From laundry and cleaning equipment to clever storage and practical worktops, thoughtful design can transform one of the hardest-working rooms in your home. Utility rooms don’t always get the attention they deserve. They’re often among the smallest rooms in the house, yet we expect them to accommodate an extraordinary amount. Washing machines, tumble dryers, ironing…
From muddy boots and coats to bags, shoes and everyday clutter, a well designed boot room can make life a touch easier. Every home has one. That spot where shoes pile up, coats get thrown over chairs and bags seem to collect by the door. For some, it’s the hallway. For others, the back entrance…
One thing you quickly realise walking around the Second Nature showroom is just how much choice there is. Doors, colours, worktops, handles, storage, appliances, finishes… and that’s before you start thinking about the rest of the room. Choice is a good thing. But too much of it can also make planning a new kitchen feel…
There’s no substitute for seeing products properly. So I recently spent a day at PWS in Newton Aycliffe, catching up with Sales Manager Ben Jones, exploring the latest Second Nature collections and getting behind the scenes to see how some of the kitchens we supply are actually made. For me, good kitchen design starts with…
The nights are drawing in, Christmas suddenly doesn’t seem that far away and we’re all starting to spend a bit more time at home. And that’s often when you start looking around the kitchen and thinking: we really should do something about this. If you’re hoping for a new kitchen in time for Christmas, now…
Two of the most useful kitchen layouts — but one badly placed corner, an awkward appliance door or an unnecessary run of cupboards can make all the difference. By Ewan PalmerQualified Interior Designer & Founder, Palmer & Palmer L-shaped and U-shaped kitchens are two of the layouts I design most often. They’re also sometimes treated…
By Ewan Palmer Qualified Interior Designer & Founder, Palmer & Palmer Start with the room When people start planning a new kitchen, the first instinct is usually to start looking at kitchens. Shaker or contemporary? Painted or timber? Light or dark? I tend to start somewhere else. Before we talk about doors, colours or worktops,…
By Ewan Palmer Qualified Interior Designer & Founder, Palmer & Palmer A kitchen is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your home There’s no shortage of places to buy a kitchen these days. Walk into a showroom or browse online and you’ll find hundreds of styles, attractive finance packages and offers that can…
By Ewan Palmer Qualified Interior Designer & Founder, Palmer & Palmer What an interior designer brings to your project If there’s one thing I’d like people to understand before they start planning a new kitchen, it’s this… There’s a big difference between selling kitchens and designing interiors. That’s why I chose to study interior design….