Scandinavian RenovationContemporary Kitchen, London
Design/Manufactured by Jamie Blake - Photo by 82mm.com
What Houzz contributors are saying:
Make a feature of your mountHere the kitchen has an industrial feel, with slab-front grey drawers, factory-style lighting and painted brick walls. An unexpected detail in this tried-and-tested style is the design of the unit upon which the sink is mounted: the stand – the solid structure supporting the weight – has been exaggerated and highlighted in white. It’s a simple idea but one that gives this space real design kudos.
Minimise the presence of pets (sorry)You love your pooch, but prospective buyers might not feel the same way, or may even be allergic to dog or cat hair, so if you have a pet, you’ll also need to minimise signs of his or her presence before viewings. “Make sure your home is cleaned every day to reduce pet smells,” says David Hurn of Jacobsen Black. “Keep pet toys to a minimum, and remove them and feeding bowls when viewings take place.” Ideally, pets should be out of the house when prospective buyers call.
Pair a tabby with greysA stone kitchen with a white brick wall provides a sophisticated backdrop for this tabby cat. Its textured fur contains a perfect combination of tones to warm up the space.
Don’t forget the pets!Dogs and cats may also take a while to settle into a new home, so try to ease the transition for them, too. When you arrive at your new home, shut the cat in a single room for safety, with water, a litter tray and her bed. You can let your cat out at the end of the day to explore, but confine her to a few rooms so she doesn’t feel overwhelmed. Cats should be kept in the house for a week or so to prevent them trying to return to your old home.
Keep things neutralThis tabby chap clearly knows the insider’s design trick for preventing a neutral scheme from fading into the background: texture. And the pared-back palette in this Scandi-style kitchen is a riot of different finishes. But the painted brickwork, cool marble, glossy parquet and rustic wooden drawer fronts definitely need some softness in the mix. And Mr T, design geek that he is, is dutifully resisting that squirrel in the garden until the owners can find a fake fur cushion to put in his spot.
