This week's instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features an open plan residential space design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Nicola Burt Interior Design.
The company was tasked with transforming a tired separate kitchen, living and dining room into a warm, slightly opulent open plan space, that reflected the 1930s built of the house.
They achieved this by removing the structural wall separating the kitchen from the living area, and installing a new emerald green kitchen and island to integrate the spaces together whilst still retaining the separate zones. The warm, opulent feel was enhanced by the orange, green and blue velvet tones of the upholstered furniture together with the wood parquet floor.
Wherever possible Nicola Burt Interior Design team reused existing furniture and accessories, to minimise waste and the impact on the environment.
SBID Awards Category: KBB Design sponsored by Kohler
Practice: Nicola Burt Interior Design
Project: Green Lane
Location: London, United Kingdom
The brief from the client was to transform a tired and awkward separate kitchen, living and dining room into an open plan kitchen/dining/living space.
The client wanted a room where she could entertain as well as cook and relax. She also wanted to be able to look out onto her garden, so our team installed a wall of glazed Crittall Bifold doors, which retained that 1930s feel.
The client wanted to be bold and use colour - she has some artworks by Louis Turpin in the space which are incredibly vibrant and colourful, so I drew inspiration from those for the scheme. The artwork inspired the choice of emerald green for the kitchen cabinetry.
We then paired the green kitchen with an orange velvet scalloped sofa and armchair, and a blue-green swivel chair and bar stool to enhance the vibrancy and opulent feel. I was keen to re-use existing furniture where possible - we retained the client's colourful Christian Lacroix rug which worked perfectly with the scheme, and the client's existing dining chairs. Our team also upholstered her piano stool in a beautiful vibrant offcut of woven Ghanaian fabric.
The Crittall Bifold doors to the garden, touches of gold in the handles and tap, scalloped furniture, Tristan and Isolde table lamps, all referenced the warm Art Deco feel the client wanted in her 1930s home.
A major challenge was working with COVID restrictions, something that I had never encountered in my 16 years working as an interior designer. We began planning the project in March 2020, but then almost immediately the first complete lockdown came into force. I had to pivot really quickly to ensure we could keep working, so I advised the client that we could continue to plan the new space remotely until we were allowed to meet face-to-face on site. This would mean we would be ready to go as soon as restrictions were lifted.
As soon as we were permitted, our team appointed an architect in to survey and draw up plans, a structural engineer to survey and do drawings for the steels, contractors to price for the work, and Building Control to inspect. After the client signed off the kitchen design we could then place the order for the furniture, with fingers crossed there would be no delays due to COVID disrupting supply chains.
The building work was booked to start in September 2020 and when it began the contractor discovered that the original frame of the property had been constructed from poured concrete, which was incredibly solid and heavy to remove. This delayed the work slightly, but we completed the project at the end of October.
It was stressful but we were incredibly lucky to get the major building work done and completed in between the various lockdown restrictions.
The first highlight was seeing the client’s joy when the scheme came together and how thrilled she was with her new space.
The second was being nominated as a finalist in the SBID Awards. There was such a great reaction to this project in the press and social media so I thought I would enter it into the awards. I never thought for a minute it would be nominated and I am so thrilled. It just confirms to me that you should be brave and trust your instincts with your design ideas!
I entered the SBID Awards as they are so prestigious in the industry, and the judges are of the highest calibre. To be nominated as a finalist has been such a boost to my confidence, reputation and business, and to (hopefully!) win would be even more amazing, not only for me but as an inspiration to all the interior design students I teach.
Questions answered by Nicola Burt, Interior Designer, Nicola Burt Interior Design.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring light and welcoming resort suite and guestroom design by LW Design, click here to see more.
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a local luxury oasis comprising of private villa and pool house located in southeastern France, bordering Italy and the Mediterranean Sea. Built using the warm, honey-toned local stone, the interior design scheme was designed to reflect the authentic and characterful charm of the villa's exterior with a subtle palette of restful colours throughout, finished with highlights of silver, lavender and turquoise to bring in the colours of Provence. The 21st century home acts as a sanctuary, but also an inviting family home so it had to be well-thought-out, sympathetic with its glorious surroundings and suitable to the needs of everyone spending time in it. This meant open-plan areas for socialising and entertaining, with cosier, more intimate spaces to provide solitude when required. To achieve the quality required by the client, and for the furniture to fit both the generous space and the colours requested, the majority of pieces were individually designed by Juliettes Interiors as bespoke items.
