News
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 08, 2019
When they first viewed the property that was to become their much-loved Hamptons holiday home, Ian Ferguson and Ryan Brandau weren’t overly impressed. ‘It wasn’t love at first sight, but our broker was convinced that the house was right for us and she could envisage something beyond what we were seeing,’ recalls Ian. The couple had been in a long-distance relationship between New York and California for several years before settling on an apartment in Manhattan, and wanted to complement their city lifestyle with a retreat in the Hamptons to be shared with Ian’s parents. ‘We love tennis and one of our criteria was for a court and a pool,’ adds Ryan. Clad in shingle and featuring multiple gables as is the New England style, the house was repainted to refine its architectural qualities. ‘It was originally pale, which exaggerated some of its weird shapes – as if it were all roof and no walls. By painting it a darker colour, closer to the roof, we toned it down and made it look a bit more thoughtful,’ says Ian. The house had been built in the early Noughties, but lacked the architectural detailing the couple craved. A year after they bought it, an overhaul of the basement triggered the extended project. Sarah Zames, of the interior design firm General Assembly, was recommended and became the linchpin of the redesign. ‘One of the priorities was to create more architectural interest internally,’ says Sarah. ‘We wanted to add texture and colour, giving each room an individual character.’ The property was stripped back and given a new floor plan with fewer walls, instilling in the house a more sociable, loose character. ‘We tried to expand and connect the spaces as much as possible,’ she says. ‘Previously, the kitchen was small with the dining area next door relatively constricted and a sprawling main room that hadn’t been put to good use,’ says Ian. Sight lines became important so that anyone cooking would be able to see out onto the porch and tennis court beyond. Upstairs, the landing ‘catwalk’ was widened, while bedrooms were made bigger and en-suite bathrooms added. In terms of decor, the couple aimed for a relaxed look that would appeal across the generational divide. ‘We wanted the interior to have a sense of fun and although we felt it should be beautifully designed we didn’t want it to feel stuffy or intimidating,’ says Ian. Across the ground floor indoor/outdoor rugs have been used while much of the upholstery is from Holly Hunt’s outdoor range, making it impervious to the scratches of Tux, Ian and Ryan’s dog. An emphasis on craftsmanship and natural materials has also reduced the formality of the highly designed spaces, as Sarah explains, ‘The marble of the dining table is a feature, while all the built-in furniture is made of smoked oak, with the floors of a lighter bleached oak.’ White walls delineate the crisp planes of the slanted ceiling in the main living area with a host of Farrow & Ball colours giving bedrooms individual character. The paint is not the only British touch, with new London projects by General Assembly bringing a transatlantic influence. ‘We discovered several furniture designers at London Design Festival and the wallpaper in the cloakroom is from House of Hackney,’ says Sarah. Many months after its completion, Ian and Ryan continue to be enthralled with their retreat. ‘We love the fact that even if there are 20 guests staying, we’ve used the idiosyncrasies of the architecture to create a private nook for everyone,’ says Ian. ‘It’s great seeing the house unfold and be used as we planned.
News
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.
News
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 05, 2019
AFTER WORKING AND RAISING A FAMILY OVERSEAS, CAT AND SIM PRESTON FELT THE CALL OF THEIR RURAL ROOTS AND FOUND THE PERFECT ENGLISH FAMILY HOME IN THE COTSWOLDS.
