Looking for design inspiration for your hallway and cloakroom? Look no further than the latest issue of Grand Designs magazine, which features top tips and inspiring images from Clear Architects on how to transform these areas of the home into practical yet welcoming spaces, oozing with style panache.

Cloakroom design ideas

Melanie Clear, Founder and Director of Clear Architects, contributed several top tips to the ‘Clever Cloakrooms’ article, which is packed with advice on how to create a functional zone that is bursting with design wow factor. If you’re gutting your cloakroom and starting from scratch, it’s vital to give the plumbing arrangement careful consideration. Melanie provides practical advice on how to get this aspect of your project right.

She says: “The position of the soil pipe is key. It needs to be sited on an outside wall, ideally not on the front of the house. If this isn’t possible, a macerator – a unit that reduces waste so it can be pumped to the drain – is the best alternative – although it will need to be incorporated in the initial design.”

In addition to the practical advice Melanie provides within the article, she also recommends that it’s worth spending time planning a layout that works within your cloakroom. She says: “The layout is the key to a successful design. The position of the door, windows and sink should be your primary consideration, ensuring there’s enough space to make the room usable.”

She continues: “Tiling the whole room the same (walls and floors) is really effective in small spaces, increasing the spatial awareness and creating a tailored, more luxurious appearance.”

Making first impressions count

One of Clear Architects’ renovation projects is also featured in the June issue of Grand Designs magazine. A photograph of the property’s hallway is included in the article, ‘Welcome Home’, which is brimming with inspiring ideas and top tips on how to establish a wow-factor hallway.

In the image, a panelled sliding door complements the traditional black and white tiled floor of the hallway. The panel glides back to reveal a useful built-in storage space for coats, shoes and other miscellaneous items. According to the article, incorporating built-in storage space is a fantastic option if you’re keen to hide away clutter and create the impression of a sleek, spacious hallway.

Clear Architects’ Stansted Road project provides a fantastic example of a traditional hallway and also features a gorgeous black and white tiled floor. Traditional design details such as the Victorian cornicing and timber sash windows have also been retained in various parts of the property.

Email us today on mail@cleararchitects.co.uk if you looking for design advice for your renovation, extension or self-build project of your own.