Open-plan living is ideal for some people. It means ease of movement, convenience, and greater spaciousness because of fewer walls and doors. This Italian apartment is based on an open plan scheme, and its colorful decor is designed to complement this type of modern living.
Certain ingredients are necessary for successful open-planning. A co-ordinating element such as color or texture-is needed to unify the various areas. Effective techniques for dividing one living area from another are also required.
And, finally, a great deal of forethought is a must in planning the layout to facilitate practical and fluid movement in the home.
This streamlined flat is basically built on an open-plan scheme; the bedroom and bathroom being the only rooms which are partitioned off.
The front door leads into a small entrance hall which opens out into the main living area. There are two sections to the lounging „ area-the ‘sunken' part, spruced up with brilliant colors, and the ‘fireside' part which suggests warmth and casualness. Beyond this is the dining area, originally a second bedroom, which leads into a small, but efficient, kitchen.
The flat is designed for comfortable living.
There are no long journeys between the kitchen and dining room. If you ‘re relaxing in one of the chairs or couches, you can easily keep track of anything brewing on the stove. It ‘s compact living which still allows for a maximum amount of movement.
It's also tailored for easy cleaning. No laborious bouts with the vacuum; the elegant, red tiled floor simply needs a wipe down, and no old fashioned skirting boards or picture railings to collect dust. The absence of lampshades and curtains also eliminates the need for a tedious annual cleaning. If you‘re looking for ways to cut down on housework, this flat has some good […]
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Moving up from the sunken area is the fireside section, smartened up with black and white fur skins found in the rug and modern slung chair.
A strip around the fireplace, like one of the walls, is roughly rendered plaster-a small but effective touch in that it creates different wall textures and saves the room from a sterile white-wall look so commonly seen in modern buildings.
The niches over the fireplace add delightful variety and again help to break up what would otherwise be a featureless expanse of white wall. The low white floor light was an appropriate selection for the modern decor, and the slung chair adds to the feeling of coziness.
The bedroom offers another splash of color, mainly seen in the striped cotton chenille bed spread and simple window curtains. Rather than having a conventional bedhead, space was saved by putting a wooden figure directly on the ...
--------- Above. Vibrant coloring in the wall decoration gives dramatic
impact to the dining area. The free-standing shelf unit breaks the flow of
space, setting this area apart from the living area. An elegant red tiled floor
is designed for easy care and cleaning.
... wall. It was a good choice in that it has a dream like quality and also picks up the colors already decorating the room.
A built-in wardrobe with sliding doors runs along one wall. Inside there is a colorful chest of drawers which is neatly hidden from sight when the doors are pulled shut. Another space saving idea was to take the same material as the curtains and make wall ' pockets' for storing items like newspapers and hair brushes.
It's worth taking note of the superb method of making ‘extra' room for storage, as seen in the high long shelf over the bed here and in the main room. The shelf is sufficiently near to the ceiling not to distract from the central design of the room. It ‘s ideal for displays, books or stereo speakers and could also be made a focal point by featuring hanging plants-if you have the time and patience to attend to plants at such a height!
Moving finally into the bathroom, there is a repeat of the blue/green motif with a rich tone of gold which adds warmth. The single spotlight on the wall is useful for close work like shaving or putting on make-up. If softer lighting is desired, the spot can be adjusted to reflect off the walls or ceiling.
The decor in this flat was not particularly expensive, but through careful planning and expertise in selecting compatible colors and furnishings, it has emerged as a comfortable home with a great deal of visual appeal.