Having an eye for design means being able to look at a space with fresh eyes and create something that is unique to that particular environment. Sometimes walls come down, or neglected corners become the most used area of the house. Working around awkward pillars and areas most people just pass through is a refined skill honed by interior specialists, so for this transformation feature we caught up with some locals with a knack for the craft. Over the coming pages, we share ‘before-and-after’ projects that totally transformed the mood of a room. Enclosed kitchens were opened, multifunctional living spaces created, and penthouse showpieces as well as cinematic retreats were brought to life, resulting in spaces that feel purposeful, personal, and above all, homely.
Ash Interiors
For Emilia at Ash Interiors, this transformation was a personal one. Her client was family, and the room needed an entire overhaul.
The brief was for it to be a multi-use room where they could sit by the fire, watch TV, play the piano and host friends and family for meals (there is a dining table and upright piano out of shot). “It’s a large room, and with only two rooms on the ground floor of this house, it needed a lot of work,” Emilia explained. “One of the major problems with it was the lack of any heating, and a draft through the gaps in the floorboards.” Reworking the layout came first, arranging the furniture and centring the sofa and armchairs around the fireplace. “This created a little corridor behind the sofa and divided the room into different zones,” she explained. “Previously, the furniture had seemed rather lost in a large space, and the room felt under-utilised.”
Adding vibrancy was the next step. “I was desperate to change the colour on every surface of the room, which I would describe as a dirty beige,” she explained, relaying that old fashioned tights sprung to her mind when she viewed the room. “To my eye, the yellow curtains, which we had inherited with the house, clashed horribly with it…”
Knowing that the heating was one of the main problems, Emilia ordered a huge jute rug that covered almost the entire floor, and installed a slightly unusual system of electric underfloor heating that sat over the floorboards, but under a ply board, with the rug over the top. This allowed the room to be maintained at a sensible temperature, before personality could be layered in through pattern, lamps and pieces found over time.
“To me, this is a key thing about successful interiors,” she noted. “They need to evolve over time. Sometimes the ‘not quite right thing’ actually makes the room work.”
TLC Home
Working on the penthouse of one of the Horizon apartments at the Waterfront, TLC Home knew that this project needed to be special.
“The brief from JDC was to give wow factor as well as a practical way to demonstrate how to use and dress this high-end penthouse apartment,” they said. “It had some more difficult features to work with, including a wide pillar disrupting the open plan space, one side of which has double height ceilings.”
Rather than fight these features, they decided to embrace them, softening the partition pillar with a curved edge, and installing an architectural shelving unit to make it feel intentional rather than jarring, while connecting the open plan spaces.
“We kept the colours and textures smooth and focused on reflecting the light,” they noted. A mirrored TV piece, neutral velvet sofa and glass coffee table did most of the work. To balance this with richness and softness, they added walnut shelving and luxe rugs with flowing voiles. A statement piece is the gloss lacquered dining table in apple green.
Working with this space, it was integral to design around the sea view, and ensure it was a focal point in the room. “We were keen to avoid turning our back to the sea view, so instead we brought the view into the room,” they explained. “An oversized mirror, cleverly concealing the television, reflects the expansive view and light back into the space, giving the illusion of width to balance the height of this space.”
Beaumont Home Centre
or the owners of this home, they were tired of a kitchen that felt closed in, dishevelled and an impractical use of the space. The challenge was to knock down a wall dividing the two spaces, creating an open plan hub that felt both practical and stylish, and a space they enjoyed using.
“We knew we wanted warm, neutral and earthy tones included in different textures,” said the team at Beaumont Home Centre. “The previous kitchen was very enclosed and lacked space, so we wanted to create something contemporary with practical storage solutions.” They enlisted the help of Atlas Construction, who was the main contractor they worked with.
Once the internal wall was knocked down, the team got to work building up the new space. A sink was positioned under the window near the dishwasher, and a bank of tall units was installed to include an integrated fridge/freezer and larder on either side. “This created a floating effect for the combination oven, single oven and warming drawer with mirrored wall panelling,” they explained. The vented hob was positioned on the island to take full advantage of the sea views, and a feature with pocket doors allowed the wine storage and cocktail making area to be hidden when not in use. “The aim was to make it very sociable whilst cooking, looking towards the family dining and living area,” they noted. “We also added tinted black glazed units to add contrast and create a more subtle, relaxed mood through lighting.”
The aesthetic they went with was driven by the client’s preferences, who was looking for something sleek and modern. However, the team explained that they have offered more classic or farmhouse styles in the past. When creating a scheme and ensuring the dynamic remains consistent throughout a room, the team at Beaumont Home Centre pay close attention to materials and finishes that anchor the scheme, with texture playing a central role. They paired Hacker German rigid, handleless kitchen units with bronze handles, with a shiny bronze mirror and copper sink, complete with a rose copper Quooker tap. Siemens appliances, including a vented hob, and a Dunavox wine storage unit ensured the best amenities were included. The biggest challenge came with installing the Dekton Entzo worktops with waterfall edging, using a crane to reach the apartment on the 8th floor.
