Ex council house .. modernist cool.?

[Freelady]

Hello, we moved from a stunning period home of 5 floors to a 2 storey ex council house in a very expensive an beautiful area... think sea, woods, etc.
I love the area but am struggling with the shape of the house, the low ceilings, the windows long and wide not tall and high.

Our previous home was mostly wood floors, white walls with original windows and fireplaces. We also had strong confident colours. I understood the shapes and style.
In this house ,i utterly lack confidence.
The doors arw cheap flat doors. The simple style does suit the house tho.
I feel that this era ( boxy 1950?) Suits minimlist design? However, it can also lack style and strenght in this settimg cf with a ,say, stunning modernist home.
I have white upvc windows, all beige carperts and neutral walls ( shades of white). My dh finds it relaxing.
In my old house the white worked , as the housw had drama . High celings, 25 foot kithen ,sash windows, woodburners and original fires. This house needs a style injestion .. the house does not carry its own style iyswim?
Ive looked at the book style council on line but not bought it. Ive bought some ercol, which i love and a unit ( side board from made) nothing looks cool with the cheap doors, the windows.. i just cant seem to crack it .. i dont know were to start.. any ideas please and also any web sites. ?
There are only two rooms downstairs both face the road.( privacy also issue) and are long and narrow to back of the house at about 10 feet wide each ,then 15 long to.rear of house.
Thanks ... thanks !

Love those dutch houses one is v v similar to ours!! Thank you

Ex Council houses are well built and spacious but plain, poorly insulated. Double glazing helps but are always going to be expensive to heat unless they are dry lined.

They were minimalist before minimalist was fashionable, if you are thinking of changing doors, get a catalogue from Magnet or other trade supplier there will be dozens of different styles, currently expect a long delivery time, a carpenter to fit the also will need advance booking. A friend has a bespoke new build and has white, tiled floors, walls, ceilings and worktops with slate blue cupboard doors, very modern although too “white” for my taste.
Whatever you decide choose a theme and stick to it, dont go over the top and remember it is a refurbished council house

@Freelady

Love those dutch houses one is v v similar to ours!! Thank you

You are welcome! I thought they would match your house.

These are more makeovers. www.instagram.com/fundamakeovers/?hl=en

I can browse for hours....☺️

I'd definitely go with replacing the flat white doors to the horizontal door panel doors which were on trend in the 50's.

And ercol/mid century style.

My council house was built in 1921 so I went back to more Victorian doors downstairs with classic door knobs. I also put in a tiled Victorian style fireplace. Walls however are all white to open the space up and I have gone for large modern artwork on the walls to inject colour, with lots of leafy plants.

With low ceiling heights keep the furniture low, so sideboard rather than dressers to give more height to the room by exposing more wall space.

Yes , cant get off my phone now !! Yum !🤣

The modern house has lots of nice inspiration: www.themodernhouse.com/sales-list/tarleton-gardens/

furniture123.co.uk/p/solid-oak-tv-unit-with-sliding-doors-briana-bra011?refsource=fuadwords&mkwid=sYom51zpq_dm&pcrid=434335375393&product=BRA011&pgrid=106249832332&ptaid=aud-1111834151484:pla-903453449185&channel=googlesearch&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7COBhC2ARIsANsPATG4QxYtms3fO6KBVrZTmKky_LjL53IqFV67Q_nYrmQbh5-bb1A_Mi0aAloTEALw_wcB
For tv stand ??

We have two empty alcoves in living room . Plants to one side.. any ideas? Any good suppliees or modern mid century please .. we have bought from made before but feel that its quite veneery?

My ex council house was built in 1948. When we had French doors added, the builder said the walls were like castle walls, two layers of breeze block! It is a sturdy, warm, well insulated home with masses of garden and a double driveway.
Council homes were built well but with cheaper fittings inside.
Anyway some of the houses on our estate have added porches, canopies and bay windows to give the front some interest.
We replaced the flat cheap doors with 4 panel reclaimed white doors.

Love the modern house web site v v v much !

I would sort out the flooring. I have really dark wood flooring and it suits the house.

The floor makes a massive difference to how the house feels.

Thanks re comment re porches .. we live in a heritage area and although its not a listed buidling its aoanb and the council is v v strict re any change . There are only 4 houses ex council in a row and all look same with no frount doors. Door at side, hall at back so no way can do french doors and rooms at front of house facing road.
Its a main road but village .. am think of privacy screen .
Looking at the minimalist design s here i think my burnt orange hi gloss origianal 70s kithchen may look.bonkers!

mewkins where did you get it from
? Yes love wood flooring but worry it wd clash with the ercol ? Pale , warm.?

Agree: sort the flooring.

Can you afford the good quality parquet laminate / woodblock type floor?

Then lovely rugs.

Ercol which is pale and warm.

Made mistake last year put in good qyality laminate in kitchen and it hate it . Its too grey in undertone. Am want a huge huge rug to hide it a bit but am really worried thw kit hen will look too.miss mashed as i have strong 1970 orange kitchen , ercol table.n really cool 1960 basket chairs!

Have you checked the doors are cheap modern ones? It was very common for old good doors to have mdf panels tacked over the original glass doors to make them safe.

York Wood Flooring by Cooney & Sons Ltd

24 Coach House Garth, Barmby Moor, Pocklington, York YO42 4DZ
01759 301570 g.co/kgs/tBwBbD floors like any of these?

I grew up in a fabulous modernist home my parents actually had designed by an architect in 1980. As PP have said, clear contrasts are crucial. In our case, white walls but all doors or frames were in a dark, near-black colour - added benefit, he was able to mix and match woods based on affordability. Floors were reddish tiles overlaying a floor heating system. Tiles obviously have a somewhat dated look now, but it's the contrast that was important. We sold a couple years ago and the new buyers were thinking of replacing with blonde wood which will have destroyed the spatial impression if they went through with it (sob). Now very dark hardwood would have been a viable replacement.

www.made.com/esme-compact-tv-stand-ash
Tv stand ?

Ages ago, i cant recall were.. i saw an ex council house that painted all their door frames black and it waa v brave but stunning.
The contrast think is intresting ! At the mo the house looks like am inside Next .. if u get me.. nothing wronf wirh next ,but not as a whole my taste..

www.the-millshop-online.co.uk/curtains-missprint-little-trees-cotton-comet-fabric?gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7COBhC2ARIsANsPATHvCwGO91TH-PKTcmB2ymdE9FAPI_Lp0FP_S7MVXjhhrkg0GEKI0JUaAhBEEALw_wcB
This is the fabric for the back hall curtains and door curtian..
Am.wondering about same for sitting room ?
Can anyone link to flooringplease .. am think of go for it !! But will need to be condifent as i am really worried will clash w ercol.. i will send link of wot sort of ercol i have..

Glad someone has linked The Modern House website for you. Lots of inspiration there. So much you can do with a 50s/60s house.

Ex council houses near us are in great demand, selling for over £1m.

Lots of people want square rooms, big windows. Council houses were (usually) very well built in those days.

@Freelaldy...I personally don't like missprint little cotton print. It's everywhere. Don't go too fast. Take your time and find your own style.

www.ebay.co.uk/b/Ercol-Bookcases/3199/bn_78907170
Please see the trolley bookcase in this link
I have in the living room , this plus a matching ercol round coffee table same shade of wood.
In kitchen i have the dinning table , also same wood. I am concerned about thw ercol and a wood floor clashing or not working? Help ,visually and / or web sites wd be so v much appricated if anyone has thw time or inclanation???