Residential Extension and full Home Refurbishment in Kent

Two storey Residential Home Extension with Internal Alterations: Full Interior Design Service

James Clague Architects, who we have a close working relationship with, took the project right through from concept design and planning permission, to acting Contract Administrators as the work commenced on site. Instruction to provide interior design services came during RIBA Stage 4, the technical design phase.

As with all our projects, we worked with the client to build a bespoke interior design package that was tailored not only to the project, but the needs and requirements for each room.  This ensured the right level of service and design input was achieved for every space.

Our interior design pack covered multiple areas within the property, including the new two storey and single storey extension, and a selection of the existing rooms that were to be refurbished, including the staircase, landing and bedrooms.

It was important for the clients that each member of their family had a space they felt would be their own. One aspect of our brief was to provide each bedroom with an en-suite that expressed character and personality. We wanted to achieve this through long lasting, high quality design, colour and finishes.

We were very keen to involve our clients and their children in the design process. We had regular design meetings, both in person and over video call. This made sure everyone had an input, which led to bathroom designs with personality.

Utility

Our interior design package provided a fully detailed design and layout for the utility room and downstairs WC. We chose stone effect porcelain tiles as a functional yet very aesthetically pleasing option for the floor. The lighting was designed to ensure all areas are well lit with hidden details, such as lighting the underside of shelving and units.

The utility units are a light neutral grey, which compliments the bold and beautiful hand-painted splash back tiles. They were chosen for the quality in finish and originality of the hand painted pattern. They add colour and interest to the utility room, which was very important to us and our clients. It is a space that is well used, however can sometimes be forgotten about in terms of showcasing exceptional design and finishes. That was not the case here, as every detail was accounted for. The clients are particularly happy with the result of this space, often enjoying its warm ambience for a cup of coffee throughout the day.

Living & Dining

The light and simplistic interior design for the open plan living & dining area is testament to the exceptional architectural design. The engineered wood flooring was chosen very carefully for its colour and tone. We were aiming for a contemporary, modern finish that still felt homely and warm. We took the same wall colour through the entire ground floor for consistency. The lighting scheme for this area was carefully designed to ensure it was as equally as adaptable and dynamic as the room itself.

A space that is used for a multitude of different activities…socialising…. dining…relaxing... requires a lighting design that offers appropriate levels of lighting to suit. We achieved this through layering circuits with different types of fittings. This included a selection of minimalist wall lights, adjustable downlights, and feature pendants. This result is our clients have a flexible and comfortable open plan living space where they control the level of light to always achieve the right ambience and atmosphere.

The wall lights are neutral and minimalistic to add to the paired back aesthetic. The beauty in a simple fitting is that the attention is on the way the light is cast. The feature pendant above the dining table draws a focus to the space. This forms a subtle separation from the living area. The considered use of lighting can be an effective way to provide a sense of space within an open plan area without physically diving the room.  

The Master En-Suite

For the master en-suite we aimed for a design that was warm, soft and inviting. Although the space was small, we wanted to foster a sense of luxury into the master en-suite. The warm colour palette of soft pinks and neutral tones provides the base for this, whilst the brass fixtures and fittings build the opulence. This includes a brushed brass rainhead shower where we strategically placed the tap adjacent to the shower door; allowing oneself to comfortably turn on the water prior to stepping into the brass trimmed enclosure.  

The use of a fitted furniture unit for the WC neatly conceals the cistern and provides a shelf and further storage. The cream units and light colour floor tiles heighten the sense of space.

The tiles are a stunning feature within this bathroom. We used the same tile in two different colours within the shower enclosure to build tone and highlight the beautiful herringbone pattern in which the tiles behind the shower are laid.  

The crisp white and ratan vanity unit is wall hung in front of pastel pink tiles which form the splashback and make the perfect canvas for the wall mounted brushed brass basin taps. The soft posy pink countertop basin sits proudly on the white vanity and adds to the individuality of this space.

For consistency, we opted for the same neutral and contemporary floor tiles in each of the en-suites. We chose a stunning terrazzo effect porcelain tile. The white and grey colour palette complements each of the en-suite designs, and the tiles have good slip resistance suitable for wet areas. They also work efficiently with the electric underfloor heating system.

En-Suite 2

For the second en-suite, we wanted to achieve a clean and contemporary bathroom. The brief for this space was to be timeless with an almost hotel like sense of minimalism.

To achieve such a sleek and modern aesthetic, we opted for matt back fixtures and fittings. The matt finish works well with the square shape of the rainhead shower and co-ordinating mixer tap. The navy feature wall tiles add depth and sophistication to the space.

The en-suite for bedroom 2 has limited floor area. A run of fitted furniture, spanning from the external wall to the shower enclosure maximises floor area with optimum storage solutions. The fitted units encompass the semi-recessed basin and WC.

The light grey units highlight the pattern of the contemporary terrazzo flooring, which also ties in with the matt white tiled splashback. A light blue paint adds a pop of colour, and litte personality to the contemporary feel of this en-suite.

En-suite 3

The en-suite for bedroom 3 was a full refurbishment. The brief was to achieve a bright en-suite with limited use of colour, but still had personality and interest. This space was to be timeless but refreshing. A design highlight of this en-suite is the soft green tiles against the crisp contemporary white bath, which was chosen especially for its unique shape.

One end of the bath has the space saving benefits of a hybrid shower / bath and is fitted into the corner of the room with a brushed brass rainhead shower head above. The alternative end showcases the luxury of a free-standing bath, and gently curves back to meet the wall. This feature bath tub is a beautiful balance for a small en-suite and allows use of the adjacent wall for the heated towel rail.

The gloss sage green tiles are fresh and add subtle vibrancy to the space. They are highlighted by a trio of adjustable nano LED’s, providing a gentle wash of curved light onto the tiles.

The white vanity and countertop basin is a crisp contrast to the sage green, and the ratan detailing ties in with the oak shelf above.

The project was finished to a very high standard, with great thanks to the quality workmanship from Brighter Homes (Folkestone) Ltd. The clients are really pleased with the outcome and are enjoying the investment they made on the interior design services every day.

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