25 Beautiful Homes

110 | 25bh october 2017the sourceHow you can achieve the style secrets seen in this issue’s homesKarine and OssiValtanen’s dining roomnot only offers a formalspace for dining, buta smart window seatprovides an inviting nookto snuggle into. The seatbase is built into the baywindow, and is painted in the same,muted blue-grey to tie in with the wallsand cabinetry in the rest of the room.The elegant framed drawers underneathare great for storage, and have been givena classic look with timeless brass knobs.Warm yellow is the perfect partner formid-grey, and the plump seat pad anda row of scatter cushions in graphic,Scandi-style prints in the same paletteensure the nook is comfortable enoughto sit down with a coffee and a good read.The reading corner inClara and Mark Trussler’scharacterful farmer’scottage features a comfyarmchair to curl up on,beside some handy boxshelves filled with booksand ornaments. Thedistressed-finish shelves are made fromvintage wooden crates that have beenfixed to the wall. This is a great way totransform shelving from a purely practicalconsideration into an eye-catching designfeature. The worn-wood finish also bringsa rustic touch that works perfectly in acountry-style space. Keep a look out for oldapple crates at vintage fairs, or buy themonline. You could even use old drawersfrom an unwanted bedside table or chest ofdrawers to create a similar storage solution.``````When Souraya Hassanchose statement geometricwall tiles for her kitchen,she did not limit themto a splashback area, andinstead boldly used thetiles to decorate two wallsfrom floor to ceiling. Thetraditional Egyptian design, featuring amix of intricate patterns in warm browntones, successfully define the kitchen zone,and bring colour and pattern to the white-painted open-plan sitting and diningspace. Wooden worktops and open shelvestie in with the natural palette and addrustic texture, ensuring the scheme doesn’tfeel stark or clinical. Souraya has temperedthe busy pattern of the tiles with simplewhite units and pale flooring, so that theroom retains a spacious, airy feel.Design ideasPages80-83``````Pages26-29``````Pages35-39cosy window seat feature tiles crate shelvesP P P