Furniture Plan

The furniture plan above was drawn at 1:50 scale, using the precise measurement taken during the site survey. All the final furniture arrangements are shown in the drawing. In the bottom corners of the drawing, there are two dining table arrangements, including three cane back chairs around each table. In between these, exists an arrangement of one sofa, a coffee table, and two floor stools. Next to the stools, are bespoke round bar tables, constructed around two vertical beams. These are surrounded by three french bar stools for each table. Further up the drawing, there are more bespoke bar tables, fitted around more vertical beams. However, these are in rectangular form, instead of round. Another sofa arrangement is situated next to wall of the kitchen, and another round bespoke bar table sits next to the staircase. In the very centre, the octagonal form represents the mill stone housing, around which a bespoke bench seat will be made.

At the very top of the drawing are the kitchen and bar areas, these will both have kitchen units running along several walls.

Upholstery fabrics

Above, the image displays all the chosen upholstery fabrics for the final furniture collection. Adhering to the pink and green scheme, these fabrics include floral prints, stripes, and traditional tweeds. To the left of the image are the fabrics which will be upholstered to the two sofas. Jardin Lime, the green floral fabric, will cover the sofa back, while the Goa Fuschia stripe will cover the seat cushion. To complete the look, the soft velour fabric, Perses Flamingo, will cover the arms of the sofa.

To the right of the image are the tweeds which will upholster the remaining seating. Morlich wool, in pink, will be upholstered to the floor stools, and the Woodford Plaid and Skye Check tweeds will cover the seats of the remaining dining chairs and bar stools.

Although these fabrics blend with the traditional country lifestyle, by including the tweeds and reference to nature in the florals, they are taken from contemporary collections, thus update the look to modern times.

Sources:

www.fabricsandpapers.com

www.terrysfabrics.co.uk

www.marvictextiles.co.uk

Chosen furniture

The image above shows the chosen furniture for the mill interior. The intention was to source furniture that is made of wood and carries a distressed, shabby chic, look.

Both the dining table and the coffee tables are made by Unique Chic Furniture. They both have cream painted bases, with contrasting exposed wood table tops. The dining chairs have been sourced specifically to blend well with the chosen table, and they are made by Crown French Furniture. Also made of wood and painted in cream, the cane backs cultivate a soft feel in their appearance. Similarly, the wooden bar stools are also painted in cream, however these were sourced from the antiques market, from English Country Antiques.

Sourced from Ivory Pearl Interiors, and Graham and Green, both the sofa and the small stool above appear black and white in the image,  however these will be reupholstered using traditional tweed and floral fabrics, in a pink and green colour scheme.  The other items of furniture mentioned above are also intended to be reupholstered in a variety of tweeds. In the centre of the image above is a sketch showing exactly what type of fabrics will be assigned to each item of furniture.

Sources:

www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

www.crownfrenchfurniture.co.uk

www.ivorypearlinteriors.com

www.uniquechicfurniture.co.uk

www.englishcountryantiques.co.uk

Shabby Chic furniture

Throughout the designing of the interior, one of the most improtant elements is ofcourse the furniture. Adhering to the Shabby Chic theme, several groups of furniture have been sourced. 

The first furniture scheme, shown above, includes the Shabby Chic range from Oak Furniture Land. These pieces are made from painted mango wood, and feature a contrast between the natural wood and distressed painted wood in cream. This scheme would blend well with the neutral background of the mill interior, however the pieces are all from the same collection, leaving little room for the intended mismatched look.

The second scheme has been compiled using several items of furniture from the company Sweet Pea and Willow. As the mill interior is intended to comprise of a pink and green colour scheme, these painted items of furniture might fit in quite well. Similarly to the first furniture group, these pieces also feature a contrast between natural wood and painted wood. Although these may well compliment the chosen colour scheme, they may distract away from the fabrics chosen for upholstery. Certainly, it may be difficult to reupholster the dining chairs in particular.

Above, the scheme includes items of furniture gathered from different sources. A negative aspect of this could be that the interior has no uniformity. However, the intention is to reinforce the mismatched look found in the Shabby Chic style, with several styles from different collections. It is apparent that all these pieces of furniture encompass plain, neutral colours. Where possible, the pieces will be reupholstered with bright floral and patterned fabrics, including traditional tweeds. The plain nature of the furniture will prevent the clashing of too many colours.

