Houzz Tour: Small-space Solutions Make a Flat Open and Sociable
Natural materials, pale shades and an open-plan living space have made this new-build home feel bigger than it is
Maximising space while minimising the budget is a brief that will chime with many homeowners. For Nick Scott of WN Interiors, who was asked to create a welcoming but airy home in this small, new-build flat, that meant using simple colours and natural textures that complement the leafy views.
“I was trying to keep it really calm,” he says, “so I used a very light, muted colour palette, and not too many materials.”
“I was trying to keep it really calm,” he says, “so I used a very light, muted colour palette, and not too many materials.”
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here? A young couple
Location Bournemouth
Property One of a block of new-build flats
Size Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Designer Nick Scott of WN Interiors
The star attraction in this new-build flat is the view, so making the most of the leafy canopy was key. Nick chose natural materials so the décor would be quietly complementary.
“The flat has great views with lots of trees, and we wanted to reflect that nature,” he says. “So the décor isn’t shiny or glossy at all – I avoided chrome in particular. It’s pared-back, with natural materials and plenty of textures.”
Curtains in a relaxed, folded-over style frame the huge window and draw the eye outside, helping to make the space feel bigger.
Who lives here? A young couple
Location Bournemouth
Property One of a block of new-build flats
Size Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Designer Nick Scott of WN Interiors
The star attraction in this new-build flat is the view, so making the most of the leafy canopy was key. Nick chose natural materials so the décor would be quietly complementary.
“The flat has great views with lots of trees, and we wanted to reflect that nature,” he says. “So the décor isn’t shiny or glossy at all – I avoided chrome in particular. It’s pared-back, with natural materials and plenty of textures.”
Curtains in a relaxed, folded-over style frame the huge window and draw the eye outside, helping to make the space feel bigger.
Nick has used small-space tricks throughout the flat. “I’ve lifted as much furniture as possible off the floor on light legs to make the rooms feel bigger,” he says. “I chose a corner sofa, which can seat plenty of people, so the owners don’t need another big piece – just some occasional seating.”
The sofa also helps to zone the space, separating the living area from the kitchen.
Anglepoise lamp, vintage.
The sofa also helps to zone the space, separating the living area from the kitchen.
Anglepoise lamp, vintage.
A small chair and pouffe – both adding to the subtle natural texture in the room – offer additional seating for a crowd.
Knitted pouffe, available at Maisons du Monde. Artwork, Desenio. Armchair, Cult Furniture.
Knitted pouffe, available at Maisons du Monde. Artwork, Desenio. Armchair, Cult Furniture.
The dining area separates the kitchen and living room without blocking the flow of the open-plan space. Nick chose a high table and slim-legged chairs to keep the look airy.
Oak-effect vinyl on the floor helped to keep costs down. “It has an open grain texture, which is nice,” Nick says. “And we could run it through into the bathroom, so there are fewer floor finishes, making the space feel as open as possible.”
Vinyl flooring, Tarkett.
Oak-effect vinyl on the floor helped to keep costs down. “It has an open grain texture, which is nice,” Nick says. “And we could run it through into the bathroom, so there are fewer floor finishes, making the space feel as open as possible.”
Vinyl flooring, Tarkett.
The area is subtly zoned by an up and over stripe of pale grey paint. “We used the same colour as on the kitchen units and door for cohesion,” Nick says.
The simple shelf offers the chance to add more greenery and forms a focal point that draws the eye away from the kitchen window, which doesn’t have a leafy view.
Wall stripe, cabinets and woodwork painted in Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball.
See alternative layout ideas for an open-plan kitchen and living space.
The simple shelf offers the chance to add more greenery and forms a focal point that draws the eye away from the kitchen window, which doesn’t have a leafy view.
Wall stripe, cabinets and woodwork painted in Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball.
See alternative layout ideas for an open-plan kitchen and living space.
Part of the success of this open-plan kitchen, dining and living space is that Nick has packed in all the essentials while leaving plenty of room for entertaining friends. Key to this is the barely there kitchen.
“We worked hard to get as much into the kitchen as we could, but on as small a footprint as possible,” he says. “We made it more or less a straight line, so it recedes and isn’t a massive feature in the room. The matt grey doors have discreet integrated handles. It’s not a statement – it’s designed to disappear.”
