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[…] a small refrigerator. A waste disposal unit fitted into the sink overcomes problems of rubbish disposal. The practical laminate finish is de signed with minimum cleaning and maximum visual appeal in mind.
Facing the kitchen unit is a dining table with a gracefully attached bench. The Formica wood grain finish eliminates the need for a tablecloth--another labor-saving feature. In the alcove adjoining the blocked-up chimney breast, a useful cupboard unit, including a handy shelf, was built. No space could be wasted in designing this flat-every inch had to be utilized to the full.
On the bedroom side of the dividing wall unit are storage shelves and a built-in wardrobe which can be conveniently hidden by concertina-type doors when required. The low double bed here was made from blockboard and designed, again, for a multi-purpose role. There are two large storage drawers in the base of the bed and, at the head, there is a cupboard with sliding doors.
-------------Above. Making the most of a small bedroom area. The built-in
bed is equipped with shallow cupboards and deep, roomy drawers. A shelf unit
serves as a dressing table, set off by two mirrors framed in a cool green.
Above. Once a dingy corridor, now a compact bathroom. The mock window over
the wc is liveried up with a ‘garden’ design. Recessed shelves provide a useful
storage area and a long mirror creates a feeling of space.
As the structural changes were being made, Valerie Bath was concentrating on the decorative aspects. Her brief was to utilize Formica laminate surfaces wherever practical, making this flat superb for easy maintenance. Her first decision was a color scheme which would be consistent throughout the flat, resulting in a feeling of co-ordination and integration from one part to the next. Her choice was a fresh green and white, with splashes of warm brown and cheerful yellow accessories.
In the lounge area, the theme is simple and striking. The generous white sofa, with its smooth curves and modern look, sets the pace.
The blind behind adds an eye-catching note because of the boldly zigzagging, jumbo-sized stripes in green. The green is then repeated in two tones-on the side wall and in the stereo speakers, attached to the wall as both decorative and practical items.
The lines are clean and simple--no fussy details here. The low white-surfaced table is in keeping with the general tone which is carried through the dining/kitchen area into the bed room where the brown and white duvet cover creates an unexpected accent in color. The floor here and throughout the flat is a Finnish birch plywood with a clear polyurethane hard wearing finish. No carpeting is required, just a scatter rug for the personal touch.
Formica has succeeded in producing a flat which is exceptional in two respects. Its interior design is unusual and unforgettable; and the materials used in construction and decoration are a great aid to the modern housewife who wants a home where housework and maintenance can be kept to a minimum.
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