Renovate Horsham

Current project is creating a new kitchen at the same time taking part of the garage to create a utility area and putting in a couple of RSJ's to extend the dining area and be able to put in a concertina patio door. Oh and making a vaulted ceiling in the kitchen, this is a previous extension to the property.

So far, so good - ceiling and utility areas sorted and lintels and new patio doors in with the plasterers x 4 on site so nice dry weather - not humid - please.

Monday 27th June will see the new kitchen go in and the old kitchen be re-arranged in the utility room ready for templating for the quartz worktops towards the end of the week.

The vaulted ceiling has had its challenges with airflow/ventilation and insulation to current building regulations, in fact the client has had a change of heart on having spot lights.

There was the option of making part of the ceiling flat with part vaulted and all sorts of ideas on how we could batten out and lower the ceiling to accommodate the spotlights and then the client looked at the track light options and found some pretty funky and fun options.Spotlights have their place but I can't help but thinking they are a bit of a "must have without thinking" nowadays. My opinion, and is mine and belongs to me, is they are a pain! They are nearly all different sizes, once the hole is cut and your ceiling ruined, it's go bigger and they can be fiddly to change the lamps.

There are hundreds of lighting options out there so lets all be a bit more creative. Spots have their place, mainly on teenagers and insects!

A Small Room with Big Ideas

You may have a traditional house, but you can still have a state of the art bathroom.

We recently worked on a very small bathroom in a Grade II listed cottage, and even with oak beams, we were able to add an amazing walk in modern shower, as well as a Victorian bath, sink and toilet.

A great way to add style is to be daring in your choice of sink. I love the glass basins, which come in so many beautiful colours from lime green to bright red – a real WOW for any bathroom, and remember you do not have to by a 3-piece set, you can buy the sink, toilet and bath separately. But do remember to keep the style similar.

A soak in a bath is relaxing, and for something a little different why not try a spa or whirlpool bath. Whirlpools are good for massaging, but can be a little noisy. Spa baths are less expensive, but don't have the massaging effect of a whirlpool. They have a much more gentle touch.

Its Just an Illusion

Very often the bathroom is the smallest room in the house, but you can still create the illusion of space.

• Firstly keep the floor clutter free – go for wall mounted fittings.
• Mirrors used cleverly reflect light as well as giving the illusion of space.
• Give the illusion of space by using whites or pale colours. You can give the room a lift by adding a contrasting colour in the towels and accessories. At this point also think about lighting – nowadays you don't just have to have one single pendant light. Look at task lighting above mirrors, and perhaps lighting at floor level.
• Instead of a radiators opt for a wall mounted heated towel rail.
• If the space really is small why not use a corner sink.
• To stream line the entire look position all the fittings along one wall.
• And as always, good storage is the key to staying clutter free.

Light Up Your Life

Lighting from Porta Romana for home in Horsham

Lighting can create or decrease a feeling of space. Your lighting can either make or break the overall effect of your space.

When choosing lighting we can look at 4 main categories:-

Lights for visibility
Lights for pleasure
Task lighting
Design lighting

A bespoke lighting scheme for a chapel

Before you rush out to the shops to buy your lights, ask yourself the following questions:-

• which room do I need to light?

• who is it used by and how often?
• what activities take place?
  
• age of people who use the room?
  
• is it used mainly by day or by night?
  
• are there any interesting features I wish to highlight?
  
• what overall effect do I want to achieve?
  
• how much can I spend?
  

Design Tip : If you have a small room try to light it in at least 3 corners, as dark corners reduce the perception of space. This also works in reverse if you have a large room.

Problem Solved!

I am always being asked about different aspects of the renovation and interior design of a house, and thought I would share with you a couple of questions I have recently been asked. If you have any of your own, please add them, and I will do my best to answer.

Question : I really fancy having a white kitchen and neutral walls, but my husband thinks it will look bland and boring. What would you suggest?

Answer : A sudden splash of colour can make all the difference. It does not have to be much. How about a red-glass splashback behind the hob, or for something a little more adventurous – a red-glass breakfast bar. It will really bring the kitchen to life.


Question : We are thinking of laying oak flooring in our kitchen, but friends say it is not a good idea?

Answer : Wooden floors are very popular and add a sense of warmth to a room. They are easy to maintain and clean, and can be used in most rooms. However heavy traffic can cause scratches and dents and excess moisture can damage it. If using wooden flooring in a kitchen, care should be taken in laundry areas and around sinks. Any spills should be wiped up immediately to prevent water soaking in and warping the floor.

Question : I would like to reuse my existing granite worktops in my new kitchen, but the kitchen company is not keen – why is this?

Answer : I would imagine the kitchen company is concerned about damage to the existing granite on removal. It may be possible to re-use the granite, although it is very much dependent on the removal, fabrication and installation being possible and successful. It would need to be checked by a professional stone mason. The fabricators would need to conduct a site survey and would probably ask you to sign a disclaimer in case of damage to the granite.

