Behind THE SCENES

Whilst ancillary rooms are more often than not afterthoughts when it comes to designing an interior, there is no reason for them to not be beautiful as well as practical.

Be it a boot room, pantry, utility or flower room, these functional spaces must, of course, be fit for purpose, yet they also provide the perfect opportunity to blend form with function and reflect a homeowner’s individual style and character. Structure, too, plays a part, particularly in a period property, which will have certain foibles that influence layout and flow. How best, then, to bring together these elements?

Here, we showcase a range of functional rooms and zones carefully considered and creatively conceived by experienced designers. Each case study demonstrates it is eminently possible to express the homeowner’s personality as well as create a space which is practical and sits well within the property.

William Rudgard, senior designer at Martin Moore

Optimising layout and flow was key for the ancillary room that was part of a young family’s refurbishment of a 1930s detached property in West London.

The brief

“The overall brief was to create a large open-plan kitchen with an adjoining ancillary area; a purpose-designed utility