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News
by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 16, 2019
Sallyann Cox used her creative talents to extend a small bungalow and make the most of the delightful coastal views.
Idon’t want to live in a bungalow – I’m not ready for that!’ was interior decorator, stylist and maker Sallyann Cox’s reaction when her husband R ichard suggested it. It was back when the couple were regularly spending a few months at a time sailing around Greece and knew a lock-up-andleave home would fit the bill. The idea became a sad necessity, however, when Richard was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and had to use a wheelchair. ‘We’d looked at so many places, none of which were suitable,’ remembers Sallyann. Finally, and with no real enthusiasm, she went to see a small, two-bedroom bungalow almost untouched for nearly 50 years and had a change of heart. ‘During the viewing, I walked into the cluttered garage and noticed a tiny window on the side – one glimpse at the view and I realised there was so much untapped potential here,’ she recalls. The house itself had effectively been built facing away from ever-changing views across fields to the Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary much beloved by the couple. ‘I knew that by doing some rejigging to the garage, I would be able to make a special place where Richard could enjoy sitting and watching the ebb and flow of the tides, and the boats down on the water – it would be a nourishing environment.’ In the end, Richard was not able to move in as his illness progressed quickly, but, after his death, Sallyann decided to continue with their plans. ‘It was very hard to be there without him and, for the first couple of years, I didn’t do much at all apart from replacing the bedroom window with French doors onto a little balcony; I had a constant need to get outside rather than be cooped up, so opening up the house as much as I could became a priority.’ Two years later, when she felt able, Sallyann began work on the rest of the house. The garage and carport were demolished and replaced with a sleek extension. ‘I knew I wanted an open-plan space where I could cook, eat and relax,’ she says. The original rooms were reorganised making an extra bedroom and guest bathroom, as well as a large, bright hall where Sallyann makes lighting and mirrors from items she salvages on nearby beaches. ‘I’ve always been drawn to the sea, whether living on it or near it and I’m always out collecting all manner of things!’ Her creative eye has also been used on the interiors. ‘I’ve designed and decorated shops and restaurants in the past, invariably in vivid colours with a Mediterranean influence, but in this house, I’ve been more restrained with lots of neutrals. I decided to think of it as a blank canvas that I could add to or remove from if I felt like a change.’ There are still pops of colour evident in the soft furnishings and the odd wild wallpaper and vintage find. ‘I used to have a lot more furniture and general “stuff” but we sold practically everything when we went off sailing. I had to start again which is surprisingly cathartic, if expensive!’ Renovating the house also proved to be a turning point. ‘It was completed in nine months and I barely had time to think about much else as there were so many decisions to be made but it was good to engage with something,’ she says. So has Sallyann been converted to bungalow life? ‘I actually feel really lucky to live here,’ she says. ‘The house makes for such easy living and with beautiful views, too – it’s an absolute privilege.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 15, 2019
Geri O’Toole and Cathal Glynn pooled their skills to turn a derelict cottage into a bright family home.
Design is in Geri O’Toole’s DNA. Her father set up a furniture retailer in Limerick named Browsers, which Geri runs today, and her late mother was an interior designer for the business. Geri’s childhood was steeped in swatches, mood boards, antiques and fortuitous saleroom finds. ‘I used to work in the shop during the holidays. I just loved being there,’ says Geri, who now also runs her own interior design business, Geri Designs, from the shop. She found her match in her husband Cathal Glynn, a joiner whose skills proved useful when the couple bought a ramshackle, single-storey cottage in Castletroy five years ago. ‘Mountshannon House was built in the 18th century and burned down in the Twenties. Our house was built on the estate after the fire,’ explains Geri. ‘The property was derelict when we first saw it. But we like a challenge, so we bought it.’ The couple – who have a four-year-old son, Finley – have transformed the house, knocking through to create an open-plan kitchen-diner/living area on the ground floor. They extended up to the roof space to create an additional floor with two bedrooms and a bathroom. ‘We didn’t need planning permission because we stuck with the original footprint,’ says Geri. Instead of adding a third bedroom upstairs, Geri reconfigured the floor plan to include a vaulted ceiling, adding unexpected drama to the living area downstairs. She designed the new staircase using urban materials that contrast with the wide oak beam, salvaged from a hotel in Cork owned by Geri’s father, and exposed brick walls, which lend a rustic warmth to the area. ‘I wanted to balance the clean lines and modernity with natural materials – I don’t like too much perfection,’ says Geri. Cathal made sash windows using the original weights, and the existing brick fireplace downstairs was restored. ‘We tried to preserve as much of the old building as possible. I love these original features; they give the house soul,’ says Geri. An understated palette underpins the calm, light feel of the home. Monochrome tranquillity abounds upstairs, where a roll-top bath sits against walls papered in a motif of swirling clouds. ‘I love the way the wallpaper makes me feel as though I’m floating up on high.’ The pale backdrop is warmly sprinkled with antiques and heirlooms gathered by Geri and Cathal over the years. Silvered mirrors illuminate the sitting area, soft Persian rugs adorn the floors, and modern artworks by Irish artists, such as Markey Robinson, enhance the rooms. ‘The way we decorate has changed so much. People used to stick to one look, but nowadays we’re more open to mixing and matching,’ says Geri. Nearby, a set of dilapidated outbuildings are in need of attention. Geri and Cathal have various ideas: the barns might become a holiday rental, or a workshop. Whatever their decision, one thing is clear: a transformation is in store.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 14, 2019
Magnus Pettersen and Ella Jones gave a tired Victorian property a contemporary twist with a clever use of vibrant colours and natural materials.
