jrpheby's ideas
Where shall I put my office? Your first consideration when planning an office space will, of course, be where to put it. If your home is spacious, you might have one or two rooms to choose from, so pick a space that’s comfortable and has plenty of natural light. Not everyone wants a dedicated room for their desk space, though, even if there’s one available. If you have young children, for example, it’s often helpful to locate your home office within the living area, where you can keep an eye on them while working. In a home where space is limited, look around for places where you might be able to squeeze in a desk. Here, the owners have constructed a practical workstation on a landing.
Great coffee table in the window seat.
Be discreet Plywood pops up again in this kitchen in architect Richard Andrews’ own home. The design was done on as small a budget as possible: Richard built the kitchen himself and used Indian ink to stain the wood black. Rather than opting for cut-out handles or push latches so as to enable handleless doors, he found long handles, also in black, which he fitted vertically to create a uniform finish. The handles are recycled plastic and were sourced from Ikea.
Match your materials to your budget The budget for the refurbishment of this east London flat was modest and included fitting a new kitchen. This dictated the materials that designers Common Ground Workshop chose for the units – a combination of laminated ply, ply boards and coloured MDF board, which they’ve used to create a stylish, utilitarian room.
Cut it out A deviation on handleless is to have cut-out shapes to enable the opening and closing of your cabinets. Here, the team at Naked Kitchens have given these deep grey units circular holes as handles. Other popular options seen in quite a few kitchens on Houzz include a notch cut into the top or side of the door for fingers to grab hold of.
They go bespoke for storage The best way to maximise storage in your small living room is to go for customised cabinets and shelves, rather than freestanding ones. “Use every millimetre of space,” Claudia Dorsch says. She suggests a balance of open shelves and closed storage. “Lots of open shelving can make a smaller living room feel oppressive and cluttered,” she explains. “Storage that’s painted in the same colour as your walls will not only give you somewhere to put stuff, it will also recede into the background.” Here, the open storage blends in with the wall colour, while the closed cabinets tone with the accessories on display.
Work with wood Here’s another example of how metallic surfaces allow you to play with contrasts. The worktop, sink and splashback in this kitchen are made from copper that will form a beautiful patina over time. The striking shine on the surfaces here sits next to matt, colour-washed wood, which helps to highlight the gleam of the finish above.
Rather than rip down the existing extension and knock out the back wall of the house to create a totally open space, Daniel took a more careful approach that worked with the existing structure and preserved some of the property’s charm. Scandinavian by REES Architects REES Architects By removing the window from the existing back wall and building the extension around this, Daniel created the feeling of an open-plan space while actually retaining two individual rooms. This decision was practical, as well as an aesthetic. “It costs quite a lot to demolish [walls] and put extra structure in,” he says, “and we had a budget to stick to, so we came up with this solution to remain within budget but also ensure the two spaces still felt connected.” A rooflight above the dining table draws light down into the new and existing rooms. A bank of cupboards runs floor to ceiling along the wall on the right, hiding away all the everyday clutter, such as the vacuum cleaner, as well as two big bins, a fridge-freezer, and a pantry.
Draw to scale For something completely different, choose fishscale zellige tiles. These ones combine the blue and pale gold shades of the kitchen to create a pattern that resembles the sea. The playful curvy design sits alongside the straight edges of the rest of the space – and, once again, the glazed surface adds a shimmer to the room.
Go high We often lay tiles as a splashback directly above the worktop, but in this kitchen, the designers have positioned them higher. A marble worktop continues up the wall to protect the surface, and the tiles add a darker contrast above. The olive shade could have been slightly imposing above the bright white below, but the glossy surface of the zellige design reflects the light and casts a shimmer.
Lighting in the space is provided by a few spotlights, as well as three enamel pendants above the island and one large ceiling light above the dining table.
The range cooker was the first thing to be positioned in the space, and it fits perfectly into the chimney recess. “The rest of the kitchen fell into place around it,” Stephen says. Pale blue tiles form a practical splashback behind the hob, while the rest of the walls have been painted crisp white. To add a contrast to the natural wood units, Stephen chose a dark blue stain for the base cabinets.
