Interior & Garden Design

More About this Interior & Garden Design Project in Brighton

Set between the shimmering coastline and the sweeping South Downs, Brighton is a city with a rare blend of creativity, character and coastal charm. From Regency crescents to Victorian terraces and modern extensions tucked behind pastel-coloured houses, Brighton’s architectural landscape is vibrant and diverse - attracting homeowners who value individuality and thoughtful design.

This project, located in Fiveways, one of Brighton’s most desirable residential pockets, sits in an elevated position overlooking the park. Fiveways is known for its community feel, tree-lined streets and charming Victorian cottages carved into the hillside homes that benefit enormously from sensitive renovation, clever spatial planning and a strong relationship between interior and garden.

This property exemplifies exactly that: a Brighton cottage where the kitchen and garden were redesigned together, transforming a previously dark and disconnected space into a light-filled, indoor - outdoor home.

Our Role in a Seamlessly Connected Renovation

We were appointed to reimagine the interior design of the entire house including the kitchen and the garden layout as a single, unified project. In compact Brighton plots, the rear garden is often visible from almost every ground-floor room, making it essential that interior design and garden design are developed side by side, not as separate undertakings.

Working collaboratively across disciplines, we addressed layout, materials, lighting, flow, planting and structural changes to ensure the property offered a calm, expansive feel despite its modest footprint. The result is a home that celebrates its connection to nature, maximises natural light and feels beautifully proportioned.

Renovating in Brighton: What Homeowners Should Consider

Brighton’s cottages and period homes come with their own set of opportunities and constraints. For renovation projects in the city, key considerations include:

• Optimising natural light: North - south orientations and narrow footprints require clever floor surfaces, glazing and colour choices to amplify brightness.

• Extending small plots visually - garden design becomes vital as even tiny patio spaces can dramatically enhance the sense of openness when carefully structured.

• Respecting architectural character - Brighton’s Regency, Victorian and Edwardian properties feature charming proportions that benefit from sympathetic updates rather than heavy-handed alterations.

• Maximising space and storage - bespoke joinery, multifunctional living spaces and tailored cabinetry help cottages and Regency apartments live larger than their physical footprint.

• Material choices that withstand coastal weather - external surfaces, fencing and planting must cope with Brighton’s salt air and sea breeze.

Our approach ensures that both interior and garden combine to enhance function, comfort and visual coherence.

Designing the Kitchen and Garden as One Experience

The existing extension provided the footprint, but the kitchen and garden had been treated as separate worlds - the result was a space that felt small, enclosed and visually disconnected from the outdoors. Our first step was to consider the layout of both zones simultaneously, assessing how views, light and movement could enhance the daily experience.

By adjusting the garden wall and rethinking the orientation of the kitchen island and appliances, we created a design in which the garden becomes an extension of the living space. Cooking, dining and relaxing now take place with constant connection to greenery, sunlight and fresh air.

Materials & Details That Flow Inside and Out

One of the defining features of this Brighton renovation is the choice of porcelain stone-effect flooring that continues from the kitchen directly into the garden. Using the same material with appropriate outdoor specifications creates a visual thread between inside and out, amplifying the feeling of spaciousness and cohesion.

The worksurface was chosen for both durability and beauty - a leathered stone with the appearance of marble and the resilience of granite. This tactile finish reinforces the natural, sunlit feel of the cottage and stands up effortlessly to everyday family life.

The material palette - soft greys, warm neutrals, gentle textures - bridges the contemporary kitchen with the Mediterranean-inspired courtyard garden, creating a calm, unified aesthetic.

Enhancing a Small Garden With Smart Design

In Brighton, many gardens are compact, enclosed by fencing and neighbouring cottages. Without careful planning, they can feel dark, claustrophobic or disconnected from the main living space. Our design approach for this Fiveways garden included: pushing back boundary lines to create usable seating space, introducing slatted fencing to let in breezes and light, choosing plants that thrive in Brighton’s climate, including jasmine, grasses and pollinator-friendly species, using Corten steel edging to elevate the quality of hard landscaping, designing a planting scheme that matures beautifully over time

By envisioning the garden from the kitchen window first -rather than treating it as an afterthought - we ensured that the patio reads as a purposeful, beautiful extension of the interior.

Functional Flow for Everyday Living & Entertaining

We reconfigured the ground floor to improve functionality. A small section of wall was removed to create a direct link between kitchen and living areas. The hob was repositioned to allow the cook to face the garden. Joinery was designed to keep the north wall free of overhead units, maximising the sense of openness. Adjacent shelving offers a place for cookbooks and personal items, adding softness and character. The result is a sociable, light-filled home that performs beautifully for daily life and effortlessly for hosting.

Challenges & Solutions in Brighton Renovations

Brighton’s cottages and period properties often present constraints such as limited outdoor space, varying levels, coastal weathering and tight internal footprints. By addressing both interior and garden as a unified ecosystem, we resolved: lack of light, awkward layouts, limited storage, underused patio space and the disconnect between house and garden.

This holistic approach delivered a result that feels far larger, brighter and more inviting than either space did alone.

Why Brighton Homes Benefit From Integrated Interior & Garden Design

The beauty of Brighton living is having the best of both countryside and sea, with the coast on one side, the Downs on the other and green pockets everywhere in between. When renovating a home here, especially cottages in Fiveways, Preston Park or Hanover, the most successful transformations honour this connection to nature.

Considering the garden from the very start of a kitchen renovation ensures: improved natural light, better views, seamless indoor - outdoor living, efficient use of compact plots, increased long-term value and greater everyday enjoyment.

This project demonstrates how transformative that approach can be.

Work with Interior Designers in Brighton

Whether you’re updating a Victorian cottage, planning a full house renovation or rethinking your kitchen and garden together, we specialise in Brighton interior design that blends creativity with practicality and a strong understanding of the city’s unique architecture.

Working collaboratively with our garden designer and local trades, we deliver thoughtful, elegant, high-performing homes that make the very best of Brighton’s coastal light and character.

If you are planning a renovation in Brighton, Fiveways, Kemptown or Hove, we would love to help you create a beautifully connected interior and garden that feels both uplifting and timeless.