Sometimes it can be hard to see just how much work goes into a project and how vastly different the space looks at the end without showing the before photos.
I recently completed a project for a client where we did a complete overhaul of their main living room, stairs and landing, plus the downstairs cloakroom.
Now this space was taken right back to the basics, we updated electrics, replaced the entire floor and carpet. No stone was left unturned....read on for how much we updated and changed so you can get a true picture of how much work this space underwent to achieve the end result.
We all know under the stairs can provide that much needed storage we all crave. Originally the door was to the side leading underneath. As this was adjacent to the front door this caused congestion and not the easiest to navigate for a busy family. So the original door was blocked up and the guys over at Space Tidy knocked through the section under the stairs and installed some pretty nifty storage that not only is practical and uses a lot more of the space, it looks so clean and modern too.
The main bannister of the stair was very dark wood and didn't help with the overall sense of darkness in the room. The style also made the space not feel as modern as the client wanted it to be. This was removed and a modern clean bannister with glass was installed. The woodwork was painted white and this lightened up this part of the room and allowed more light to pass through.
The wall with the TV and fireplace was also updated. The old fire surround was removed and a new wood-burner installed. With a simple wooden mantel and built in units either side, this area looked more modern but still sympathetic to the style and age of the property. Also further discreet storage was provided and all wiring tidied up for a much cleaner look
The biggest change for me was the feeling of this space. One of the main issues for the client was the fact that this dual facing room felt dark and lacked any sense of warmth and cosiness. By choosing the right neutral we instantly changed that. Along with the other tweaks, the colour help to brighten the space and also added that much needed warmth. We used two colours in fact, a darker shade in the main area and then a lighter shade in the north facing part of the room.
As with all modern family homes, storage is always something that clients ask me to address. Here we were lucky we had high ceilings to work with a the option to have some fun with bespoke joinery. With a large collection of books we designed an over door bookcase and made to fit the angled wall. This was painted the same colour as the walls and seating added in front, to create a little reading nook.
Then on the other side we added another bookcase, this was more of a feature as it was more visible from the main living area. Again we had more books to showcase but also children's toys. The client had the popular Ikea storage system which was doing a great job so we actually reuse the runners and trays and these were fitted inside the new cupboards.
Then lastly the downstairs cloakroom led off a small hall from the living room and again this was given the makeover treatment. In this room we went bolder by using patterned wallpaper, a darker blue tile and patterned floor tiles. I love how this statement room is viewed from the main living room and adds a pop of bold to the more calming living area.
If you want to add colour but aren't able to commit to bold wall colours, then adding the boldness in furniture, soft furnishings and accessories is a great way to lift a neutral backdrop like we have done here.
I hope you like this transformation!
NB x