Use markers to subtly divvy up living and dining areas A large, all-in-one downstairs room, encompassing cooking, dining and living zones, has become a popular layout in many homes. But while the result can look spacious, it may mean our living spaces never feel truly relaxing, because they’re so connected to the bustle of the kitchen. However, small tricks, such as having two or three steps between areas, can be all it takes to provide that crucial mental and physical divide. This home study is separated from the main living area by three short steps and a half-height glass wall. These create a clear boundary that stops overspill between one function and another. Having different textures – the exposed brick wall, in this case – and different flooring (wood versus tiles) further adds to the demarcation. Before planning your broken-plan space, think about what you miss in your current home and what works where; not everyone wants a study downstairs, for example.
Bookcases always seem to look better when they are built-in, flush with the wall and lack ornate mouldings around the edges. The bookshelf not being close to a corner; the bookcases not going all the way to the floor and ceiling; and the section of wall between the two bookshelves help create "blank space" allowing the eye to rest and preventing the wall looking too cluttered or visually busy despite being chock full of books. It would be interesting to see these bookshelves with doors. If I wasn't having doors on these bookshelves I would bring the internal shelves forward to be flush with the wall. I quite like wooden floating shelves but would probably restrict this to smaller niches as you don't usually have shelves this long without vertical supports. Additionally, I would like my bookshelves and china cabinet to have internal feature colours which will probably look better with more vertical frame pieces. I would also have some internal lighting in the cabinetry. The lights they used here do look interesting though.
I LOVE how these little nooks look, particularly the one along the side of the door. I would love to have this/these in my hallway! There may be use for it in other rooms too like the dining room. Having those six nooks beside the door in the dining room and door to the living room and perhaps somewhere else like the entryway would bring some repetition and bring the house together.
This wonderful daybed, window seat or storage cupboard, call it what you like, designed by BG Architecture, is one such versatile piece of built-in joinery. It’s a couch to sit on when you have a multitude of friends visiting; it’s a daybed to relax on, read a book and enjoy the summer rays; and it’s a storage box hiding every conceivable item, all hidden under the upholstered cushions.
I would love have a full wall in the living room of storage that looked like panelled wall finish. I love the lack of handles and that they are either opened by touch, hiding that they are cupboards. This storage would have to be built-in and not jut out. Would like wall of bookshelves or shelves to display things on opposite wall and couches in the middle.
Pocket Door
Nice shelves. The large gap between each shelf prevents an uncluttered look which is a good use of negative space.
Q