Wish List
Pull (down) an all-nighterGot some unexpected guests who need to stay the night? Ta-dah! This fold-down bed can be pushed up into the alcove and hidden away behind the large door. Of course, if you’re not in the mood for offering hospitality, there’s no need to open the door and reveal what’s behind it, is there?Do you have any unusual doors in your home – and which of these ideas would you consider adding? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Chop and changeA house with no kitchen is probably a step too far, even for the most cooking-phobic homeowners, but how about a kitchen that can be hidden away instead? Here, as in the previous home office image, doors open and slot right back into side pockets to reveal a sunshine yellow mini kitchen (there’s an oven further along). A design like this would work brilliantly in a small, multi-functional living space, allowing the look of the room to be quickly altered depending on how it’s being used.Great ideas for small-space flats
Conceal and revealThis is the modern equivalent of a Scooby-Doo-style trick bookcase: a restful bedroom is concealed behind a wall of books, with a hinged section opening up to reveal what’s behind. A design like this provides valuable extra shelf space that would otherwise be lost to a door, and would also work well as a way of creating separate zones in a broken-plan space.
Lay a trapHow about accessing any cellar space beneath your home via a trap door? This one leads to an all-singing, all-dancing wine cellar, but steps down to a laundry room, bike storage or even a games room could all work. Matching the door to the floor gives a seamless finish, keeping the secret of what lies beneath.
Give it a purposeWhether you’ve inherited the family silver or picked up bits and bobs from car-boot and jumble sales, it can be hard to find a place for pewter and silverware in a modern interior. By creating a designated drinks cabinet, complete with decanter, measures and glasses, the antique pieces go from fusty to funky.How would you display a collection? Share your photos and ideas in the Comments section.
Hang to highlightThey may not rival the Crown Jewels on the carat front, but a personal collection of gems can be just as precious. A pretty row of hooks allows necklaces to form part of the room’s decoration, while also avoiding the tangled mess than can often be found lurking at the bottom of a jewellery box.
Be bookishAlcove shelves crammed full of books have changed this unused bedroom into a cosy library, lending additional function to the room’s small, pretty fireplace. Slate grey walls imbue warmth and tone in with the black metal of the fireplace surround, while buttery leather chairs beg you to pick a book and settle in for a relaxing read.
To the right of the bin storage, dishwasher and under-sink cupboard are two open shelves for trays and chopping boards. “These work well for customers who like things on display,” says Jacobs. As well as installing three pendants over the island, the owners also sourced two lights to illuminate the sink area. “We think they work really nicely,” says the designer.
The owners have a wonderfully eclectic style, so it was important the kitchen reflected this. “They always knew they wanted a mixture of colours, but they hadn’t decided what these would be,” says Jacobs. “At first, we’d toyed with the idea of having a dusky pink island, but after much discussion, the couple decided against that.”Instead, they opted for a combination of lead on the perimeter units and a turquoise island in the centre. The pink tone was added in subtly with these gorgeous patterned tiles on the cooker splashback.The owners picked a range cooker in a neutral stainless steel so it would work with any colour combination, and their builders constructed a false mantel above for a traditional look.Pink Pradena tiles, Bert & May.Discover how to perfectly pair two kitchen cabinet colours
Welcome a white-outOnce again, this is a kitchen with a laid-back coastal look about it. Here, it’s not only emphasised by the horizontal timber cladding (see photo no 1), but also by the sheer expanse of pale paint. The ceiling, beams and (authentically open) shelves are all white, but what really stand out are the table and chair double-act and the floor. The airy effect of a pale floor with pale walls is magic. Check out the many online tutorials about how to DIY this look for your wooden boards, and research the several different types of product available to see which is right for your style and the amount of work you’re comfortable putting in.Upping the effect further are the inset panels in the Shaker-esque cabinet doors – these have a tongue-and-groove appearance, which easily conjures up nautical connotations. Natural textiles – the window blind and table ropes – lend a hand.
Piles of colour
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