Firstly, there are the larger appliances: fridge/freezer, oven, dishwasher. But don’t forget all the smaller appliances such as toaster, mixer, juicer. It’s surprising how much room these kitchen implements take up.
Then the worktop space needs to be generous enough to cook and prepare with ease.
Storage space is also essential. Fresh food and dried goods need separate storage solutions.

A popular and useful way of addressing these practical problems is to include an island in your kitchen design. There are a few benefits of this approach:

• More storage space, particularly if you use drawers.
• You can site the sink or the hob in the island It’s a good way to zone your kitchen if it’s open plan.
• It is an opportunity to bring another material or colour into the room contrasting with the main kitchen unit run.

The island unit can be large or more of a peninsular. It can be just a cooking station or a substitute table and social area.
The thing to consider is how much room the island will take up. You need to remember that you will walk around it and have cupboards or drawers opening out or have seating that people need to move out.
A good addition to the kitchen design. Look at the sense of having one and plan accordingly.

The post Unity in the Kitchen appeared first on Louise Swarbrick.

Many of the properties that I have renovated have had this pretty feature.

Inside and out, this presents challenges for the designer and homeowner.

The thatch is the oldest form of roofing having been around for about 10,000 years. The reed from which it is made is very durable and can, in fact, last for about 40 years and there are still a number of craftsmen (master thatchers) who can repair and create a new roof.

These properties tend to be grade-listed – which can make restoration a lengthy, paperwork-heavy process.

Some homeowners worry about the risk of fire but there is no real need to be concerned as long as you take sensible precautions.

As for the aesthetics, it’s a charming and distinctive look .

The chocolate-box charm of the thatched house more than make up for the higher maintenance of the roof.

The pleasure of a totally natural material used skilfully in its correct setting is one of the landmarks of the English countryside .

The post Thatched appeared first on Louise Swarbrick.

Often the hallway is fairly neutral since it is a large and varied area that needs to work, taking you into many rooms and heights. This means that there is ample scope for you to be a little more ambitious in carpeting the stairs to bring texture and colour.

Roger Oates have for a long time been the market leaders in providing beautiful flat weave runners. The variety of designs generously allow you to decorate with style and stunning colour combinations. From the cool New England blue and whites to the dense exotic plums or the urban greys and blacks, there is something for every taste. An equally striped carpet runner you can find with The Crucial Trading company where the design Audery is a bold and popular statement .

You may of course wish to choose a more muted look and a lot of carpet companies will give a wide range of choice of more mellow patterns, not in a flat weave but in a heavier carpet finish. Axminster carpets have a good selection of these plainer designs. Alternatively, using a more hard wearing sisal runner with a linen edging in a contrasting colour can be a very effective choice. The Alternative Flooring Company have a a variety of sisal to look at in various weaves including a herringbone.

These carpets will liven up the stairs. Set against the edge of the threads painted white or stained brown for contrast, they are smart, chic and practical.

The post Runners appeared first on Louise Swarbrick.

The shelves themselves can be made from contrasting materials to the main units. You can have glass, metal, wood or marble. They can be lit for ambience at night, floating or fixed. There is so much choice that you can see how this brings entirely new elements into your kitchen design fairly economically.

If you have a spare wall in the kitchen, shelving can be used as a display area for ceramics that you use, such as salad dishes or more decorative glass or plants to brighten up your working space. It is possible to mix up all these elements in a display on the shelves and change it whenever you feel the mood take you. Open shelves are for the imaginative and artistic to fill and arrange with pride.

The post Open Shelving: Kitchen appeared first on Louise Swarbrick.

In many Victorian houses you will find leaded lights of a much simpler design in the entrance hall or in the top half of simple doors throughout the property.

In 1840 there was a great interest in all things medieval, mainly championed by the Arts and Crafts movement – hence the fashion for the stained glass window often in the front door of the Victorian villa. Mackay Hugh Ballie Scott was well know for his beautiful designs in stained glass, the most famous of which is in the Lake district at Blakewell House. It’s a floral design of pinks and greens that compliments the outside space brilliantly.

It is an additional feature you can re create in your home to work in perfect harmony with the architectural style of your house, whether you have a simple country cottage, an Edwardian town house or a thirties family home. This traditional craft can be a source of light and colour, streaming warmth and character into the house.

The post Stained Glass appeared first on Louise Swarbrick.

Hokusai’s Wave is a very recognisable picture seen on many calendars and household objects. In other paintings Hokusai’s use of colour and imagery within the discipline of his art gives the interior designer inspiration to use the drama of the samurai warriors’ armour or the gentle portrayal of the Japanese countryside to inform their mood board.

The cherry blossom is celebrated in many fabric and wallpaper designs. De Gournay have a whole collection of wallpaper based on Japanese influence. This was created in the nineteenth century when interest in the Far East was at its height.

