The Brief
For this Dulwich based project, the previous interior was very tired and had not been modernised for over twenty years. The house had been extended several times with little attention being paid to the internal distribution. For instance, the original corridor ended up in the middle of the home without any function, with living rooms of one form or another everywhere. The client has a very large family that meet up frequently in her home. Yet the dining room was located in one of the most space restricted areas of the house. The focus at this stage was exclusively the ground floor. The client liked contemporary styles such as those of Kelly Hoppen, yet she wanted a scheme that would be far richer in colour. Our challenge was to introduce colour and still retain that feeling of elegance. Utilities were also very dated so the home needed to be equipped with new lighting and sound system, and with a water underfloor heating system throughout.
Planning Process
The first stage was to completely re-configure the layout of the ground floor. Rooms were moved around. Each space was given a specific function. With this, a greater traffic flow was created within the property. A wall was removed to create a larger kitchen family area and new wider doors were installed to reinforce the connection with a well appointed garden. The house now feels like a grand home rather than small individual units that didn’t relate to each others. As a result of this exercise and the carefully and strategically chosen finishes that we proposed, the property has doubled in price in over a year against the backdrop of a property market that has peaked (according to data from market experts Zoopla)
How it went
It was an absolute joy working for this client. She is an extremely busy lady and therefore very appreciative of only having to think about the project at key stages where everything was presented to her via mood boards, 3D drawings and sample boards. The 3D sketches were instrumental in helping her visualise our proposal before making any decision. We contracted our trusted builders for this project. Not only ourselves but the client was extremely happy with them. All the suppliers had good things to say about them, including the kitchen and fireplace supplier and fitters. Even the curtain maker was surprised at how helpful and caring the builders on site were! I think we all know that this is not what we come to expect from the majority of builders!
Issues / problems overcome during the project?
A couple of areas had to have perfect measurements before the next item had to come and be installed. I find these the most stressful part of every project. The recess ceiling with cove lighting not only had to have the same measurements as the custom made dining table but it also had to have the exact location before the table arrived. The initial survey suggested we had plenty of space in the ceiling space. However, when the ceiling came down there was a beam to one side that could not be touch without incurred large additional and non budgeted cost. At a very short notice, we had to modify the measurements and supply new drawings. The final result is flawless. Nothing looks like it has been compromised.
Client Testimonial
Appointing and choosing an interior designer was overwhelming at first. However, I could not have been happier to have chosen Tailored Living Interiors for my project. Gloria listened to what I needed and brought many fresh new ideas to the table. She provided regular updates on each step of the design process and had complete vision of the final project at all times. This vision combined with her communication & co-ordination skill helped the project run smoothly without any glitches. The results have been amazing. I now have a luxurious home that has doubled in value since work was completed. The service that TL provided was second to none. As a result I would not hesitate to recommend the very professional and bespoke service that Tailored Living offers to others.
