West Stockwell Street - Kitchen / diner
Colour Versus Neutrals To create a bold impact in a room, you can’t go wrong with an intense, rich colour such as a deep red, a vibrant purple or an energetic mustard. These powerful and gutsy colours will demand attention, making a real statement in any space. If you are using a dark colour on all four walls, ensure there’s at least one pale surface in the room, such as the floor, ceiling or window treatment, to provide some contrast and light. Alternatively, you could use a strong shade on a single wall to highlight a favourite item, such as a glamorous headboard or elegant sofa. Neutrals, on the other hand, are ideal if you’re after a more subtle update. Crisp, light colours, such as a blush pink, a soft green or a muted yellow, will instantly brighten a space, yet will remain in the background to allow bolder features, such as artwork or furniture, to pop. If you’re struggling to find a paint colour to work with existing furniture, a quiet neutral can help unify an eclectic scheme, while a warm neutral is ideal for cool kitchens and bathrooms that need an inviting touch.
Choose a bench with storage A low bench is a good idea in a hallway as a perch for pulling on shoes and boots, but don’t waste the space underneath. By choosing a seat with integrated storage, like this one, you’ll maximise every last drop of floor space, creating a place to neatly tuck outdoor wear. If built-in storage isn’t possible, then it’s easy to just tuck a few large baskets underneath an existing bench for stashing hats, gloves and shoes
Whisk away cleaning kit Add baskets or pockets to the back of your utility cupboard door and provide neat storage for washing and cleaning products. As you can utilise the full height of the door, this is a handy way to keep chemicals out of reach of little hands. For brooms and mops, consider investing in some utility hooks fitted to the back of your cupboard door. This way, you’ll keep all your long implements off the floor and in one place
Put your best foot forward These under-stairs doors pull out to reveal secret shoe storage. The space under the staircase can be an awkward place to access and is prone to becoming messy. By turning the cupboard into drawers, you’ll utilise the space much more efficiently and never lose your shoes again
Treasure your jewels This is a reversal of the previous idea – perfect if a shallow cupboard can be recessed into a wall. A full-length mirror opens up to reveal a jewellery cupboard and additional mirror. It’s a simple idea that provides a great place for storing little items. Ask a carpenter to construct something similar in a shallow wall recess, or hunt for a slim cabinet to which you could fix a mirror
Add unobtrusive accessories… Avoid your hallway becoming ‘dead space’ by seeking out slimline or wall-hung pieces that will add character without getting in the way. Although a bench like this might be out of the question if your hall is truly tiny, the vertical shelving unit is pleasingly petite. A full-length mirror is essential for last-minute outfit checks, as well as increasing the sense of space
Green wall, but blue furniture Find your fire If you have a magnificent mantelpiece, be sure to show it some love. Artwork can change the whole feel of a scheme, bringing warmth and colour that will play off the rest of your room. Accessorise the hearth, too, with a log basket, glass lanterns or some foliage in a vase. Layer pieces of different shapes and sizes to build interest at floor and fireplace level
Opt for hidden depths If space is limited around your dining table, then don’t wrestle with lots of chairs. This built-in U-shaped seating area increases the seating capacity and provides a relaxed dining space. And storage doesn’t have to be confined to front-facing drawers or lift-up seats. Here, it’s accessed through smart end panels to ensure a practical solution, while upholstered seat cushions complete the look
Note the slight slope on the back of the seat Finding a sofa to fit a small or cramped area can be challenging but, here, a built-in, U-shaped seating area makes great use of the available space. Having lift-up seats on smart, sociable sofas like these will create lots of unobtrusive storage space underneath
Be uniform with woodwork and ceiling… When selecting your colour palette, paint the woodwork and ceiling in the same shade, but go for a contrast on the walls. This will give a unified look to your scheme. Steer clear of whites with pink or yellow undertones in muted light, as the base pigment is strong and can dominate the colour scheme, making it very difficult to find complementary tones for your walls
Use a hint of green in your neutrals When trying to select a neutral colour for a room with dim natural light, I’d steer clear of any shade with a hint of pink or peach in it. These tones appear to be warm, which can be tempting in cooler climes, but, in fact, they’re very difficult to live with. This is particularly true with neutral shades – magnolia is a classic example – as their warmer tones tend to clash with everything. Hot and warm colours work in sunnier climates, because the light there is strong. Weaker light needs cooler shades, at least where neutrals are concerned. So when picking a neutral or off-white, I’d suggest going for one with a slight hint of green in it, as this has a neutralising effect, meaning that most colours will combine really well with it. The green also means it will react really well in the light that comes with the Irish climate, which tends to be very soft, as well as in other rooms with limited natural ligh
Use deep blue to link spaces It’s important to create a seamless flow between adjoining rooms and a distinctive colour, such as strong blue, can be a good way to help spaces feel connected. Here, the solid dark hue of the living room walls has been teamed with graphic blue and white wallpaper in the dining area for cohesion while still keeping the dark blue theme. The white and blue patterned armchair lightens the living room and is a further link with the dining area.
