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Category: General

Recent Hallway Interior Project

Posted on by Andy Jones

Mood board /  Colour Scheme

Furniture and Accessories selection

Proposed selection of furniture and accessories to complement the colour scheme and scheme

Room prior to refurbishment

During

Things as they say always get worse before they get better, when a client is living in the property, we ensure that we leave it as livable as possible during the refurbishment. We try to manage expectations through close communication and projected timelines for each stage.

Nearly there

Just the carpet to go in and the room will become transformed again.

Finished Result

This project is ongoing and still has all the furniture and accessories to be staged ready for our clients to enjoy their new space.

How to plan lighting into your design.

Posted on by Greg Murch

lighting into your design.Lighting is no longer just a kitchen accessory, it’s a necessity. Creating a tailored lighting plan in the early stages of your kitchen design can not only help make your space feel lighter and brighter, it can also be cleverly used to make a room appear bigger, or can be manipulated to draw attention to focal features.Our Second Nature designers are there to help you make those all important lighting choices- but if you’re looking for inspiration at the moment, here are some of the key design elements to consider.

WHAT LIGHTING DO YOU NEED AND WHERE?

When selecting the most appropriate lighting for your kitchen, it’s important to assess what various tasks you will be carrying out in the space. For example, you’re likely to use the space for food preparation and serving, but, will you also be using it to dine and socialise? A good place to start is to consider these three key lighting choices:

TASK LIGHTING
Task lighting provides effective lighting to undertake everyday activities such as food preparation and serving. Perfectly positioned above the correct worksurfaces, task lighting makes the kitchen an efficient working space whilst helping to eliminate dark corners, alcoves and spaces that suffer from low natural light.

MOOD LIGHTING
Also referred to as feature, decorative or accent lighting, mood lighting is used to add dimension and depth to the room in order to create atmosphere and provide personality. This can include pendant lights above a kitchen island or dining area to brighten the social space, wow-factor lighting in a pantry or drinks unit, or strip lighting added beneath units, shelves or lining the floor.All of these help to improve the aesthetic of your kitchen and can be used to create a statement or bring ambiance to the room.

CONVENIENCE LIGHTING
Convenience lighting has a specific purpose- it is directional and intended to be focused towards a specific area, or to be used for a particular job in drawers or in cabinets. For example, convenience lighting can be used to illuminate dark corner cupboards or cabinets, alcoves that don’t receive much natural lighting or to spotlight certain items on shelves.

WHERE CAN YOU MAKE THE MOST OF NATURAL LIGHT?
When planning your new kitchen and the orientation of your design, it’s also important to assess how much natural light the room gets.If you have a north-facing room, it’s going to need more artificial lighting as they receive little or no direct sunlight throughout the day, whereas, if you have a south or west facing kitchen, it will be naturally bright throughout the day, meaning you should only need lights on an evening. If you know your space doesn’t have a lot of natural light, this can also help you plan the colours of your walls, cabinets, flooring and worktops before choosing artificial lights, as high-gloss finishes and lighter shades will help to reflect light around, making a space appear brighter.

Bringing Autumn to the kitchen; Painted Pumpkins

Posted on by Greg Murch

Bringing Autumn to the kitchen; Painted Pumpkins

YOU WILL NEED:

  • A selection of pumpkins in different shapes and sizes, depending on your plan. These can be bought from most local supermarkets or greengrocers.
  • Acrylic paints in your chosen colours. These can be found in most craft sections.
  • A selection of small to medium paintbrushes and small sponges.
  • A glass, cup or plastic cup for each pumpkin (disposable cups are great for this as they will most likely get paint on them)
  • A plate or paper plate to act as a paint palette
  • A craft sealant (optional). Available from most craft stores.

