Dumbo may not be the most glamorous name, but the tiny neighbourhood in Brooklyn,
New York is a place you should definitely visit if you get the chance. Full of fabulous art galleries, restaurants and interesting shops, it has spectacular views of Manhattan and New York's beautiful bridges. Dumbo is actually an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, and it's here, overlooking the East River, that Swedish-born Sebastian Stubbe and his American girlfriend Karis Durmer now call home.

The couple had been searching for the perfect industrial warehouse to transform into their home. They had nearly given up hope finding it, when they heard through a friend of a friend about this old factory building in the heart of Dumbo. Although Dumbo is now a hive of artistic activity, at the time it was still somewhat undiscovered. Sebastian and Karis knew this was it. Rugged and dirty though it was, the building had large windows overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge, and a magical feel that was irresistible to them.

With a shared love of art and interiors the duo transformed the space into a gorgeous loft with a blend of Swedish, New York and London influences. I'm completely in love with it - the beautiful, clean Scandinavian aesthetics, with an industrial edge, and just a hint of quirkiness. The large mirror leaned casually against the wall, at first glance looks like another doorway in the living area.

Surrounded by an eclectic mix of art, the tv cleverly blends in rather than being the focal point. The bright green of the cabinet is echoed in the single green dining chair.

What can I say about the bathroom other than 'yum!' The combination of white tiles and soft grey marble creates a beautiful, subtle statement.

And the colour theme flows over into the luxuriously spacious toilet. Including a photo montage in the loo is another shot of personality in a room that can often be a bit sterile.

What do you think? Haven't Sebastian and Karis done a fantastic job?! - yes, yes, YES!

Kitchens are the heart of every home, a place where friends and family gather, where you cook, eat and entertain. Because we spend so much time in the kitchen we want it to not only look good, but also to make the best use of space, and to be practical. Therefore all that time slaving over a hot stove will be much more pleasurable! Finding the best design for your space is the key, so I'll run through some common layouts.

In a long rectangular room, you'll need a galley-style kitchen. In the picture above, the door at the end means less bench space, but brings light in and makes the space feel less enclosed. Keeping it all white adds to that sense of space, and the wall mounted cupboards provide plenty of much-needed storage.

The oven built in to the cabinetry keeps it sleek and streamlined.

This spacious L-shaped kitchen works well in a large room. The end bench acts as a divider between the kitchen and dining areas, while still being open so you can talk to your family or guests. The cupboards that flow on into the dining room are really practical. It means someone can be setting the table without getting in the way of the cook.

If you're lucky enough to have a really large kitchen area, you can have cupboards running around the outside on multiple walls, and an island bench in the centre. This farm-style kitchen is fantastic for a family, where lots of storage is important. The island can be used as extra bench space as well a place for the kids to sit.

This is an open plan version of the galley kitchen. One side is used for cooking and cleaning, and the island bench is practical for food preparation, while also providing extra storage.

The corner bench here is home to the sink, lots of cupboards, and acts as a seating area. Downlights under the wall cupboard are practical and ambient. It's the perfect spot for Mum to be preparing dinner while the kids do their homework, and the curved bench and cupboards are a nice contrast to all the straight lines. At the back of the kitchen the large cooking and food storage, and French doors to an outside patio make it a great entertaining kitchen as well - a truly multi-purpose space.

With a little planning, and deciding what functions are most important in your family, you can design a kitchen perfect for your needs. Thanks to Wren Kitchens for all their traditional kitchen images.