Maureen Whitemore
A New year, new home… our interiors expert on starting from a blank canvas
dding personal- ity to a new-build property is something I’m often asked
about, from families moving into larger properties to couples downsizing into apartments or smaller houses. There are many advantages to a modern property – no crumbling plaster and much smaller fuel bills are among them – but that consistently neutral colour scheme (usually magnolia) and box-like feel can be uninspiring. Developers try to give ideas but the glitzy show homes tend to be all show and not a lot of home.
Interior designers love a blank canvas and you might expect me to start talking about flooring, furnishings and finish. However, you actually need to start much earlier in the process and focus on the practicalities. If you’re building your own property, then it’s important to speak to your builder about how you want the space to work.
I’d like to focus on a few ideas which can make a huge difference to your home in the longer term: living space design, electrical points, curtains and blinds, and storage.
Firstly, the shape of your living space. Avoiding a square box is relatively easy if your
Built-in storage and planning electrical points will make a difference
A mock chimney breast immediately creates a focus to a room; blind or curtain pole fixings are worth considering at an early stage
Problem solved
OId varnished beams often dominate traditional Cumbrian cottages. Although they add character, dark, sticky wood is rarely a great addition to your room scheme. The best option is to sandblast it back to the natural (and usually much paler) wood. Ideally, it’s a job to do before you move into your home! Before you start, carefully cut away part of the dark surface in a hidden spot to check the colour of the wood beneath and to ensure the stain doesn’t go too deep.
builder or joiner can create a small chimney breast in your living room from the outset. It doesn’t need to be too deep but it will immediately make a difference in terms of fire and heating options and creating a focus for the room.
Electrical points should be a priority as early as possible. The positioning of sockets (and the number) will make a huge impact on lighting schemes, the kitchen layout, on how you play music or watch TV and where you position your work space. Plan out what you’ll need early in the process and speak to the electrician so it can be worked into the house before plastering.
Another area where you
need to have early input is curtain pole and blind fixings, especially how best to secure them above or within your window space. Some new-build properties may have a hollow behind the plaster- board above window frames which might not take the weight of heavy curtains. You can ask your builder to include additional battening behind the plasterboard to create a stronger wall for fixings if there are no joists or similar structure in place there.
Finally, consider storage in your new home. Working with a joiner to create built-in storage will make the best use of the available space. This could make a huge difference,
particularly if you are downsizing. Think about adding storage under the
stairs and above doorways too – it will immediately add character to your rooms as well as practicality.
In next month’s column, I’ll continue the new-build theme with soft furnishings, lighting and furniture.
Maureen Whitemore runs Whitemore & Thwaytes interi- ors in Penrith. She has been in the interiors design trade for nearly 50 years and is on the board of the Association
of Master Upholsterers
and Soft Furnishers. See Maureen’s website at whitemoreandthwaytes.co.uk.
CUMBRIA LIFE / JANUARY 2018 / 71
TOWN & COUNTRY INTERIORS
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