We are delighted to welcome our latest guest blogger, interior artist and designer Rachel Henderson. Bringing a rainbow of cheer to her native Scotland, Rachel has been gradually updating her family home with a kaleidoscope of candy shades.
This month, Rachels talks about renovating her dated kitchen with bold colours and shares her top tips for choosing a practical floor that will stand the test of time.
“Hi, I’m Rachel and I share my love of colour on Instagram @therachelhendersonstudio.
I have always been a huge fan of Karndean for a luxury feel that is still very affordable. In our last home we found it to be highly durable, waterproof and low maintenance so deciding to go with Karndean flooring for our newly renovated kitchen was a no brainer!
Our kitchen features some upcycled 1980s kitchen units, painted in Parma Violet, which I have paired with a wood worksurface, pink walls and a lemon print wallpaper. I felt that our kitchen still needed a little more modernisation so I looked for a beautiful fresh white floor to give it that lovely contemporary feel I was aiming for.
I also wanted our flooring to have longevity. If we did decide to paint the units again, I didn’t want to have to change the flooring too so it had to be a style we could love for a long, long time.
I particularly liked the clean crisp look of Washed Scandi Pine with its subtle blend of white tones and natural grain details. I knew this would offer a calming contrast to the painted kitchen cupboards and complement the warm wood worktop.
The flooring is so natural looking (as if it’s the real thing!) and it fits in so nicely with our playful décor. I love the fact that it’s lovely and warm to walk on - so perfect for those cold dark winter mornings we are plagued with here in Scotland. I’m also impressed how the floor gives the illusion that the space is a lot bigger than it actually is.
In fact, I already have my eye on a few of Karndean’s other flooring styles for my next project, our master bathroom. Watch this space!”
We asked Rachel what advice she would give others looking for kitchen flooring. Here are her top tips:
- Take into account the size of kitchen you have and how much light it gets. If you have limited space and light, it’s best to go for a lighter shade of flooring to help brighten and elevate the room.
- If you have an open space with high ceilings, choose warmer shades and textures such as a natural oak look.
- If you already have lots of colour in your kitchen, avoid heavily coloured and patterned flooring designs as this can be too distracting.
- For an on-trend contemporary look, opt for wider boards and consider a herringbone pattern.
- Always order a few different flooring samples. It’s worth spending a bit of time creating a mood board and seeing what type/colour of flooring will work best with your existing décor and accessories.
Our huge thanks to Rachel for sharing her story and tips. For more colour inspiration, head on over to her Instagram channel at @therachelhendersonstudio.
Browse our kitchen flooring here.