5 INVESTMENTS THAT I’VE MADE IN THE HOME WHICH HAVE BEEN WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD
One of Salt Haven’s core values is longevity.
I am a huge believer in quality – for the joy that it brings every day and how it makes using something of good quality an experience in itself (I still feel joy every time I use the bronze light switches in our house…seriously). When it comes to renovations in particular, there’s always a balance to be made between cost and quality. I believe that you can almost spend an unending amount on a renovation but of course most need to stop somewhere! Needless to say, it’s important to invest in things that are of the highest priority to you and in things that you don’t want to be doing again. Here I’m sharing 5 investments we made in our current home that really have been worth their weight in gold.
KITCHEN SKYLIGHT (vs. VELUX)
When we moved into our house, one of the nicer parts was a timber-framed garden room which was added on to the end of the house and where I saw the kitchen eventually going. I loved the style of the panes of glass particularly in the roof and decided that I’d like to replicate that within the extension. Our architect designed a skylight to this style. Of course, when the building quotes came in, I had to lie down in a darkened room for about 5 days before I slowly emerged and realised we needed to re-think a few things. One suggestion was to use Velux windows in place of the skylight that had been designed. But I had been so drawn to the original design that I really didn’t want to compromise on that, it was something that would make the kitchen area a bit different to a lot of pitched extensions. The builder we chose actually agreed and helped us to find savings elsewhere…there was a lot of red pen involved!
This skylight is the star of our kitchen and our lovely Everhot proudly sits centred beneath it. Watching the clouds move across the blue sky outside or the moon beaming through on a clear night, I love the connection it provides to the outside. Definitely worth the investment!
EVERHOT COOKER
I originally really, really wanted an Aga. Once we’d decided to move to the country, I thought this would be perfect as something that would warm the house, dry washing, slow cook delicious meals and generally be a nice place to lean against! But I was also aware that the cooker would be positioned underneath the large kitchen skylight (see point 1) and an Aga too might just melt us all on a warm day.
I didn’t want a separate oven either as our kitchen space isn’t the biggest and 2 different oven types felt a bit wasteful when we had the choice to design it upfront. We then discovered Everhot cookers and I was sold – they’re efficient, don’t emit the same level of heat that an Aga does and still look rather lovely. They are pricey though, but it has become the heart of the home really and beneath one of the lids is in fact an induction hob which is fab for warmer months – looks can be deceiving! I love and appreciate it every day.
There is nothing like coming back from a sea swim and leaning against it with a steaming mug of tea. I think that top left oven door will have my bum imprinted on it soon! It also cooks some really lovely food too of course and marshmallow brownies come out particularly well!
HIGH-QUALITY LIGHTING
I first set eyes on our kitchen wall lights long before our renovation started. They were the perfect finish (a bronze metal), elegant but not too polished, a timeless style which I don’t think I’d ever grow bored of. The price tag and the growing costs of our reno meant I needed to look for a more cost effective alternative. I found some, they arrived and were promptly installed. But….they really didn’t work. I couldn’t stop thinking about the others I’d set my heart on. I decided my first choice was the right choice so then had to foot the bill of replacing them and purchasing the ones I’d wanted all along. A lesson in going with what you really love if ever there was one! They finish the space perfectly, give off such a beautiful glow and I am so happy with them.
TONGUE & GROOVE PANELLING (KITCHEN WALLS/CEILING)
I’ve talked before about how our house was mainly painted in a sludge green colour when we moved in which seemed to suck any light that it did have out of the house. We’d come in, shut the front door and need to put the light on in the hallway to see anything even on the brightest of days. The house felt like it was calling out for lightness in every sense. I tried a few different / darker neutrals but the ones which worked were off-whites. Most of our house is painted in Farrow & Ball Ammonite and Wimborne White (floor to ceilings) depending on the aspect. But I wanted to make sure that the space didn’t feel flat.
I know it’s having a bit of a moment right now but panelling felt like a way to add interest and texture especially with the backdrop of very neutral walls. It was an investment but I love the way the panelling graces our ground floor, it provides flow and connection between each room. I don’t think I’ll ever grow bored of it!
STEEL INTERNAL DOORS
Bringing light in to the house meant knocking a few walls down and creating some wider openings to allow it to flow. We wanted to have some separation in our downstairs space so glazed doors were a perfect solution for this. We looked at a timber option but for this house, some steel doors felt like a good way to add in a different material and to help ground the neutral space. British Standard steel doors came off the shelf and although they’re still quite an investment, they were relatively good value compared to some other options. I also loved the style of them with the bottom steel panel. Our builders thought we were mad but once they were in I think even they could understand what all the fuss was about.
They really add something to the space. I love them so much!
