Open plan living is a lifestyle choice that often suits the needs of a busy family. With young children and a desire to entertain friends and extended families at home, that was certainly the case for the owners of this Irish property.
Built in the mid-century, the property’s current owners were keen to introduce a hint of industrial design to create a modern space, while remaining in keeping with the period of the house overall. Venetian Arte from CRL Stone was therefore the ideal surface choice, successfully blending classical style with a contemporary material that is timeless in its appeal.
A centrepiece of the now modern, open plan kitchen, living and dining area that overlooks the garden, Venetian Arte really makes a statement on the central island – the perfect spot for preparing meals, dining, socialising or simply hanging out with the children, friends and family members.
The simple grey tones of Venetian Arte, fitted by A1 Kitchens, ensure the quartz surface combines seamlessly with the décor throughout the space and make it easy to live day and night. The stone-inspired surface has a timeless flair and thanks to its stunning polished finish reflects light in all the right places. Durable and easy to keep clean, this is the perfect surface for a busy family, with spillages wiped clean away to leave a hygienic and beautiful surface that will last the test of time.
A sleek, modern look is created with handless furniture, matt painted in Farrow and Ball’s Railings. The tiled splashback in a metro style adds a striking visual contrast, with a textured finish that helps adds warmth and a cohesive look. Despite this now being a large, open space for work, rest and play, it remains welcoming and characterful, with the light grey painted walls and a feature wall in the living area painted in Colourtrend’s Peacock Blue.
This colour scheme works particularly well with the stone-effect quartz surface. Pendant lighting in an antique copper finish hangs over the island and gives the space the industrial feel that the homeowners aspired to, while ensuring the room overall remains in keeping with the age and style of the property.
In fact, so successful was the revamp that the property was featured on Irish TV’s Home of the Year 2022, selected as one of 21 finalists who competed to be crowned ‘Home of the Year’.
In the homeowner’s own words: “Venetian Arte adds a lovely texture to the space and lifts the matt finish of the kitchen doors. The colours in the slab tone really well with all the other finishes throughout our space and I feel like it adds to the mid-century character of our home.
“My favourite element of the new design is the sense of space and the fact that I can cook and entertain guests or keep an eye on the kids at the same time. The finished look works well for our family life.”