The design phase of the extension of our home is over and now we are up to specify. This means choosing all the finishes and fittings and is definitely my favourite part. I do have a budget though, and with a kitchen, living, alfresco and bedroom with ensuite to furnish I have more than enough on my hands.
Scullery, The Long Island // oswaldhomes.com.au
I visited a gorgeous Hamptons style display home for inspiration on Saturday, The Long Island, by Oswald Homes. From the studio flat to the scullery, crisp whites counterpointed serene greys. Handmade subway tiles, oak plank flooring and vein cut travertine all worked together perfectly with just enough variation to keep you wondering what the next room would hold.
Finishes board by Carlyle Designs carlyledesigns.com
Slightly panicking, I realised I needed some help if my efforts were ever to measure up to such co-ordination. While I don't want a matchy matchy house, I do want a spacious comfortable mood for our home and that means fixtures and fittings working together in harmony. I needed a Materials, or Finishes board.
My Materials Board in Progress adelasivewright.com
I bought a large picture frame with deep sides, flipping it to make a generous tray. I scouted samples of what we already had that we loved in our home, and some new ones I had picked up from showrooms and suppliers. And what do you know? A scheme emergerd! Although it is still in the early stages, my Materials Board is proving a great tool for clarifying our choices for floor, casework, bathrooms and the kitchen.
My choice of warm neutral shades was economical and would increase the sense of space in the home but was looking bland on the board. Thanks to Pinterest, I found an interesting feature everyone liked - the herringbone pattern.
Bathroom by Melanie Turner Interiors melanieturnerinterior.com
Whether we use this beautiful pattern in a bathroom, a kitchen splashback or in a larger scale around the fireplace, we haven't finalised just yet. We can afford to change - at the moment it's just a matter or rearranging samples on our Materials Board. Why don't you try it?