This final furniture group includes painted wooden pieces, including the signature pink of the main colour scheme, and also the neutral colours of cream and taupe. The scheme evokes a romantic atmosphere, with an essence of French design. One negative aspect of using pink furniture is that selected upholstery fabrics may not stand out against coloured furniture.

Sources:

www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk

www.favim.com

www.stylehive.com

www.arbourinteriors.co.uk

www.ebay.co.uk

Wood finishes

As the interior of the mill is fairly dark due to low ceiling, wooden beams and small windows, the intention is the lighten the appearance of the wood by lime-washing the beams. Lime-washing, otherwise known as whitewashing, is a low cost solution made from slaked lime and chalk in water. The lime wash effect is traditionally used as a treatment to alter the appearance of unfinished, unpainted wood, in the form of beams or even furniture. The attraction of using this finish is that it still retains some of the features of the wooden beams, with an effect that is not possible with paint alone, which would completey cover the beams. In order to fix the lime wash permanently to the beams, they can be covered with a coat of varnish.

Sources: Google Images

What represents Country Living?

First thoughts on living in the countryside evoke a feeling of calm and inner serenity. Rural living provides isolation from the fast-paced towns and cities. Existing in a slower-pace of life enables a person to appreciate what surrounds them, instead of rushing through life and bypassing the beauty on nature. Man-made structures are few and far between, and any architectural forms are generally unique and reflect designs of the past. Rural dwellers are not only surrounded by expanses of greenery, but may also have the opportunity to connect with nature in their own garden. Within the country cottage garden, the cottage garden fanatic may create a sensory environment of bright floral colours, and sweet smelling aromas.



Within the country cottage, there may be influences from a farming lifestyle of working on the land. Typical reflections of this lifestyle are most likely to be found in the kitchen, the heart of the home. Materials from nature can be found in the items of furniture, such as wooden dressers decorated with plates baring countryside imagery, or wooden stools with a similar appearance to those used by milk maids, or perhaps a great kitchen table, with a rustic wooden top and distressed painted legs. Within the country home, nature may be replicated using textiles adorned with floral prints.



For the upper classes living in the countryside, their connections to the land may exist in the form of traditional country sports. Animals of the country present a great opportunity for those who partake in shooting parties. It is not only the act of shooting that contributes to the concept of country living, but the image includes traditional dress. Tweed jackets and flat caps exist as elements of the traditional dress for the sport of shooting.

These impressions of country life are directly related to designs for the cafe/bar at Burton Mill. The overall design will reflect peace and calm, with soft, neutral colours adopted throughout the main structure of the interior. Like the country cottage, the cafe furniture is intended to be made from wood, and painted with a distressed look. Floral prints will be introduced in the form of upholstery, while traditional reference to shooting will be included in the form of tweed fabrics. Although these fabrics will bare a connection to traditional ideas of country life, they will be chosen from contemporary collections. This modern twist will be particularly apparent in the colours, which will be bright and eye-catching, in order to update the image of rural living.

Written by: Nichola Hayler

Sources: Google  Images

Atmospheric Values of Colour

In order to fully understand the influence of colour on the atmosphere of an interior, an academic text relating to the subject has been sourced. The following evaluation is connected to a chapter within the book 'Intimus' by Mark Taylor and Julienna Preston. The chapter in question is entitled 'Structures of Atmosphere' and it is written by Jean Baudrillard.
This chapter is of great significance to the design for Burton Mill, as it directly discusses the subjects of traditional and natural colour. The mill design is intended to reflect elements of traditional country living, with the use of a natural colour palette in a Shabby Chic style.

Beginning with the subject of 'Traditional' colour, the author describes colour as being confined by tradition, and reflecting cultural meanings. Social role is also explained as having an effect on what dictates a person using certain colours. A person's likes or dislikes may be entirely shaped by the influence of their cultural background, and what is percieved to be acceptable.