Company: Juliettes Interiors
Project: Provence Villa
Project Location: Provence, France
What was the client's brief?
The brief was straightforward: to create a light, airy pied-à-terre using the finest European furniture and incorporating the colours of Provence. Above all, it was to be comfortable, relaxing and sociable with a focus on quality. This was to be a sanctuary but still a place to share with family and friends. The client’s architects had already specified finishes for floors and walls so, for Juliettes Interiors, it meant coming into the project part way through. Taking this in our stride, we quickly got ourselves up to speed, working seamlessly with contractors and taking the project through to completion and final snagging.
Initially, the client intended to design and project manage this renovation himself but ran into problems with communication, space planning, design and trying to pull everything together. He later admitted that he felt as though he was drowning in the project management of a villa that had been bought to provide a respite from the hurly burly of everyday life.
He originally came to us simply to source a couple of bedside tables but this proved to be a turning point for the project. Talking through his ideas with Design Director Micaela Rossi, he realised that, as well as sourcing the items he was looking for, we could provide a complete interior design service as well as taking on full responsibility for procurement, product design, space planning, installation and project management. From a couple of bedside tables, Juliettes Interiors ended up specifying and sourcing new bathrooms as well as all interior furniture, outdoor and pool furniture, fabrics, finishes, lighting, bed linens, curtains and accessories.
What inspired the design of the project?
This was a beautiful, traditional Provence villa on the outside, constructed using the warm, honey-toned local stone. However, none of this character followed through to the bland, dated interior. Using this local stone throughout the interior brought warmth and texture to every part of the villa and its pool house. We also used the soft greys, greens and lavenders of the spectacular Provence countryside as our base colour palette to create the calm, restful and welcoming space the client craved as a retreat from his hectic day-to-day lifestyle.
The main house comprised 4 en-suite bedrooms plus a housekeeper’s apartment, and a large hallway leading into an extensive, open plan living area. Together with a further 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a large kitchen/living space in the pool house, this gave us plenty of scope to transform the tired, uninspiring interior and turn it into a well-thought-out and functional 21st century home, sympathetic with its glorious surroundings and to the needs of everyone spending time in it.
The finished villa, pool house and pool area blend beautifully into the surrounding countryside, with natural, local materials, honey-coloured stone, thoughtfully-landscaped gardens and restful colours designed to reflect the tones of the encompassing hillside. Inside, the design team used clever lighting and coordinating colours in shades of lavender, grey and turquoise to bring in elements of the Provençal landscape. They have made the most of the expansive, open plan living area, creating open spaces for socialising, dining and entertaining, along with cosy nooks and more intimate spaces, plus a TV snug and library. The pool house is perfect for visiting guests with its 2 cool and airy bedrooms, stunning contemporary bathrooms and a fresh, open plan living and kitchen area.
The client could not have been happier with the finished project. Every item of furniture was exactly as he had envisaged. Skilled project management meant that delivery and installation all went off without a hitch and snagging was minimal. Set in its extensive, spectacularly landscaped gardens, the villa is now a sanctuary of peace and harmony, an oasis of tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle. Originally intended as a bolt hole for brief visits, the client instantly fell in love with this gorgeous home and admits that he now spends most of his time there.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
Due to the client’s hectic international schedule, much of the day-to-day communication was carried out online. There were only 3 further face-to-face meetings at the showroom to finalise furniture layout, agree technical drawings for the many bespoke items, and to choose colours, fabrics and finishes for furniture, light fittings, curtains and linens. Almost every item of furniture was fully bespoke or at least customised, meaning a lot of research into special finishes and an exceptional level of detail. Throughout the project, we made visits to the property to take accurate measurements, to appraise the villa and its pool house, and to explore its surroundings.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
This has been one of the most interesting and exciting projects we have worked on and we loved every minute of it. Obviously, we were delighted at the client’s reaction and the fact that he now considers this his main residence. However, we have to admit, for our design team, winning a 5 star award for our design, skills, creativity and the standard of our service was a key highlight for the outcome of the project.
Questions answered by Micaela Rossi, Design Director and Juliette Thomas, Director at Juliettes Interiors
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a boutique hotel juxtaposing the austere beauty and fiery drama of Iceland’s natural wonders, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Juliettes Interiors | SBID International Design Awards 2018
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