Access all areas - Open plan living

Bedrooms and bathrooms are set to follow the lead of kitchens in 2010 – with walls being eschewed to make way for open-plan living throughout the house.

As lifestyle trends go, open plan living has been one of the most exciting and all encompassing in recent years. It's an aspirational, lifestyle choice that sets you out from the crowd. Now, the enthusiasm for open-plan living is moving upstairs, with bedrooms and bathrooms receiving the same ‘wall removal’ treatment as downstairs living spaces.

Teak interior specialists William Garvey Ltd are making the most of this new trend with their gorgeous teak Geo bath and coordinating shower panels. However, open plan living is not as easy to achieve in the more private upstairs domain. The company’s founder Bill Garvey offers the following advice on how to make the look work for you:

Design – The key to success is to make a central focus of the bathroom area, rather than hide it away in the corner. Freestanding baths are a great option as they make a stunning design statement.

First you must ensure you have adequate externally-ducted ventilation to avoid condensation from the shower affecting your bed linen. Position the shower as far away from the sleeping area as possible - a drying area with suitable flooring will also help keep water under control.

Removing walls will mean reduce available locations for storage space. To keep your open plan space a clutter-free zone, it is wise to allocate twice the storage space you think you’ll need.

Privacy – you may wish to screen off the WC area or choose a position that’s not visible from the sleeping area, especially if the room is for guest space – they may not be as open-minded. Frosted glass bricks or a shoulder-height screen will provide enough privacy without destroying the open-plan feel you are aiming for.

Noise – Choose flooring for its soundproofing qualities – perhaps teak in the bathroom and carpet in the bedroom and it may also be wise to soundproof the WC cistern to avoid disturbing others.

For more information, visit williamgarvey.co.uk