Using panelling and joinery to create focal points in your home
If you are buying or renting a new build you can be spoilt with features such as triple glazing, smart home technology, modern kitchen appliances and e-car charging. However, with the focus being on energy rating and efficiency, as it should be, some rooms can often feel like they are missing a focal point. One of the most effective ways of introducing this missing piece, is to add panelling or joinery to the room.
Under the stairs and the hallway is one area of the home that can easily be left undefined – But as seen in the examples above some simple tongue and groove panelling, and bespoke joinery for storage quickly makes the space a useful and organised addition to the house.
In the past the fireplace brought character and warmth to the living room and was a place the family congregated around. Now however with more and more houses being A rated, we need to find other ways to create a ‘hearth’. Joinery with with a built in electric fire, TV and storage can be one of the most effective ways of doing this, when designed well. We like to paint the joinery the same colour as the wall or a tone up or down to ensure it doesn’t overpower the room.
Another lovely thing to do is to define a seating area in your living room – and create your own ‘nook’. When carefully designed, this really gives your living area its own bespoke style and brings extra character to the room.
Panelling and joinery comes in many styles and can be designed to suit anything from a period home, to a contemporary apartment fit out as seen in the distinct geometric headboard wall above.
If you are considering added joinery to your own home we recommend the following questions as a starting point:
1-What function would you like the joinery to serve; For example would you like it to be a ‘fireplace’ in the living room, do you feel your bedroom is bare and just needs more detailing? or is it purely for storage?
2-What is the overall look and feel of your home – Or the look you would like to achieve in your home?
3-What is your budget? Panelling and joinery can be expensive – but there are ways to be more cost effective when you are designing, and if you express this to your designer from the start they will keep this in mind during the design process.
If you are interested in getting the “Showhouse Look” in your own home, please get in touch with our Design Team by emailing your requirements to sales@hgps.ie