When Magnus Pettersen and Ella Jones upsized from a small modern townhouse to a larger London property, they were looking for a project. The couple, who met 10 years ago, had completed three renovations before buying this three-bedroom Victorian terrace. ‘Its converted loft, extended kitchen and big garden were huge draws for us,’ explains Ella. They also loved the location on a tree-lined road. ‘It’s very peaceful and close to lots of green space,’ she adds. Used for shared occupancy for years, the house was severely neglected, with strippedout period features and a confused groundfloor layout. ‘There was a bathroom in the middle of the sitting room,’ Ella recalls. Magnus is an award-winning product designer and Ella is a fashion designer working for global brands, so they brought a strong creative vision to reimagine the property. They lived on-site throughout the year-long renovation, acting as interior designers and project managers. Magnus and Ella worked alongside their builders, who were also able to complete all of the carpentry to a high standard. Knocking down the internal walls at ground level turned small rooms into bright, open-plan living spaces. The couple were keen to lay concrete flooring, so they dropped the floor level at the front of the house to meet the kitchen, where there had been a step down. They also moved the kitchen units and added double doors out to the garden and a skylight window above. To fit the supporting beam for the window, they had to move the staircase. ‘The old stairs were rickety and falling to bits,’ explains Ella. So the couple designed a new staircase for the builders to make. ‘They also made the kitchen unit doors that we planned to look more like furniture than a fitted kitchen,’ explains Ella. Keen travellers Magnus and Ella have filled their home with treasures from their trips and many of their interior ideas come from abroad. Throughout, beautiful Moroccan rugs add warmth and texture. The rugs are all from Ella’s extensive collection, which she sells in her east London shop, A New Tribe. A visit to Japan in 2017 influenced their design of the wood and reeded glass partitions that partially divide the kitchen and sitting room, while also framing the area by the front door where the hallway originally stood. ‘The reeded glass panels are a nod to mid-century open-plan homes and create a subtle division with a lighter effect than solid walls,’ says Ella. Inspired by the Swiss-French architect, Le Corbusier, the couple planned their colour palette using his Colour System, where every hue can be combined. The vivid blue wall in the kitchen-diner helps to zone the space and contrasts with the earthy neutrals, greys and blacks used elsewhere. On the first floor, they turned a bedroom into a bathroom, removing the ceiling to fit a pitched roof and adding a large window. The bathroom walls were finished with the tadelakt-style lime-based plaster typical of Moroccan bathrooms, and the pair designed a reeded glass shower screen to echo the ground-floor partitions. ‘Completely transforming a property is so satisfying,’ Ella says. ‘But it was such hard work. Next year we’re planning a holiday instead.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 13, 2019
Victoria Gedge’s goal was to preserve her home’s history while making it practical for modern living.
The one thing Victoria Gedge noticed when she viewed her future home for the first time was its smell. ‘I said: “We must buy it, because it smells like a National Trust property”,’ she says. ‘My husband Dale replied: “Damp is what you can smell,” but I was sold.’ They were looking to upsize after their wedding in 2013, as their current home could no longer provide enough storage to suit their needs. The couple were keen to remain in the same area of Norwich, but were on the hunt for a house with three bedrooms and a hallway entrance. ‘The type of property we had in mind isn’t hard to come across in Norwich, however there weren’t many within our price bracket,’ says Victoria. ‘Each one we viewed required a compromise of either size or location, until – unbelievably – we found our dream home right around the corner for an affordable price. It seemed too good to be true.’ Victoria and Dale made an offer the very same day, but it had already been sold. Disappointed and disheartened, they put their search on hold and even considered a loft conversion in their current home instead, but the universe had other plans for them. ‘By chance, we were walking along a tiny one-way street near the city centre one day and saw a “For Sale” sign poking out of the bush in a front garden,’ Victoria recalls. ‘We went straight on Rightmove to see the price, but it was way over our budget. We viewed it anyway, and I fell completely in love with it.’ Dale needed a little more convincing, though the promise of a games room in the cellar sealed the deal, and after some negotiating they managed to secure the house. But the excitement – or, more accurately, drama – was far from over. Victoria and Dale moved in just before Christmas to no double glazing and just a smattering of radiators. ‘I remember being completely freezing while wrapping gifts, and using candles to try and heat the living room,’ says Victoria. The house required seemingly endless work, and being Grade II listed only made matters more complicated. Consent was required for many a project to begin, while some renovations were off the cards altogether. The chimney, which Victoria had planned to restore in order to install a log burner, was a gust of wind away from collapsing onto the roof, and a leaking tap in the upstairs bathroom saw the entire room and ground floor hallway flooded. By far the biggest challenge was renovating the cellar. To solve its damp issues, the couple decided to get the room tanked, but despite being given the go-ahead in advance, a conservation officer – who turned up at the house unannounced after the procedure – informed them that they needed to apply for listed building consent, which would see work put on hold for six weeks. ‘During that time we had some extreme rain and the tanking failed,’ says Victoria. ‘The new floors had wet patches and the plaster was soaking, but the company completely washed their hands of it. I think my tears could have flooded the rest of the house.’ With basement woes eventually resolved and an extension underway that meant rejigging their brand newkitchen, Victoria took on the master bedroom. ‘As I was deciding on what to do with the floor and furniture, Dale was flying out to Sierra Leone as an NHS medic to assist with the Ebola crisis,’ she recalls. ‘I decided that I could at least have the bedroom completed for when he returned.’ Friends and family popped by to pick up a paintbrush and pour cups of tea, and the room quickly came together. Restoring their charming home has been a labour of love, and while the house isn’t quite finished, it has a whole new identity that is classic in style and sympathetic to its history. Plus, both Victoria and Dale adore it. ‘A house which throws as many curveballs as this one could test any relationship, but we’ve laughed and cried our way through the renovations together, and have come out the other side still as happy as we were when we purchased it,’ says Victoria.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 11, 2019
Elisabeth and Aldo Ciarrocchi’s inviting family home makes the most of its industial heritage.
