It doesn't have a TV, just a couch, table etc, and while it's great to go in and read a book there, we maybe do that once a month. It just feels like an incredible waste of space.
From a practical perspective, I don't know who I should contact to get more design ideas. Our original architect has now retired (he wasn't that inspiring anyway!) and now I'm not sure if I need to talk to a Concept Planner, another architect, a builder, or a structural engineer?
I'm guessing that as I don't exactly know what I want, a Concept Planner is my first port of call? That then begs the question of where you find then? Are they associated with an architect?
Would really appreciate any guidance.
Comments (14)
CWD
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Need design ideas for a bedroom and living room combined
Comments (4)Hi - difficult to visualise without a room plan but this is a hotel we stayed in in London recently; I really liked the layout which felt intimate and comfortable. You could put a small table and chairs in the bay, perhaps and put a small sofa at the foot of the bed with the TV mounted on the opposite wall. Add smaller, armless chairs in corners that can be pulled out as needed but don't take up too much space. The door you can see is the door to the bathroom; the door into the room was diagonally opposite, near the French doors....See MoreNeed help with design ideas for my living/dining room
Comments (16)Have you thought of rearranging the furniture so the tv isn't the focal point? Furniture against walls can make a room appear smaller. If the budget permits I would add a coffee table to bring furniture into the middle of the room. I would also add a mirror to the dining area to bounce light and maybe install a low hanging pendant light over the table. I would also choose a neutral coloured rug as using a single colour for an item becomes the focal point. Grey is a good modern neutral for walls. If you want to use paper on a smaller wall choose a small pattern that won't date unless you don't mind repapering to keep it up to date. There are some really fantastic papers around at the moment such as chinoiserie, bold contemporary and typography but it depends on your preferred style? Maybe use plain (not patterned as this may date or your taste will change) velvet or silk curtains to soften the room. Use different colours and textures for the accessories to avoid block colours as per comment above. Pattern/interest can also be added in the form of wall art....See MoreSplashback & Living room layout ideas needed please
Comments (2)Hi Sassy G, It's great how much natural light you are getting into this space from the patio doors and the light fixtures and fittings will help create the feel of a bigger space. For the Living Area: I would suggest a 2 seater against the back wall (as per your plan) and a small coffee table in front with your 2 cocktail chairs facing inwards. This helps create the feel of a separate living area but also accommodates for additional seating for guests. Or instead of the 2 cocktail chairs you could have an upholstered storage bench which doubles up as storage as well as seating. This is also great because it keeps the openness of the space. For the Kitchen: For the splashback I think a high gloss teal finish would look lovely here. It adds a splash of colour, its bright (but not too bright) and different and would look great against your current worktop. Paint ideas: Having an off white colour is a good choice for the living and dining area. You could also try two different paint colours for each of these rooms to help break up the space or incorporate a feature all paint colour such as Farrow and Ball 'Peignoir'. Your ideas are great and it will turn out lovely. If you need further help or advice for this project, or would like an interior designer for this I would be happy to help you - feel free to have a look at my profile or my website www.rebeccafullertoninteriors.com. Rebecca...See Moreliving room quandary - really need your ideas please
Comments (7)i think the wooden coffee table box in the bay looks absolutely wonderful and am so glad you are keeping the brown leather sofa - both give off warmth, more so than too much grey. A darker grey drape will work with the carpeting but that would be as far as i would go with the grey theme. Sprinkle some reflective surfaces around, eg one of those silver floor lamp that bend into the room (sorry , forgotten the technical name!) , or on the mantel? silver framed wall art on the dark wall? to add a little brightness to the room and i feel you would achieve a warm but stylish room.... Most of all, take your time! take a pic of things you like and use the 'see in my room feature' in the houzz toolbox of tricks to help visualise....See MorePaul FitzGerald
3 years agoCWD
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