Rather than a tall fridge, Nick chose an integrated below-counter model, and also included a slimline dishwasher. (The washing machine is in the bathroom.) The dining table contains three drawers for additional storage.
There’s a blanking panel above the wall units to keep the look as streamlined as possible – and cut down on cleaning. “We used taller wall units, then boxed in above so it looks as though the cupboards are set into the wall,” Nick says.
“We worked hard to get as much into the kitchen as we could, but on as small a footprint as possible,” he says. “We made it more or less a straight line, so it recedes and isn’t a massive feature in the room. The matt grey doors have discreet integrated handles. It’s not a statement – it’s designed to disappear.”
Rather than a tall fridge, Nick chose an integrated below-counter model, and also included a slimline dishwasher. (The washing machine is in the bathroom.) The dining table contains three drawers for additional storage.
There’s a blanking panel above the wall units to keep the look as streamlined as possible – and cut down on cleaning. “We used taller wall units, then boxed in above so it looks as though the cupboards are set into the wall,” Nick says.
Nick was also mindful of the budget. The slim worktop looks like marble, but is in fact hard-wearing Silestone. “We also fitted a short upstand, both to keep the look simple and to keep costs down,” he says. “And there’s a glass splashback only where it’s needed, behind the hob [see previous photo].”
Bread bin, vintage.
Find the right interiors experts to bring your project to life in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Bread bin, vintage.
Find the right interiors experts to bring your project to life in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Slimline shelves behind the door offer another chance for display.
The hallway continues the white and pale grey theme. The door on the left is the guest bedroom (the master bedroom is also on the left, but out of shot); the door on the right is the bathroom.
At the other end of the hall, there’s a neat console table, plus a row of hooks and a tall mirror inside the doorway (not seen).
The emphasis on natural materials and simple colours brought to life through texture continues in the bedrooms. In the master, a jute rug forms a striking headboard. “It was an affordable way to create a focal point,” Nick says.
There’s a small balcony off this room, making the most of the leafy outlook, so Nick fitted curtains rather than a blind in here, even though they take up a little more space. “Curtains add a little bit more luxury than blinds would,” he says.
There’s a small balcony off this room, making the most of the leafy outlook, so Nick fitted curtains rather than a blind in here, even though they take up a little more space. “Curtains add a little bit more luxury than blinds would,” he says.
Nick chose adjustable, wall-mounted bedside lights to save space.
Lovely chunky textures warm up the spare room. As the layout is quite tight in here, Nick’s gone for a Venetian blind rather than curtains. “We set a blind into the window recess to maximise the space,” he says.
Everything has been carefully chosen and has to earn its place. “The bedside lights each have a little storage bowl in the base for a watch and jewellery,” Nick says.
Artworks, Desenio.
Everything has been carefully chosen and has to earn its place. “The bedside lights each have a little storage bowl in the base for a watch and jewellery,” Nick says.
Artworks, Desenio.
The rattan headboard adds warmth and character, but feels lighter than a solid timber piece would, maintaining the airy feel.
Rattan headboard in this style available at La Redoute.
Rattan headboard in this style available at La Redoute.
As in the rest of the flat, Nick was keen to keep costs down in the bathroom. “We’ve only tiled two walls and painted the others,” he says. “We went for affordable [metro] tiles, but laid them in a vertical brick bond pattern to add interest.”
He’s zoned the shower area by switching to dark grey tiles in the same style around the bath. The grout is pale grey, so it shows the pattern of both the white and dark grey tiles, but without being too shouty.
Nick has also managed to fit in storage without crowding the room. “There are shelves in the mirrored cabinet and vanity unit, plus a wall shelf (out of shot],” he says.
Tell us…
What do you like about this simple flat? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
He’s zoned the shower area by switching to dark grey tiles in the same style around the bath. The grout is pale grey, so it shows the pattern of both the white and dark grey tiles, but without being too shouty.
Nick has also managed to fit in storage without crowding the room. “There are shelves in the mirrored cabinet and vanity unit, plus a wall shelf (out of shot],” he says.
Tell us…
What do you like about this simple flat? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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