Elisabeth and Aldo Ciarrocchi’s daughter Isabella, now 11, was a toddler when they began house hunting, and Elisabeth was pregnant with their younger daughter Piera, now eight. ‘We were living in small flat not far away, and all we knew was that we needed something larger for our family,’ says Elisabeth. ‘We both liked the idea of warehouse-style living and as soon as we walked in here, we fell in love with it.’ When the Ciarrocchis got the keys to the property, it was desperately in need of some TLC. ‘The ground floor was covered in laminate and there was a basketball hoop hanging from one of the posts,’ Elisabeth reveals. ‘The kitchen was cluttered with wall cabinets and it had a low bulkhead ceiling to accommodate the sunken bath in the bathroom above.’ After moving in nine years ago, and replacing the flooring throughout with reclaimed wooden floorboards sourced from Crosby Hall in London’s Cheyne Walk, the couple delayed renovations until 2016. ‘It was important for us to live in the space first, so that we could discover the best way it would work for us,’ says Elisabeth, who together with Aldo, runs reclamation business Encore Reclamation. In this time, they tried to find an architect who would assimilate their ideas. ‘We met with five architects,’ says Elisabeth. ‘They were all great, but one in particular seemed to really listen and understood that we wanted to keep things simple, plus he is local, which was handy when it came to picking up samples. When we were ready to start work, we had a very clear idea of what we wanted, so the internal design became a real collaborative effort.’ The layout of the large double-height living space didn’t change, but has been made more flexible. In conjunction with Space Group Architects, Elisabeth designed the kitchen peninsular unit so that it could be moved around to work as an island when she fancied a change of scene, and when the space needed to be opened up for entertaining. The dining table was put on wheels for the same reason. On the first floor, the walls were pushed back to widen the mezzanine, and the vast bathroom was divided into two to create an en suite to the children’s bedroom. The internal windows within each room that open on to the mezzanine were also repositioned and widened to draw in more light. The budget was tight, but Elisabeth’s desire to retain the building’s factory feel helped keep costs down. ‘I like the unfinished look,’ she says. ‘Whenever the builders wanted to put the finishing touches on something, I told them not to. I didn’t want anything to look sleek and polished.’ She also applied these design principles to the kitchen units. ‘As the builders were running behind schedule, they fitted the kitchen door fronts temporarily, for Christmas,’ she explains. ‘The plan was to take them off and paint them later. But once they were fitted in their pure MDF moistureresistant state, and finished with shellac we liked how they looked. The kitchen fitter thought I was crazy, but he’s grown to like the style, too, and is fitting similar kitchens elsewhere!’ When it came to furnishing the property, most of the vintage pieces were sourced from eBay, and Elisabeth and Aldo also picked up bits and pieces from car-boot sales and through their reclamation work. Now that the renovation is finished, the couple are delighted that their vision for the apartment has become a reality. ‘We really wouldn’t have done anything differently,’ says Elisabeth. ‘It’s perfect for us as a family.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 10, 2019
A Toronto designer escapes an overheated housing market and creates her own perfect weekend escape on the cooler shores of Lake Huron.
I just knew this was it!” says Toronto designer Tiffany Piotrowski, describing her first visit to the cottage. “It was only the second property I saw, and I put in an offer right away.” Other prospective buyers with less imagination may not have felt the same way. The interior left much to be desired, with dark wood panelling, popcorn ceilings, and orange and brown patterned carpeting. However, the location couldn’t be beat: the 800-square-foot cottage was just two blocks from the beautiful beaches of Lake Huron and a five-minute walk to the main street of Sauble Beach, a small town in southwestern Ontario. In 2018, the principal designer of Tiffany Leigh Design had expanded her Toronto property hunt out to cottage country as she searched for more affordable real estate. She envisioned a place that could be a weekend getaway, as well as a desirable Airbnb property — renting it out could recoup some of her renovation and mortgage expenses. “Looking at other listings in the area, I saw a gap in the market for an updated, aesthetically pleasing cottage rental,” she says.
MAKEOVER
To keep the budget under control, Tiffany and her parents tackled most of the work themselves, going up on weekends to paint, and install tile and new laminate flooring. The deck off the kitchen was expanded to make more room for outdoor grilling, and Tiffany uncovered flagstone on the property, which she used to pave an area for a cosy firepit. Cottage ownership did come with some unforeseen — and expensive — surprises: ripping up the carpeting exposed asbestos tile, which required professional abatement. The property also uses well water, which is high in iron and can stain bathtubs and sinks a rusty red. “We had to install an iron filtration system and a new septic system, which was pricier than we had anticipated,” says Tiffany. Despite these bumps in the road, she kept her vision firmly in mind. “I didn’t want it to look too traditional and cottagey. I wanted it to feel more coastal, like a beach house.” She kept to a soothing palette of whites and soft blues and natural textures of jute, seagrass and rattan. Many of the furnishings are thrift store finds given new life with a coat of paint. “I don’t think furniture at a cottage should be too precious — little nicks and dings are fine and give it a relaxed feel,” says Tiffany. After nearly a year of renovations, the cottage is now open for business and booked solid for the summer. “I might get to use it in September!” she says with a laugh.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 09, 2019
Emma Hatfield Watkins’ use of a subtle palette and thoughtful touches brought the character back to her elegant, much-loved 18th-century property.
When Emma Hatfield Watkins’ husband, Iain, was a teenager and mowing his neighbour’s lawn to earn pocket money, he never imagined that, one day, he would buy the house he’d often admired from across the garden. Over the years, the property, which is surrounded by barns, has witnessed a number of reincarnations. ‘During the Seventies, an occupant sold the house and moved into one of the barns which they’d converted,’ explains Emma. ‘The surrounding garden was then divided up between the two owners.’ In the late Eighties, Iain’s family bought that barn and he converted the adjoining stables into his first home. When Emma and Iain got together in 2004, she moved into the stables with Iain. Captivated by the tranquillity and charm of this idyllic, rural location, a year later, when the pair discovered that the adjacent house was on the market, the news instantly piqued their interest. ‘Although the stables were great, we needed more space,’ says Emma. ‘This was a chance to bring both gardens back into the same family and own a wonderful home, while living close to Iain’s parents.’ Having dug deep, Emma, an interior designer who owns Hattie Hatfield Decorative Antiques & Interiors, and tree surgeon Iain, bought the property. ‘Although the house was lovely, most of the original fireplaces had been blocked up during the Seventies, and, somehow, with all the changes that had occurred over the years, it seemed to have lost its sense of identity,’ says Emma. Keen to inject the house with the character and soul they felt was lacking, the couple began their sensitive restoration project. The first room to be updated was the Nineties kitchen. ‘We replaced the dark ceramic floor tiles with limestone flooring, which we continued into the hall to give a sense of cohesion and lighten the spaces,’ explains Emma. Iain removed a small gas fire in the kitchen and spent weeks painstakingly building a stone fireplace from scratch. ‘This was the first of five previously bricked-up fireplaces to be reinstated,’ says Emma. Not long after the kitchen was finished, the pair were forced to turn their attention to the bedrooms. ‘One day, I walked in to hear the sound of gushing water and, on closer inspection, found that a header tank in the loft was overflowing,’ says Emma. ‘The carpets in two of the bedrooms and landing were soaked. ‘Fortunately, I caught the problem before the water ruined the new kitchen and, luckily, only the ceiling in that room was damaged.’ Once the repair work was completed, Emma was able to focus on the decor for the bedrooms. ‘I felt warm, muted colours would work well to create a calm, relaxed feel, so I chose a subdued palette with lots of layering to inject depth and interest,’ she says. Over the years, the pair have poured their hearts into creating a home full of antiques. ‘Iain has turned his hand to everything from the plumbing and electrics to building work,’ says Emma. The house has constantly evolved, particularly since the arrival of Tillia, now nine, and Tobias, now seven. ‘When the children came along, Iain turned an annexe into a snug and added a home office,’ says Emma. This hard-working couple’s devotion to their restoration has culminated in an exquisite home that’s welcoming and sophisticated yet family friendly. ‘Iain and I feel incredibly privileged to play even a small part in its rich history,’ says Emma. ‘It’s wonderful to see the children running carefree across the lawns with our dog, Hattie. It was clearly a great investment of Iain’s time all those years ago.
