Guildford Living Apr - May 2024

In terms of the build, can you tell us
what you’ve done?
The living area occupies what was once
the dining room, and the dining room was
the teeny tiny kitchen. We prioritised a
larger living space over a big dining area -
I think many of us have moved away from
the formal dining space, instead opting
to have something move convivial. We
have a large breakfast bar in the kitchen,
which is in the new extension, so there are
options for dining, and it made sense to
just keep the space flowing.
What flooring was here before and why
have you chosen the finish you have?
This space has been transformed by the
flooring, which was an easy-to-lay, fully
DIY process. The flooring runs from the
kitchen all the way through to the living
area. It had to be something that would
work with the underfloor heating, be able
to stand up to the demands of kitchen
life, be easy to clean with two dogs in the
house and still give the space a feeling of
warmth. I wanted to find a clean-looking
tone which didn’t read too grey or too
yellow, so settled on Canadian Nude
Oak from Karndean - it’s a rigid-core
product, so doesn’t need gluing down
and just clicks together using the tongue
and groove system. It can be laid over an
existing floor too.
That stove is amazing - why did you
choose it?
The existing fireplace had a small opening
in it, and it looked like it would lend itself
well to an inset stove. I’m not over-stating it
when I say this stove is one of my favourite
things I’ve ever had in my home. It offers
instant cosiness, and such a beautiful focal
point whether it’s roaring or gently glowing.
That sofa looks incredibly
comfortable…
Oh, my, goodness! It is the most
comfortable sofa I’ve ever sat on - it’s the
Chaise Otto from sofa.com. My partner and
“We prioritised a larger
living space over a big
dining area - we wanted
to have something move
convivial.”
Armchair from hauslife.co.uk
I saw it in our local showroom
and sat on it for nearly half an
hour! We didn’t want to move,
and it immediately transported
us to lazy Sundays in front of the
fire, stretched out on the chaise.
It has feather-wrapped cushions
which make it dreamily squishy,
and the covers are removable for
washing, which is essential with
my penchant for beige alongside
having two dogs…it also means
we can update the look of it in a
few years without replacing the
whole sofa.
Are there any other design
elements you love?
We’ve zoned this space with this
huge rug from Ruggable - it’s
actually machine washable so
can stand up to daily life, spills,
muddy dog paws and more! Then
we have the amazing Lithe Audio
ceiling speakers - one above
the dining table and the other
in the adjoining kitchen space,
connected to one another. It’s
lovely to be able to have music on
whilst cooking, and then keep the
ambient sounds on during dinner.
They look really sleek and the
sound quality is amazing.
Is there anything you’d
change?
I really love this space. It feels
welcoming and cosy, and that
was always the goal. It’s not a
formal seating area, but a place
to retreat from daily life, where
you can really just spill out and
chill. It’s versatile enough to cater
for our needs as they shift.
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