Understairs storage ideas for old house
Hi all,
We are currently in the process of renovating our old house and are wanting to make a better use of the understairs area which is a part of our entrance hallway (although we're intending the room to be used more of a 'snug' as we've taking out the wall to combine with the kitchen diner). Photos included of pre-renovation and current (during renovation).
The reason the current single cupboard door is not sufficient is that it's not full height and so things are either dumped straight in front of the current door, or just not put in the cupboard at all and are instead left on the floor of the room. As such, having something else accessible from the outside where the current white boarding is would be great (we're having to remove this to strengthen the stairs anyway).
All the ideas we can find online are really crisp, new-style drawer units which wouldn't match the old farmhouse style we're going for so I wanted to come on here and ask if anyone has any ideas?
Our final renovation design is to be gray flagstone effect flooring in the room, white 'slightly imperfect' skimmed walls, and matt black beams. Current wood doors and stairs are planned to be kept as they are, but the current understairs door could be changed if needed.
Many thanks in advance for any thoughts!
Thanks,
Victoria
Comments (21)
PRO9 months agoRelated Discussions
space organization ..... i need some idea
Comments (7)I agree with maikola, turn under the stairs into storage. Maybe combine with a little desk for when the kids are older. I'd swap your dining and living area around. Have the tv on the long left wall with a small sofa a couple of feet in front of the doors and one opposite the tv. It does look as if a 5ft table would fit in the kitchen though? If you don't want to fill too much of the kitchen space consider a bench one side for you to use with chairs for the kids on the other. The area outside the kitchen could then be for the kids to play...See MoreUpcycle mental block! Can see potential. Help please?
Comments (7)Dear Éilíse Sullivan, the mahogany wardrobe looks like a great project! The image is too small for me to see the details of it; it looks like has glass/metal door at the top part and design details on the draws. If you send me a better quality image and with the door closed I can visualised it for you in any other colour you like if it helps. Replacing part of the furniture (glass) with solid panels covered in wall paper or fabric, using decoupage for the inside of the drawers or muted colours on the outside and brights on the inside ... are all possibility depending in which room you want to place it and what you are going to use it for. Are you going to do it for yourself, just for fun or to sell/present? I would paint the back panel in a darker colour, also the inside of the wardrobe part and all the horizontal and vertical straight lines to frame the different units: draws, 'open shelf' cabinet at the top and door. I would go for wall paper on the inside of the draws, something sympathetic with the darker tone on the back panel ... the handle can stay or be replaced (I need a closer look); they can really give a wist to the furniture if changed. For the choice of colours ... it really depend on where it goes and what you want to do with it. The room's images you posted are quite different in style. You could try to 'blend' the piece in to the room's design scheme by choosing complementary colours or go the opposite and bring in a bold statement. I like bold statements! I found this link with fab images that may help you see how a furniture with more details then a plain one will looks once painted: http://www.pippajamesoninteriors.co.uk/2011/design-post/a-guide-to-shabby-chic-furniture-painting/ Also have a look at this company https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jay-Co/100811059987662?sk=timeline it may inspire you to take a different direction! Have fun and please post an 'after' pic when done, really curios to see the final result! Elena Jackson - Interior & Design...See MorePlease help me to update my old antique pine kitchen
Comments (10)I agree, I think the kitchen units are quite charming. The tiles date it, the top of the dresser and the piece over the window. Agree, would paint the ceiling a soft chalky white. I know they're becoming a little overdone but metro tiles would suit but handmade ones in a soft white unless you just remove the tiles altogether and have a splashback by the oven. Can you afford to update the floor? The dresser offers good storage space, have you considered either just removing the top half or updating the top so changing the architrave and glass panes? The fire itself looks lovely, do you need the heater in front? I also like the brick but the recesses are dating it. I definitely wouldn't paint the brick, if you were to do anything I think it would need plastering over to cover the niches unless you are able to match the brick. Do you have a better pic of the firep? If you are set on painting the kitchen units, I would look at the really dark greys and inky Blues for the base units, as I think they'd suit the style well, with brass cup handles with a very pale grey for ŵall units. Or if you want the same colour units, look at a mid tone grey....See Moreneed help with flow of old house
Comments (0)Hello Would anyone have experience with a similar property to ours and share their solution/knowledge? Issue We have a small Victorian cottage gable-onto-driveway with L-shaped garden. The hall door, porch is three-quarters of the way down the property. Our modest accommodation 3 bedrooms (at gable) (the double b/room currently doubles up as a playroom), sitting room, (internal/no windows) bathroom and then scullery kitchen and off that a side return ('internal' courtyard which we have nice storage outbuilding and in is also where we also grow vegetables, fruit etc. Our idea We would like to bring the porch to the 'front' of the cottage. We want build a hall cottage entrance replicated but flush with corridor-hall. The bedrooms would then have new entrance doors through old gable wall into new hall. The hall door will be centre of the new hall, build a bathroom to one side (external window, proper ventilation). This new hallway would wrap around to the left of the property into a 30sqm room with french doors facing front and french doors at other end of that room (onto leftover section of garden) and this room would have a small en suite. This room would connect by french doors (subsume the current windows into the sitting room). The internal bathroom can be (happily!) demolished and space used to double the size of kitchen and connect by barn door/sliding solid door to playroom/dining room. We think this build would provide adequate living space for our small family and a flow to the house with spaces that can join up and close off, such flow which it currently lacks. Any advice / issues with hallway (integral porch, hall door) at gable with wraparound to garden room?...See More
9 months agoSomething like this? What age is the house? I assume it’s not listed? It looks like you have another cupboard, could that not be a full height cupboard?
Not what you asked but i think I saw another post earlier where the beams are still unpainted wood, maybe consider painting these in a pale taupe as it would really lighten the space up but still keep it’s charm
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Victoria MOriginal Author