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Black Concept: Luxurious and Incorruptible
by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 07, 2019
Black accents in bathroom design are modern and appear luxurious – they contribute to the bathroom with an incorruptible character. KEUCO offers a new finish in brushedblack where the furniture of EDITION 11 is concerned. The unobtrusive and rectilinear design of EDITION 11 furniture is characterized by an optic without handles. In addition to the vanity units, sideboards, highboards and lowboards are available with this new special finish. The noble matt black look exudes a secretive extravagance and at the same time gives the bathroom a comforting atmosphere. The haptic eminent, cosy, velvet matt quality is reflected in a special insensitivity and easy care. Perfectly matched: The velvet matt gloss finish of the furniture, with a slight metallic shimmer, perfectly match the exclusive IXMO shower fittings as well as EDITION 400 and EDITION 11 fittings and accessories in brushed black chrome. The washbasin fittings are the centre of attraction positioned on the white ceramic washbasins of the edition – not only that, but they present an elegant contrast. The ROYAL LUMOS light mirror with a black all-round anodized rim is a shining highlight. Two LED illuminating sources – main illumination and washbasin illumination – these can be dimmed intuitively via the control panel and at the same time offers the possibility to set the light colour variably. A practical mirror heating and a sound system are optional extras. The iLook_move cosmetic mirror with its brushed black PVD surface is the finishing touch to the dark accentuated bathroom design. The syntonized design and consistent matt black finishes with a metallic look guarantee a luxurious KEUCO bathroom design where sophisticated interior design is concerned.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 06, 2019
WEATHERBOARD WALLS AND WHITEWASHED INTERIORS HAVE BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO A FIFTIES HOUSE, TRANSFORMING IT INTO A RELAXED COUNTRY HOME WITH AN EAST COAST FEEL.
With its weatherboard cladding, peak-roofed dormer windows and Atlantic grey exterior paint, this house would look at home in a New England town on America’s East Coast. In fact, it’s tucked down a narrow track in a hamlet in the heart of the Chiltern Hills, close to Marlow and with views across open countryside. It’s home to Sue and Tony Blakeley, who spotted it three years ago when property renovation expert Sue was looking for a new project. ‘We’ve lived in the Buckinghamshire countryside since our boys – who are both adults now – were tiny,’ says Sue. ‘Our previous five renovations became family homes that we lived in over three decades. When we saw this house, with its paddock, the location and views were a big attraction.’ Inside, the decor was very dated, with dark brown carpets, lino floors and exposed brick walls. Still, Sue could see the house’s potential. It was a huge project that she had to fit in around her work commitments. ‘We lived through all the changes, escaping to our bolthole in France whenever it became too manic!’ Over the next three years, Sue reconfigured the layout and project managed the build. Plans involved knocking through three reception rooms to create a spacious 100sq m kitchen-diner, which is filled with light from four double doors at opposite sides of the space, crafted by a local joinery company. Sue and Tony also created a snug at the far end, in place of the double garage that previously adjoined the kitchen. ‘The butcher’s block came from our lovely local butcher Nick, who was refurbishing his shop in West Wycombe at the time,’ says Sue. ‘I had the island custom-made out of quartz stone, so it’s the same width as the butchers block, and I’m a big fan of Neptune’s pantry cupboards. ‘There was a lot of wasted space in the loft, so we took the roof off and put in dormer windows on both sides to maximise the beautiful countryside views where there previously weren’t any,’ adds Sue. ‘This helped create the New England style, together with an insulated and weatherboard cladding exterior. Parts have also been rendered and painted grey, and we used reclaimed tiles and bricks to create a more aged appearance.’ In the living room, a wood burner, wall of books and walls painted in a dramatic punch of colour, with soft pink throws and scatter cushions, create a warm atmosphere. Upstairs, Sue chose a soothing, neutral backdrop for the bedrooms, adding pops of colour with accessories and furnishings. ‘I’ve always loved the colour grey, it’s a calm tone to live with and I’m known for using a lot of it in my projects,’ says Sue. ‘I’m inspired by classic English design and French influences and I feel passionate about breathing new life into beautiful old buildings or neglected properties.’ The garden was largely a blank slate when they arrived, with a few raised timber beds and an overgrown field at the rear. Sue has designed a traditional parterre garden at the front, with clipped box hedging, box balls and olive trees. ‘The front is a lovely spot to sit and enjoy a coffee or a G&T as it catches the last of the evening sun,’ she says. The raised lawn area near the orchard and paddock at the rear is surrounded by mature trees and open countryside. Here, Sue has designed an alfresco dining area, with a Big Green Egg barbecue, lanterns and furniture from her own garden collection. Sue and Tony also enjoy spending downtime at their holiday home in the Dordogne, where Sue is fond of attending local brocantes to hunt out French-style pieces for her projects and her home. But, despite her busy work schedule, Sue always finds time to enjoy her own home and garden with friends and family. ‘What I’ve really loved about this project is that I’ve been able to install so many sets of glazed doors to bring the outside in.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 03, 2019
THE BACKSTORY
When deciding whether or not to renovate your kitchen, there are always reasons to put it off — despite growing collections of dog-eared magazines. For the couple who live in this Vancouver home with their oneyear-old son, having an open-concept kitchen with plenty of seating and kid-friendly finishes were the main motivators to finally take the plunge. “At the top of their list was a large island with seating and a designated bar area,” says designer Melanie Finkleman, who runs the Vancouver firm Hazel + Brown Design with her husband, Ben. With three boys of her own, Melanie was the perfect person to design a pretty kitchen that can withstand a few punches. Kid-proof quartz composite countertops are offset with a luxe Calacatta marble tile on the backsplash, where it’s less likely to get stained or dinged. “I used white for the counters and walls to create the illusion of boundless space,” says Melanie. Engineered white oak flooring is easy to maintain through the “uh-oh” moments a family throws at it. “The woods help balance the sophisticated finishes, creating a relaxed aesthetic,” she adds. Overall, the space is light and airy. “My favourite thing about this kitchen is how warm and welcoming it feels. This is definitely a place to enjoy spending time with friends and family.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 02, 2019
Janet and Paul Gleeson have filled their south Dorset village house with an eclectic assortment of antiques, modern art and trophies from their travels.
