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 !

All starting to look great OP.

I think the curtains are fine.

Jute rug also fine.

The yellowy wall colour, to my taste and understanding of the look and era, is all wrong. And doesn’t do anything for your Ercol. I love your round coffee table. I would go for a cool colour, or something with a bit of grey in it.

Orange kitchen: fantastic!

For your kitchen and bathroom floors, what about sheet rubber? (Not the sort with round knobbles). Not strictly coherent with the period but it is essentially a modernist approach, being highly functional, quality, mass produced but aesthetically pleasing. It is warm to touch, quiet, easy to clean and v v tough. The usual brand, Dalsouple, seems to have been discontinued but you can find others www.colourflooring.co.uk/collections/rubber-flooring

Iv e de clutterd kitchen .. which is best ????? !

Ooh i love that rubber floorimg! If choose green for kitchen to.clash with the orange cupboads . V my instinct i laid tge kitchen floor last year 700 £ hate it ,

RowsOfHolly what colour would u chose to.complement the ercol.i dont like the cutrians .much .. i.am.tempted to.do.a.strong paint colour .. dark.olive ? What curtians tho amd do u think green wb be good or.what wd.u suggest???

What’s under your carpet? Our ex council house has really nice floorboards we sanded and osmo’d

We’ve got a bit of a mish mash but I think it works. Quite a bit of mid century furniture. A bit of Willy Morris curtains / lampshades. Big squishy velvet sofa.

We have those exact doors linked to up thread with white ceramic knobs.

Ours in 1925 and has picture rails / alcoves etc. I love it actually it’s a solid, good sized family home

Concrete floors.

Try marmoleum for the kitchen floor

The sideboard looked better under the window, but ideally I'd have it in another room and have the dining table centered in the dining end of the kitchen (longways, as in the first photo). But you should go with what you prefer, obviously!

The side board cN be moved to alcove on opp side of room and the frdge put at end of units were sideboard curetly is ..

Sideboard could do here

Frigde here instead of sideboard

Lovely furniture and the kitchen units are especially great. Even if you didn't do anything more it looks lovely.

I would avoid Orla Kiehly as it's too obvious, even though I love the patterns/colour.

I like patterned wallpaper and plain curtains. Maybe minimoderns www.minimoderns.com/category/all-wallpapers?page=2
Or just browse John Lewis. Not everyone likes wallpaper though.

Furniture wise I'd be tempted to thrown in some modern pieces. It does look like a "look" at the moment, albeit one I like.

Would cork flooring work?

The Orka K cake tins look cute though.

I love cork flooring for kitchens- good idea @Christmasisallaround

Swapping the fridge and the sideboard sounds like it could work

Ive re arranged the kitchen !

Here it is

Time for bed 🤣

Christmasisallaround what modern peices/ companies do u like. ? Am lookimg for t v stand for eg . . Bit also wd like to see what others like.
Like i agree all orla stuff can be a little predictable but i dont know any other suppliers of modern vintage kitchenalia etc.... habitat?

Rearrangement looks much better!

While I’d consider mid century for colours and furniture, I think you should buy bits and pieces, lamps, kitchenalia and art etc according to your own taste - you can keep that aesthetic in mind but really choose what you love. That way it will be a coherent whole without looking ‘themed’.

The rounded end sideboard is beautiful!

BrassicaBabe thank u ! Its from.Made its the esme range.

OP have you ever been to Kettles yard in Cambridge? I must admit I haven't but I've seen pictures of it over the years and I thought you might find it inspiring It's a house that was put together in the 50s/60s/70s by a couple who collected art. Part of the building is old and part 70s. There's a virtual tour of the interior on the website. It's definitely got that mid century vibe but with more of a country feel. White walls and natural materials.

No ,but it sounds fab !!

Op, I’d add an oak beam above your fireplace, like this.

You mean in the yellow room .. or kitchen one . Thsnks !