Integrating or retrofitting air conditioning into a finished residential property presents a unique set of challenges. Careful integration of plant, preservation of existing finishes, protection of surfaces and furnishings, cleanliness, and minimising disruption are just some of the things that must be considered throughout the project. Without the right approach, achieving a solution that addresses all these points is impossible.
During a property refurbishment where a blank canvas approach can be taken, the possibilities for concealment and integration are endless. The number of options for retrofit installations are far more limited, particularly in the luxury residence where unsightly grilles can detract from specific and beautiful interior aesthetics. It’s crucial to engage a consultative designer to ensure a cohesive and discreet result is achieved.
In collaboration with the property owner or interior designer, air terminals and equipment can be selected to integrate within joinery and architectural elements with the least disruptive impact on the existing finishes, achieving a virtually invisible solution. Without this approach, the common result is an air conditioning installation that is distinctly and obviously an afterthought or after-market installation.
In an occupied and finished property, strategic design and planning is critical in minimising disruption and downtime. Indoor and outdoor equipment locations must be selected carefully, and all pipework, drainage and cabling routes assessed to ensure they avoid existing hidden services. All associated enabling works including surface protection, moving of furniture, lifting of carpets, opening up of voids, and any redecorating on completion need to be discussed and documented into a planned phased programme of works. It is of all importance that the building contractor carrying out these facilitating tasks is experienced, reputable and has correct and sufficient insurance cover.
Every residential property is unique, with different layouts, insulation levels, and usage patterns. A consultative approach allows the designers to tailor the air conditioning system to the specific needs of the property and its occupants through gaining an understanding the homeowner's preferences and lifestyle and combining this with the desired interior aesthetic of the property. Comfort is subjective and can vary greatly from one individual to another. Through consultation, homeowners can express their comfort preferences such as desired room temperatures, sound levels and air quality requirements. The system can then be designed to meet these preferences, ensuring optimal comfort year-round.
Integrating air conditioning into a finished residential property is a significant investment. A consultative approach ensures that homeowners are fully informed about their options, typical system running costs and long-term maintenance requirements. Air conditioning systems must comply with building regulations, local planning law and environmental standards. A consultation with a professional provider ensures that the proposed air conditioning solution meets all relevant requirements, removing the risk of non-compliance issues and potential fines or penalties.
About Calibre Climate
Calibre is London's air conditioning design, installation and aftercare specialist for prime residential properties. From sound surveys and planning applications to integrating equipment in joinery with beautifully discreet air terminals, we design and deliver quiet, concealed, luxury air conditioning systems tailored specifically to the interior design requirements of each client and property. Our unique consulting process, engaging with the wider design team from concept stage, enables end-to-end delivery of technically astute solutions that blend seamlessly with the architectural and aesthetic intent and character of each individual property.
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Are you dreaming of a kitchen that perfectly matches your style and needs? Look no further than a bespoke kitchen designed just for you, such as those created at Ledbury Studio. Working with a kitchen designer can bring your vision to life and create a space that is both functional and beautiful.
Here, Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studio, rounds up his essential five steps to working with a bespoke kitchen designer.
The first step is finding the right professional for your project. Take the time to research different designers to ensure they have the experience and expertise in creating custom kitchens. It is also important to meet with potential designers in person to discuss your ideas and see if you have a good rapport with them. Chemistry is key in any relationship, and that includes the one you'll have with your designer!
But, how do you really know if the designer sitting in front of you is the one for your project? Ask to see previous work. Looking at their portfolio allows you to see if their style matches your own. And if you're still in doubt, ask to speak to a previous client. This will provide an invaluable glimpse into the creative process of your potential designer and their problem-solving abilities.
Once you have selected a designer, it is crucial to communicate your vision clearly. Start by gathering inspiration from magazines, websites and social media platforms, and create a mood board to showcase your ideas. Share this with your designer to give them a better understanding of your aesthetic preferences. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words! For example, in our Camden kitchen, the client showed us an image of a 1970s screen she’d found in an antiques shop and requested a version of it for her kitchen. Inspired by this, I created this screen of brushed and polished stainless steel that can be used to divide the room, as required.
Apart from aesthetics, it is important to think about how you'll be using your kitchen. Are you the ultimate host, needing a huge island for entertaining? Or perhaps you're a culinary whiz with a big family and need space for all your cooking essentials. By clearly communicating any practical requirements to your kitchen designer, they can whip up a design that's both stunning and perfect for your lifestyle.
Before starting your kitchen renovation project, it's important to have a heart-to-heart with your designer about the all-important budget! By laying out your financial expectations from the get-go, you and your designer can work together to create a plan that matches your wallet. This ensures you won't have to sacrifice your dream kitchen and helps your designer find the best quality materials, appliances and finishes to fit within your budget. Without a clear budget in mind, it's easy to get swept up in flashy, pricey ideas that can come with big, surprising expenses later on. So, define your budget and ensure all costs stay within it.
At the start of any kitchen design journey, a designer is like a detective with a million questions, trying to get inside your life to figure out how you live. Why? Because every home chef is unique and has different needs. A good case in point is the Hackney kitchen, where the homeowners were such keen entertainers that they requested a bar area next to the dining table. Meanwhile, in our latest design, the Hampstead kitchen, the clients asked not only for a drinks cabinet next to the table, but also a breakfast cupboard conveniently placed just behind the breakfast bar. By chatting about your cooking style, entertaining preferences and daily routines, your designer can get the lowdown on how your kitchen should be designed.