It was a case of going back to their roots when Cat and Sim Preston bought a beautiful converted mill in the Cotswolds. Originally from Wiltshire, the couple lived in London and then overseas in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Chicago and Hong Kong, as they brought up their three children, Jake, Josh and Hana. But when Jake was about to start his GCSEs, he decided he wanted to go to school in the UK. ‘It gave us the impetus finally to move back home to England,’ says Cat. She began looking for properties online and soon spotted an idyllic converted grain mill. ‘This house jumped out at me,’ she says. ‘I fell in love with it at first sight. Added to that, Sim is a geographer at heart and we were looking for something with water – this was perfect as there’s a mill stream in the garden.’ Sim came back to the UK with Jake when he started school and they took the opportunity to view the house. ‘They filmed it on their phones so I could see it,’ says Cat. ‘We took the plunge and put in an offer. Then I visited and, fortunately, it was just as gorgeous as I had thought.’ The 400-year-old house had been a grain mill until 1959, then stood empty for 10 years until it was bought by an architect and converted into a French country-style family home. ‘The house still had many of its original features,’ says Cat. ‘The previous owners had retained them when doing the conversion, so the bedroom had beams with pulleys. It had been restored with great attention to detail, which we loved.’ The family now had a base and over the next two years they renovated the house. ‘We were living in Hong Kong still,’ says Cat, ‘but we came back most holidays. Friends recommended builder Dan Eaves of CJ Holme who did a fantastic job project managing the work.’ The renovations included installing a new heating system, putting in three new bathrooms and building a conservatory at the back of the house. In addition, a barn and outbuildings were converted into guest accommodation. ‘The result is an upside-down guest house, with two bedrooms downstairs and an open-plan living room and kitchen upstairs that take in the view across the meadow. We wanted the barn conversion to feel like part of the main house and be in keeping with it,’ says Cat. So stonemason Jim Clayton built new walls that matched the originals, while Dan Eaves sourced reclaimed oak for the framing. The family home was then redecorated throughout. ‘I wanted to get as much light in as possible, and I kept the palette neutral to complement the Cotswold stone,’ says Cat. ‘I like to keep the look simple but add colour with abstract paintings. My mother-in-law Sue Preston is an artist and my friend Kirsten Coltart is an interior designer, so they helped with the aesthetics.’ ‘It’s been fantastic to create a family home in the UK after living in Asia for so long,’ says Cat. ‘We’re country people at heart so it’s great to get back to our rural roots.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 04, 2019
Patrick Overwijk has bravely juxtaposed the period features of his 18th-century home with bold mid-century design.
Seventies-inspired Versace wallpaper, bold lighting composed of oversized lightbulbs, and a porcelain cactus that borders on kitsch may not be what immediately springs to mind when you imagine the interior of an 18th-century Dutch townhouse. It’s exactly these surprising elements though, that make this family home so exciting. While most people would almost automatically team a breathtaking rococo ceiling (thought to be one of the most detailed in the region) with ornate, heavy antiques of the same period, the owners of this home, Patrick and Inez Overwijk, have adopted a more original approach.
Instead, Patrick has fully embraced his love of mid-century design, and statement furniture and lighting come into play in every room. What ties the scheme together is the subtle celebration of the house’s original features. Despite Patrick’s passion for the 1950s, 60s and 70s, since moving here six years ago, he’s been committed to unveiling its floors, ceilings and walls – many of which were hidden under softboard coverings and layer upon layer of paint. ‘The whole house was filled with old elements – from the kitchen tiles to the ceiling of the living room. It has quite the personality,’ he says. It was this rich sense of the past that originally drew Patrick to the house: ‘We always wanted an old house, filled with history. It was our dream.’ Historically, the property has been inhabited by local mayors and doctors, and it is said that one of the former inhabitants would monitor his ships, sailing for business in England, from the balcony at the top of the building. It is these romantic elements that hooked Patrick and Inez. Transforming the house for modern family life was no quick fix, Patrick admits. ‘It took almost four years to get to this point. When we bought it, floors were damaged and original elements had been lost. It was in bad shape.’ The renovation had to follow strict building regulations as the house is included in the register of Dutch protected buildings. Patrick didn’t let this hold him back though. ‘I carried out extensive research regarding which colours to use in the interior – hunting for old photographs of the house and scraping off old layers of paint to reveal the original colours.’ Happily, these shades included a spectrum of greens, which now frame the entrance hall, complement a Morris & Co wallpaper in one of the living rooms, and reflect the rustic feel of the kitchen. Elsewhere, walls are simple and white or – in the kitchen – covered in original Delft tiles. Walking from room to room reveals a potted history of 20th-century design. Key pieces include a desk and coffee table by the Dutch designer Cees Braakman, a leather chair by Norwegian designer Ingmar Relling and one by the British designer Geoffrey Harcourt. The lighting is similarly impressive, with designs by the l i kes of Verner Pa nton, Ach i l le a nd Giacomo Castiglioni and Gino Sarfatti gracing the ceilings. These pieces were created for function as well as form, and so are perfectly placed for robust family life. Despite being a house of historical significance, it’s undoubtedly cool and modern. And that in itself is no small feat.
