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.

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My favourite coral colour is Coral Glow in the Benjamin Moore range. This tone captures the perfect balance between pink and orange that distinguishes this shade.

Coral works beautifully as a background for classic paintings. Its deep richness offsets gilt or wood frames and enhances the brush strokes of any picture.

The fronds of sea weeds and gentle movement of underwater anemones are used to good effect in several wallpapers. Jean Monro’s Coralie wallpaper is a sweet version of a coral reef theme. Coming in three colourways (pink, green and yellow), they remind you of the variety of colours in the reef life.

A traditional, but equally gorgeous underwater themed paper, is by Seaweed by William Morris. This arts-and-crafts paper is bold, capturing the sinuous curves of the fronds in jewel colourways

The Little Mermaid should not have all the fun.

Dive in and use this image from nature to decorate your home

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Usually the bed is the first thing you see in a room. Choosing which style to go for is an important decision.

In the past, the four poster bed was necessary to surround yourself with drapes to keep out the cold and allow a little privacy from the servants. There are a number of very glamorous modern four poster beds that make a statement and are light and airy. One such is the wooden four poster by West Elm. This is a nod to the sixties and can be complimented by other mid twentieth century bedroom furniture in their range. The Beaumont white four poster bed by the White Company is more of a fairy tale wrought iron affair suitable for a more romantic styling. It is also available in black which has a gothic feel.

A sleigh bed is a popular choice. A wooden bow shape at both ends makes the room immediately traditional and warm. I prefer the look with the lower end at the bottom which gives you the chance to put an ottoman or a small sofa at the bottom of the bed.

This French look is also sold with upholstered headboards. Usually in light wood and with linen upholstery, these beds are charming and natural. The headboard can also be in a white rattan which is reminiscent of the warmth of southern climes.

Think about what look you want the bedroom style to be: light and billowing, cosy and warm, comfortable and modern – you should choose the bed which will set the tone.

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David Hall Kitchens work mainly in the East of England and they produce a wide range of options for their clients from sleek modern to traditional wooden.

A more well known company that has a bespoke tradition is Plain English. They can do the shaker style we are all so familiar with but they also do a more contemporary range that looks great in a country house setting as well as a London apartment.

A smaller company who are up and coming are Naked Kitchens. They produce an excellent standard of workmanship as well as an interesting approach to design with gives them a more individual edge.

All three of these companies do fabulous work. You just need an equally fabulous designer to pull these ideas together !!!

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Pooky Lighting has a gentler take on the marble theme. A light touch gives a traditional method a modern feel. This atop of any light fitting will breathe new life into an old space.

Of course the traditional use of marble will give you the true marble effect but you can go off piste and chose one that has a contrasting marble top.

Lastly a cute little tea pot can sit on a shelf to add that touch of marbled glory.
In a swirl this pattern is an enduring delight.

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Taking a white as a staring point, fill the room and inject colour through exciting pieces of furniture and fabrics. A long sleek cream sofa can lounge in the space adorned with pastel shades of cool patterns. Choose pinks and aquas as your accent points in the cushions and lamp fittings. Using the neutral tones of cream, white and pale grey, build up a strong design base to carry the weight of the vibrant palette of the sun.

Bring nature indoors with wonderful plants, palms and ferns dotted around the space. This modern look is not bare and minimal but vibrant and sleek.,The addition of deep thick pile rugs onto a wooden floor gives the room the glamour associated with this genre.

To do this in dank Britain is a challenge but can be achieved by getting the tones right and allowing as much light into the space as possible. The end of a kitchen diner which leads onto a patio or garden would be perfect for this treatment. Billowing voile curtains in a light material will bring the essence of a beach breeze. The use of the pastel palette will remind you of the sky and sea in Miami. The fittings in rattan and wicker also will add the sense of warmth and sun. Drinking your cocktail in the lounge, you will feel uplifted and very sophisticated revelling in this style.

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This look is not easy to pull off as it can be both bold and boring if that is not a paradox. One of the best rooms to test the use of this look is probably in a bathroom. Generally speaking the sanitary ware will be white, so a good starting point for the design. The flooring then can be a pattern of black and white used often in the traditional Victorian diamond patterned tiles terrazzo floor. A round mirror with a slim black frame will sit well against the chrome of the taps and fittings.

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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.

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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.

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We are no longer restricted to pink or blue for each or either gender. Any colour is there to choose from but bear in mind loud shouty colours are not conducive to a peaceful experience.

I would favour muted tones – blush, lemon, grey and cream. These shades can be sharpened up by using stronger accents – navy, charcoal or white.

The furniture you select will be obvious. A cot, storage, changing facilities, a chair to sit with your baby, and lighting.

You can go neutral with warm wood or plain white or cream so the impact in the room will come from the accessories and fabrics. Funky Little Darlings is a great source of baby ware and has a wide selection of items to furnish your room.

As for wallpaper, look at Sandberg, a Scandinavian company that has charming wallpapers for any little child.

An animal theme is often used for children and that is a look that can be overwhelming, so be subtle.

A decorative shelf with a wooden Noah’s Ark or soft animals is probably enough for a young infant. This can be set against a mint green and cream colour scheme. A rug with a jungle print could be a dramatic statement in such a room or a mobile with lions or tigers.

Think about a fun, charming scheme that will be stimulating but also soothing and reassuring to lull your baby into a happy dreamy sleep.

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