A porcelain Belfast sink with an aged-brass tap is located in the island. “This was the best place for it to go, as it would have been a tight squeeze along the wall,” Stephen says. “It’s also a nice feature on the island.” A hardwearing micro-cement floor was skimmed over underfloor heating and adds another light, textured surface to the room. Aged-brass tap, Tapwell. Belfast sink, Armitage Shanks. Micro-cement flooring, Kote.
The cabinetry was made bespoke with rough-sawn oak and most of the doors feature simple finger-pulls; a high cupboard above the fridge and the dishwasher are the exceptions, both having sturdy brass bar handles instead. At the end of the island, oak shelves are held in place by brass rods. “The owners were keen to have most of their things tidied away,” Stephen says. “This bookshelf provided an opportunity to give them an open display area.”
Stephen Nash knocked through the walls that divided the floor’s three rooms, installing structural support with a steel beam. “I kept the steel exposed, as I think it’s nice to show the bones of a property and highlight how it’s been constructed,” Stephen says. Steel-framed doors lead out to the garden and help bring light into the space. Fridge-freezer, Samsung. Industrial Kitchen by ALL & NXTHING ALL & NXTHING A huge island offers plenty of room for food preparation and is somewhere guests can perch while chatting to the hosts. Stephen was keen to use a substantial material for the worktops, but grey cement would have been too dull in the space. Instead, he went for a bold terrazzo and chose a playful white with coloured stones to keep it as bright as possible. “The worktops were hand-poured on site,” he says. “The island is double-braced inside to ensure it can hold the heavy surface.” Solid cast terrazzo worktop, Kote. Bar stools, Rockett St George. Steel-framed doors, Fabco
Say goodbye to peat “Always avoid using compost with peat in it, as extracting this can destroy unique ecosystems that take centuries to form,” James says. A cheaper, and more eco-friendly, alternative to buying compost is to make your own. “Creating your own garden compost is very easy to do, and it has great benefits for the garden,” Pip says. “By recycling garden and food waste, not only does it save rubbish going to landfill sites, but you can create a rich, moisture-retentive mulch. The following year, your plants will profit from this natural addition to the soil.” “Compost heaps are also a surprisingly valuable habitat for wildlife,” James adds. “They may help to attract a wide variety of creatures into your garden, ranging from earthworms and frogs to hedgehogs and lizards.”
Look at alternatives to standard doors “Consider sliding or pocket doors for interconnecting rooms,” Eva says. “There are some great off-the-shelf pocket systems with aluminium frames that allow you to work with existing openings to fit hidden, streamlined doors.” “Sliding and pocket doors create more visual space,” Kia agrees. “They feel more open than a standard hinged door. They don’t necessarily give you more space, but they do help to open up a room, because you don’t need to allow for door leaves swinging out into the floor space. “Also,” she continues, “with sliding or pocket doors, you can have furniture right up to a door frame [as long as you allow wall space behind for a sliding door to open] in a way that would feel too cramped with a hinged door.”
Streamline a slope Loft conversions often include a new bathroom and it’s not always obvious where tiling should start and finish. This walk-in shower is fully tiled, as the ceiling is low and likely to be doused daily. The tiles continue at half-height in the rest of the room, but what’s clever is how they’re connected: the two triangular tiles on the narrow walls at either side of the shower link the awkwardly shaped enclosure with the rest of the space by helping the line of tiles to flow smoothly. Proof that the small touches are sometimes the ones that make a room.
For you and your guests to feel relaxed in the space, the last thing you want is to worry about spillages and damage. Consider this when choosing your flooring, cabinet finishes and worksurfaces. Go for materials that are durable and easy to maintain, so you don’t spend your evening anxiously hovering over everyone’s wine glasses. A composite worktop like this quartz one is a good choice, as it’s sturdy, strong and a breeze to clean.