Question : Should I have curtains or blinds in my kitchen?

Answer : This is something I am asked a lot. And to be honest it is down to personal opinion. The most popular choice for window treatments in the kitchen is blinds. Venetian blinds are easiest to clean and they come in a huge range of colours, from brushed aluminium to wood effect to vibrant red. You can also get perforated, hammered and metallic finishes. If you want something a little more decorative a roman blind is perfect and can sit either inside the window recess or outside.

Please add more questions......

Managing a Project

Budgets are very important to my clients and to me - I hate wasting money (or those that know me; know I hate spending it full stop), so at the early stages of any project the laborious task of getting two or three quotes for each component part and making sure that you are looking at like for like on the remit as well as quality is well worth the effort.

This process is made easier by scoping out the project, whether a kitchen, plastering, or extension, so ambiguity is left to a minimum.

If the project is to be completed to tight time scales availability and length of job need pinning down so that time schedules can be put together. By asking the trade or supplier for their time scales this puts the onus back on them to quote realistic dates and times – no one likes to be the one who is behind or who cannot give a proper time scale (subject to no unforeseen circumstances arising; of course).

Tip – let all trades and suppliers have access to schedule before final sign off that gives them a chance to tell you they have given you an unrealistic time period, should this be the case.

Quotes agreed, time scales set.

Waste/rubbish plan agreed

Any pre work confirmed e.g. client to strip wall paper before plasterer arrives

Let the project commence…………. We have a refurbishment starting end of September.

Watch this space.

Bedroom Interiors

Your bedroom should be your personal sanctuary, somewhere to relax and express your feelings. So clear away the clutter, the kids toys and the dirty linen and lets think romance, relaxation and warmth.

The Bed

The bed is the focus of any bedroom, and to make it truly romantic you need to make it as cosy as possible. Beautiful bedding and plumped up pillows will look and feel wonderful. Plenty of cushions create a really luxurious feel. Try different textures for best effect – faux fur, suede, silk etc. And if you really want to go to town consider draping voile over the headboard.

Ambiance

Soft lighting will enhance the mood, whilst bright lights can detract from the ambiance. For a lovely romantic evening or special occasion, nothing adds romance like the warm glow of candles (make sure candles are never left unattended) and the aroma of essential oils.

Colour Choice

When you think of romance you think of pinks and reds, but do you particularly want these colours for your bedroom? Many people are concerned about colour and want something a little more neutral, in this case look at soft neutrals for the walls, and add a dash of red or bright blue in a throw or cushion, or perhaps in the candles. Layers of gold or chocolate can look amazing and bring the room to life.


If you want a bit of drama in the bedroom then look at adding deep reds, rich blues or greens but use in moderation. You don't want the look to be overpowering.

Choose the Right Team

It’s so tempting to go to a builder who says he can do the whole project. But can he?

For me it is important that the person who carries out the work is insured and that the work undertaken is to industry standard. It can be signed off by the relevant controlling body and you can sleep in the knowledge that your buildings insurance is not affected. Also, when you come to sell the property you have the relevant certificates to pass on to the new owners.

Should your building work require a planning application then the work will be carried out in accordance with building regulations; there will be a buildings inspector appointed to keep an eye on things and they will stipulate at which stages of the project the work needs to be checked and signed off. The buildings inspector can sign off the installation of windows for example which under normal circumstances would need to be fitted by a FENSA registered fitter. So work with a planning application can negate the need for some specialists.

Personally, I prefer experts to do their part of the project.

Choosing an expert
Take a realistic look at your project, it may be costing a lot of money in your eyes but not in everyone’s. A small extension and a big building firm don’t match for several reasons:-

You’re a nice to have project but not top of the priority list. If the firm has a larger project running and there is a problem, workers may be pulled from your job to accommodate the crisis.
Often larger firms have ‘messy’ workers, they are used to working on building sites and the last thing you need is the rest of your home to fall down to that standard.

The larger company has a reputation to maintain but it is not as important to the employee as it is to the self employed individual whose next job relies on it

When the project has been completed it is often difficult getting people to return for any snagging items.

As well as taking the plans and building you need someone to listen to what you have to say and work with you so that the completed job is exactly as anticipated by you.

So choose individuals registered with a relevant organisation

• an electrician who has looked at the existing supplies and can tell you if the present wiring is in line with current legislation and provide you with the options for adding the extension. NICEIC


• Get a plumber who can tell you if your existing boiler can take on the added capacity required to heat the extension and if not what the options are, ask him about the btu output required and how it can be achieved – this may involve an insulation specialist. Get a quote for all the options and ask if there is Government aid available – you may be surprised. Gas Safe, CORGI


• Find a brickie that can talk ‘loads, padstones and beams’ and looks at the trees in your garden when talking about footings.

Most importantly find a team who know and like one another, who have worked together in the past and get on well together and get detailed quotes from them all.