The first thing I remember about the house was walking into the drawing room and thinking, “This is fabulous”,’ says Janet Gleeson of the moment she and husband Paul first viewed the house that would become their family’s Dorset home. ‘It was a big step because we had always lived in London. We hardly knew anyone in Dorset and until then we’d worried we were doing the wrong thing. But the children had left home and we wanted a complete change and at that moment the realisation that this was the house was instantaneous – like falling in love.’ The three-storeyed red brick house hides behind a high wall in the centre of a picturesque Dorset village, not far from the coast. It was built c1760, to a conventionally symmetrical Georgian plan. A central corridor once led to the staircase, with two rooms on either side on each floor, and a servants’ attic. ‘Then, in the early 19th century, the owners must have wanted to aggrandise the house, so they added a new wing to the south, moving the front door, and installing a new columned porch made from local Purbeck stone. As a result, the layout became quite unusual. The stairs are now slightly oddly placed off centre, but we have a wonderfully spacious drawing room,’ explains Janet. The house was altered again in the early 20th century, when another wing was added to the north for a larger kitchen and more servants’ bedrooms. ‘It was probably around that time the panelling was installed in the drawing room. It gives the room its richness,’ says Janet. This is the backdrop for paintings that the couple have collected over the years.
Janet started her working life at Sotheby’s, later worked at Bonhams and as an editor for Miller’s Guides and now works on the Antiques Roadshow. The couple have always loved going to junk shops, auctions and galleries. ‘Our taste has shifted over the years, from 19th-century prints, watercolours and oils, to more modern works and anything with a local connection. One of our recent additions was a pair of oils of the local coastline by Elizabeth Muntz, an artist who lived in the neighbouring village and is buried in the churchyard.’ Janet is also fond of colonial furniture, having been born in Sri Lanka. ‘The Ceylonese-Dutch cabinet in the hall was inherited from my grandmother, but I bought the 19th-century specimen table that was made in Ceylon (as it was then) in a local sale. The table was in pieces and had to be carefully restored,’ she recalls. The couple also like to contrast old and new, so the door to the drawing room is framed by abstract silk screens by John Hoyland and Albert Irvin that hang above a pair of Georgian-style demi-lune walnut tables. Janet’s career changed direction when she left the salesrooms to become a writer. The study is where much of her working day is spent. Her favourite auction purchase is the huge bookcase that fills one wall. ‘I broke all my own rules – I bought it having not viewed the sale, on the telephone. I had measured the wall where it was to go, but I forgot to allow for the fact the skirtings protrude by several inches. I realised this only when the bookcase was delivered and we started to install it. Fortunately we were able to unscrew an electric socket and squeezed it in. It now looks as though it was made for the room!’ The couple are keen travellers and mementoes of various trips are dotted throughout the house. A model sailing ship in the dining room provides a dramatic focal point at one end of the room. ‘It isn’t as old as it looks. We bought it 10 years ago, in Hôi An in Vietnam. We went into a workshop – I thought we were going to buy a small carving, but Paul saw this and had it shipped over, saying he would keep it in his office. It was so big it wouldn’t fit, so here it has been ever since,’ says Janet. Upstairs, the bedrooms are furnished in a traditional style, with heavy linen curtains, antique and vintage furniture, some bought at auction or from dealers and other pieces inherited. ‘Our friends and children, who are all based in London, are always coming to stay. Our daughter was married in the garden, and now there are grandchildren too. The house has been perfect for gatherings and is so much a part of our family life it’s hard to remember a time when we didn’t live here. But recently we’ve had the urge for a new challenge, so we are moving to a derelict medieval barn, which in time we’ll turn into a very different home.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 31, 2019
LYNDA REEVES EXPLORES A RECIPE THAT MIXES IT UP.
Kitchen design has a way of bringing out strong opinions in many of us. Everyone has their view on exactly what they don’t like, plus a list of things they’re considering but wonder about. The investment is always big and the results permanent, so deciding what materials to use is especially critical in a kitchen renovation. Inevitably, the kitchens I gravitate to are handsome, with some classic detailing, heavy polished hardware, some feature appliances like a great range, a mix of painted and natural wood cabinets and always counters and backsplashes of natural stone — soapstone, granite, slate or marble — plus oiled or varnished woods. For the longest time, I’ve only ever considered real marble with a honed or half-honed finish for my own kitchen designs. Believing that imperfections and the inevitable scratches and stains would only enhance the patina of honed marble counters, I wouldn’t even consider a man-made alternative. But then, I also thought that jeans had to be 100 per cent cotton denim with no synthetic mix, and only pure linen pants would do, no matter how much better a little bit of Lycra could make them fit. I’ve totally changed my tune, just in time to avoid a dinosaur designation, because not seeing the huge advantages of today’s alternative materials would be crazy. Engineered stone is any man-made materialthat mimics stone. Itincludes brand names such as Caesarstone and Silestone, both manufactured from quartz and resin. The advantage to these surfaces is that they aren’t porous so they don’t absorb liquid, they don’t stain and rarely scratch, and they come in a huge number of great finishes with a wide range of textures and colours, including subtle shades from nature. You can create a larger surface with no seams than you can using natural stone. Even the biggest real marble slabs won’t cover a whole kitchen without multiple seams. The granddaddy of all composite solid surfaces is Corian, DuPont’s brand name for its groundbreaking material that debuted in 1971, which is now offered in more than 100 colours and can be installed to look virtually seamless.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 30, 2019
A relaxed approach to contemporary coastal style brings a sense of ease to this Palm Beach estate.