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.
News
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 Nov 01, 2019
A design team breaks with tradition to build a lakehouse thatshows cottage style in a whole new light.
NOT LONG AGO, even newly built cottages favoured a more traditional style, with lashings of gingerbread trim and smaller windows. The results were charming and cosy, butthey also tended to be dark and disconnected from the landscape. So when a couple with grown children who had children oftheir own confessed to Margot Bell and Dasha Ricci of Peaks & Rafters thatthey were ready to replace their family cottage with a design that emphasized light as well as the rugged surroundings,the designers, who specialize in cottage properties, immediately understood. “This was a dream projectfor our clients,” says Dasha. “They wanted something more contemporary.” Since they gravitated toward a modern look, Margot suggested Toronto architect Peter Berton of +VG Architects, whose contemporary sensibility matched the dynamic spirit ofthe project. The new onestorey cottage on Muskoka’s Lake Joseph has a low profile thattucks under a canopy oftrees and hugs the rocks. Peter calls itthe “Bridge House,” a reference to the suspended Muskoka room thatlinks the guest wing to the main cottage. To access the lake, one descends a stairway and passes underneath the room — a pathway that encourages a shift in mind-set. “It delineates a line between the urban life they’ve left behind and cottage life,” says Peter. “There’s a looking glass thing that happens, like you’ve crossed a threshold.” Margot points out that the walk is just as moving in reverse. “The cottage is equally beautiful when you walk up from the water,” she says. The interior’s expansive windows, complemented by natural materials and ample glazing, give the impression of being outside when indoors. “Even when it rains here, it’s bright without lights,” says Peter. “You can still see the lake — you can see everything.” A predominantly white palette enhances the effect and creates a loft-like gallery feeling, especially with the clients’ extensive art collection. The kitchen boasts sleek white, wood and steel cabinets from Italy, and contemporary and mid-century modern furnishings accent porcelain tile floors that have the look of polished concrete. “Contemporary style can be a little cool and daunting,” says Margot. “We tried to keep the warmth. Even though there’s steel and concrete, the cottage connects you to the outdoors and feels friendly.” Creating thatfeeling was key for the owners, who often entertain friends and family. “When they have a party, people floatfrom the cottage to the patio to the boathouse,” says Margot. “The property is beautiful for that kind of easy summer entertaining.” Setting the mood is as simple as taking a stroll under the bridge.
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.
News
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.
News
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.
News
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.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 28, 2019
Designer Brian Gluckstein outdoes himself with a must-see showhome that holdsthe promise of life well lived.
Like the glamorous lead in a classic Hollywood film,this year’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Home Lottery Showhome makes an alluring firstimpression: it greets you in a dramatic fashion and dazzles you with gorgeous looks, butis careful notto give away too much,too fast. From the extratall foyer justinside the front door, a tiger-print rug worthy of Lana Turner can be glimpsed in the home office across the hallway. “It’s similar to a carpet I had in my New York City apartment years ago,” says designer Brian Gluckstein. The scene beckons visitors forward untilthe 6,700-square-foot home’s elegant main floor is revealed through a procession of grey-trimmed archways. “The house is quite open, but I didn’t want you to see everything as soon as you walk in,” says Brian. In design, as in the movies, a little mystery goes a long way. Set on a corner lotin a leafy neighbourhood of south Oakville, Ont.,the five-bedroom,two-storey house is loosely inspired by French Normandy style. In less than eight months, Brian expertly tempered the interior’s open layout by creating defined living spaces with purpose. He pulled in some walls (to create a centre courtyard) and pushed out others (the great room is generously sized and self-contained), varied ceiling heights and balanced bright, lofty spaces with cosy, moodier rooms. Nearly every surface received its own treatment, from washable murals in the kitchen to a grey wall covering on the dining room ceiling to graphic floor tiles in the foyer. Grey-washed white oak floors with a scraped finish quietly tie together the showstopping elements.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 28, 2019
Designer Brian Gluckstein outdoes himself with a must-see showhome that holdsthe promise of life well lived.