Landes Interiors
For this full house renovation, one room had been left untouched because the owners were at a loss as to what to do with it. The property already boasted a large eat-in kitchen with an entertaining area, as well as a snug for watching television.
Although the room benefitted from south-facing, full-height windows that flooded it with light and provided garden access, the indoor-outdoor connection had already been made through the kitchen. “I wanted to create something dramatic that would set the room apart and clearly define its purpose,” explained Manon.
This purpose became a library and cinema room, but to make the desired changes, structural work had to be done before the aesthetics could follow. “The volume lacked the theatrical impact required to make the room a true destination,” she explained. “The low ceiling was removed to reveal the full height of the room, and the 1970s brick fireplace was replaced with a stove, creating a generous gap for a large television screen. As with all my projects, the layout was resolved before applying any finishes.”
The resulting mood was guided by the rest of the house. “A blank canvas can be difficult to tackle, as there are no visual cues to follow,” Manon explained. “As the rest of the property had an organic feel, I favoured natural materials to ensure cohesion. The resulting style is both classic and modern, with a timeless quality, an approach I strive for in all my projects.”
Recognising that texture and acoustics are as important as colour, Manon chose a natural oak herringbone parquet and a seagrass rug to contrast with the dark wall covering. “I love mixing wood grains and tones to replicate nature, so darker wood furniture was added as well as textured linen armchairs, to complement the scheme,” she said. The television blends seamlessly into the dark wallpaper, while the opposite wall is lined with oak shelving. “The books themselves create an excellent acoustic backdrop,” she added. The final result was a cosy space that changes character comfortably in both day and night environments. It is now used at weekends as a retreat for reading or binge-watching a box set.
“With its distinct atmosphere, the space allows the clients to feel as though they are travelling to a new destination within their own home,” Manon said.
CP Interiors
When making home renovations, the garden can frequently become overlooked. It’s the ‘when I get around to it’ part of the business, but once the wallpaper has been fixed, furniture has been moved around a hundred times and you’ve finally figured out which walls to put your favourite prints on, the thought of attempting to make something of the outdoor space becomes a ‘later’ job. This is especially true of people renovating their homes in Spring, the most popular time to get interiors ready for summer parties (which, most of the time, edge into the garden).
Designing an outdoor space can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have a specific vision for what you want to create. Even if you do, we all know too well the hubris of biting off more than you can chew, realising there is a large chasm between the ability to think creatively, and that of skilfully executing a vision. This creative gap is best bridged by professionals who’ve done it a thousand times before, and understand how details such as glass sliding doors can let you enjoy that outdoor feeling even throughout winter. Whilst you’re fixing up the inside, they can take on the outside as their labour of love.
If any of the above has resonated with you, CP Interiors is a great place to explore. They work with you on your garden from start to finish, keeping to your design plans and ensuring that you’re fully integrated in the design process (should you desire to be). For those who find themselves staring at a patch of overgrown lawn with no idea what to make of it, CP Interiors offers a visualisation package with accurate 3D images to help you understand not only what would work best in your space, but how it would look as a finished product. “Often our clients are surprised at how accurate the final install is to the original visual,” they revealed, adding that after even a short period of time, they can’t imagine what life was like before it.
For the team at CP Interiors, the most important thing to do before starting the process is to have a long conversation over a cup of tea. This is where clients can discuss and discover what they want, by communicating what they hope to achieve from the installation and how they’d like to enjoy their space. Following this conversation, the team suggests designs that feel well thought out and in keeping with the original property, avoiding that jarring feeling you can experience when walking out into a garden that feels like a bolted-on addition, out of touch with the tone of the home. They often achieve this through colours, softer edges, accessories, and by working with the best external contractors and landscapers when needed to perfect the final look. Perfect for the summer soiree, CP Interiors are adept at ensuring gardens are designed for evening use as well as daytime, with a broad array of heating and lighting options available. These range from everyday spotlights to fun and colourful mood lighting. We’re a particular fan of their external heaters, which offer the perfect space to relax or party with friends and family should an evening chill settle after sundown.
When we asked about common mistakes homeowners make with their outdoor areas before coming to CP Interiors, their response was surprising, and very much shaped by the time we find ourselves in. “AI-generated images are now so advanced, some people really struggle to tell what’s real and what’s not,” they revealed. “Lots of the image inspiration we’re being given has often been altered, creating false spaces that either, in reality, won’t work or aren’t practical. This, combined with information from inexperienced providers, can really set people off on the back foot, and this is the reason we always try to be fully transparent with our clients about what’s possible from start to finish.”
CP Interiors recognise the unique nature of every home in Jersey, and that many projects often require bespoke, custom designs. “Small spaces are particularly challenging,” they noted. “You want to make the most of extending your space, but need to be mindful that you don’t overcrowd it.” It’s one to keep in mind when deciding whether you have the skills to renovate your own garden, or if you could benefit from some professional help. It could also be useful to get advice on the thorn in the side of every property developer: regulatory approval. “Whilst planning permission isn’t required for the majority of projects, every now and again one of Jersey’s unique planning restrictions gets thrown in,” they revealed. “This alone can be a challenge in itself.” On the rare occasions when this is required, CP Interiors are there to help.
