Hartley Avenue | A Family Space Reimagined

Hartley Avenue began with a downstairs layout that looked open, but did not work as well as it should. The main kitchen, living and dining space was interrupted by a structural column, cut through by a low boxed beam and short on both prep space and storage. The family had an island, but it had become more of a dumping ground than the generous, hard-working centrepiece they had always wanted. At the same time, the layout was not making the most of the garden connection, and key parts of the space felt unresolved rather than properly planned. The project called for much more than a visual update. It needed a deeper spatial rethink so the room could support cooking, gathering, relaxing and everyday family life with far more ease.

The design response was to resolve the room properly from the inside out. By revisiting how the beams had been boxed in, Carole was able to recover more openness and make the space feel lighter and less constrained. The kitchen was then reorganised around clearer working zones, a stronger relationship to the dining area and a much better connection to the garden. Most importantly, the island the family thought they could not truly have was made to work alongside the structural column, allowing the kitchen to become the true heart of the home. The former sink window became a window seat with storage beneath, creating a place for the family’s daughter to read, draw and keep her own things close at hand. A concealed utility door, breakfast cupboard, bespoke display storage and layered material palette of painted timber, walnut, marble, reeded detailing and copper accents all helped the room feel more resolved, more elegant and much easier to live in.

Because the kitchen, living and dining areas now work as one open-plan environment, the redesign was about making each part feel connected without losing its purpose. The living area was repositioned to strengthen its relationship to the garden, while the dining area became more naturally integrated with the kitchen and better suited to family meals and entertaining. A bespoke media wall brought warmth, storage and visual structure to the living zone, and a layered lighting scheme allowed the whole room to shift from bright and practical by day to softer and more atmospheric in the evening.

Beyond the main room, the utility, downstairs toilet, porch, hall and landing were all given the same level of attention, with hidden storage, panelling, lighting and more transportive design moments helping the whole downstairs feel cohesive rather than fragmented. This included the creation of an invisible under-stairs cloakroom, formed by taking space from the garage, which gave the family a dedicated place for coats, yoga equipment and everyday essentials while supporting calmer routines from the moment they walked through the door. The following images show the approved design scheme and intended transformation of the downstairs spaces