Like the glamorous lead in a classic Hollywood film,this year’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Home Lottery Showhome makes an alluring firstimpression: it greets you in a dramatic fashion and dazzles you with gorgeous looks, butis careful notto give away too much,too fast. From the extratall foyer justinside the front door, a tiger-print rug worthy of Lana Turner can be glimpsed in the home office across the hallway. “It’s similar to a carpet I had in my New York City apartment years ago,” says designer Brian Gluckstein. The scene beckons visitors forward untilthe 6,700-square-foot home’s elegant main floor is revealed through a procession of grey-trimmed archways. “The house is quite open, but I didn’t want you to see everything as soon as you walk in,” says Brian. In design, as in the movies, a little mystery goes a long way. Set on a corner lotin a leafy neighbourhood of south Oakville, Ont.,the five-bedroom,two-storey house is loosely inspired by French Normandy style. In less than eight months, Brian expertly tempered the interior’s open layout by creating defined living spaces with purpose. He pulled in some walls (to create a centre courtyard) and pushed out others (the great room is generously sized and self-contained), varied ceiling heights and balanced bright, lofty spaces with cosy, moodier rooms. Nearly every surface received its own treatment, from washable murals in the kitchen to a grey wall covering on the dining room ceiling to graphic floor tiles in the foyer. Grey-washed white oak floors with a scraped finish quietly tie together the showstopping elements.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 26, 2019
A large single-storey extension and some careful replanning has unlocked the potential of Lizzy and Ricky Stringer’s terrace.
Like many London buyers, Lizzy and Ricky Stringer could only step up the property ladder by taking on a project. Having already moved the bathroom upstairs and created a bigger kitchen in their previous home, they were keen to renovate again on a larger scale when a Victorian villa came up for sale in Dulwich. ‘I looked past the dated decor and noticed the high ceilings, generous room sizes and beautiful wide staircase,’ says Lizzy. ‘I knew we could strip everything back and start again.’ As they wanted to get the work done straight away, the plans were drawn up during the buying process. ‘We submitted them the day after we exchanged contracts,’ says Lizzy, ‘and the builders started upstairs while we waited for planning permission.’ Luckily, the couple were able to rent a friend’s flat nearby for four months, visiting the site three times a week. Work started in summer 2018, with damaged picture and dado rails replaced and reclaimed fireplaces sourced for the bedrooms, while new wood-effect sash windows replicated the originals. ‘Unfortunately, the only thing that is original is the brown stone fire surround in the snug,’ says Lizzy. The rear section of the house has been remodelled by knocking together the kitchen and dining room, demolishing the lean-to and extending into the side return and rear garden to create a 30ft kitchen-diner with a new utility room and downstairs cloakroom. In the master bedroom, the original floorboards were restored and a reclaimed fireplace was installed, along with panelling and bespoke alcove wardrobes. ‘We tried to bring it back to the period,’ says Lizzy. ‘Our builder did a great job with the panelling, which he recreated from Pinterest pictures I showed him.’ Reconfiguring the layout of the bathroom, which had a shower over the bath, proved challenging. ‘We spent a long time in there with the builder and a tape measure but couldn’t work out how to fit in a walk-in shower and a freestanding bath,’ says Lizzy. ‘In the end, we had to move the door.’ When it came to the decor, Lizzy describes her style as classic London chic. ‘I love places like Soho Home, so have bought pieces from its collection, such as its Burleigh pottery,’ she says. ‘The neutral tones at Daylesford’s cottages and spa retreat have also given me ideas for the soft greys and whites in the sitting room. However, I think you can go a bit more dramatic in smaller spaces like I’ve done with the bathroom.’ Although the project was completed on time, there were several issues that pushed the couple over their budget. ‘We had to replace all the rotten joists and flooring in the hallway and sitting room, and it cost extra to reroute the pipework to a new manhole cover in the garden,’ explains Lizzy. ‘We also invested in a new front door as the stained glass fell out of the flimsy original one, and we spent a bit more than initially planned on the kitchen and on good-quality windows.’ Despite the overspend, the couple are pleased with their finished home. ‘I love how quiet and private it is at the back of the house, and the new space is great for New Year’s Eve parties and summer barbecues,’ says Lizzy. ‘We’re lucky enough to have parking, which is unusual for London, so it’s ideal for commuting. The area is lovely with lots going on, so we don’t see ourselves moving anytime soon.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 25, 2019
