Episode 7 - The Cotswolds - Lodges
The Semi Finals!! And what a glorious location it was!
This week we were tasked with redesigning holiday lodges in the most beautiful part of the U.K - The Cotswolds. Banjo, Paul and I were given a lodge each with what would become our biggest residential project to date. We were asked to transform the kitchen , dining room, living room and outdoor spaces.
I was given Kingfisher Lodge. This particular design was to become a modern and contemporary space for friends and family to enjoy entertaining and celebrating special occasions. I wanted to make it feel convivial. A place where everyone felt connected and included.
The palette for this design needed to stay complimentary to the location, so I paired honey and neutral tones back with a monochromatic scheme.
I was the only one to take the risk of swapping the living room and dining room spaces. I added a waterfall bar onto the edge of the kitchen peninsula to create a chef’s table, connecting those who were cooking with their friends and family. I chose to introduce black paint on the window frames and the kitchen. The lower cabinets were black and I transformed the uppers with white. The kitchen doors were in need of a little refresh, so this was a fun way to pull them into the rest of the contemporary design.
Under the stairs I created a bar and storage unit, perfect for entertaining, in matching black. This was placed against a bespoke print I created for this design, which featured orchids and other flowers that grow wild in the Cotswolds landscape. I also utilised the same print on fabric to create a tablescape with napkins and placemats and also on fabric that I made into cushions for the indoors and outdoors to try and connect the spaces.
The long dining table that already belonged to the lodge was perfect for this design. I added 3 new black dining chairs along with a bench on one side to seat a large number of guests. I tried to marry the nature outdoors with the contemporary lodge feel by adding natural tree branches in between the floating shelves. They added texture and warmth.
We were tasked with creating a light feature from scratch. I went with faux botanicals, specifically orchids, to bring some interest and uniqueness into the living space. I know the judges didn’t love it but I’m proud that I made it myself and I felt it looked good within the space.
During filming I took pictures of wild flowers growing round the lake that I made into black and white photos which I framed and dotted around the lodge. So many small details go into these designs, linking the interiors with their surroundings.
The outside area was all about the view, so I used my scaffolding planks to create a coffee ledge where you could sit and take in the wonderful surroundings. Some details that weren’t included in the critique outside were the cinema projector, pull down cinema screen, fire pit and popcorn machine which hopefully encouraged some outdoor entertaining or al fresco movie night!
I had the most fantastic time in the Cotswolds and I cannot wait until the final!! Some pictures of my final space below :D