Like the lighting, but maybe too modern. Luxurious materials – rather than using them all over the kitchen, you could instead make a feature of them. For example, try covering the end of an island, rather than all sides of it, with a piece of quartz or marble. You could also ask at your local granite company whether there are any worktop lengths left over from previous jobs; pieces like this will typically be sold at a reduced price, and perhaps one will be the perfect size for your needs.
The bespoke kitchen is a contemporary take on classic Shaker-style cabinetry. “It’s a celebration of English cabinetry and craftsmanship, with standout features such as the mantel and pantry,” explains the designer. The antique bronze mirror splashback behind the hob was chosen to add a modern touch to the classic mantel.
A mirrored splashback is another clever detail that adds to the airy feeling of this space. Rather than going for ordinary mirror, Spiring picked this grey-tinted version. “It still reflects light, but it’s nicely muted. It also works well with the quietly luxurious style of the house, and the darker colours.”
The team built and spray-painted MDF storage in the alcoves, each comprising bookshelves and a cupboard.
The glass wall
Team green with turquoise Dark green works well in a living room as it can give the space a cosy feel. However, to avoid it becoming too sombre, add some bright colour to the mix. The turquoise velvet armchair here adds just enough contrast to the sage green walls
Look at green walls with wallnet sideboard
The graceful lines of these Wishbone dining chairs look stunning against the olive green wall behind. Green is the perfect colour to warm up the minimal space and bring out the natural tones in the wooden furniture, and it links beautifully with the garden beyond.
Love colour
Above the large integrated fridge-freezer is a practical wine rack, constructed from the same walnut that features inside the cabinets and under the sink
At the far end of the kitchen-diner is a cosy seating area. A sofa in duck-egg blue adds a soothing counterpoint to all the grey. The owners decided to add a brick-rimmed fireplace opposite the dining table for a cosy feel. Features such as the soft grey walls, tiled floor and midcentury-style furniture help to maintain a unifying ‘flow’ between the room’s different zones
The wall and main run of cabinets is painted in Draughty Passage, with a colour-matched glass splashback. The darker colour on the island is Inky Nib, and adds an imposing, grounding presence to the room
Demarcate with glazing Glass screens can be an attractive and versatile way to divide a living room or bedroom. Here, a dining room is divided from the kitchen and hallway by Crittall-style windows that keep it separate from the rest of the living space without blocking the light. In a busy household, this is a good way to create the perfect balance between privacy and shared space.
Go for half measures For a less obtrusive division, try a half-height unit. Here, a sideboard creates a physical break in the floor area, but leaves the whole space visible at eye level. This allows light to flood the entire room, but clearly defines the seating and dining areas. Plenty of storage space is provided for tucking away items close to where they will be used.