Sam and Guy Dawson have lived a back and forth life together for the past 14 years. Guy’s work as a non-executive director means being based in London, and Sam had ties to Hove where she lived with her children, Holly and Charlie, now 22 and 20. When the couple bought this Victorian London townhouse four years ago, a Bob Dylan print in an art gallery sparked Sam’s decorating ideas. ‘I instantly loved its blend of dusky pinks, deep purples and blues – and these colours became the inspiration for our whole house,’ she says. ‘I’m amused that the print is called Train Tracks, as it aptly portrays my life travelling to and from London to see Guy.’ For a couple of years, the artwork sat in Sam’s Hove home while she and Guy renovated the London property. Although the house had been extended, it was narrow and they wanted to maximise the space. The lower ground floor was a main focus, with no flow between the kitchen, dining room and family room. Sam got in touch with Woodmans Construction, who had worked on the couple’s previous house projects. ‘The team have always been faultless so there was no doubt we’d use them,’ says Sam. The owner suggested contacting Granit Architecture for expert space-planning, and they advised knocking through walls and rotating the staircase to enlarge the kitchen. ‘It was a fantastic solution,’ says Sam. ‘Now we walk down into the family room and see straight into the garden, with a glass balustrade making the space feel open.’ Granit’s architects and interiors team also advised on the configuration and design of the kitchen, a bespoke build by River Woodwork, and enlarged the master en suite with joinery custom designed and built to fit the space. When it came to planning the decoration, Sam and Guy called on Ingrid Parnis of Equilibrio Interiors, a designer they knew from holidays in Portugal. ‘I’ve always been drawn to colour and patterned fabrics, but with so much choice, I’ve played it safe,’ says Sam. ‘I’d seen Ingrid’s approach in friends’ holiday houses and love the way she uses bright tones to bring a space to life – it makes rooms feel fresh and light.’ Straight away, Sam showed the Bob Dylan print to Ingrid, who suggested a selection of contemporary print upholstery fabrics drawing on the purples and pinks in the picture. ‘One of Ingrid’s choices was the same fabric I had used for curtains before, but in a different colourway,’ explains Sam. ‘I was delighted as it was clear that Ingrid was exactly on my wavelength.’ Design talks continued as the house was stripped back, and a friend suggested Sam contact Farrow & Ball colour consultant Joa Studholme to help choose paintshades. ‘Joa has a brilliant eye for the nuance of colours,’ says Sam. ‘She looked at each room, the light and the fabrics and then put together a colour specification for the whole house.’ When Sam and Guy moved back into their home 18 months later, all the work was complete. ‘Ingrid has a fantastic team who do everything, even hanging the curtains – it’s all very seamless,’ says Sam. ‘The colours and furniture make this house feel so much more contemporary and more “like me” than any other place I’ve lived in,’ she adds. ‘Downstairs seems significantly bigger – some of our friends think we extended – but we’re simply using every inch of space we already had.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 22, 2019
S am and Guy Dawson have lived a back and forth life together for the past 14 years. Guy’s work as a non-executive director means being based in London, and Sam had ties to Hove where she lived with her children, Holly and Charlie, now 22 and 20. When the couple bought this Victorian London townhouse four years ago, a Bob Dylan print in an art gallery sparked Sam’s decorating ideas. ‘I instantly loved its blend of dusky pinks, deep purples and blues – and these colours became the inspiration for our whole house,’ she says. ‘I’m amused that the print is called Train Tracks, as it aptly portrays my life travelling to and from London to see Guy.’ For a couple of years, the artwork sat in Sam’s Hove home while she and Guy renovated the London property. Although the house had been extended, it was narrow and they wanted to maximise the space. The lower ground floor was a main focus, with no flow between the kitchen, dining room and family room. Sam got in touch with Woodmans Construction, who had worked on the couple’s previous house projects. ‘The team have always been faultless so there was no doubt we’d use them,’ says Sam. The owner suggested contacting Granit Architecture for expert space-planning, and they advised knocking through walls and rotating the staircase to enlarge the kitchen. ‘It was a fantastic solution,’ says Sam. ‘Now we walk down into the family room and see straight into the garden, with a glass balustrade making the space feel open.’ Granit’s architects and interiors team also advised on the configuration and