It is stated that the treatment of colour in traditional use, can involve the rejection of its complete value. Here the author explains;

"Indeed, the bourgeois interior reduces it for the most part to discreet 'tints' and 'shades'. Grey, mauve, garnet, beige - all the shades assigned to velours, woollens and satins, to the profusion of fabrics, curtains, carpets and hangings, as also to heavier materials and 'period' forms, imply a moral refusal of both colour and space." (Baudrillard, J. 1996)

This quote closely relates to the interior design of Burton Mill, as the interior is intended to reflect the traditional aspects of country living. Mentioned above is the use of tints and shades of a colour, used in traditional fabrics. The intention for Burton Mill is to include these muted versions of colours in the main structure of the interior, but also within the traditional woollen upholstery fabrics.

Moving on through the text, the author addresses the subject of 'Natural' colour. It is documented that the use of colour was liberated through paintings. The overthrow of global order and conforming to the expected, saw the transition from loud colour, which was thought to be aggressive, to discreet tones. Throughout the passage, the author describes these loud colours as; violent, 'affected', vulgar. Here, the author explains further;

"They turn out to be nothing but an impossible echo of the state of nature, which explains why they are so aggressive, why they are so naive - and why they so very quickly take refuge in an order which, for all that is no longer the old moral order with its complete rejection of colour, is nevertheless a puritanical order of compromise with nature." (Baudrillard, J. 1996)

The passage is ended with the impression that pastel colours have now become the reigning colours. They are described as 'honest' colours, once liberated by painting. The final quote details this;

"Instead we encounter only the pastels, which aspire to be living colours but are in fact merely signs for them complete with a dash of moralism." (Baudrillard, J. 1996)

Finally, the interior of Burton Mill is intended to encompass these pastel colours, bringing a fresh and natural feel. However, bright fabrics will also be introduced, in order to reject the notion of conforming to the pastel theme. Some of the chosen fabrics may be eye-catching, but will still reflect the surrounding nature, with a pink and green colour scheme, and floral designs.


Bibliography:

Taylor, M. & Preston, J. (2006) Intimus: Interior Design Theory Reader (John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester)

Current Cafe Design

In order to design a unique cafe/bar interior, it is important to carry out secondary research into current cafes in the country.

Vaughns Country Cafe is one example that has been researched. It is situated in Tockholes, Lancashire, and stands on the site of the former Hollinshead Mill. Similarly to Burton Mill, the owners of Vaughns intend their cafe to be a a great place to begin or end a walk in the countryside. The images below show the interior and exterior of Vaughns.

The interior of Vaughns Country Cafe shares some similarities with the Shabby Chic concept for Burton Mill. The idea of creating a mismatched look has been employed with different coloured table cloths and a neutral background, with minimal colour. Also, the wooden furniture is painted in off-white, a colour frequently adopted within Shabby Chic schemes.



Cafe Violette is another country cafe, located within the Barn Antiques Centre, in Long Marsden, Warwickshire. It's interior encompasses the Shabby Chic theme, with a mismatched scheme of old painted furniture. Like the scheme for Burton Mill, a natural colour palette has been adopted at Cafe Violette. The furniture is painted in off-white, dusky blues and greens, and pinks. These quirky seating arrangements stand out from a neutral background. The images below show the cafe interior and exterior.

Items of furniture such as a painted wooden dresser have
been used in the interior, reinforcing the link to country living.

Sources:

www.vaughnscountrycafe.co.uk

www.lucybloom.blogspot.com

Initial Ideas

Using the original floor plan, a quick sketch was used to illustrate initial ideas of seating arrangements. These include; sofa seating with armchairs, a dining table with dining chairs, and bar height seating. In particular, the concept of creating bespoke tables around a few vertical beams and a bespoke seat joined to the mill stone housing, was decided within this sketch.

Primary research included this initial sketch which demonstrates the concept of constructing bespoke bar tables around vertical beams. This image is intended to show the effect of higher level seating in an interior with a fairly low ceiling.

These bar tables stand alone in the sketch in order to eliminate distraction from other furniture sets.

Similarly, the concept of joining a bespoke made bench seat to the central mill stone housing is shown here. This seat will protrude out from one side of the octagonal feature, in order to provide sufficient depth for seating.

Interior Dimensions & Floor Plan

The following image above shows the original floor plan complete with dimensions taken from the space. This initial primary research includes essential information to enable a secondary floor plan and furniture plan to be drawn up.

Situated below is the hand-drawn floor plan, in 1:50 scale. It accurately shows the correct position of important features, such as the vertical beams and the mill stone housing. The beams which are no longer in existence have been excluded from this floor plan.

