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Houzz Tour: Soothing Pastels and a Clever Layout in a Dorset Home
This renovation is a masterclass in how a designer and homeowner working together can create the perfect space
Clever layout planning can make all the difference in a home. This property in Dorset is a case in point: the original design didn’t offer the storage and flow the homeowners, Sarah and Nick Peasant, wanted. “In our last house, we didn’t have much storage, so I wanted to make sure we had loads to avoid clutter,” Sarah says.
She asked designer Jane McCarthy of Salt Haven to help focus her ideas and fit everything in, and Jane’s clever solutions have created a much more livable home.
She asked designer Jane McCarthy of Salt Haven to help focus her ideas and fit everything in, and Jane’s clever solutions have created a much more livable home.
Jane’s modified ground floor plans show a modest utility room and a row of roomy cupboards in the kitchen.
“The plans originally cut into the kitchen to add a coats cupboard and we felt we were losing space,” Sarah says. “Jane helped us maximise the kitchen, then suggested we make our utility room smaller but more efficient and add a coats cupboard under the stairs.”
Jane had originally suggested a banquette for the dining table (shown on this plan), but in the end it worked better to have the table turned 90 degrees.
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“The plans originally cut into the kitchen to add a coats cupboard and we felt we were losing space,” Sarah says. “Jane helped us maximise the kitchen, then suggested we make our utility room smaller but more efficient and add a coats cupboard under the stairs.”
Jane had originally suggested a banquette for the dining table (shown on this plan), but in the end it worked better to have the table turned 90 degrees.
Find reviewed architects and interior designers in your area on Houzz.
Elegant muted pinks are a thread running through the house and Sarah was clear she wanted a pink kitchen. “Sarah loves pink – she wears it all the time – so it was about helping to articulate how that could look from an interiors perspective,” Jane says.
She designed a Shaker-style kitchen, which was handmade by a local company then painted in Sarah’s choice of pale pink.
The worktop and splashback are made of light-boosting Carrara quartz – as is the elegant shelf. “The [supplier] had an offcut – I’m so pleased with that,” Sarah says.
The cabinet handles form part of another thread Jane has run throughout – subtle stripes. “Sarah loved the shell handles, that pleated detail, which we then brought in with the sink as well,” she says. “I did a mood board at the beginning to set some consistent themes throughout the house without it looking contrived. So the ‘stripe’ of the fluting was brought in elsewhere with some panelling and striped materials.”
The reeded glass cabinet also quietly adds to the theme.
Kitchen, Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch; painted in Pink Ground, Farrow & Ball. Carrara quartz worktop, splashback and shelf, Cotswold Marble & Granite. Walls painted in Slaked Lime, Little Greene. Cupboard handles, Armac Martin. Boiling-water tap, Fohen.
She designed a Shaker-style kitchen, which was handmade by a local company then painted in Sarah’s choice of pale pink.
The worktop and splashback are made of light-boosting Carrara quartz – as is the elegant shelf. “The [supplier] had an offcut – I’m so pleased with that,” Sarah says.
The cabinet handles form part of another thread Jane has run throughout – subtle stripes. “Sarah loved the shell handles, that pleated detail, which we then brought in with the sink as well,” she says. “I did a mood board at the beginning to set some consistent themes throughout the house without it looking contrived. So the ‘stripe’ of the fluting was brought in elsewhere with some panelling and striped materials.”
The reeded glass cabinet also quietly adds to the theme.
Kitchen, Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch; painted in Pink Ground, Farrow & Ball. Carrara quartz worktop, splashback and shelf, Cotswold Marble & Granite. Walls painted in Slaked Lime, Little Greene. Cupboard handles, Armac Martin. Boiling-water tap, Fohen.
Opposite the sink are the three floor-to-ceiling, double-door cabinets that Jane added in her reworked layout.
The left-hand cupboard, nearest the snug, is a hot and cold drinks station. “The middle one is full of kids’ crafts, all that sort of stuff, then the end one is more of a larder – dried food stuffs and extra storage,” Sarah says. “The two end cupboards have three big drawers in each, so they just store everything, which is why we could get away with not having wall cabinets and have the shelf instead.”
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Panelling in the adjoining dining area brings in those subtle stripes. “We decided to go horizontal, as it’s a really tall wall, so a vertical board would almost make it feel too high,” Jane says. “It still brings in linear texture, but in a different way.”
The flooring is engineered oak. ”I’ve included lots of natural wood for a connection to nature; that was quite important to both me and Sarah,” Jane says.
The artwork – a bird’s-eye view of the sea – is by a local artist. “It was perfect in terms of that colour and bringing in the elements that spoke to Sarah,” she says.
Artwork, Lucy Young Art. Chairs, Ercol. Goodrich Feather engineered oak flooring, Woodpecker.
The flooring is engineered oak. ”I’ve included lots of natural wood for a connection to nature; that was quite important to both me and Sarah,” Jane says.
