Whole new home - what would you choose?

[ConorMcGregorsChin]

Hi all. I'm currently having my entire house reinstated after a massive leak. Should be fun but actually quite overwhelming!
So, blank canvas. New walls and ceilings just been plastered. I've had a few ideas of new things to do (While I have the chance)
But my main issue is I don't want to make any mistakes. Nothing that may be out of fashion in a year. So think fairly classic neutral / traditional (almost cottage style)

I need to choose everything fairly quickly. Flooring, Lighting, Paint colours - give me your fail safes! Tiling for bathroom and kitchen (white suite and kitchen units) Main issue is Windows. Not sure I want blinds but my Windows are large - no clue!

So, if it was you and you could have a blank canvas, what would you choose? (And what would you not)

Thanks!

How about shutters for the windows instead of blinds?

Have you looked online (Houzz, Pinterest, Instagram) or through magazines? You could pick a whole houses you like and copy their style.

If you don't want your house to be a fashion victim and stay classic for years, I recommend the following:

floorboards or wooden floors, possibly neutral carpet upstairs,
traditional tiles like natural stone or smaller white tiles, possibly encaustic or terracotta on floor in hallway or kitchen (depending on age and style of house)

Shaker style kitchen units with cup handles in (off)white, range cooker

Curtains for windows.

Stick to off-whites and natural wood/stone colours + you can personalise the space with rugs, pictures etc.

Some examples of those sorts of looks attached. Although I'd go easy on the greys.

Thanks @Chaby I'd actually love shutters but they are quite pricey and for my very wide windows I wonder if they would make the rooms feel dark. Think I'll get a quote and that may help me decide

Wow thanks @JoJoSM2 I like your style! I'd actually found some stuff on Houzz lately and bookmarked it. Seen quite a bit on Instagram too. I've already chosen shaker units and my range oven (which was rescued) will be reinstalled. I've chosen natural stone tiles for the bathroom and I'm now happy with those. Pretty sure I've found kitchen tiles I like too.

I'd love a tiled floor in the kitchen. But I'm also tempted to have the same flooring throughout the house for simplicity and balance. Had decided on oak, but.... I've been told I can't have solid oak as the moisture levels in the house won't be right for a long time. I've been recommended engineered oak but can't find on that looks real! Alternative is cheap floor then change in a year. I've had enough upheaval and simply cannot face that.

I love just having curtains at the windows. It works beautifully in the rental property in in now. But in my home, my Windows are almost as wide as the rooms so it's like a goldfish bowl! Sounds old fashioned but I'm thinking really lovely curtains and then some sort voile / lace at the actual windows? (aka 'nets')

I've chosen some Farrow and Ball paints. Fairly happy with them although hard to know when I'm not living in the property (to test on walls etc) but I'm definitely staying clear of grey. Going instead with slightly warmer taupey shades and lighter tones like you've described. All natural wood throughout so windowsills, doors and architrave etc.

Phew! Lots to think about!

Sounds like you're on the right track with things so don't stress :)

Re kitchens, we had restored floorboards in the last house and they turned pretty awful within two years so I'd be careful with wood.

On the window treatment front, some un-netty nets could work in windows. Other privacy options could be wooden blinds - look a bit like shutters but cost maybe £200/window. We've got those + curtains in some windows and I think they look ok.

My sister has installed bottom-up blinds in her house - they let light i but provide privacy and look good with curtains too. And a pic to illustrate what I mean.

I'd put a light oak Amtico through for flooring, you get the look if wood but it's just mop and forget.