Creating an open plan 3: Designing a kitchen in an open plan

Here is our new shell:

As I progress in my interior designer career, I realise that I love designing kitchen. This might be linked to my background as a French person (being French means a culture around good food and eating) as a scientist (a laboratory is very much like a kitchen) and to the fact that in my childhood the kitchen was the most important room of the house where everything was happening. So I am always delighted when asked to design a new kitchen.

It is always exciting to design a kitchen for a big new opened space. It is time to imagine where and how a kitchen will become this so important place, and be a functional space at the same time. Yes, a kitchen is for social gathering, and need to be functional.

In this case there were many different possibilities for the new kitchen and a challenge to propose the best one (and I love this sort of challenge!!!). The client was quite surprise but understood quickly that the kitchen had to change radically and be re-positioned in what was the un-used office room. The dining area could then be fully used as a dining area and host a big dining table and what was the kitchen would become the place to relax and chill out, with a sofa, a library and a TV.

With this new design this bigger room has now three functions, a cooking place where you can also entertain with no shame, a dining area and a library/snug area. What an improvement!

Many things can be said about designing a kitchen space; to be functional the space has to follow certain rules, including the golden triangle so that you don’t have to walk kilometres while preparing food. We have included an island in this kitchen, to provide a bigger work space and a link to the dining area. The island is also used as a breakfast bar, and provides extra storage.

A good way to define each area in such an open plan space can be by the use of colours, rugs, specific lighting...

Emmanuelle Lemoine

Creating an open plan 2: from idea to doing

 

Of course when it comes to removing internal walls, it just doesn’t happen like this. There are many structural issues to take into consideration, and even though some walls don’t look like being load bearing, they have an important function in keeping the whole structure of the house stable and solid. It is therefore absolutely necessary to seek the advice of a professional and have a structural survey realised to see how to remove the walls.

In this project I called a structural engineer who visited the house and scrutinised and studied how the house was built. At this stage any special structure of the house has to be looked at, including cellars and roof space. The structural engineer did gave us hios report, which was sent to the building and regulation office for their approval and to the chosen builder, who was in close relation to both the structural engineer and the building and regulation office.

After getting all the green lights and approval, the builder was able to order all the necessary material and organise his work on our project.

Of course in such a project there are many things that need full consideration, for example heating and radiators, lighting, windows and door…

The heating: the heating of the new room had to be fully reconsidered as with the removal of a wall a big radiator had to go (a big radiator that was located on the wall). This is when it is important to be able to calculate the right amount of necessary BTUs to heat properly the new room and then decide if you want to have visible radiators or if you would rather go for under floor heating. I must say that I love the under floor heating solution as it frees up all the walls from radiators and it also creates a lovely warmth, and you can even walk bear feet on tiles in winter if you wanted….

In our case the client decided to keep radiators, so we had to calculate the right amount of radiators with the right size, and find a good localisation for them to be included in the finished scheme. As you can see there are many things to be taken into account and can’t be left to chance. Make sure your plumber is up for it!

The electrics: As there is a new space created, a new lighting plan is needed. The kitchen needs an especially good lighting as when cooking or chopping vegetables, you need to see what you are doing! For this project we chose energy saving lighting that provide at the same time a fantastic lighting for a kitchen. We installed LED recessed down lighters positioned in such a way that there wouldn’t be shadows falling in the wrong place. LEDs have improved so much in the last years. They used to be extremely white and bright and only good to light up a garage… It is now possible to find LEDs that produce a warm and comfortable lighting, that doesn’t make you look like a ghost, but which provide a good light. Here again, make sure your electrician knows what he is talking about (I am so lucky to work with an excellent team, including builder, electrician, plumber, decorator…) to avoid any problems later on.

Two pendant lights are also going on top of the island, for atmospheric and task lighting at the same time (not on the photo yet). Plint lights have also been installed, very funky result!

  LED recessed downlighters

New opening: With the artificial lighting we always have to think about how to improve the natural lighting, which is a comfortable and eco-friendly aspect of lighting. In this case we have opened the existing window in the kitchen into a patio door leading directly to the decking area in the back garden. This big new opening gives extra light and a beautiful view to the garden.

Emmanuelle Lemoine

Creating an open plan 1: the idea

 

London houses are not famous for their big sizes, and very often our houses are made of smaller rooms which had their particular function in the past but can now feel rather small, oppressive and difficult to use. The solution to this is the creation of a bigger space by removing some internal walls. As we create a bigger space inside our walls means we are going to use the available space in a different way, and by opening the space, most of the time we gather in one place different functions.

This sort of multifunctional space has many advantages; for example people use less and less a formal dining room, so it all makes sense to have the dining area linked together with the kitchen area, instead of having two different smaller rooms. This is a way to create a new heart of the house, a warm place where the whole family can gather and enjoy each other’s company.

It is to solve this problem that I have been called a few times, and I have decided to share one of these experiences. For the following project I was called to create a bigger kitchen. As you can see on the rendering the house had three small rooms which were used as a kitchen (a small room, isolated at the end of the house that you accessed going down three steps) an un-used office and the third room which was supposed to be the dining room and was more a passage way leading to the kitchen as it was too narrow to host a proper dining table.

