Colour block
Clever design has transformed an open-plan space
Clever design and bold paint choices help bring a cosy feel to a large open-plan house
KITCHEN
Roz designed her own kitchen and the cabinets were built by Naked Kitchen in oak-faced plywood. The Plume pendant lights in Smoke Blue are from Made
HOME PROFILE
WHO LIVES HERE
Roz Robinson, 37, a research scientist and the owner of Roz Robinson Designs, her husband Simon, 37, an actuary, and their children Lyra, six, and Cassie, four THE PROPERTY
A five-bedroom malt house barn conversion in Nutfield, Surrey. The barn was built in 1895 and converted to residential dwellings in 2000 PRICE £650,000
MONEY SPENT £100,000 WHAT IT’S WORTH NOW £900,000
It was while they were searching for a new home close to a good school for their children that Roz and Simon Robinson first spotted the barn conversion for sale in the village of Nutfield in Surrey. ‘We fell in love with Nutfield, which has a lovely village school, and restricted our search to properties in the area,’ says Roz.
A regular Rightmove watcher, she’d seen the barn conversion six months previously. ‘It was out of our budget at that time and I wasn’t convinced the layout was right as two of the bedrooms were very narrow and long,’ she says. ‘Then I noticed that it was still on the market several months later and when we viewed the property, we knew it was the one.’
The interior had already been refurbished up to a certain point and walls had been removed to create a bright open-plan
downstairs. ‘There were some contemporary additions, such as the oak and glass staircase, which I loved,’ says Roz.
‘I particularly liked the combination of traditional architecture and a modern interior. Simon and I worked out our finances and, with a little help from our parents, increased our mortgage to secure the deal,’ she adds.
However, the survey revealed a leaking roof that needed urgent attention. ‘Our estate agent introduced us to NK Design & Build, a company that had already quoted the previous owner to repair it,’ Roz recalls. ‘They did a fantastic job and we employed them for all the refurbishment work we did to the property over a three-year period.’
Updating their home in stages, the Robinsons landscaped their courtyard garden
HALL
A vibrant purple vinyl matt paint finish by Crown contrasts with the Ikea shoe cupboard, which Roz painted yellow. A custom-sized storage unit follows the slope of the staircase
MAIN BEDROOM
A stunning blue feature wall has been painted in Starlit Night 2 matt emulsion by Dulux. The bed is framed by two Cohen floor lamps in white from Made, while the Hanna II oak bedside tables are from Habitat ‘I chose a bold palette but used the colours in blocks to create statement walls,’
SAYS ROZ
ENSUITE BATHROOM
Roz sourced all the products, including a freestanding bath tap, from Crosswater and a designer bath from Castello
and tidied up the interior of the house by painting rooms in a white finish as a priority. ‘That was our first main project and the following year we redecorated the girls’ bedrooms and the study, as well as our bedroom, ensuite and dressing room,’ says Roz. ‘The last big job was supposed to be the kitchen, but before we could tackle it, we had the unexpected expense of renovating the downstairs bathroom. Whenever it rained, the low-angled plumbing caused the bathroom to flood so we had to replace it, which meant a complete refurbishment.’
To compensate for this blow to their budget, Roz and Simon looked to cut costs in their kitchen makeover, opting to design the layout themselves and get the units made up by a company that provides an affordable, bespoke service.
‘I designed the dresser and had all the units made slightly taller as Simon’s over six foot tall. We re-used many of our existing appliances and shopped around. The biggest savings were achieved by waiting for sales so we could get the things we wanted at a fraction of the price,’ says Roz.
Decorating a large open-plan area has its challenges, but Roz’s approach was to use a colour scheme that would help to unify the spaces. ‘I chose a bold palette but used the colours in blocks to create statement walls, which were balanced out by painting the remaining walls in a plain white,’ she explains. ‘The strong purple in the hall and landing is similar in tone to the sofas in the living room. I also painted blue rectangles on some of the walls to break up the long, white expanses and create an art-gallery effect.’
The girls’ bedrooms are both blue with a solar system theme. ‘I also made teepees, cushions and toy boxes out of material I designed myself,’ says Roz. ‘I started making the fabric for friends and family, but it’s turned into a business that I run from our barn conversion.’
With the home interior finished, Roz is convinced that the project’s success was down to the massive amount of planning she and Simon did before the building work started. ‘I have a keen interest in design, but also in maths, and love to work in 3D to make each interior as efficient as possible and also to make it flow well. I find it interesting how spaces can relate to each other,’ she says.
‘The area that’s made the biggest difference to our lives is the kitchen, because the island has become the hub where we all gather, and the layout works well. When I was designing it I thought about how we’d use it in several years’ time when the girls are older, so hopefully it will continue to be a room we all love spending time in.
‘We have so much more space now and it’s true to say that this was the perfect move for our family.’
Visit NK Design & Build, nkdesignandbuild@hotmail.com