The Karen Residence
- Category
- Residential
- Location
- Karen, Nairobi
Overview
A concept for a family home where the shared rooms do most of the work. The ground floor is imagined as one connected sequence — kitchen, dining and living — tied together by a single timber tone, limewashed walls and furniture chosen to be used every day rather than kept for best.
Design brief
Create a home that feels calm for two working parents and lively enough for three children, with a living room that can hold a whole family gathering without feeling oversized on an ordinary evening.
Client requirements (fictional)
- A kitchen that faces the family rooms, so whoever is cooking is still part of the conversation.
- Durable, washable upholstery and finishes that age well with children and dogs.
- Dedicated storage for school bags, shoes and sports kit near the entrance.
- A quieter reading corner away from the television.
Design approach
We would start with circulation: moving the dining table to the centre of the plan makes it the meeting point between kitchen and lounge, and frees the window wall for a long, low seat.
Material choices are deliberately few — one oiled hardwood for joinery and tables, a warm limewash on walls, and tactile wool and linen textiles — so the rooms read as a single home rather than a sequence of different ideas.
Leather and timber pieces are selected because they soften with use. The palette is kept neutral so artwork and family objects can carry the personality.
Image gallery
Material & colour palette
Limewash
Walls and ceilings
Oiled hardwood
Joinery, tables, shelving
Cognac leather
Sofa and occasional chairs
Oat linen
Curtains and cushions
Charcoal steel
Light fittings and frames
Materials
- Oiled hardwood joinery and dining table
- Limewash wall finish
- Honed stone kitchen worktops
- Wool and jute layered rugs
- Washed linen curtains
Furniture & lighting
Furniture
- Deep three-seat sofa with removable, washable covers
- Round timber coffee table with softened edges
- Long upholstered window seat with drawers below
- Pair of open-frame lounge chairs for the reading corner
Lighting
- Dimmable pendant cluster over the dining table
- Floor lamps for evening light in the lounge
- Concealed under-shelf lighting in the kitchen
Design considerations
- Everyday durability
- Every fabric and finish is chosen with its cleaning and maintenance in mind, so the house can be lived in fully rather than protected.
- Afternoon sun
- West-facing glazing calls for layered window treatments: sheer linen for daytime glare, heavier curtains for evening warmth.
- Room to grow
- Loose furniture is favoured over built-ins in the children's areas so rooms can change as the family does.
This is a fictional concept project prepared for the studio portfolio. It does not represent a real client, and no costs, measurements or outcomes are implied.
Related projects
All projects- Concept project
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The Olive Apartment
A compact apartment redesigned to maximise storage, improve circulation and create a calm, cohesive living environment.
- Concept project
ResidentialNakuru, Kenya
The Ridge House
A relaxed modern home using earthy materials, understated furniture and a connection between indoor spaces and the surrounding landscape.
Planning something similar?
If the Karen Residence reflects what you have in mind, we'd be glad to talk about your own home.