Drawing room and dining room >
In this drawing room (a proper, first floor affair) light and the huge windows are all. We wanted to create a design that played with formal traditional drawing room style, and messed about with it, adding colour and fun. A huge element of the room is the floor to ceiling shelving structure, which is constructed from ash with an ebonised hardwood that delineates and configures the structure. This was designed to house various elements including books, objects, TV and media and a stereo with space for cd's. This was a one-off item which we created for the client. It holds your attention and commands the space that it lies in. There is an almost art deco feel to it, with the dark and light woods and polished finish.
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| detail of shelving |
The sofas were sourced from Fran at Liscious Interiors, and re-upholstered in striking fabrics in soft brushes cotton. The colours reflected the dining space but lifted and lightened. The Chesterfield grey sofa has a purple running through it and we applied very bright violet buttons to the piece and dressed with lime accents. The lime - or chartreuse - Chesterfield was very simply dressed and as such we reversed the colour works and had predominantly purple striped cushions in a deep velvet.
A small day bed wrapped in a defined purple inhabits a space close to the book shelves and near to the distinctive sash windows.
A balance between privacy and letting the light through was achieved by way of full length linen curtains with a silk floral motif running through, and a sheer roman blind that drops down (colourfully) to frost out the background, again in natural linen but with colourful stripes.
We strongly felt that this huge space did not need a central ceiling light, but to light the space with
soft accent lighting at lower level would create better intimacy and harmony in an evening. The Alega glass table lamps (designed by Vico Magistretti in 1970) sits on Platner side tables, each a stainless steel spoke framework with a glass top created by Warren Platner for Knoll in the 1960's.
soft accent lighting at lower level would create better intimacy and harmony in an evening. The Alega glass table lamps (designed by Vico Magistretti in 1970) sits on Platner side tables, each a stainless steel spoke framework with a glass top created by Warren Platner for Knoll in the 1960's.
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| Platner side table with Alega lamp |
The beautiful carrera marble fireplace is a focal point, its gas fire supplementing the classicv column radiators (in anthracite) we put in, and the alcoves either side are wallpapered with a fantastic Jocelyn Warner design. Period chairs were limed and re-upholstered in a funky silk, and an Elizabeth Blackadder piece catches the eye above the fire.
Dining Space >
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| glass table reflecting the window |
Previous to its present incarnation, this was a jumbled space, cold and dark and possibly with mixed use. In its present form we decided to change shape a little. Keeping the 'hand made element' we made something a little more formal i.e an evening dining space for guests.
Our client wanted a dark, intimate and rich palette, but with linking colour from the drawing room next door. Assisted by our client the colour we chose was a plum colour, in a proper flat matte, not cold. It sits more in the red spectrum. This gives it a deep lushness that with the addition of evening candle light, brings in a grandiose quality.
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Of the candelabra; it is hand crafted by French makers Benoit Vieubled and acquired through Cameron Peters Fine Lighting. Its artisan qualities shine out. Made from brass and copper and french glass yoghurt jars and crystals. It was further modified by myself with deft assistance by the owner, converting it from electrical to hold candles. Furthermore, it hangs by sash cord which is fixed via a pulley system and tied off near the dumb waiter. This allows the piece to be raised and lowered when necessary. Secondary lighting is via the picture lights overhanging the inherited pieces of our client.
On first entering the room from the hallway it becomes obvious that the dumb waiter is no longer functioning. Due to modifications in the past it had become a non viable restoration project. This left us with the awkward shape in the corner! As the owner wished to house some of his wine collection we decided that the best purpose of the woodwork was to turn it into a wine rack. I think this works especially well and looks rather neat and perfect as well as being architectural and fun.
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| wine storage |
The carrera marble fireplace needed extensive cleaning to the marble to bring it up to a gleam. The hearth was simply of limed concrete and as such was painted black. A writing bureau, hand painted by Maitre Allegre now sits in the alcove closest to the window.
A collage of mirrors that we collected from a host of places hang in a pattern above the fireplace.
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| detail of candelabra with mirrors behind |
Under foot, the carpet is a fine boucle in a light grey that adds a level of luxury to the rooms. It runs through the dining and lounge space and spills on through the hallway and staircase.
Below is a picture of the hallway with the dining space chimney wall framed in the antique mirror.
