Making Spaces

03/08/2026

Something for the carousel crowd.
Swipe-y swipe 👉

02/07/2026

It's been a long time coming, but Making Spaces has had a refresh. I'd genuinely love to hear your thoughts on the new look website. Making Spaces has come a long way since 2015.

Multi award winning, Leeds based interior designer, Karen Knox of Making Spaces offers accessible, sustainable and creative interior design. Specialising in spatial planning, interior architecture, domestic anthropology and with experience of passive house design, Making Spaces continues to create h...

30/06/2026

For those who used to enjoy the blog, I'd love you to join me over on Substack where I've posted my first article.

"Is my house making me angry?
Maybe.
We all certainly have aspects of our living environment that provoke negative feelings. There are still things about my own house that I’d like to improve for sure. I think a lot of us get stuck living in layouts and room sizes that once suited a previous generation, a property developer (don’t get me started on new builds) meaning we compromise our own modern day lifestyles."

How it's key to good interior design and spatial planning

19/06/2026

Good things come to those who wait.
Here’s a prime example from the project where the plan from the very start was to have a wrap around garden with their family home at the epicentre.
This low water footprint garden to the front of the property was the very last piece of the puzzle… and wow, wasn’t it worth waiting for!?
I spent a very lovely afternoon with Niki and Andrew sat on these very Palisade chairs, devouring a lovely lunch here whilst chatting all things design, builders and the realities of home renovations.
Listening to the water feature, watching the birds and bumble bees, being surround by greenery and sunshine - it really did feel like I was on holiday (for 90 minutes).
Thought you guys might like to see the view from the inside and a little video I took of the outside before I filled my face with food.

Garden design - .tailor
Project -
Interior Design - Making Spaces

16/06/2026

Four things I try NOT to post...

1. Pictures of toilets.
2. Pics using a wide angled lens.
3. Unfinished/un-styled room shots.
4. Pictures that have been run through ChatGPT in order to add a towel (sorry everyone, I just wanted to see what it would look like with a towel - pics 4 and 5)

But it’s , guys!
And the WC at the renovating_royston_vasey project has the prettiest sanitaryware I ever did see 🚽😍

With its French, antique hand painted Maurice Herbeau ‘Lille Fait’ basin and toilet cistern and pan - it really will be spoiling us. It’s even got its original gold Maurice Herbeau taps and waste.

The simple T&G panelling was elevated with this super cute Sausage and Pea moulding from DecWOOD Mouldings. Painted in Farrow & Ball Dutch Orange, it adds a little splash of colour.

As we didn’t have space for a full sized cornice to run across the top of the window architrave we also added some of their Bead and Wave cornice. At only 50mm high it’s a great option for those with limited space. The decorator absolutely loved painting all those individual beads orange 🍊

Panelling in Farrow & Ball - Farrow’s Cream, walls in White Tie

22/05/2026

Another kitchen today and another MakingSpacesXStudioNest project ❤️

The Harrogate Coach House kitchen completed in 2023 still looks as fresh today as it did then. I don’t think think I’ll ever not covet these Kai Kristiansen chairs.

Happy bank holiday weekend, friends! 😎

📷 (and me)
Architecture
Bespoke kitchen

14/05/2026

The spatial planning for the Wheatlands project was the key to creating this wonderful space. Once everything is where it needs to be, the interior design elements can follow seamlessly.
This was one of those projects. No revisions. Just a yes to everything. What a joy!

So here is my favourite part of sharing any project, and that is the before and after swipeathon. It’s here you can really see the difference.
You may notice on some of the before pics, I’ve annotated some initial thoughts and recommendations after the first consultation. then if you swipe you can see the end result.

For those that actually read the captions these days, here’s a more detailed breakdown of what we did:

- Removed a large cupboard situated in prime view of the garden
- Removed the ‘goal-post’ stud walls left over from a previous extension
- Vaulted a section of very low, flat ceiling and added a large rooflight to catch the south facing light
- Opened up the rear wall of the property and added a full wall of glazing which opens out onto the garden
- Exposed the steels from the previous owners extension to provide greater architectural interest and strong contrast to the softness of the cabinetry
- The lintel inside the chimney breast was raised to accommodate an extractor above the newly situation range cooker
- UFH was run throughout with family friendly, bomb proof LVT flooring - a must for a family with two toddlers and a good option for those not wanting mess about too much with floor levels. This is the Invictus Dryback Highland Oak
- The old doorway into the kitchen was blocked up and the fabulous new archway from the family room, now provides a clear view and pathway into the newly configured kitchen diner

Thank you to my lovely clients who let us capture these images and to for bringing to life the kitchen I had in my mind all along 😍

The Wheatlands project is on now up on the Making Spaces website - I’ll pop the link on my Stories if you’d like to see.

06/05/2026

Welcome to the Wheatlands Project - a complete reconfiguration and redesign of large open-plan kitchen/dining space in a 1920’s home.

Originally this kitchen was divided into three separate, dark and disconnected zones (prep space, cook space and cold food storage). The magical kitchen triangle was more of an octagon and the step count was high!

The solution was to open up the back of the house to create a new functional yet aesthetically balanced layout for the new home owners.

By removing a section of internal wall and vaulting the ceiling from a previous extension, the space is now filled with light and space. The new continuous glazing across the back of the house provides a generous view onto the south facing garden.

I designed a kitchen to feel more like furniture, with the marble island acting as a central meeting place. Rather than bookmarking the perimeter cabinets with tall rectangular cabinets, the design was softened with Art Deco inspired arched cabinets.

Using ’s Hammock and Chocolate for the island units, the whole design is elevated with the waterfall Arabescato Viola quartz from . The solid brass wiggle handles and arched motif add a contemporary twist to this classic shaker style kitchen. The proportions feel just right for this space. It was a pleasure to design and a pleasure to work with on another successful collaboration.

📷

22/04/2026

More bathroom eye candy for the grid, this time from the Collingham project which seems to be a regular reference from new project enquiries.

This bathroom for two primary school aged girlies really did have it all. Large freestanding bath, generous walk-in shower, vanity unit (with one drawer each - always important to have your own drawer!), additional storage for towels and loo rolls and of course the terrazzo for the grown up lady of the house 😊

10/04/2026

One of these bathrooms from our Eco House project with Retro to Eco was the 4th most saved bathroom on Houzz UK and Ireland in 2025 🎉 But which one was it?

1. The kiddo's house shower room with one of my fave tiles, the Pack range from PARKSIDE Tiles (now discontinued unfortunately, so you’ll have to get your Sharpie’s out)

2. The principal ensuite with freestanding bath, walk in shower and bespoke vanity area. Tiles for this room were the Truman range from PARKSIDE Tiles

3. The ground floor WC and guest ensuite with the beautiful Aqua glazed Hoxton tiles from Mandarin Stone

So, which one of these rooms helped Making Spaces bag a Best Of Houzz award for the 11th consecutive year? 🏆🤔