Room of the Week: Classic Meets Contemporary in this Open Living Space
Soft tones and timeless pieces ensure the kitchen, dining and living areas in this newly built Surrey home work harmoniously as one
This Surrey home is part of a development of new houses that feature Scandi touches (think cedar-clad exteriors) and lots of glass. Its generous, open-plan living area has a 3m-high ceiling and windows on three sides, and it’s positioned on the first floor to make the most of the sloping site’s lovely views. For its owners, a retired couple, it represents an exciting change. ‘Their previous place was a country farmhouse full of Queen Anne antiques and dark wood,’ says Susan Venn, who designed the interior.
Venn was keen to work some pattern into the design. ‘It’s a huge, open-plan area and, with no pattern, it could have looked quite cold and flat,’ she says. She chose large-scale patterns for the rug and curtain fabric, which hold their own within the large proportions of the space.
The sideboard was made bespoke and painted. It sits on a mirrored base. ‘The idea is that it looks as if it’s floating,’ says Venn.
Sideboard painted in Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball.
The sideboard was made bespoke and painted. It sits on a mirrored base. ‘The idea is that it looks as if it’s floating,’ says Venn.
Sideboard painted in Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball.
The artwork above the sideboard became the inspiration for the colour palette. ‘It includes all those kind of grey-toned, coastal shades,’ says Venn. ‘This floor has beautiful views and lots of greenery outside and this palette works well with all that.’
The voile curtains are hung from recessed tracks for a neat look. Each one is remote-control operated. ‘There’s a 5m stretch of windows here,’ says Venn, ‘but you can slide each curtain along depending on how the sun’s coming in.’
Designing such a large, open-plan space posed specific challenges. ‘You have to remember you’re going to see the backs of furniture,’ says Venn. ‘It’s also important to keep the height of all the pieces quite low, so you can see through the space. The eye just wants to be drawn right across to the back, without interruption.’
A hand-blown glass pendant hangs over the dining table. ‘Rather than make the pendant a big feature, we had that big glass globe made, so you can still see through to the kitchen or the living room.’
Globe pendant light, Fritz Fryer.
Is open-plan living over or is it here to stay? Join the debate
A hand-blown glass pendant hangs over the dining table. ‘Rather than make the pendant a big feature, we had that big glass globe made, so you can still see through to the kitchen or the living room.’
Globe pendant light, Fritz Fryer.
Is open-plan living over or is it here to stay? Join the debate
The bar stools were made bespoke for the space and feature low backs, so that sightlines down the room are not interrupted.
The worktops and side panels on the island are all Caesarstone. ‘We took this surface and repeated it on the back wall above the hob,’ says Venn. ‘The kitchen is very visible from the living room, so we didn’t want to make too much of a statement. It’s not too “kitcheny”. If you’re enjoying sitting in the living room, you don’t want to look over and see a load of metro tiles!’
Upton ribbed glass pendants, Fritz Fryer. Worktops, upstand and splashback behind hob, Caesarstone.
Upton ribbed glass pendants, Fritz Fryer. Worktops, upstand and splashback behind hob, Caesarstone.
The kitchen cabinets are fitted with back-painted glass doors. Venn and the owners chose the colour together.
Cabinets painted in Malm, Fired Earth. Ovens, Miele.
Cabinets painted in Malm, Fired Earth. Ovens, Miele.
The table extends, which is helpful in this large space. ‘You have the option of seating more than six,’ says Venn.
Monza dining table; Lausanne chairs, all BoConcept.
Monza dining table; Lausanne chairs, all BoConcept.
This horse sculpture was another starting point for the colour palette used throughout. ‘We haven’t pulled in anything that’s dark,’ says Venn. ‘There are different colours, but everything has the same tone, so nothing jars; it all flows and feels quite muted on the eye.’
The top of the sideboard is inlaid with Jura limestone, chosen for its warm grey tones with flecks of blue, which complement the colour of the sideboard.
The top of the sideboard is inlaid with Jura limestone, chosen for its warm grey tones with flecks of blue, which complement the colour of the sideboard.
Bronze has been used throughout the space, on tables, handles and light fittings. ‘It’s a good alternative to silver, which might have looked quite cold,’ says Venn, ‘and it ties in with the classic contemporary look.’
The handles on the sideboard were all handmade for the project. The interior joinery is oak.
The handles on the sideboard were all handmade for the project. The interior joinery is oak.
The living area is home to two sofas and two armchairs, all made bespoke for this space. ‘You need that amount of furniture in here,’ says Venn. ‘It doesn’t clutter it – there’s still a really good amount of space in-between everything. There’s about 2m of floor space between the back of the sofa and the dining chairs.’
Much of the bespoke wooden furniture has been treated to a dark paint shade that still ties in with the muted, natural colour palette. ‘The living area is a big space, so dark pieces don’t stand out as they might in a smaller house,’ says Venn.
Bookcase painted in Railings, Farrow & Ball.
Bookcase painted in Railings, Farrow & Ball.
A large rug helps to zone the living space, with the sofas sitting partially on it.
Church Floor rug, Amy Kent.
Church Floor rug, Amy Kent.
The unit under the TV, another bespoke piece, has lots of pleasing detail. ‘Rather than creating a flush front, we did a little play on Shaker panels for a more country vibe,’ says Venn.
Read expert advice on how to choose and install a wood-burning stove
TELL US…
What do you think of this open-plan living space? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Read expert advice on how to choose and install a wood-burning stove
TELL US…
What do you think of this open-plan living space? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A retired couple
Location Guildford, Surrey
Property A two-storey, four bedroom, three bathroom home in a modern development completed in June 2014
Size The open-plan living space is approximately 12.5m x 6.5m
Designer Susan Venn of Susan Venn Design
That’s interesting This development was built on the site of a quarry
‘The owners wanted a change, but didn’t know how to go about it,’ says Susan Venn of the initial brief for the project. So she devised a palette of gentle, muted tones and commissioned much of the furniture to give the space a feel of laid-back luxury. ‘The owners were initially drawn to a more countrified look, which would not have suited this contemporary space quite so well,’ Venn says. ‘In the end, we settled on something a little more classic.’
Venn began working on the home’s open-plan living space and kitchen before the development was finished, which gave her the freedom to make tweaks and changes to the developer’s designs. ‘The kitchen was included as part of the development spec,’ explains Venn, ‘but we changed elements of it, such as the worktop, and redesigned some of the units.’