Cocktail dresses and formally arranged table settings are one way to throw a party, but sometimes entertaining is about inviting your guests to kick their feet up on the ottoman, throwing open the French doors to welcome in the breeze, and sharing wine and conversation while you chop vegetables at the kitchen island.That laidback—yet still elegant—approach to entertaining is exactly what interior designer Jennifer Knowles envisioned when she outfitted the interiors of this waterfront Florida home built by Malasky Homes. “Palm Beach has very classic leanings, and the people here love to entertain,” Knowles says. “We wanted to be in keeping with that classic approach while bridging the gap between casual and formal.” The inviting atmosphere begins at the front entrance, where guests are greeted by a “welcoming arms” staircase, a hallmark of the Bermudan architectural style that defines the home’s exterior. Inside, lengthy rooms, such as the 32-foot-long formal living room, are divided into intimate groupings to facilitate conversation. Generous windows, French doors, and balconies offer remarkable views of the Intracoastal Waterway on three sides and welcome the Florida sunshine into every room. “The entire house truly is awash in light,” Knowles says. “It doesn’t matter what time of day you’re there.” Rich millwork details and intricate ceiling treatments draw the eye upward to visually expand relatively low ceilings, a height requirement set by Palm Beach’s architectural review board. In fact, the first-floor ceilings top off at just a little under 10 feet, but exquisite millwork—such as the Art Deco-inspired pattern on the living room ceiling—stretches the visual height of rooms. Though the details are elaborate, Knowles achieved a crisp, clean look by painting each ceiling white. Walnut herringbone floors and tailored furnishings reinforce the home’s classic sensibility, while dashes of modern flair, supplied by abstract art and polished-nickel accents, prevent the home from feeling too traditional. “Mixing contemporary touches with classic lines keeps it fresh and timeless,” Knowles says. The result is a home that effortlessly toggles between black-tie events and impromptu gatherings with friends. “You’re sitting on the sofa looking out to the pool, then beyond to the water and the beautiful boats,” Knowles says. “You put your feet up on the upholstered ottoman and you just don’t want to leave.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 30, 2019
A relaxed approach to contemporary coastal style brings a sense of ease to this Palm Beach estate.
Cocktail dresses and formally arranged table settings are one way to throw a party, but sometimes entertaining is about inviting your guests to kick their feet up on the ottoman, throwing open the French doors to welcome in the breeze, and sharing wine and conversation while you chop vegetables at the kitchen island.That laidback—yet still elegant—approach to entertaining is exactly what interior designer Jennifer Knowles envisioned when she outfitted the interiors of this waterfront Florida home built by Malasky Homes. “Palm Beach has very classic leanings, and the people here love to entertain,” Knowles says. “We wanted to be in keeping with that classic approach while bridging the gap between casual and formal.” The inviting atmosphere begins at the front entrance, where guests are greeted by a “welcoming arms” staircase, a hallmark of the Bermudan architectural style that defines the home’s exterior. Inside, lengthy rooms, such as the 32-foot-long formal living room, are divided into intimate groupings to facilitate conversation. Generous windows, French doors, and balconies offer remarkable views of the Intracoastal Waterway on three sides and welcome the Florida sunshine into every room. “The entire house truly is awash in light,” Knowles says. “It doesn’t matter what time of day you’re there.” Rich millwork details and intricate ceiling treatments draw the eye upward to visually expand relatively low ceilings, a height requirement set by Palm Beach’s architectural review board. In fact, the first-floor ceilings top off at just a little under 10 feet, but exquisite millwork—such as the Art Deco-inspired pattern on the living room ceiling—stretches the visual height of rooms. Though the details are elaborate, Knowles achieved a crisp, clean look by painting each ceiling white. Walnut herringbone floors and tailored furnishings reinforce the home’s classic sensibility, while dashes of modern flair, supplied by abstract art and polished-nickel accents, prevent the home from feeling too traditional. “Mixing contemporary touches with classic lines keeps it fresh and timeless,” Knowles says. The result is a home that effortlessly toggles between black-tie events and impromptu gatherings with friends. “You’re sitting on the sofa looking out to the pool, then beyond to the water and the beautiful boats,” Knowles says. “You put your feet up on the upholstered ottoman and you just don’t want to leave.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 29, 2019
A thoughtful renovation finds the sweet spot between architectural heritage and modern-day convenience.
