Within a family, the kitchen is usually at the heart of the home. Increasingly families are using the space to eat, socialise, cook and congregate. Combining all these elements into a kitchen design requires lots of thought and planning; who will be using the space? What is the age range within your family, are they toddlers or teenagers? This will then determine the perfect layout for your family’s lifestyle.

Most importantly, it is about maximising what space you have. An open-plan kitchen is ideal for a family and makes for a great sociable space. In such an open area, ample seating is key so think about offering different levels of seating for different activities. A breakfast bar or central island with seating is always a good idea as it invites informal dining and is perfect for sitting with a tea or coffee.

Alternatively, extending the kitchen island to form a raised dining table, as we have done here, has a similar effect but with more of a formal feel. Having an area of comfortable seating where either family or guests can sit and relax after a meal, such as the little nook in the corner of this kitchen, is also a great idea and will encourage everyone into the space.

In a family kitchen, it is important that you allow for plenty of storage. Tall cabinetry will make the most of the wall space and add in the extra needed storage. Keeping things organised in your kitchen will also help, with a place for everything there is less chance of things cluttering up the worktops. Additionally, a tambour is ideal for a family kitchen, allowing the everyday items such as kettles and toasters to be hidden away when not in use.

In such a busy area, the worktops need to be able to withstand the stresses of modern day family kitchen such as heat, spills and stains. We would always recommend Dekton for such spaces, with its hardwearing properties and no joins or cuts to create a completely uniform surface which fits seamlessly into any design.

Also consider a glass splash back not only to protect from splashes and spills but to add some colour and character to your kitchen.

The bathroom is rarely the biggest room in the house but it’s a room where we like to spend time unwinding and relaxing, therefore it’s important to design the space carefully, particularly if you have a small bathroom. Below we outline some small bathroom solutions which will enhance a sense of space through design, colour, texture and lighting.

If a client has a particularly small bathroom, our first suggestion would be a wet room. Opening up the floor space and using the same tile across the entire floor will make the space feel immediately bigger. If using a shower screen, opt for clear glass rather than frosted to remove any visual boundaries which would split up the room.

However if you do want to fit a bath in, there are plenty of options. Most brands offer smaller sized baths to fit those more modest bathrooms with different dimensions and designs that can be easily adjusted to suit your individual layout. For long, thin bathrooms where a bath would take up most of the space, try putting a smaller tub along the shorter back wall instead to create a greater freedom of movement.

Compact vanities are now also an option but still allow for plenty of storage, an important feature in a small bathroom. Here the vanity only takes up the space of the sink itself with the storage underneath. Being wall-hung it also frees up floor space, making the room feel bigger. Similarly toilets with shorter profiles that don’t stick out as much as standard sizes, swivelling taps and shower screens that fold inwards or slide can make a big difference in a small bathroom.

Another simple storage solution which will remove the need for untidy shelves taking up valuable wall space, are built in alcoves. These small storage spaces are built into the wall itself and create a streamlined, uncluttered appearance. Here we even built the hand-held shower into a recess to keep it looking neat and out of the way when not in use.

However the most essential item in a small bathroom is a large mirror. It will reflect light and make the space feel bigger than it really is. Alongside this, the use of light colours will work in just the same way so stick to a light, neutral palette.

Nothing shouts luxurious bathroom like a freestanding bathtub, giving the impression of opulence and luxury, drawing you into the indulgent experience bathing can offer. Therefore when designing a bathroom, a beautiful freestanding bath is normally top of our clients’ wish list. Whether contemporary or traditional, there are many different types to fit any scheme.

Designed to take centre stage, positioning is key. In larger bathrooms, a freestanding bath looks best when placed in the centre of the room or at an angle, sitting away from the wall. The surrounding free space will draw the eye towards it, creating a sense of grandeur. Above, we also used small spot lights in the floor to illuminate this tub from below adding to its opulence.

It’s often thought that you need a big spacious bathroom to house a freestanding bath however they can also look stunning in smaller bathrooms too. Less is more in small spaces and a simple design with sleek lines will produce an elegant space that oozes tranquillity. We used this philosophy in the bathroom design above, specifying the Austin Harmony bath with its simple, sleek shape alongside matching sanitary ware.

Keeping the rest of the bathroom fuss free is also important in order for the bath to take centre stage. Here we ran the same tile across both the walls and floors to create a sleek, streamlined space and allow this Victoria & Albert Mozzano bath to stand out.

A freestanding bath also offers the best bathing experience. With the variety of designs today, from a classic vintage roll-top to the Victoria & Albert Cabrits, contoured to fit the body, freestanding baths are designed with plenty of room for the ultimate luxury soak.

We are now seeing the bathroom become one of the most important rooms in the house as people look for escapism from the hectic pace of modern day life. The desire for a retreat within the comfort of your own home has seen us creating more and more spa-like bathrooms which take inspiration from some of the most luxurious spas.

Creating an experience is key to achieving a spa-like feel, stimulating all the senses in order for complete relaxation. Visually, natural tones and materials such as stone and marble enhance the connection with nature, a key element in many spas. The sleek aesthetic of natural stones lend themselves beautifully to bathrooms and when ran across all walls and floors it creates a smooth, continuous effect that will not only make the bathroom appear bigger but luxurious too.

Similarly texture has also become important, with textured walls offering a distinct design element. Here we used Villeroy & Boch textured Bernina tiles to create a feature wall and frame the stunning Villeroy & Boch La Belle bath.

Nothing sets a more indulgent tone than a freestanding bath. Baths themselves are now becoming more of a statement piece of furniture in their own right with super sculptural baths making stunning centrepieces. Here, this Clearwater Nebbia natural stone bath acts as a focal point in the room, proving to be as much a decorative centrepiece as a functional bathroom fixture. From a super sculptural contemporary bath to a traditional roll top, any style will set the tone for relaxation.

Showers have also moved on, becoming increasingly focused on wellness. Again, inspired by nature, large rain showers create the feeling of showering in the open air. Combined with floor-to-ceiling glass screens, showers are no longer confined to a corner of the bathroom but open to become a key feature within the space.

Through blending luxurious materials, a soothing palette, state of the art appliances and carefully chosen lighting, all your senses will be engaged and a spa-like experience in your own home can be easily achieved.