Plan of the space before

 

The client called me in to see how to improve the kitchen, with the idea of removing one wall (the wall between the un-used office and the kitchen) and create a bigger space. I explained that it was a very good idea but that removing this wall would create a long and narrow space which would be only half of an improvement. I proposed to remove the two internal walls separating the three rooms and create a frankly bigger space; the idea was very well received by the client who could suddenly see a brand new set of possibilities. I also proposed to raise the flooring in the kitchen so it would unify the whole space.

Proposed opening of the space

Now there are many opportunities to create a fantastic room with a big feeling of space. We'll see next how to do this.

Emmanuelle Lemoine

Stages of a project part 3

In the second part, I have described the design process, and it is now time to show our work to the client so that the client gives us all the necessary feedback to create the best scheme according to the client's needs and tastes.

Second meeting with client

Now we have a first proposition to make to the client a new meeting is needed. This meeting is the occasion for the client to check the design solution we have in mind and give us their feedback. We usually come with two or three design solutions and the client select their favourite one or sometime a mixture of the different solutions. This meeting is very important to us as it is the occasion to rectify and improve the design according to the client’s response.

Sample boards and finished plan and furniture layout

When we have agreed with the client on a design solution, we can go back to the studio and amend the schemes, carry on more sourcing when necessary.

The design schemes are presented on sample boards, with visuals when necessary, along with a file containing all the specifications of the different selected items, without forgetting the budget.

Calling out relevant trade for quotes (I have a list of people that I trust and am happy to work with)

When the design schemes are ready, we can call the different trade people to give us quotes. I have a team of trusted people I am used to work with and who will meet the high standards I expect for all of my projects. I am happy to ask two or three quotes to make sure the client will get the best quote and the best people.

Updating budget

With the selected quotes, it is now possible to refine the budget. This is an important phase for the client to exactly know what is happening and at what cost.

Third meeting with client

With the refines budget and all the sample boards and specification, we meet the client again to check everything is according to the client’s expectation. We can now organise how the work is going to happen. We can book the different trade people in the relevant order (for example and as you already understood, the electrics have to go first!)

Ordering

The planning phase is now finished. You can see that interior design is really about planning ahead every little detail. We order the different items needed for the project, may it be fabrics, wall paper, paint, carpets, rugs…
I order the items for the client (with a trade discount) and send the invoices directly to the client to pay. The process is as transparent as can be; the client gets all the discounts.
When clients are very busy and would rather pay all the invoices in once, we set up a specific bank account where the project money is transferred and from where all the project invoices will be paid. This is a worry free process that can be checked by the client at any time.

Schedule of work and project co-ordination

After the schedule of work has been established, it can be put into action. The different trade are coming to do their job at a specific time. I co-ordinate the project and make sure everything is done according to the plan.
I am always available to go on site to answer questions and make sure that the work is done according to our high standards.
I take all the stress away from the client who just has to wait until it is all finished as I will resolve any arising problem. I always remember in one of my first project installing a new kitchen, being called by the plumber who was needed before the carpenter could do his job (the plumber was the equivalent of the first domino, if it fell, all the following ones would fall as well). On site the plumber told me (he was supposed to start his work two days later) that he couldn’t make it before another 3-4 weeks…. What a disaster! I couldn’t hold the whole project for an extra 4 weeks as my client was waiting to go back into her house). So I had to find a new good plumber in one day… the client wasn’t aware of this and my new plumber arrived on time and did a great job!

Installation

When the electrics (second fix), flooring, decorating and other work are finished, it is time to go to the penultimate stage, the installation. In here I include the curtains fitting. Curtains have to be fitted at the end when there is no more risk of damaging them in any way. And furniture is brought in and installed at their determined position. The different accessories also come into place.

Snagging

This is the last stage of a project, checking that everything is at the exact place, that everything is perfect (that no wall has been scratched during the installation of the furniture etc.). This is a detail phase where every square cm of the property is scrutinized before we can call the client in.

I hope this helps you to understand the design process and how it is to work with an interior designer, and more specifically Emmanuelle Lemoine Interiors. Our aim is to create beautiful interiors for people to enjoy their life in style in a painless process. In another word, we want happy clients only!

Emmanuelle Lemoine

Stages of a project part2

This is the second part of what you can expect when working with ELI.

In the first part, I have described the first client meeting, the taking of the brief and the measured survey. This is a necessary and important stage on which the rest of the project will be based: the design solving.

We are now back in the design studio...

Design analysis

After the brief, I can digest all the given information and
analyse the design problem given by the client in order to solve it in the best
possible way. At this stage I also make any needed research; yes, every project
is different and if you want to address it properly you have to update your
knowledge. (This is also why I like the BIID so much, as the institute is also
behind you to remind you that you have to take a certain number of CPDs every
year! Interior design is a life-time learning process)

Plan drawing and furniture layout

Thanks to the measured survey the scaled plans can be drawn.
In every design solving stage, space planning is an important part, and having
accurate plans is necessary to plan the space efficiently.
With the plan we can also draw what we call a furniture
layout. It is a plan on which we indicate where the furniture goes. The
furniture is drawn to scale as well. This flat representation allows checking
the traffic flow and will be used later as a shopping list.