Ben and Jenna Sietsema’s newly purchased 1921 Dutch Colonial had a lot going for it— especially if you didn’t venture inside. Located on a channel between two lakes and backing up to 12 acres of wooded park, the house with its barnlike gambrel roof and flared eaves turned heads in an East Grand Rapids, Michigan, neighborhood of traditionalstyle homes. “The lines of the home were just terrific, so the goal was to keep the exterior as close to the original as possible while updating the interiors,” says interior designer Jean Stoffer, who teamed with architect Jeff Visser on the project.The directives: Play up the farmhouse feel in a light-filled, modern way and connect the interiors with their nature-rich surrounds. New shutters, copper gutters, asphalt shingles, and a front porch honor the architecture’s roots, while a fresh coat of black paint on the rebuilt sunroom and window muntins provides a subtle modern twist. Determined to minimize additions, Visser bumped out the garage to add a large mudroom, then reconfigured space (including a large 1990s addition) to improve flow. Updating the back exterior with three sets of French doors, a screen porch, and an outdoor kitchen achieved the couple’s desire to better engage the house with the land. Inside, Stoffer balanced requests for welcoming, kid-friendly spaces with Jenna’s modern preferences and Ben’s rustic bent. Reclaimed beams kick-started the design, bringing a warmth that made Ben and Jenna feel at home. Engineered European white-oak floors, worryfree quartz countertops, and fingerprint-disguising navy kitchen cabinetry bolster a stylish yet carefree mood. Throughout the home, design dances between classic and modern. Inset flat-panel kitchen cabinetry, wall moldings, and a limestone fireplace keep one foot in the past; a stunning waterfall countertop, a mix of dazzling light fixtures, and a palette of charcoals, blues, and greens move to a more contemporary beat. “What we really enjoy about the house is that it’s sophisticated in some ways, yet at the end of the day it is warm and practical—not pretentious,” Ben says.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 21, 2019
Practicality was paramount for Charlotte and Leigh Bowen, but they still managed to combine clean looks with good design
After buying an unremarkable seaside Sixties bungalow on the West Sussex coast that was in need of serious TLC, Charlotte and Leigh Bowen were confident they could turn it into a coastal home packed with style. ‘We wanted a home here as it’s a special place to us,’ says Charlotte, a design consultant who works with husband Leigh, an eco architect, at their practice, 50 Degrees North. The couple may have had a head start in terms of design skills, but they still needed to do plenty of research, and find the right team to create a home for themselves and their children, Phoebe,15, Nesta,12, and Felix,10. ‘We didn’t have a fortune to spend doing it up, but we wanted to do it properly so we didn’t rush anything.’ After buying the property in November 2015, knowing they were going to extend into the roof space to provide two extra bedrooms as well as two more bathrooms, they went through a year of planning and building before moving in almost three years ago. Throughout the house every little detail has been carefully thought out. ‘The eco credentials of a property are very important to us, and we’ve clad the exterior in Siberian larch, which will weather well, and the roof and windows are zinc,’ explains Charlotte. ‘We’ve totally insulated the house, plus put down underfloor heating everywhere so it’s as energy efficient as possible.’ Uncomplicated design is at the core of the couple’s plans.Where possible, they have gone for ultra-simple surfaces. ‘We wanted wooden floors everywhere and
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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 19, 2019
This airy New York kitchen was born out of the backyard—and acts like a playground. By Hadley Keller
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT– turned-designer Sarah Robertson always approaches her projects with a can-do mindset. Take this 1910 Queen Anne home in New York’s Westchester County. Originally, it held a dark and cramped kitchen. The backyard, on the other hand, was totally dreamy. So the owners reached out to Robertson, whose firm, Studio Dearborn, has specialized in kitchens for more than a decade. Working with Stoll & Stoll Architects, she moved the kitchen to the back of the house, where it looks out onto the greenery. To make the room feel expansive, they bumped up the roofline to create a wood-paneled tray ceiling and added eight windows. Robertson assigned storage to lower cabinets, drawers, and one wall. “We wanted that open connection to the backyard,” she explains, “and I like to maximize storage.” Here, everything has its place, alltucked within the cabinetsRobertson designed with Schrocks of Walnut Creek, the undercabinetry painted in Benjamin Moore’s Rockport Gray. “It’s a historic house, so this color felt more right than white,” says the designer, who opted for modern hardware by Foundryman and DLV Design for “a cleaner, transitional vibe.” With a view this nice, why ever go outside?
Countertop Storage “We wanted to make it feel cohesive,” Robertson says of the full wall of cabinetry. Pull-down panels—complete with brass hardware by Foundryman—hide small appliances.
Built-In Pantry Snacks take up lots of space, so Robertson devised a pantry with tray shelves (which pull out so items in the far back are easily accessible) to stash all manner of dry goods.
Custom Drawers Robertson designs all her cabinets with Schrocks of Walnut Creek, an Amish company in Ohio. This pull-out caddy for cooking utensils is conveniently situated beside the range.
Hidden Brilliance Rather than taking up another drawer, a drying rack and cutting board are stashed between lower cabinets—they slide out easily thanks to sturdy leather pulls.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 19, 2019
This airy New York kitchen was born out of the backyard—and acts like a playground. By Hadley Keller
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT– turned-designer Sarah Robertson always approaches her projects with a can-do mindset. Take this 1910 Queen Anne home in New York’s Westchester County. Originally, it held a dark and cramped kitchen. The backyard, on the other hand, was totally dreamy. So the owners reached out to Robertson, whose firm, Studio Dearborn, has specialized in kitchens for more than a decade. Working with Stoll & Stoll Architects, she moved the kitchen to the back of the house, where it looks out onto the greenery. To make the room feel expansive, they bumped up the roofline to create a wood-paneled tray ceiling and added eight windows. Robertson assigned storage to lower cabinets, drawers, and one wall. “We wanted that open connection to the backyard,” she explains, “and I like to maximize storage.” Here, everything has its place, alltucked within the cabinetsRobertson designed with Schrocks of Walnut Creek, the undercabinetry painted in Benjamin Moore’s Rockport Gray. “It’s a historic house, so this color felt more right than white,” says the designer, who opted for modern hardware by Foundryman and DLV Design for “a cleaner, transitional vibe.” With a view this nice, why ever go outside?
Countertop Storage “We wanted to make it feel cohesive,” Robertson says of the full wall of cabinetry. Pull-down panels—complete with brass hardware by Foundryman—hide small appliances.
Built-In Pantry Snacks take up lots of space, so Robertson devised a pantry with tray shelves (which pull out so items in the far back are easily accessible) to stash all manner of dry goods.
Custom Drawers Robertson designs all her cabinets with Schrocks of Walnut Creek, an Amish company in Ohio. This pull-out caddy for cooking utensils is conveniently situated beside the range.
Hidden Brilliance Rather than taking up another drawer, a drying rack and cutting board are stashed between lower cabinets—they slide out easily thanks to sturdy leather pulls.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 19, 2019
This airy New York kitchen was born out of the backyard—and acts like a playground. By Hadley Keller
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT– turned-designer Sarah Robertson always approaches her projects with a can-do mindset. Take this 1910 Queen Anne home in New York’s Westchester County. Originally, it held a dark and cramped kitchen. The backyard, on the other hand, was totally dreamy. So the owners reached out to Robertson, whose firm, Studio Dearborn, has specialized in kitchens for more than a decade. Working with Stoll & Stoll Architects, she moved the kitchen to the back of the house, where it looks out onto the greenery. To make the room feel expansive, they bumped up the roofline to create a wood-paneled tray ceiling and added eight windows. Robertson assigned storage to lower cabinets, drawers, and one wall. “We wanted that open connection to the backyard,” she explains, “and I like to maximize storage.” Here, everything has its place, alltucked within the cabinetsRobertson designed with Schrocks of Walnut Creek, the undercabinetry painted in Benjamin Moore’s Rockport Gray. “It’s a historic house, so this color felt more right than white,” says the designer, who opted for modern hardware by Foundryman and DLV Design for “a cleaner, transitional vibe.” With a view this nice, why ever go outside?
