Island Life Magazine Ltd April/May 2013 | Page 122

INTERIOR

Personalise

YOUR
SPACE
By Chris Brennan of Custom

With the bombardment from big
firms over recent years selling their
own brand of interiors, it can seem
difficult to create something unique
and personal.
It is almost as if we have been
hoodwinked into thinking that
the inside of our house has to
be part of some kind of mass
produced environment. How often
for example do you walk into a
friends home and recognise their
living room as page 36 of a design
catalogue? Or a bathroom that says
more about the company it was
bought from than it does about the
person living there.
In my opinion the room that
has been worst hit by this ‘Big
Firm’ advertising juggernaut is the
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kitchen. Who’s idea was it that says
the kitchen has to be made entirely
out of laminated chipboard and
fitted into every corner of the room?
Aside from the fact that this is
not an entirely suitable and wholly
undesirable material where is the
individuality in this. Over the past
30 to 40 years the fitted kitchen has
pushed its way into our lives almost
blinding us to all the possibilities
and options that are available.
It doesn’t have to be like this; the
kitchen is the hub of the home
and by rights should have the
most personality. With a bit of
thought and creativity you would be
surprised at what you can do with
the same budget. Antique or second
hand furniture outlets are a great

source for individual pieces.
An old French Dresser for example
is extremely useful in a kitchen and
could be brought to life with a lick
of paint or even modified slightly
to fit nicely into a specific space.
A well used butcher’s block makes
a great chopping and preparation
area whilst adding character, just
as a nice bespoke wall unit can add
interest as well as function.
Obviously a lot of kitchens may
be too small to have freestanding
furniture but by simply reducing the
amount of fitted units and adding
something that is personal you will
start to create a space that is unique.
‘Upcycling’ and ‘recycling’ are
another great way of accessorising
your home. Finding new and