The artwork – a bird’s-eye view of the sea – is by a local artist. “It was perfect in terms of that colour and bringing in the elements that spoke to Sarah,” she says.
Artwork, Lucy Young Art. Chairs, Ercol. Goodrich Feather engineered oak flooring, Woodpecker.
“Sarah really wanted space to sit at the island for homework, brunch and so on, and it’s very much a social space,” Jane says.
“The children like to sit at the island all the time – it’s genuinely the heart of the home,” Sarah agrees. “My son builds ridiculous Brio train tracks in the snug area and all around and my daughters are up at the island, getting involved with the cooking. Because the space is so open and everything is so easily accessible, they just get involved, which is lovely.”
Jane planned in layers of lighting. “I always go for that layered approach, so I included over-island pendants; spotlights for when you do need the space to be more illuminated; wall lights, which add that softer, less of a kitchen feel, and LED lighting on sensors in the tall cabinets,” she says.
She chose elongated wall lights for the high wall in the dining area. “We talked quite a lot about the position for those, making sure they didn’t feel lost,” she says.
“The children like to sit at the island all the time – it’s genuinely the heart of the home,” Sarah agrees. “My son builds ridiculous Brio train tracks in the snug area and all around and my daughters are up at the island, getting involved with the cooking. Because the space is so open and everything is so easily accessible, they just get involved, which is lovely.”
Jane planned in layers of lighting. “I always go for that layered approach, so I included over-island pendants; spotlights for when you do need the space to be more illuminated; wall lights, which add that softer, less of a kitchen feel, and LED lighting on sensors in the tall cabinets,” she says.
She chose elongated wall lights for the high wall in the dining area. “We talked quite a lot about the position for those, making sure they didn’t feel lost,” she says.
At the other end of the dining area there’s a snug. “I designed the layout to make sure it felt proportionate,” Jane says. “It’s quite a generous space, but I wanted it still to feel quite intimate.”
“Jane helped us to zone the kitchen-diner-snug so it feels as if you have your space, but you’re all together, which I love,” Sarah says. “My instinct would have been to put the sofa against the wall, but actually it makes complete sense where it is, to create the snug. It all works so well.”
Frame TV, Samsung.
More: How to Design an Open-plan Kitchen Layout
“Jane helped us to zone the kitchen-diner-snug so it feels as if you have your space, but you’re all together, which I love,” Sarah says. “My instinct would have been to put the sofa against the wall, but actually it makes complete sense where it is, to create the snug. It all works so well.”
Frame TV, Samsung.
More: How to Design an Open-plan Kitchen Layout
The utility room was originally bigger, but Jane felt some of the space would be better used for coat storage. It sat at the back of the house before the extension, so not only has it lost space, it’s lost natural light. However…
…Jane and Sarah have fitted so much into the new room, including a double sink; an integrated washing machine and tumble dryer; a cupboard under the sink; three wall units and a tall cupboard for the ironing board; a three-tier, wall-hung airer opposite, and a dehumidifier. “It’s a small room, but it’s really efficient,” Sarah says. And as it’s not a space in which she lingers, she doesn’t miss the natural light.
Sarah has continued with the pastel shades and chosen a baby blue for the units in here. “It’s nice when you go into the house and see the pink of the kitchen on the left and the blue of the utility room on the right,” she says.
Cabinets in Cornflower Blue, DIY Kitchens.
Sarah has continued with the pastel shades and chosen a baby blue for the units in here. “It’s nice when you go into the house and see the pink of the kitchen on the left and the blue of the utility room on the right,” she says.
Cabinets in Cornflower Blue, DIY Kitchens.
There was a generous main bedroom and Nick and Sarah wanted to carve out an en suite and dressing area, but the original plans had the en suite in this spot and the bedroom was left with a tiny window.
As you can see from the plans (below), Jane fitted an en suite alongside the bedroom, leaving a cosy area next to the main window for the sleeping area.
“We looked at several layout options, with a sliding scale of structural implications, and they chose something that worked within the confines of the existing space – just requiring studwork – which kept the costs down but still gave them everything they wanted,” Jane says.
“Sarah also wanted pink in the bedroom, but for it to have its own identity, so it’s a slightly deeper shade [than in the kitchen],” she continues. “The panelling allowed us to incorporate that without having to have the whole room in pink. Also, along with the radiator, it brings in that subtle repetition of the ‘stripes’ texture, too.”
Bedspread, Soak & Sleep.
Panelling painted in Light Peachblossom; walls painted in Clockface, both Little Greene. Henley carpet in Cockle Shell, Furlong Flooring.
As you can see from the plans (below), Jane fitted an en suite alongside the bedroom, leaving a cosy area next to the main window for the sleeping area.
“We looked at several layout options, with a sliding scale of structural implications, and they chose something that worked within the confines of the existing space – just requiring studwork – which kept the costs down but still gave them everything they wanted,” Jane says.