Divvy up your washspace Although this shower room isn’t struggling for space, it illustrates a neat idea that can work wonders in a smaller bathroom. Building a wall, or half wall, in a room that’s already petite might not seem sensible. However, when it can serve the double function of giving your loo some privacy and creating a walk-in shower, as here, it’s a no-brainer.
This corner also offers sightlines into the rest of the home. The kitchen is partially partitioned. A wall that stops just short of the ceiling hides the kitchen from view and supports an iron worktop. Sara designed this one-of-a-kind piece and the iron hanging shelves above it herself.
Spice racks that live on worktops Clear worktops will make your kitchen feel bigger and tidier, but if your drawers are stuffed (with those appliances), putting away smaller items, such as spice bottles, might not be an option. Plus, if you’re a keen cook, you’ll want them to hand. So why not install a half-shelf, just deep enough to take a spice jar or 15, beneath existing shelves or wall cabinets?
Pots and pots of utensils It’s handy to have key utensils out of drawers and within easy reach for when you’re cooking, but stashing a bulky knife block and multiple pots of spoons on the worktop is just another form of clutter-gathering. Utensils have a habit of accumulating, so decide which you can ditch first, then use one of the many ways – from hooks and magnetic strips to mini shelves with slots – to get yours out of the way and onto the otherwise unused splashback
See advice in comments about positioning of taps and shower head.
Colour Inspiration Your Houzz PHOTOS PRODUCTS FIND PROFESSIONALS STORIES ADVICE Bathrooms Bathroom Ideas 8 Key Elements for a Family Bathroom Don’t forget these essential items to ensure your family bathroom works well for the whole household Amanda Pollard 14 May 2019 Houzz UK Editorial Staff. I'm a journalist with more than 13 years' experience in... More Comment5 Click "Embed" to display an article on your own website or blog. If you’re planning to renovate your family bathroom, there are a few must-have elements that will make life easier for you and your kids. Take a look at these tips to find out how to design a washspace that works for everyone. Contemporary Bathroom by Clare Gaskin Interiors Clare Gaskin Interiors Install easy-access storage When a number of people are using a bathroom, there will inevitably be more stuff to accommodate. With children, there’s the added challenge of mixing safe, out-of-reach storage with some they can access easily. Place open shelves or a cupboard at ground level, where kids can take out and tidy away toys or fresh towels. Combine this with higher-level storage for toiletries and medicines that could be unsafe fo...
Avoid bath time arguments If your children share bath time, it’s worth considering a tub with a tap and plug positioned centrally. This should avoid any squabbles about whose turn it is to sit next to the plughole. This design has wall-mounted taps and a pull-out shower head, which help to keep the bath clutter-free
Go behind closed doors Use reeded glass on internal doors, so the spaces either side benefit from both light and privacy. These sliding doors feature panels of fluted glass in the centre – eye level for anyone seated – and clear glazing at the top. A glazing expert can help you replace panels in existing doors. Alternatively, try upcycling second-hand vintage doors with textured glass.
Make it cohesive Create a balance between your cabinets and worktop by choosing an element that ties the two together. Here, the designers have opted for black knobs, which match the black worktop. By using the same black tone in a detail on the cabinets, they’ve created a space that feels harmonious and considered.
Add some bling For a really dramatic look, try teaming deep-toned worktops with some dark metallic units. Here, the gleaming, patinated metal adds luxurious interest to the kitchen. An extra-thick work surface provides even more bold personality, but the dark tones maintain the elegant feel.
Tuck in a ledge If you need to conceal a toilet cistern, take the opportunity to build a shelf above the false wall. Here, the designers have created a wall across the length of the room with a handy ledge for storing toiletries. Don’t forget that narrow shelves are fine in a bathroom, as items you need to store are often quite small.
Is there space for a noticeboard? An area of wall space is handy in a home office, as it will allow you to hang a calendar or noticeboard. By keeping key dates, to-do lists and any ideas and photos in full view, you’ll find it easier to stay focused and organised. Here, the homeowner has gone for a combination of a wire noticeboard and a wall-hung calendar. Consider, also, painting a section of the wall with magnetic paint, which will provide a larger expanse for hanging up anything you need to see frequently.
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