News
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
News
FOLLOW A PATH UP FROM THE OCEAN
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 19, 2019
Across a sandy beach and rocky lava fields, and you’ll reach it: a vacation home tucked into the coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, where stark simplicity provides a respite from the area’s prevailing tropical colors. “When we took on the project,the clients told us right away thatthey’re minimalists at heart,” says San Francisco– based designerCatherine Kwong. “That’s an easy thing to do in a big city loft, but we had to figure out, how did that translate to a house that’s open to the elements? And how do we make it a kind of place where people wantto unwind?” Kwong and her team worked with the home’s architect, Shay Zak of Zak Architecture, to lay an ideal foundation, using hard-wearing, weather-friendly materials like Alaskan yellow cedar and basalt (a.k.a. lava stone) to create a clean-lined structure where the indoors and outdoors—temperatures hover in the balmy mid-80s yearround—flowed easily into one another. For Kwong, the challenge was to bring in furnishings and decor that would make it feel relaxed, not austere.
Her answer: layer, layer, layer. “It’s a neutral color palette,” she says, referring to everything from the textiles (a mix of grays and ivories) to the artwork (all black and white, and all behind UV-filtering glass), “but it incorporates different types of media. The materials and fabrics all have a tactile hand, which makes it seem cozier.” Even the white paint that was used on all of the interior walls was chosen with warmth in mind. “The lighting on the Big Island is really bright, so we didn’t want a pure white,” Kwong explains. “We spent months testing out colors and ended up with Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee—actually a super-popular color that has a little softness to it.” And while the idea of white anything in a beach house occupied by two adults with two little kids might cause hesitation, Kwong assures that the pieces she chose—from the beige hemp rugs to indoor-outdoor canvas cushions on the dining chairs—are totally family-friendly. “We made sure to balance the client’s minimalist aesthetic with how a beach house is actually used,” says Kwong. “It’s not a place where people are worried about tracking in sand!”
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 19, 2019
AT FIRST, THEY ignored it. “When I bought the house, it was sort of just there,” says textile designer John Robshaw of the old barn a former owner had attached to the side of his 1840s farmhouse in Sharon, Connecticut. “I was using it as a print studio.” He and his wife, Rachel, finished a gut renovation of the main house before realizing their mistake. “I had guests coming over, and I didn’t have a bathroom downstairs— which my mother kept complaining about,” Robshaw recalls. So, with the help of architect Colby Wong and decorator Sara Bengur, Robshaw set about transforming the single-floor barn into what he describes as a “library, loungey, everything living space.” After wiring for electricity and heat, it was filled with pieces from his showrooms (like a pair of bookcases inspired by an Istanbul mosque) and extensive travels (he goes to India at least twice a year), and, of course, plenty of one-of-a-kind textiles. “It’s always fun looking through my warehouse’s excess fabrics—dye lots might be off or we made too much—and seeing what works,” Robshaw says. The added sleeper sofa, powder room, and outdoor shower made it visitor-ready: “My parents can get to this easier than the main house’s upstairs bathrooms—plus, everyone needs an outdoor shower in the country!”
Powder Room Robshaw used his own Diba Sapphire wallpaper in the petite space, along with a custom chik blind backed in a printed fabric
Extra Seating Benches by Robshaw offer hidden storage—and are choice sleeping spots for visiting nieces and nephews.
Entryway In the hallway that connects the barn with the main house, Robshaw placed a Syrian inlaid chair atop Tuareg rugs. He collects Indian ancestor paintings, like the one that hangs here.
Outdoor Shower Because there wasn’t enough room to fit a full bathroom, Robshaw installed a showerhead in a private area outside.