Surveying the space

The image above shows the original floor plan of the first floor of Burton Mill. Since the creation of this drawing, the space has been developed. The partitioned area to the left of the plan is no longer part of the first floor interior. Also, staircase adjacent to partitioning wall on the left is no longer in existence. The alcove that can be seen to the far right is infact the space in which there used to be a waterfall. This doesn't currently accomodate flowing water, but the exposed brick and stone is still used as a feature.

The purpose of analysing this drawing is to determine the exact position of the vertical beams and mill features such as the mill stone housing - the octagonal shape in the centre. Analysing this floor plan while situated in the interior, enabled the discovery that several of the beams near the wall at the bottom of the plan have been removed in order to create a walkway. It is paramount to the design to place these features in the precise location, as bespoke tables will be built around the vertical beams, and a bespoke bench seat is to be fitted to the central mill stone housing.

History of Shabby Chic

    

"Comfort, the beauty of imperfections, the allure of time-worn objects, and the appeal of simple practical living: these are the cornerstones of the Shabby Chic® brand." Rachel Ashwell  

Shabby Chic is a term most people are familiar with today. Although this theme is universally used in interior design, it was actually founded by an individual. Rachel Ashwell founded Shabby Chic in 1989 and opened several stores adhering to this new concept in design. Shabby Chic generally encompasses an appreciation for old, worn looking items for the home, which are used together to create a mismatch look.

Within my own designs for the interior of the water mill, I intend to adopt the mismatched look, by incoporating a number of different furniture styles and fabrics. However, the time-worn feel will be interpreted with Shabby Chic style furniture, from contemporary sources. The overall intention is to create a Shabby Chic look using what is available on the market today, updating this theme to incoporate a modern atmosphere.


Bibliography:

Ashwell, R. (2009) Shabby Chic Interiors, My Rooms, Treasures and Trinkets (CICO Books, London & New York)

www.shabbychic.com

Shabby Chic

As stated in the project proposal, the theme to be carried forward is Shabby Chic. This is intended to tie in with the country theme.
The moodboard below shows images of initial inspiration. The colour scheme consists of pink and green, with a floral influence. Tweeds have been selected to bring in an element of country living. The chair in the left hand corner demonstrates the type of upholstery that will be implemented in this design. Furniture is intended to carry a distressed appearance, adding to the rustic atmosphere.

Source: Google Images

Interior & Exterior of Water Mill

Burton Mill, West Sussex

Initial first-hand research involved recording the location and internal space photographically.



 Above: Exterior of the mill (showing entrance)

 Above: Flour Mill feature

 Above: The old waterfall caged off



 Above: Beams throughout the ceiling

Above: The mill interior (showing old waterfall)

Above: Mill Interior (showing staircase and flour mill feature)

Above: Bar area

 

 Above: Behind the bar

Above: The small kitchen

Water Mill Conversion

Project Proposal

The interior intended for redevelopment is a function room located on the second floor of a water mill. The mill is situated in a rural area, on the edge of Burton Mill Pond near Petworth, in the county of West Sussex. The clients are Mr and Mrs Pudlo, who currently live on the top floor of the building. Their intention is to develop the second floor into a cafe/bar, with the target market including visitors to the area, and passersby such as walkers. The couple aims to entice people in the area to take a refreshment break and experience a taste of county living.

Currently, the interior exists as three spaces, a large function room, a small kitchen, and a small bar area. Natural light is limited, due to the fairly low ceiling and few windows. The main room has a rustic atmosphere, with exposed beams and stonework, and bare floorboards. Components of the old flour mill are featured throughout the building. It is intended that these components will become a focal point in the interior, in order to maintain the history of the building.

The chosen space will be designed with the countryside in mind, reflecting nature in the surrounding area and expressing elements of the country lifestyle. As the main room is lacking in natural light, emphasis will be put on brightening the interior. Wooden features such as the beams will be softened with a lime wash. This effect will not only lighten the space, but also compliment the intended shabby chic look, which will encompass a gentle colour palette inspired by nature.

Intended Primary Research -

·         Discussion with client

·         Site survey/measuring dimensions

·         Photographing the interior

·         Sketching key areas

Intended Secondary Research –

·         Investigate current cafe/bar  design

·         Source information on Shabby Chic design

·         Establish what represents country living

·         Research into wood finishes