INTERIORS
ANDREW DUNNING
HEAD DESIGNER, APD INTERIORS
Q.Dear Andrew, we have a spare room and I would like to turn it into a home office. Can you give me some advice?
A.First, consider how you want to use the room. If you regularly have guests staying and need a study space away from the main bedroom or living room, your needs will be very different than if you want to create a proper study space that can be turned into a bedroom on the odd occasion.
Think about what you need from the study space as well. Is it essential that you have a desk or do you just need a quiet space and a comfortable chair for reading?
Well thought-out storage is essential and you should be ruthless with your clutter. High-level shelves are a good way to keep the floor clear for furniture and your files out of direct sight. If you do need to have your storage on display, try to organise it to ensure the room looks ordered when being used as a bedroom.
Consider the services you need in the room – is a telephone line required, do you need power sockets for a computer?
In terms of office furniture, there are some off-the-shelf solutions. For example, Study Bed provides furniture with an integrated desk and bed that converts in a matter of seconds – this is a good option if space is limited.
Alternatively, if the room has an alcove, you could situate the office space there – have a desk between the walls, shelves above and use floor-to-ceiling doors to hide the office when you aren’t using it.
Any desk will need a good quality chair – don’t think you can just use one from the dining room when needed. As you are going to spend a few hours sat at your desk, consider purchasing a good quality, supportive office chair.
If your priority is more office than bedroom, use a daybed rather than a full-size bed. The daybed can be covered with cushions to provide additional seating during the day but secretly houses another mattress underneath to provide a double bed when needed.
Decorate the room in subdued colours – a bright interior does not tend to induce a calm working mood. But hang nice artwork and decorate it with care – remember that the workspace has to be somewhere you want to spend time.
Q.Dear Andrew, I am thinking about replacing my bathroom, which is looking rather old and tired. How do I go about this?
A.Start by making a plan of your existing bathroom. This includes measuring the space and noting where the services are – ie, water inlet and waste pipes. While the new layout does not need to be the same, bear in mind that moving the existing plumbing and drainage can significantly add to the cost of the project even if it does open up new possibilities.
Bathrooms are often one of the smallest rooms in the house so think carefully about the fittings and their practicality. Many compact fittings are now available, so consider a smaller sink if space is tight. If you do have the space to be indulgent, then choosing a larger bath adds a sense of luxury. The standard size is 170cm but larger ones are available and a double-ended one would make it ideal for sharing. If the bath is also to be used for showering then you can buy ones that have more room at one end.
A wall-hung WC is a good option if you are concerned both about space and cleanliness. It should be installed using a purpose-built frame and strong bolts – the cistern will be hidden in the frame, making the room appear more spacious. But remember, you will need to access the cistern from time to time.
Good storage is essential in a bathroom and if you have the budget, then bespoke cupboards offer the best solution. If the walls allow, consider creating niches to store some of your toiletries in the bath area. But think about what you want to store – toiletries are obvious but what about towels and cleaning products? Having storage will ensure the bathroom is less cluttered and a calmer room.
When it comes to tiling, there is a huge selection available. As a rule, large tiles will help
to make a small space look bigger and mosaics work well if used in small quantities. If
you choose a natural stone tile, ensure it is sealed before use. Don’t feel like you have to
tile the whole room – using bathroom-rated paint on a couple of walls creates a softer look.
Good lighting is essential and often one fitting is not enough – you will probably need lighting that illuminates you when stood in front of the mirror. But remember that all lighting needs to meet building regulations.
If you are planning from absolute scratch, then underfloor heating is a great thing to consider, especially if you have a tiled floor. For an average sized bathroom, an underfloor heating kit will cost less than £200 with running costs of a few pence per day. This is often sufficient heating but can be supplemented with a heated towel rail. Try to include one with a summer heating element since you can then use the rail even when the heating is turned off.
Finally, adding a heated mirror is another affordable but very effective luxury. The heating pad can be placed behind most mirrors – have it wired in by a qualified electrician – and the glass won’t steam up after a hot shower.
Andrew Dunning is head designer at APD Interiors, an interior design consultancy, www.apdinteriors.com. Follow his design tips on Twitter: @andrewdunning