Designer tips: room by room

Monica Twarowski

Master bedroom: Must always have a window. The following needs to be adapted to suit the client's needs: storage, wardrobe size and function, a sense of security and/or intimacy, and ensuit requirements. The key to a perfect bedroom is to create a blank canvas for the client to personalise.

Kitchen: Assess which type of kitchen layout is best suited to the existing floor plan and/or client. Apply the classic kitchen triangle. It is a simple and effective rule that outlines the recommended distances between three key kitchen zones — cooking (cooktop/oven), cleaning (sink) and refrigeration. One length of the triangle between two zones should be no less than 1,200mm and no larger than 2,700mm. And all three sides added up should not amount to more than 7,900mm. Most importantly the kitchen should create optimum storage space that can be easily utilised.

Living and dining area: It is useful to have a substantial wall span free of widows and door openings to locate the entertainment system against.

Kenneth Laidler

Master bedroom: It is important to find the ideal location for the bed. The size and shape of the entrance door is also important. The location of the wardrobe and dressing table is important to consider while planning the arrangement within the room.

Bathroom: The WC or bidet should not be next to a bath or facing a bath directly. The bathroom door should open to a vanity unit or a mirror. These should ideally be the things you see first in a bathroom, and not the toilet.

Living area: The position of the television and the seating area is an important consideration. Also circulation spaces are important in a living room.

Kitchen: Ergonomics should be the first and last thing here. Consider the workflow before designing the kitchen.

Isabel Pintado

Master bedroom: Orientation of the bed, a peaceful colour scheme that could be as funky or traditional as the client requires, careful lighting to guarantee two people can use the rooms without disturbing each other, complete blackout curtains to guarantee a good night's sleep, general distribution of the furniture and above all a good mattress.

Kitchen: Practicality through the distribution of the units would be my first priority. Choosing a style that fits the client's style. As kitchens are becoming the new living-entertainment areas of a home, introducing elements that would be normally associated to the living areas such as designer lamps, lounge seating and high-end finishes on the walls so as to perceive the space as a front of house area.

Living areas: Distribution in regard to the circulation from the entrance to rest of the areas should be the first priority. Once the distribution has been resolved, good-quality sofas that meet the client's requested style. Lighting for me makes or breaks a living room. I avoid ceiling lights and place free-standing, cove or surface mounted lamps. Lamps and wall finishes are the driving force when we design interiors. The colour scheme and the style need to be thought out with the reference images that have been agreed with the client in mind.

Dining area: Comfort and lighting are the driving forces. Chairs with arms guarantee that your guest will feel comfortable and enjoy their meal without feeling the need to move to the living area.

I like the use of mirrors in either the ceiling or key walls. This allows you to perceive what is taking place at the other side of the room and for your guests to perceive the ambience. A careful balance needs to be found between soft lighting and darkness.

I suggest the use of dimmers for both living and dining areas to be able to adjust depending on the circumstances.