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Open plan living
Home Stagers Norfolk stylist Collette Hanlon talks about open plan living to Emma Harrowing, for Life Matters.
In recent years open plan living has become a concept for living that many of us aspire to. Whether it is a penthouse in a converted industrial building, or simply a terrace with internal walls knocked through, we all seem to be exploring ways to maximise light and space. It has become the most popular renovation in the last five years according to many insurers. The way we live has fundamentally changed in the last two decades; we work longer hours, and have faster paced lifestyles and a more casual approach to entertaining. The desire for homes that suit our ever changing needs is a desire for a space that functions well to meet those needs.
The only way to really achieve a home that functions well is to plan ahead. This rule applies if you are moving into a fabulous new apartment or planning renovations. The loft apartment in our pictures is one of the striking penthouses in the converted Laurence and Scott Electromotors Ltd building on Kerrison Road, Norwich. It was previously the site of LSEs technical drawing office, and will be well known to many local Norwich people. The award winning architects 3W have created a design which is both innovative and sympathetic to the original architecture. Working together with the niche developer Spaceworks, they have, in my opinion, successfully combined the preservation of a building which is representative of Norwichs rich manufacturing history, and introduced a stunning new concept of living style to our city. The barrel vault ceilings, large skylights together with long runs of windows that look over the city skyline, offer interesting and original living spaces. I have dressed this apartment to illustrate the concept of living in a flexible environment, and essentially the same principles apply to a home which has been modified by ‘knocking through walls. The major advantage to open plan living is the opportunity to create a more versatile home with the luxury of more light and space.
Initially, it pays to analyse the functions that need to take place in this given space. Here we have zoned the room into three basic areas: living, dining, and work. These separate zones have to function individually and yet work together to form a cohesive design. Take into consideration the amount of space that you require for each zone and then think about the most logical position for that zone to occupy. It makes sense for example, for the dining table to be located adjacent to the food preparation area.
Therefore, the living or chill out space could be positioned to maximise the best view beyond the windows, which is a paramount decision when there is no traditional focal point within the room such as a fireplace. Now that your rooms are larger, you may no longer need to position sofas and storage units against a wall, this will achieve a real feeling of open plan living, as the piece of furniture then becomes a zone divider, without permanently dividing your space.
Storage is a key element to take into consideration, as it can be too easy for open plan areas to look cluttered with items that have no home. A floor to ceiling wall of built in concealed storage would be the perfect solution, but alas, we dont all have that amount of space! I like to source pieces of furniture that work hard to earn their place in your home, for example this funky red Componbili storage unit by Kartell with storage, or this sculptural rocking Voido chair which works just as well outside as inside.
When choosing furniture, look for a common thread that knits the different areas together, that could be the style of the furniture, the specific material or simply colour. This will ensure that your space has a degree of unification which is easy on the eye. The scale of the furniture can have a dramatic effect on the proportion of the room, get it too big and the room will be uncomfortably cramped to move around, too small and it will look lost and inconsequential. Colour is a fantastic tool for pulling together a room or a look. Here, I have used a very strong red in small doses around the room, across all zones. The artwork and the cushions all contain red together with the accessories; it is the perfect accent for the white walls and varying tones of grey and black.
Texture can really warm up a stark and otherwise cold minimal scheme. Texture can be introduced through a number of materials, not just fabric. A great example can be seen in the kitchen of this apartment, with the contrast in the glossy white kitchen doors and the rich tones of the oiled Iroko worktop, together these look fantastic with the red acrylic Koziol bread bin and sparkling stainless steel Alessi kettle.
Lighting can define and accentuate the different areas. Low level ambient lighting for the living area can be achieved with table lamps and cantilever floor lamps like the stunning designer mama light that stretches over the sofa, while the kitchen and work areas will need carefully considered task lighting, such as recessed or track mounted spot lights, to enable you to work clearly and with ease. Accent lighting can be used to highlight a feature or an architectural detail. The trick is to combine several different types of light, to achieve a multi layered arrangement that will work to either demarcate or unify the space according to your mood, or needs.
Flexibility is the key to open plan living, but the light and the space it offers is the real luxury!
Contact Collette on 01603 440266. collette.hanlon@homestagers.co.uk
Many thanks to Alex Shaw and Tim Buxton of Spaceworks the innovative developers of The Factory, Kerrison Rd, Norwich, who kindly allowed us to use one of their penthouse loft apartments.
For further information please contact either:
Gilson & Bailey Tel: 01603 764444 or Savills Tel: 01603 229229
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