Sunlea Avenue | A Calm Family Room That Works Hard

This project began with a major rethink of the ground floor. An old conservatory was removed, a new extension was built, and the existing kitchen was opened up into what had been a much darker dining room to create one connected kitchen, living and dining space, supported by a separate utility. It is also a strong example of the value of involving an interior designer while the layout is still taking shape. By being brought in early, Carole was able to help guide key decisions around focal points, furniture planning, circulation and how the room would actually be used, rather than leaving those questions until after the shell was already fixed. The family’s brief was clear: they wanted the space to feel calm, welcoming, light, organised and purposeful, with each part of the room making sense and supporting daily life naturally.

The design focused on making the new open-plan room work exceptionally hard without feeling busy. Function was their highest priority, followed by comfort, with individuality and wow factor layered in more quietly behind that. Storage had been a major issue, so the kitchen was carefully planned with built-in appliances, a breakfast cupboard, an appliance cupboard, and an island with storage on both sides to support cooking, family meals and everyday clutter more intelligently. The separate utility was also redesigned to become a far more useful supporting room, with the old kitchen repurposed into that space to make the budget work harder. This was not just about creating a beautiful room, but about improving how the whole house functions day to day, from food preparation and family dinners to games, entertaining and keeping the main room clearer and calmer.

The final scheme was shaped around how this family actually live. They wanted a room that felt bright, open and spacious, but still warm, relaxed and rooted in natural materials. Influences from Yosemite, the Swiss Alps, parks, coastline and countryside helped steer a palette and material language grounded in light, nature and texture, while layered lighting added warmth and atmosphere to the darker areas of the room. Ceiling and services challenges were resolved quietly through colour and detailing, helping the space feel more balanced and visually calm. Designed for cooking, baking, family meals, board games, gaming, music, entertaining and simply being together, the room now works as the heart of the house it was always meant to be. It is a strong example of Carole’s ability to translate real family life into structure, storage, flow and atmosphere, while also creating a phased plan that allowed the family to prioritise the fixed elements first and add further furniture pieces over time.