The owners had landscaped the garden to create a completely flat exterior, so Rees reconfigured the house to fit in with this. “We lowered the floor of the original kitchen area and extension and installed a step from the living room and hall.” The level surface between the new kitchen-diner and the patio makes it easier to move between the two zones.
Try teal tiles Glazed tiles in a watery hue make for an unusual twist on the classic metro. Effective downlighting beneath the wall cabinets emphasises their glassy iridescence, while the wooden worktop and pewter handles introduce a touch of rustic charm.
Fit a feature screen If you can’t bring yourself to divide the space with something permanent, a nice alternative is to introduce a screen as a buffer between zones. It won’t be as effective as a solid structure, but it will help to diffuse the noise slightly. The louvred screen in this image works to create a glimpse of the living space beyond.
Add some edge Introducing pale greys and pistachio greens will help to prevent an overload of sweet shades in spaces where balance is important. This eclectic dining area has an abundance of pastel colours, but also incorporates grey, black and biscuit tones in the cushions to help tone it down, while the robust plastic chairs add a masculine edge.
Illuminate in both directions Large, open-plan rooms often have ‘standard’ ceiling heights of 2.4m. While this isn’t low, the size of the room can make it feel so. If you have an unusually large room with a standard or relatively low ceiling height, it’s important to find ways of lifting your eye line. In this kitchen-diner, downlights for the work areas are supplemented with up- and downlights, and lit walls and units, to provide a strong vertical light that takes your eyes upwards to ‘lift’ the space.
The dining area is all about simple lines, with a cool, clean, almost industrial aesthetic. Here you can see how the rooms are connected from the other side of the wall in the previous image.
‘The look is definitely edgy, combining modern and rustic elements in perfect monochrome harmony,’ says Stoykov. ‘The living room has an overall darker feel compared to the kitchen, but instead of wearing you down, this actually helps you relax.’ It’s assisted nicely by the large bay window, which lets the light flood in, while the elegant plantation shutters add to the grown-up styling. The glass bricks were already in the property, and they add a twinkly point of light that works surprisingly well. ‘They were there when the house was bought, but as they matched the style the owners were going for, they were left as they were,’ says Stoykov.
Lighter flooring helps to lift the living room, along with a white ceiling, shelves and woodwork. ‘The flooring is the restored original planks with a whitewashed finish,’ says Stoykov. The alcove bookshelves and cabinets were built bespoke. A section of exposed brickwork in the original chimney breast adds a dash of rustic charm, while the metallic, film studio-style lamp adds some industrial cool.
Love a larder The larder is huge news in kitchen storage and for very good reason. While a conventional base unit requires you to get down on your knees with a head torch to find that last tin of beans, anything stored within a tall larder is visible and accessible. Typically fitted with drawers, racks, baskets and even lighting, and doing valiant service even when slender in width, there’s little to dislike about a larder. Even if you don’t own one, there’s still joy to be had in admiring and aspiring to one.
Scale up A larder that’s also a breakfast station is sure to set any storage fanatic’s pulse racing. This is perhaps the ultimate piece of kitchen furniture – something most of us can only dream of. It combines oodles of storage and a dedicated space to prepare tea and toast, too. You can then stand and gaze at your neatly arranged shelves while you munch on your sliced granary. Life doesn’t get much better than that, does it?
Include secret drawers and organisers Ensuring sufficient storage is a primary kitchen design consideration, but being able to organise your storage is also important for making the space easier, more efficient and safer to use. There are many clever drawer and cabinet inserts to help with this. Secret drawers are slimline designs that fit inside and at the top of deeper drawers, as shown here. They can also be fitted with handy inserts, such as cutlery holders, spice or knife racks, or even kitchen foil and clingfilm holders. Other drawer inserts designed to help you stay organised include drawer mats or plate holders – both of which stop your plates sliding about when you open the drawer. As they sit just beneath your worktop, these drawers provide easy access to items during cooking.
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