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Open Plan Renovation
A Victorian house ground floor cleverly transformed through a new colour theme and good interior design.
YEAR 2020 | SIZE 42m2 | CLIENT Eni
YEAR 2020
SIZE 42m²
CLIENT Eni
Design Brief
Open Plan Renovation
This open plan renovation proves that any space can drastically change with a new colour theme, beautiful pieces of furniture, and good design. All home renovations, no matter how big or small, can improve any property if studied and materialised properly.
The owners of this Victorian maisonette wanted to create an open plan area in their ground floor to maximise the available space of the living room, kitchen and dining area. The other benefit included in this change was the increase of natural light as well.
Concept Design
A neutral colour palette with Scandinavian hints
The style of this open plan renovation was established at the beginning of the project. The owners wanted a neutral colour palette with scandinavian hints in a cosy mood. We tried different alternatives with 3D visualization to select the best colour combination.
To increase the natural light as much as possible, we finally decided to go with a light colour palette mixed with natural and warm materials. This theme was aligned with the rest of the house in a coherent and harmonious way.
“In every home renovation, we always want to reinvent the space at the same time that we are respectful with the existing building and interiors.”
Layout of the ground floor
Small changes can make a big difference
In order to create the open plan, we needed to remove a wall that separated the entrance from the living room. This wall was the cause for dark spots. It also made the whole space look smaller and made more difficult the mobility around.
That was the only change we needed to generate in the layout in order to allow the new design to flow. The kitchen and the living room stayed in the same space, but now they were connected. Also, to favor the flow of light even more, we changed the staircase wall railing for glass. In the original layout there was an entrance but it didn’t have any storage space. With the new design, we wanted to include a cupboard for this use, so we decided to use the space between the staircase and the entrance door for this matter.
The Connection between Different Areas
Open Plan Design
To elevate the design of the open plan we had into account the function of each area, the whole aesthetic and the desired mood.
We created a connection between the living room and the kitchen through the same colour theme. Enhancing the spirit of neutral aesthetic in the open plan, we decided to select the same taupe colour for the alcove shelves and kitchen cabinets. This creates visual harmony and a relationship between the two areas. At the same time, the pendant lamps have an important role in the division of these areas. They are beautiful estatements that not only play a role in aesthetics but they delimit areas in a visual way.
Bespoke Joinery to Enhance any Room
The Living Area
Following the same colour theme for the open plan renovation, we decided to combine several grey tones with taupe. Warm nuances were joined in the spirit to create a warmth and a cosy environment. The wooden details and earthy tones of the art pieces accentuate the warmth. At the same time the gold accents in the lamp and coffee table increase this cossiness and create some contrast with the general grey/taupe theme.
“We always want to achieve a homey and calm atmosphere.”
To make the space look airy and bright, we selected light items that allowed visibility of the floor, like the coffee table and armchair. Regarding the sofa, we decided to go with a more robust piece to make this part of the room stand out.
It was important to design this area of the open plan having in mind the hierarchy of the elements. The most important one was the alcove shelves and fireplace wall. This wall would be the connection between the living area and kitchen and it would stand out from the rest. However, it was essential to keep interest in the rest of the living space to create a good design. The delicacy of the coffee tables and pendant lamp combined with the robustness of the sofa create a beautiful contrast and sense of harmony in the living area.
The earthy tones of the artworks, wooden frames and natural rug are important to add warmth to this corner as well.
“Each piece is selected and placed to add value and interest to the whole space.”
The bespoke alcove was an important part of the open plan renovation. We created a simple and practical design to showcase beautiful and decorative items as well as books on the left side. We planned a space for a big art piece on the right side to break the symmetry of the design.
At the same time, the lower cabinets would increase the storage capacity and maintain the space clean and decluttered. The narrow wall that separates the living room from the kitchen, is also part of the alcove design. The owners wanted to integrate the TV on this wall and we decided to include shelves and storage as well to follow the same aesthetic.
The whole joinery accentuates the victorian fireplace. This beautiful feature of the house needed a special mention, and we emphasized it even more with the mouldings and the round mirror above. The mirror would also play an important role adding depth and reflecting natural light in the room.
The Power of Good Design
The Kitchen Area
The original kitchen cabinets were wooden finish and this made the kitchen look very strong and not so integrated in the overall space. For the open plan renovation, we needed to change the look of the kitchen. It needed to be integrated in the design.
We wanted to keep the costs down so changing the kitchen was not an option. Instead we proposed painting the cabinets. To make it light and bright, we suggested white colour for the wall cabinets and the same grey/taupe tone that we selected in the living room for the low kitchen cabinets. Changing the worktop would also become an improvement. A beautiful marble pattern would enhance the desing.
Regarding the dining area, we wanted to create a space for it to stand out and to become an important focal point. Originally, the owners had a small table close to the wall and between the two windows. This position of the table didn’t generate the sense of a dining room, because it was too small and too quite to be noticed. With the new open plan renovation we had the space that we needed for a bigger table and also, to give the dining area the attention it deserves.
To fit perfectly the space between the kitchen cabinets and the staircase, we designed a narrow and long table top with the same oak wood finish as the chairs. The metallic white legs made the design lighter and ideal for this space.
Along with the table, the pendant lamps help to accentuate the dining area a bit more and to make a distinction between the kitchen and dining table even if they are pretty close to each other. The framed artwork, similar to the ones in the living room, creates interest and adds warmth at the same focal point of depth in the kitchen area.
“Every aspect of the ground floor was studied and planned in detail in order to ensure a beautiful and functional open plan renovation.”
What our clients say about us
“Tania understood our requirements right away. She helped us to develop the design we had in mind with stunning attention to detail and professionality. We trusted her intuition and the result is simply amazing.”
Eni, owner of this property and client of The White Interior
Find Out More
Read more about our residential interior design service or contact us to discuss your project.