Decorating
Ask Our Agony Aunt: How Can I Make a New-build House Less ‘Boxy’?
Do you have a burning decorating dilemma? Our resident interiors agony aunt is here to help
In need of design help? Step forward Houzz’s very own agony aunt, Kate Watson-Smyth. We’re thrilled to have Kate, a property journalist who writes interiors blog Mad About The House, on board to support Houzz users with their interiors issues and design dilemmas. Having renovated and decorated her own home (on multiple occasions!), Kate knows the ins and outs of the home-improvement world, and how challenging it can be.
So, over to Kate, who this time tackles how to give a room without period features character, and whether to go light or dark with a kitchen worktop.
So, over to Kate, who this time tackles how to give a room without period features character, and whether to go light or dark with a kitchen worktop.
Kate says…
Hello Heleen. Boxy rooms don’t have to be boring, but it’s true that square rooms without period features can lack a little character, as sometimes it’s the strange and awkward alcove that brings all the personality to a space.
If you want to overcome this, you are going to have to be bold. No beige walls and oatmeal carpet for you.
Hello Heleen. Boxy rooms don’t have to be boring, but it’s true that square rooms without period features can lack a little character, as sometimes it’s the strange and awkward alcove that brings all the personality to a space.
If you want to overcome this, you are going to have to be bold. No beige walls and oatmeal carpet for you.
Pick a strong colour for the walls and paint all four of them. If that’s terrifying, go halfway up in a bold shade and lighter on the top half – use masking tape to help with this.
In period houses with a dado rail, half-and-half walls look traditional, but in modern homes without, they create a much more contemporary feel. And if you have small children, they’re practical in terms of hiding dirty marks with a dark colour.
In period houses with a dado rail, half-and-half walls look traditional, but in modern homes without, they create a much more contemporary feel. And if you have small children, they’re practical in terms of hiding dirty marks with a dark colour.
Painting the skirting boards to match the walls will lengthen the walls and make the ceiling look higher. Painting the top half in a pale shade that matches the ceiling will also blur the edges there and cause it to retreat and look higher. Consider painting the doors to match the walls – again, it’s a statement and it blurs the edges.
Furniture needs to be strong in either colour or shape. Make sure there’s a wow factor in every room – an amazing rug, an unexpected sofa colour, an unusual light.
It’s very possible to bring character to a new-build home; it’s just that, unlike in a Georgian house, where the bones are great and you’re just dressing a supermodel, in a new-build you have to work a little harder with the clothes to make the overall effect beautiful.
Check out more ways to make a new-build property feel like home
Furniture needs to be strong in either colour or shape. Make sure there’s a wow factor in every room – an amazing rug, an unexpected sofa colour, an unusual light.
It’s very possible to bring character to a new-build home; it’s just that, unlike in a Georgian house, where the bones are great and you’re just dressing a supermodel, in a new-build you have to work a little harder with the clothes to make the overall effect beautiful.
Check out more ways to make a new-build property feel like home
2. Dear Kate
I’m replacing my worktops and can’t decide between black granite and a light neutral. I think the black would look fantastic, but I’m worried it might go out of style, whereas neutrals (such as greige) never really do.
The cabinets are being painted as well, so they could go lighter with the black worktops or darker with the light ones. I’d like this renovation to last for 10 years or so. Any predictions as to when black worktops will start looking dated?
jill7256
I’m replacing my worktops and can’t decide between black granite and a light neutral. I think the black would look fantastic, but I’m worried it might go out of style, whereas neutrals (such as greige) never really do.
The cabinets are being painted as well, so they could go lighter with the black worktops or darker with the light ones. I’d like this renovation to last for 10 years or so. Any predictions as to when black worktops will start looking dated?
jill7256
Kate says…
Hi Jill. It’s hard to predict trends, but in general they move much more slowly than we think. Black kitchens are just coming through now, but are by no means mainstream. Black granite is a classic and, I think, a safe choice. It’s also what your heart is telling you it wants.
Hi Jill. It’s hard to predict trends, but in general they move much more slowly than we think. Black kitchens are just coming through now, but are by no means mainstream. Black granite is a classic and, I think, a safe choice. It’s also what your heart is telling you it wants.
There’s a strong chance you will never really LOVE the pale neutral because you know it’s the sensible choice. If you have black worktops, you can paint the cupboards without too much difficulty, say in five years, and completely change the look of the
kitchen. You could go from black and navy (keep the walls light) to black and white in a few years for a classic and timeless look.
It’s your kitchen, you spend a lot of time in it, and you need to choose a colour that makes your heart sing. I’m guessing that colour isn’t greige. Pick what you love. If you have black in your wardrobe and love black, why would you expect to go off it?
Explore all the main kitchen worktop options
Do you have a question (home improvement-related, of course!) for our resident agony aunt, Kate Watson-Smyth? Ask it in the Comments section and Kate could choose your dilemma to tackle next time.
kitchen. You could go from black and navy (keep the walls light) to black and white in a few years for a classic and timeless look.
It’s your kitchen, you spend a lot of time in it, and you need to choose a colour that makes your heart sing. I’m guessing that colour isn’t greige. Pick what you love. If you have black in your wardrobe and love black, why would you expect to go off it?
Explore all the main kitchen worktop options
Do you have a question (home improvement-related, of course!) for our resident agony aunt, Kate Watson-Smyth? Ask it in the Comments section and Kate could choose your dilemma to tackle next time.
Could you help with how to make a new-build house less ‘boxy’? I’d like to know how to give it character, basically. Thanks!
Heleen