Countertop Storage “We wanted to make it feel cohesive,” Robertson says of the full wall of cabinetry. Pull-down panels—complete with brass hardware by Foundryman—hide small appliances.
Built-In Pantry Snacks take up lots of space, so Robertson devised a pantry with tray shelves (which pull out so items in the far back are easily accessible) to stash all manner of dry goods.
Custom Drawers Robertson designs all her cabinets with Schrocks of Walnut Creek, an Amish company in Ohio. This pull-out caddy for cooking utensils is conveniently situated beside the range.
Hidden Brilliance Rather than taking up another drawer, a drying rack and cutting board are stashed between lower cabinets—they slide out easily thanks to sturdy leather pulls.
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What is the point of form if it’s at the expense of function?
by Erdem Gorgun on May 28, 2019
What is the purpose of structure if it's to the detriment of capacity?' The non-serious inquiry is presented by one of the proprietors of this west London maisonette. He is para-expressing a saying of pioneer design – 'structure pursues work', the conviction that the reason for a structure or article ought to be the deciding variable of its look. Outside of any relevant connection to the issue at hand, the proprietor's remark may propose a somewhat cool way to deal with 'home' – utilitarian spaces made without the delights of articulation or ornamentation. Be that as it may, as the photos on these pages delineate, this isn't the case.How would it be able to be, the point at which the inside fashioner whose help he and his better half looked for was Nicola Harding? The Harding and Read organizer's activities are known for their climate characterizing way to deal with shading, prudent utilization of example and well-picked collectibles. All the more critically, says the proprietor, 'Nicola comprehends that family life is untidy. You can't have a home that battles against the way you live.'The North American proprietors previously moved to London from New York 16 years prior. In 2008 they purchased the raised ground-floor f lat in a nineteenth-century stucco-fronted house on a pretty greenhouse square. They later obtained two different pads in a similar structure to oblige their developing family – they presently have two youngsters. The recently rejoined f loors gave a lot of room to Nicola to work with, including three rooms. The proprietors brought to the condition a great craftsmanship accumulation, an adoration for movement and a feeling of family ancestry: he is Canadian of Indian plummet and she is an American whose family is Burmese.Antique vendor and decorator Robert Kime has said that, for him, the beginning stage for the brightening plan in any room is a decent mat. On account of the living room at the front of the structure, the floor covering was one that the couple officially claimed: an enormous Arabesque plan made by The Rug Company as a team with Designers Guild. Nicola has fabricated a touchy, grown-up space around it, with a bespoke enamel paint impact connected to the dividers. This edges a blend of new and classical furnishings, from French Revival to Arts and Crafts to Fifties; the pieces sit together just as the room has been filled over a lifetime, if not generations.This feeling of being developed after some time is something that was essential to the customers. 'Like such a large number of the houses in the zone, our own had been cleaved about throughout the years,' says the spouse. 'Be that as it may, a portion of our neighbors' homes have been in their families for a considerable length of time and have a feeling of character. They are fun loving and somewhat bohemian.' It is a famously troublesome hope to accomplish sans preparation. 'At the point when individuals stroll in, they get a feeling that it is our place,' says the spouse. 'That is down to Nicola's craft of tuning in and understanding.'Helping to re-inject the space with a feeling of history was Nicola's system of pro craftsmans. 'She acquainted us with a splendid cast of characters,' says his significant other, alluding to smithies and enamel specialists, furniture creators and old fashioned sellers. 'The magnificence originates from the carefully assembled nature of everything,' says her significant other. 'Things were created with such quality that their excellence is astounding.'Extending from the front to the back of one side of the twofold fronted house is an open kitchen and feasting territory. It is voluminous and deliberate – the pièce de résistance of the undertaking. Over a scope of dim Shaker-inf luenced base units along one side, zellige tiles move up the divider until about a meter from the high roof. This faces a mass of almost full-tallness Plain English cabinetry in a similar style and shading, albeit here in a glossier finish.Between the two is a refectory table, which Nicola intended to rise when expected to the stature of a work surface. It is a sharp option in contrast to an island. When it is at its lower level, the proprietors can join it with a creating table from the family room at the back of the house to situate 30 for supper. Howe 'Camembert Chairs' – seen all through the house in various hues – are united for these gatherings: an inconceivability in most London kitchens.'We quickly cherished Nicola's shading plans,' clarifies the spouse. This is most obvious in the family room, where energetic blues rule. With its pitched rooftop, uncovered pillars and board boarding, it has the vibe of an outbuilding conver-sion. The couch is agreeable and the open flame welcoming; the making table looks just as it sees a lot of activity; and, along one mass of an inherent bookshelf, a shrouded projector screen can drop at the press of a catch. 'The rhythms of a house change for the duration of the day,' the spouse says. Her significant other proceeds with the subject: 'Our home needs to buckle down. It's loaded up with children after school, there are companions round for supper, grandparents visit normally. It's not enormous for what we put it through, yet it works splendidly' In the same way as other House and Garden perusers, the proprietor of this beguiling bungalow saw an article on Beata Heuman's London f lat in the magazine (in the September 2014 issue), adored what she saw and chose: 'That is the individual who I'd like to plan my home.' Unlike a few of us, however, she finished: she reached Beata and charged her – and she presently views herself as the most joyful property holder in Sussex.Together with her better half and their two children, she had down-sized from a huge, yet awkwardly found stable transformation to this littler house in a town. The late David Myers of Adam Architecture – 'Huge hitters for our little venture,' she clarifies – had structured an exquisite augmentation, and he and Beata worked agreeably together from the start.Though the mid seventeenth-century bungalow has a front entryway on to the town road, numerous guests like to utilize the indirect access, which is painted a solid raspberry red. This opens into the boot and pantry, with its keenly covered capacity, incorporating twin blue organizers with seagrass façades, which f thin a focal sink with a tall, scallop-edged marble splashback. 'Bends bring development and make things increasingly unique and less unbending,' enthuses Beata.There is a couple of bended divider sections in the greenish blue lounge area adjacent, however here it is the blend of periods and hues that is most striking: a lot of mid nineteenth-century Bieder-meier seats encompasses an antique pecan table; there is a bespoke rattan sideboard by Soane painted brilliant orange; and the focal light fitting was structured by Beata in the style of Victorian pool room lights. A thin painted frieze along the highest point of every shelf was motivated by examples the proprietors