SMALL CHANGES made a big impact

JESS AND OLIVER HAVE TRANSFORMED A RUN-DOWN PERIOD PROPERTY BY ADDING AN OPEN-PLAN EXTENSION AND SELECTING A COLOUR PALETTE THAT REALLY PACKS A PUNCH

- MARISHA TAYLORE

1 "Pastels bring a neutral scheme to life"

‘Painting the lower half of the walls in Farrow & Ball’s Sardine, a soft blue, was a practical decision to hide the children's grubby marks, but it's also made the room feel warmer and more inviting.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES

Inglesham whitewash oak dining table and bench set, £1,297, The Cotswold Company, is similar. Try the Scallop Edge easy-fit ceiling lampshade, £49.50, M&S, as a stylish alternative

2 “It feels like an open-plan kitchen but is more practical”

‘Our old galley kitchen was a separate room, so we added a side return and reconfigured the downstairs layout, creating a spacious family area.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES

Stanbury kitchen in Heritage Green, £118.43 for a 600mm base unit, DIY Kitchens. Temple floor tiles, £25.54sq m, Best Tile UK

3 “Open shelving adds character”

'Oliver and I really thought about how we wanted our kitchen to look and work for us. I didn't want wall cupboards cluttering up the back wall, so we decided on a mix of fitted cabinetry and built-in shelving. The wooden shelves are painted green and have brass brackets to match the kitchen handles.'

BUY THE KEY PIECES

Mercury curved lip pull handle, £15.95 each, Plank. Padstow Ivory wall tiles, £87sq m, Porcelain Superstore. Falcon 1092 Deluxe dual fuel range oven in Cream, £4,435, Rangemaster, is similar. Shelves painted in Yeabridge Green estate eggshell, £78 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball