Renovating
This Designer Trick Could Make Your Home More Beautiful
Take a look at these ideas for incorporating gorgeous views and harmonious connections within a home
When you’re designing your home, it’s tempting to focus on each room as a separate entity, but, for pros, there’s more to the process than that. The key to a stylish, cohesive property is also to think about how each space looks from afar.
Could you perhaps enjoy a gorgeous view of another room while sitting on your sofa? Or might you be able to create an uplifting vista to welcome you from the front door? Read on to find out how professionals on Houzz have added attractive sightlines into homes they’ve designed.
Could you perhaps enjoy a gorgeous view of another room while sitting on your sofa? Or might you be able to create an uplifting vista to welcome you from the front door? Read on to find out how professionals on Houzz have added attractive sightlines into homes they’ve designed.
Leave a clear space
When Simon Heckford of Oasys Property Solutions designed the kitchen in this home, he decided to leave the original back doors in place rather than fit glazing along the whole wall. That meant he could locate a peninsula in the central area for storage, leaving the left-hand wall free of cabinetry.
This thoughtful decision has allowed for a pleasing, uninterrupted view from the dining room sofa and the base of the stairs through to the back garden. A wider door opening to the one that was previously there enhances that view even more.
Tour more of this Georgian house, tailored to fit its owners.
Ready to renovate? Find a builder in your area and read reviews from previous clients.
When Simon Heckford of Oasys Property Solutions designed the kitchen in this home, he decided to leave the original back doors in place rather than fit glazing along the whole wall. That meant he could locate a peninsula in the central area for storage, leaving the left-hand wall free of cabinetry.
This thoughtful decision has allowed for a pleasing, uninterrupted view from the dining room sofa and the base of the stairs through to the back garden. A wider door opening to the one that was previously there enhances that view even more.
Tour more of this Georgian house, tailored to fit its owners.
Ready to renovate? Find a builder in your area and read reviews from previous clients.
Bring the outside all the way in
Central to the design of this Victorian home was the view from most of its rooms into a special place in the middle of the property. To achieve this, Katherine Marshall of Fraher & Findlay borrowed an idea from Japanese design – the ‘tsubo’ or internal courtyard.
The floor of this secluded outdoor area is located on the basement level, so the verdant space can be enjoyed from the lower-ground floor kitchen, as well as the basement room (seen opposite) and the ground floor living area with Juliet balcony, visible at the rear of this picture.
See how this ingenious courtyard lightened up an extension on a Victorian house.
Central to the design of this Victorian home was the view from most of its rooms into a special place in the middle of the property. To achieve this, Katherine Marshall of Fraher & Findlay borrowed an idea from Japanese design – the ‘tsubo’ or internal courtyard.
The floor of this secluded outdoor area is located on the basement level, so the verdant space can be enjoyed from the lower-ground floor kitchen, as well as the basement room (seen opposite) and the ground floor living area with Juliet balcony, visible at the rear of this picture.
See how this ingenious courtyard lightened up an extension on a Victorian house.
Point the way
The view from the front door of this home is of the dusky pink dining room and a steel-framed window that looks out to the back garden. To lead the visitor’s eye towards the dining space door, Amit Malhotra of Aflux Designs and his client, Lucy, were strategic with the flooring.
The engineered oak herringbone goes all the way through the ground floor, and the pattern in this area was deliberately planned to form a pathway from the front door to the dining room. The arrow design encourages the eye to gaze ahead and take in the view of the space beyond.
See the rest of this Victorian home with a stunning open-plan extension.
The view from the front door of this home is of the dusky pink dining room and a steel-framed window that looks out to the back garden. To lead the visitor’s eye towards the dining space door, Amit Malhotra of Aflux Designs and his client, Lucy, were strategic with the flooring.
The engineered oak herringbone goes all the way through the ground floor, and the pattern in this area was deliberately planned to form a pathway from the front door to the dining room. The arrow design encourages the eye to gaze ahead and take in the view of the space beyond.
See the rest of this Victorian home with a stunning open-plan extension.
Be clever with colour
When Amy Shirlaw of Amy Shirlaw Interiors designed her kitchen, she wanted it to appear as a ‘jewel box’ from the adjoining living room. To achieve the tantalising view, she used a few clever design tricks.
An architrave painted in the same pink as the kitchen ceiling forms a ‘picture frame’ around the room, and the golden wallpaper adds a twinkly effect to gaze at from the sofa. Amy also chose the cabinetry paint carefully, going for a colour that tones with the living room walls without being an exact match. The blue and pink shades give the two spaces a harmonious connection, while the terrazzo-print vinyl floor provides an interesting contrast.
See how this tiny galley kitchen gained glamour on a budget.
When Amy Shirlaw of Amy Shirlaw Interiors designed her kitchen, she wanted it to appear as a ‘jewel box’ from the adjoining living room. To achieve the tantalising view, she used a few clever design tricks.
An architrave painted in the same pink as the kitchen ceiling forms a ‘picture frame’ around the room, and the golden wallpaper adds a twinkly effect to gaze at from the sofa. Amy also chose the cabinetry paint carefully, going for a colour that tones with the living room walls without being an exact match. The blue and pink shades give the two spaces a harmonious connection, while the terrazzo-print vinyl floor provides an interesting contrast.
See how this tiny galley kitchen gained glamour on a budget.
Incorporate an internal window
We’re often drawn to a window for a glimpse of an outdoor view, so why not add a similar glazed panel to highlight a view inside your home? That’s what Australian architect Jack Chen of Tsai Design did in this Melbourne home.
A skylight over the central staircase has turned the space into a stunning lightwell with an outdoors feel, so it made sense to allow it to be seen from other areas of the property. This large picture window, placed directly behind a bench seat, creates a gorgeous view from the dining table.
Take a look around this finely tuned apartment above a violin shop.
We’re often drawn to a window for a glimpse of an outdoor view, so why not add a similar glazed panel to highlight a view inside your home? That’s what Australian architect Jack Chen of Tsai Design did in this Melbourne home.
A skylight over the central staircase has turned the space into a stunning lightwell with an outdoors feel, so it made sense to allow it to be seen from other areas of the property. This large picture window, placed directly behind a bench seat, creates a gorgeous view from the dining table.
Take a look around this finely tuned apartment above a violin shop.
Frame the view
Another brilliantly simple idea from the gorgeous Melbourne apartment mentioned above is this doorway framed by practical shelving.
The wide opening allows a view of the elegant kitchen, but it’s the timber shelves that turn it into something special. The straight lines of the shelving provide a framework for the scene and the objects displayed add character.
Tell us…
Which of these ideas might work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Another brilliantly simple idea from the gorgeous Melbourne apartment mentioned above is this doorway framed by practical shelving.
The wide opening allows a view of the elegant kitchen, but it’s the timber shelves that turn it into something special. The straight lines of the shelving provide a framework for the scene and the objects displayed add character.
Tell us…
Which of these ideas might work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The front door of this flat, designed by Sasha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors, enters straight into a large, open kitchen-living area. To add more interest as the owner walks in, however, Sacha laid a vintage rug as a pathway to the creative work space at the rear.
The warm pattern on the rug is cosy and inviting, and leads the eye to the snug back room with its comfortable sofa. It softens the space and the inviting view makes the vast room feel more intimate.
See how this urban flat became a calm, cosy home.