Graham and Brown have taken the images of Japanese landscapes as an influence for their Himitsu wallpaper available in several colurways.

Japanese culture is characterized by its ability to merge its own tradition with modern influences. This same attribute is what shapes modern Japanese design, which developed in the 1950s, and the ideological background which came from Masaru Katsumie, who was a follower of the Bauhaus movement.

In recent times other designers have used the traditional to create new objects based on the art of paper Origami. Several lights made from paper are available from Heals that will bring that feel of serenity and simplicity to your home.

The post Japan appeared first on Louise Swarbrick.

Many companies now offer reclaimed wood as an option. The patina of age and time lends a softer look to the floor which resonates with the past and lends a sense of permanence to a room design.

Parquet, which was the flooring of choice in the thirties, has had a major revival. No more Terry and June suburban jokes but now the beloved of Hipsters and urban trendies. The chevron pattern is pleasing and will bring style and interest, especially when teamed with today’s trend of dark shades rather than the ginger tones of the past.

With under floor heating you will need to look for engineered wood flooring to allow the heat to be transferred without warping the wood. There are plenty of good attractive options in this range and many good flooring companies sell it.

The key thing is to choose an excellent floor layer to put the wood down. The floor has to be prepared properly or else all you dreams will end in floor boards lifting and looking sad. This rarely happens but as with other trades it is best to have a recommendation of someone good and not be tempted to take a one man band with no track record.

The post Glorious Wood appeared first on Louise Swarbrick.

It can be used in both a modern and historic setting as it comes in such a range of textures and colours. It is difficult to go wrong in choosing it for your home.

The trick is to use the colours wisely.

if you are going to go with the current contemporary trend, then look at the dark tones: a navy or dark grey will add sophistication and smooth lines to an interior design. Additionally you could go with a dark green against a foliage based wallpaper to give a tropical look which is very popular.

In a more traditional home the pinks and reds are often seen in large living areas and cosy living rooms. These rich colours sit well against wooden panelling or elaborate fireplaces. Their warmth offsets the emptiness of a larger space – especially in the winter.

Velvet comes in various depths. A mohair velvet is well known for its longevity and robust nature. Virtually nothing destroys this fabric – not even dogs! If you want a smoother look, then the cotton velvets will do you good service. Designers Guild Varase velvet is particularly varied and gives an amazing array of colour options.

Fit for a queen – treatt yourself to a bit of this regal experience.

The post Velvet the queen of fabrics appeared first on Louise Swarbrick.

In the same way a dash of mustard in a design scheme can draw the eye, thus perking up the less intrusive tones around it.

It was in fact a favourite colour in the sixties often teamed with a turquoise blue or stronger teal. You might see a mustard telephone perched on a midcentury telephone desk in the hallway of a house of this period. Used like this, it is a delight to work with, bringing that zing contrasting against the brown wood and black legs of the furniture so typical of this look.

As in the case above, this rich colour works well with earth tones – the tans, chocolates and caramels. Thus a mustard based rug will sit well against a natural wooden floor emphasising warmth and heat in the space. A chocolate leather sofa is brought to life with the deep yellow in a throw with perhaps a few Ikat patterned cushions to match.

If you want to add to the mood, use the teal option as paint on a wall and put a velvet sofa against this. Made.com and Loaf have both a good quality velvet option in their sofa ranges that will keep you on trend without breaking the bank.

The charm of mustard lies in just getting the right amount into the room. As with the condiment, it is best in small doses – a light touch rather than a mouthful ……

The post Mustard appeared first on Louise Swarbrick.

Starting with the sun. The bold motif of the bright gold summer symbol can add lustre and warmth to a room.

The sunny hues of Lancaster yellow by Farrow and Ball bring to mind the light of an English June day.

If you are wanting the dramatic heat of the full sun, choose the wallpaper El Sol by Cole and Son. This paper with a strong graphic solar image brings to mind heat and light. In bright colours of red and gold, the burning heat of the desert sun is easily evoked.

Also by Cole and Son, we find the subtle smooth tones of a cloudy day. The monochrome pattern Nuvolette uses a muted palette of black, grey and white to represent the scudding billows of soft cloud in winter.

Cool Scandinavian climes are evoked in the icy colour of Little Greene’s Pique – one of their newer colours. The paint and paper library also has some cold ice blues and greys that will bring to mind the exciting crisp ski slope and mountain sky.

The shape of raindrops for a child’s bedroom has inspired the design of Hibou Home . This comes in four colourways – ice blue ,silver, pink and taupe. Whilst seeming a strange idea, its actually very neat and who doesn’t feel comfort snuggled up in bed with the rain on the windows outside.

Whatever the weather you can use the forecast in your home without getting wet.

Visit or Gallery for more inspiration and modern interior design ideas or go back to the homepage and contact us on 01223 360797.

The post Weather Forecast appeared first on Louise Swarbrick.