Finally, working with a bespoke kitchen designer is a collaborative process. Your designer will present you with initial design concepts and it is important to provide feedback and ask questions. Remember, the design process may involve several iterations before reaching the final design, so be patient and provide constructive feedback to guide the design in the right direction. Your kitchen will probably be the biggest investment you make in your house, so it is worth going the extra mile to make sure it exceeds expectations!
Prices for a Ledbury Studio kitchen start from £70,000.
About Ledbury Studio Ltd
Charlie Smallbone needs little introduction. The founder of iconic brand Smallbone of Devizes, he has been pushing the boundaries of kitchen design for over 40 years. Charlie’s latest venture, Ledbury Studio, was born of his desire to harness the beauty of original materials whilst creating practical kitchens that exude style and elegance.
Successful spacing through interior design is achieved by the interior designer being involved in choreographing the sequence of a space. By doing this, it ensures that a project reflects a single design approach by a fluent design being fathomed by the architect and designer together. It is essential for all parties involved to understand the relationship between all rooms, plans and the cross section of the building.
Within hospitality design there is a vast number of aspects an Interior Designer should consider, such as, adjacencies (within design, this refers to the connection between two spaces or elements. The term can be used to describe both physical and visual relationships. In a physical sense, adjacencies are determined by how easily one can move from one space to another), catering layout, lighting, acoustics, and furniture to name a few.
As Designers, we ensure that we are familiar with each of these aspects, especially within spatial planning and dimensional criteria for seating layouts. The key to understanding and designing an all-encompassing, fluent, and functional space is to understand a venue’s core concepts. This concept often comes from our team working closely with the client to establish a clear and cohesive experience for the desired customer.
Something as simple as spacing between tables can go a long way to creating an atmosphere within a venue. Restaurants and bars that offer a full dining experience often provide ample space between tables for a more relaxed atmosphere. While a site such as a fast-food restaurant or coffee chain maximise the number of their tables, and therefore customers, to create a bustling, high tempo environment.
Use of different finishes and materials helps to define individual spaces within a venue, hard finishes are more suitable to busy bar venues where materials need to endure the vigour of nightlife trade, whereas softer finishes lend them-selves better to intimate dining situations or more laid-back relaxed drinking venues such as high-end cocktail bars. When it comes to specifying internal finishes, our wealth of experience ensures that all finishes are chosen to satisfy the individual requirements of each project and client. It is of the upmost importance that the highest quality finishes are specified within budget.
Whilst ensuring that materials and finishes are aesthetically appealing, it is of equal importance that the material an Interior Designer chooses must be appropriate for its use. Care must be taken to ensure that the material is correctly Fire Rated, as economically and ecologically friendly as possible and high-traffic areas must have finishes that are more durable to last the test of time. Floor finishes must have appropriate slip ratings for their designated use and the visual contrast between finishes on walls and ceilings must be considered to enable the visually impaired can perceive potential hazards within a space.
Another aspect a designer must take into consideration is the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of specific materials once a project is handed back to the client. It is the responsibility of the interior designer to pick finishes that are easy for the client to clean and maintain, therefore ensuring they get the best value for money and a high standard of finish is maintained throughout the years.
Lighting plays a huge part in creating an atmosphere within a venue and can be cleverly utilised to define spaces or zones within an otherwise open area. Low-level mood lighting can create a fine-dining experience. Whereas brighter and whiter lights a more casual energy. Considering today’s cost of living crisis, venue owners also need to consider the energy efficiency of the lighting specified. It is often favourable for interior designers to specify warm lighting within trade areas, fluorescent flighting is more cost and energy efficient. Therefore, this could be a valuable consideration for back of house and catering areas.
The acoustics in a hospitality venue go together with the concept and desired atmosphere created and in hybrid spaces it may be necessary to define zones with different acoustic qualities. Bar areas can be noisier and livelier whilst dining area may need to be quieter to allow for ease of conversation between diners.
Hard surfaces such as ceramics, wooden tabletops and cold metal finishes can create reverberations throughout a space. To counter this a competent designer may consider the specification of sound absorptive materials such as carpets, soft furnishings, and soft wall panelling, or specialist acoustic solutions such as suspended ceilings or wall panels utilising mineral fibre board wrapped in acoustically transparent fabrics, perforated ply, or timber slats.
Another solution on how to control a space's acoustics is by separating out sections through screen or stud walls. Through careful consideration of spatial planning this way, diverse types of rooms with different noise levels can invented to accommodate various patrons.
- Work with what you have got! Time & money can be saved planning around current features of a building whilst preserving a space’s original features. - Do not forget about storage and back-of house! Your trade areas may look amazing but are useless if your venue cannot function efficiently. Therefore, when planning out your spaces, ensure you leave enough room in none trade areas too! - Be Flexible! In smaller venues and spaces, do they need to be adaptable for more than one purpose? If this is the case, loose seating, moveable furniture, and adjustable lighting levels are all successful considerations in creating different atmosphere within the same space. - Prioritise! Sometimes, however hard we try, everything desired cannot be achieved within the designated space. MGI ensure that they work closely with their clients to understand what is most important for them to have the most efficiently designed, attractive and successful space.
About MGI Partners
MGI Partners are an award-winning Interior design practice with decades of experience within the hospitality and commercial sectors. Our talented team have honed their skills and specialist industry knowledge to provide beautiful, commercially viable design solutions that meet our client`s specific brief and can be delivered no matter how challenging the project or budget spend is. We always put our clients first and love to work in close collaboration, to guide them through the design and construction processes to ensure we create spaces that their customers will love and want to return to again and again. With a range of services including surveying, site analysis, interior design, Visualisation, Statutory applications, branding and project management we tailor our offer to meet each client`s specific requirements.
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