A 1980s home is opened up to create a light and inviting space
Once dark and cramped , this 1980s home was in need of a refresh when the homeowners headed to Houzz . co . uk – a platform that connects renovators with home improvement professionals – to find a designer who could make it feel light and spacious . Previously , the ground floor was a maze of closed-off rooms , which meant most of it was underutilised . An old conservatory at the back of the property , previously used as a dining space , was also difficult to enjoy , as it was often too cold in winter and too warm in summer .
The homeowners contacted Mia Spencer , owner of House by Mia via Houzz , explaining that they wanted to open up the ground floor , creating a bigger kitchen and dining area and better connection with the conservatory . Coming from a commercial build background and understanding the complexities of a project like this the homeowners knew they would need an expert to assist .
“ We started with the floorplan and wanted to make sure that would work . The home had previously felt cramped so the first priority was to connect the kitchen with a dining space ,” explains Mia . “ Previously this space didn ’ t really have a function and had been dark and uninviting , but by opening it up to the kitchen we were able to allow so much more light in .”
Walls were knocked down between the dining room and kitchen , and an old utility room was removed , creating a larger openplan kitchen and dining space . To avoid losing the utility room altogether , Mia was able to steal some space from the garage , which had just been used for storage previously .
To maximise the light in the kitchen , Mia suggested a light colour palette . A soft cashmere was selected for the cabinetry and the walls were painted in a delicate shade of off-white , which was carried through into the dining and living area , connecting the spaces .
“ When you have quite a neutral space with no bold colour , the details need to be special so the scheme doesn ’ t feel too flat ,” explains Mia . “ We used handmade oak handles on the bank of cabinets and a really beautiful Japanese tile on the walls . These little details really help to elevate the design .”
In the bank of cabinets at the back of the kitchen , Mia was able to hide away the functional kitchen appliances . To the right of the kitchen , she created a breakfast nook . “ The clients wanted a really clean , modern look and clutter-free work-tops .
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