“Sarah also wanted pink in the bedroom, but for it to have its own identity, so it’s a slightly deeper shade [than in the kitchen],” she continues. “The panelling allowed us to incorporate that without having to have the whole room in pink. Also, along with the radiator, it brings in that subtle repetition of the ‘stripes’ texture, too.”
Bedspread, Soak & Sleep.
Panelling painted in Light Peachblossom; walls painted in Clockface, both Little Greene. Henley carpet in Cockle Shell, Furlong Flooring.
Jane’s redesign of the bedroom gave the bed it’s own nook and allowed for a wall of wardrobes.
“The architect had suggested having a separate dressing room, but that was compromising the main sleeping space – it felt oppressive,” Jane says. “So now the wardrobes have their own section. It’s not a dressing room, but I suggested they’d get more storage this way.”
“The architect had suggested having a separate dressing room, but that was compromising the main sleeping space – it felt oppressive,” Jane says. “So now the wardrobes have their own section. It’s not a dressing room, but I suggested they’d get more storage this way.”
The wardrobes have a built-in feel, but they’re actually Ikea wardrobes integrated by a joiner and painted to match the panelled headboard.
The en suite didn’t have any natural light, but Jane suggested a sun tunnel, which has made a huge difference.
“The en suite is a triumph; I can’t believe it,” Sarah says. “When it was first put in, it looked like a shipping container, but the sun tunnel transformed it.”
Jane gave Sarah a list of products that would work in the space. “That’s one area where I felt really overwhelmed,” Sarah says. “When you come to design a bathroom, you have to think about cisterns and so on and I had no idea.”
“The en suite is a triumph; I can’t believe it,” Sarah says. “When it was first put in, it looked like a shipping container, but the sun tunnel transformed it.”
Jane gave Sarah a list of products that would work in the space. “That’s one area where I felt really overwhelmed,” Sarah says. “When you come to design a bathroom, you have to think about cisterns and so on and I had no idea.”
The white, vertically stacked tiles bring in that subtle stripe pattern. “I wanted the tiles to be gloss, as the light is coming from above and they helps to bounce the light around and [make the room] feel luminous. A matt tile wouldn’t have had the same effect,” Jane says. The penny tiles on the floor have subtle colour changes, which adds texture.
The double vanity unit is off the shelf, but then painted in a dark pink that tones with the bedroom panelling.
Jane always advises clients to choose everything up front. “It’s amazing how early you need to make decisions,” she says. “For example, the shower niche position and how that was going to sit with the pattern of the tiles, because you ideally don’t want to have to cut the tiles on either side – something you might not notice but probably would if the tiles were sliced through. That’s one small decision in a sea of decisions.”
The collaboration between homeowner and designer has clearly been a triumph, but what does Sarah think? “We absolutely love it,” she says. “We’ll be here for a long time.”
Vanity unit, Parker Howley & Co; painted in Sulking Room Pink, Farrow & Ball. Walls painted in Slaked Lime, Little Greene.
Tell us…
What do you think of Jane’s redesigned layout? Share your thoughts in the Comments?
The double vanity unit is off the shelf, but then painted in a dark pink that tones with the bedroom panelling.
Jane always advises clients to choose everything up front. “It’s amazing how early you need to make decisions,” she says. “For example, the shower niche position and how that was going to sit with the pattern of the tiles, because you ideally don’t want to have to cut the tiles on either side – something you might not notice but probably would if the tiles were sliced through. That’s one small decision in a sea of decisions.”
The collaboration between homeowner and designer has clearly been a triumph, but what does Sarah think? “We absolutely love it,” she says. “We’ll be here for a long time.”
Vanity unit, Parker Howley & Co; painted in Sulking Room Pink, Farrow & Ball. Walls painted in Slaked Lime, Little Greene.
Tell us…
What do you think of Jane’s redesigned layout? Share your thoughts in the Comments?
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Who lives here? Sarah Peasant of Our Home in Dorset, her husband, Nick, and their three children
Location West Dorset
Property A 1980s detached house
Size Four bedrooms and three bathrooms
Designer Jane McCarthy of Salt Haven
Project year 2022
Photos by Sarah Peasant of SLP Photography
Sarah and Nick wanted a home that was relaxed, felt welcoming, and could be enjoyed by family and friends. “Somewhere that really felt like them,” Jane says.
“I always start with, what does someone’s sanctuary feel like to them and how can we create that in their home,” she continues. ”I see my job as helping a client to know what that is. They know inside, but there’s so much inspiration out there, and it’s trying to tease out what it is that really speaks to them.”
The couple worked with an architect to extend the property, but the suggested layout wasn’t quite right for them. Jane could see there were some areas where there was more opportunity for better flow.
“Often, people think only of the aesthetic with interior designers and, of course, that comes into it, but the flow and feel of the space are key, too,” Jane says. “It can be as beautiful aesthetically as you like, but if it doesn’t flow and feel good to be in, it doesn’t quite work.”
More: Surprising Ways an Interior Designer Could Help You