A Refreshing Change

The owners of this Co. Down self-build decided to enlist the help of a professional when it came to updating their interior spaces.

The owners of this family home in the picturesque Co. Down countryside moved into their storey and a half self-build back in 2004. Over the years they have tweaked and changed the décor but throughout the last 18 months they have embarked on a more extensive overhaul and enlisted the services of interior designer Heather Calder from Heather Interior Design.

When it came to working with her clients to revamp their home interiors Heather explains, ‘I like to get a feel for the exterior surroundings when thinking of colours, fabrics and finishes. Lighting is also something I like to tackle early on in a project and an important aspect, as it can make or break a scheme.’

Looking at all of the areas of the house that were to be addressed, Heather started in the kitchen. As the homeowner explains, ‘Our kitchen is the original wooden one that went in back in 2004, however, while still fit for purpose I wanted to update it. Also the original black granite worktops were the bane of my life!’

The black granite was replaced with a white quartz worktop and Heather advised painting the cabinetry in neutral tones inspired by Benjamin Moore paint colours. The original undermounted stainless steel sink was removed and replaced with a Belfast sink, and the cupboards below were easily adjusted for it to fit. On the island, the Iroko worktop was sanded and stained removing the red tones and tying it in with the new neutral colour scheme.