BRINGING AUTUMN TO YOUR KITCHEN DOESN’T NEED TO MEAN GARISH ORANGE PUMPKINS AND GARLANDS OF RUSTY LEAVES- IF YOU’RE FEELING CREATIVE, CHECK OUT OUR PAINTED PUMPKINS CRAFT IDEA AND CREATE YOUR OWN ELEGANT DECORATIONS TO SUIT YOUR KITCHEN STYLE.

Notes

Painted pumpkins are a great way to bring a touch of the season to your home decor, without the effort of carving or the expense of buying extravagant autumnal pieces. They can be arranged on your work surfaces, can create an eye-catching window display, or can make a seasonal centrepiece for your dining table.

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1

First, clean your pumpkins with a damp cloth, paper towel or baby wipe, making sure to take away any dirt but not to damage the pumpkin skin.
Take care not to get the pumpkin stem wet as this can cause it to rot.

Dry thoroughly.

Step 2

The next step is to apply a sealant (optional) to the surface of the pumpkin. This can help your chosen coloured paint to adhere to the pumpkin.
Once sealed, allow this to dry thoroughly before applying your paint.

Step 3

Assign your colours and pattern plans to each pumpkin, then choose which brushes/sponges will be best for the size of your pumpkin.

Place each pumpkin on a flat surface, on top of an upside-down cup. This will mean you don’t have to try to paint whilst holding the pumpkin and risk ruining your masterpiece! This should allow you to paint as much of the bottom of the pumpkin as is required, but if not, wait until the top of your pumpkin is dry, then flip your cup and place the pumpkin on it upside-down to paint what you missed.

To hide unnatural brush strokes once painted, dab the surface of the pumpkin lightly with a sponge to create a textured effect.

Depending on the thickness of your acrylic paint, and the colour you have chosen, each pumpkin may need a couple of coats. Also, take care to paint the grooves of the pumpkin to make sure no orange is showing and to help keep the natural shape.

Allow each coat to dry before painting the next.

Tip: To create polka dots as we have, use a cotton bud or the end of your paint brush.

Step 4

Once your pumpkins have completely dried, apply a light layer of sealant over your painted areas. This should help to prevent your decorations getting scratched easily and will help to make your pumpkin look fresh for longer.

Step 5

Once dry, it’s time to find a place for your pumpkins. Arrange on a worktop, show them off to the neighbours in an Autumn window display, or create a rustic table centrepiece for your Halloween gatherings. Whatever you choose to do, the pumpkins will bring a season flair to your space.

Colours of the Year 2023

Posted on by Greg Murch

Colours of the year 2023

 

As we start the new year we start to get an idea of what the trending colours will be. Let’s take a closer look at the colours that have been released so far;

 

Benjamin Moore has gone with, in their own words, “A vivacious shade of coral tinged with pink, Raspberry Blush enlivens the senses with an electric optimism.” 

We could all do with some optimism right now and this colour doesn’t disappoint, it creates a warm inviting feeling and when used on panelling really gives depth and shadow to the bright colour.

Colours of 2023 - raspberry blushColours of 2023 – raspberry blush

Pantone sticking with a similar tone, “is a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying, and a boundaryless shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement.” Whilst being a bold colour this shouldn’t put you off, being brave with colour can achieve a unique and inviting setting. Giving dimension to a room that changes throughout the changing light of day into night.

Colours of 2023 - Viva Magenta
Colours of 2023 – Viva Magenta

 

Earthborn A richly toned burgundy, this dramatic, colour is highly versatile. Use this as a feature wall paired with a warm off white colour or as a dramatic cosy colour for the dining room.

Colours of 2023 - Earthborn
Colours of 2023 – Earthborn

 

As a complete contrast to the other brands Dulux have gone for Wild Wonder and much like Pantone they have been inspired by the natural world and created a soft tone that’s both warm and soothing.

Colours of 2023 - Dulux Wild wonder
Colours of 2023 – Wild wonder

For beautifully designed kitchen spaces, talk to the team at William Cope Interior Design

Showroom Address: 857 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6AT