Lighting plans

This is a good occasion to mention my love for lightings. A
fantastic design scheme will only appear average if the lighting is not good,
whereas an average scheme will appear fantastic when the lighting is right. Too
often, lighting is forgotten or even worst left to the end, when it is too late
to rectify as you certainly don’t want the electrician to come and chase cables
in the walls after the decorator has done his job!

Lighting plans are created according to the furniture
layout. What is the point of creating a lighting plan if you don’t know there
is an art piece to light on a specific wall, or if you don’t know where the
dining table will need to be lit to create this intimate atmosphere while
allowing seeing what is in your plate?
Let say it again, lighting plans need to be made according
to the furniture layout and has to be considered from the beginning of the
project!

Window treatment

Curtains play a very important place in the design as they
give the overall atmosphere in a room. They can create a modern feel when kept
simple with modern fabric, or give a very luxurious feel when drape over poles
or swags and tails are used etc.
Curtains have to be designed for a specific room and
according to the wanted final result.

Sometimes a property can have some unusual windows placed in
a weird corner, and the owner simply doesn’t know what to do with them. If it
is the case, I am always happy to take the challenge and find a design solution
for awkward windows.

Sourcing

Now that we have a plan with the furniture layout, a
lighting plan and relevant curtains, the next stage can begin: sourcing.
Buying all new furniture is not always needed as sometimes
re-using furniture can be very effective and is an eco-friendly solution as
well. But there is always the need to select which furniture will be re-used
and what will need to be bought.
Sourcing is a time consuming stage as it is important to
find the right item for the project. We are not only designing for beauty but
also for comfort, good quality etc. and all this within a given budget.
The sourcing stage is also the perfect time to consider
eco-friendly materials and specifications. If you want to design without
hurting the planet, there is no need to go for the “hippy look”. Sourcing the
right products, that come from a renewable source and that can bio-degrade at
their end of life cycle is the solution. And here are more and more available
products that can be rated as eco-friendly or green on the market. It is only a
question of looking for them.

Budget writing

Yes, here is the time to talk about the budget. Every
project has a budget. The client decides what amount he/she is happy to spend
on a project and we work within the given amount. If, from the beginning we feel
that the budget is not realistic considering the amount of work that needs to
be done, we mention it to the client, so that either the scope of work or the
budget can be adjusted.
All the sourced items are recorded and included in the
budget. The budget is regularly presented to the client. The process is
transparent and there are no surprises.
As a professional interior designer, I charge a design fee.
I am not a retail shop so all the discount I am eligible for furniture, fabric,
light fitting etc. are passed directly to the client.

Emmanuelle Lemoine

Stages of a project

In this serie of short posts, I am explaining what a client should expect if they choose to work with Emmanuelle Lemoine Interiors.
If you are geographically next to Anne Stuart, Anne works according to same patter also with one only aim: having a happy client.

This first part describes the first stage of a project, the first client meeting and what is needed before going back to the studio and start working on the design.

So, let's start to describe the stages of a project, or this could also be called “how do I work?”
If you hire me to help you with you design project this is what you should expect:

First meeting with potential client


It all starts with a design problem, and somebody calling me
to see if I can help. After a first phone conversation we have a first meeting,
free of charge, where the potential client and I talk about their project and
assess if we could work together. It is necessary for a potential client to
feel comfortable working with me as trust is the base of a relation between a
client end his/her interior designer.
It happens that both the potential client and I feel it will
be difficult to establish a good working relationship, and in this case I
always have another good interior design to recommend, that would suit them
better.
The important thing for me is to have happy clients only

Contract

After we have established that we are suited for each other,
the new client and I sign a contract. As a BIID Associate I follow the BIID directions
(the BIID Interior Design Job books) and use two contracts according to the
size of the project. For bigger projects I use the BIID agreement for interior
design CID11 (or for even bigger project the ID10). And of course, the fees are
explained in the contract

Taking the Brief

This meeting is the occasion to know more about the project
and the clients. It is important for me to fully understand the needs of the
clients, how they live, what they like and what they don’t like in order to
create the best scheme that will suit them perfectly.
I very often think that there should be a module in
psychology in the Interior Design school, as designing for people is so much
more than assembling colours and texture because it is about people’s life.
This is why I take it so seriously to understand my clients, their dreams and
how to help them transform their house into their beloved home.

Measured survey

This part is probably the part that requires the most
discipline and forbids you to be creative, as it aims to take and accurately
record every measure that will be used to draw an accurate plan and any needed
elevation drawings.
This can be considered as an extremely stressful task as you
are not allowed a mistake as the rest of the design work will be based on the
drawings that result from the survey. I sometimes have to indulge the paranoid
side of me and re-take some measurements just to be sure!
(In a previous project, I have measured the same wall at
least 5 times; just to make sure the ordered furniture will exactly fit in the
space… no need to say that the measurements were the same each time!)

To be continued...

Emmanuelle Lemoine