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by Erdem Gorgun on Nov 19, 2019
Auckland-based owner of homeware store Collected, stylist and pilot LeeAnn Yare talks us through her boys’ bedroom makeovers.
When we moved into our Sandringham bungalow, Tyler (now 11) was a toddler, and Dylan (now 10) was just a week old. The house was a sea of beige, so I quickly took charge and decorated their rooms in a playful way appropriate to their age. But after a decade of accumulating stuff and the general wear and tear that kids’ spaces are subjected to, it was time for a makeover to ensure their rooms reflect their personalities as they move into their teenage years. This time round, Tyler and Dylan basically designed their own spaces, with a little guidance from me. Dylan’s more into colour and chose a bold, fun half-and-half scheme, whereas Tyler wanted something a bit more grown-up. We were working to a budget, so needed to carefully choose what to keep and what to ditch, and work out how what was being reused fitted with their overall looks. The nine-to-11 age bracket is a really good time to do this because at this stage they’re developing their own tastes and sense of style, and becoming more responsible for looking after their own belongings. We went through everything, including clothes, books and toys, and sold and freecycled so much stuff. Every single thing that went back into the boys’ rooms was considered first. They decided to swap their blinds because they worked better size-wise, and agreed that the colour schemes of their existing rooms actually suited each other instead. Tyler’s world map mural involved a stay-or-go discussion, but it made the cut, so he chose his wall colour to match some of the countries. The boys are growing fast, so new beds were at the top of the list, meaning the vintage hospital beds they’d had since they were babies (which I found for $75 a pop on Trade Me) sadly had to go. We replaced them with supersupportive Sealy beds; opting for king singles gave them more room and meant we could keep our collection of single duvet covers and just buy new sheets. Storage was key. I find low drawer storage on castors to be really practical, and it handily fits below windows, too. Dylan’s room has never had a wardrobe, so my husband Glen built him one. He turned to Google and looked at friends’ houses, then drew it up and built it from leftover materials we had lying around, and had sliding doors and a wardrobe inner built and fitted. We swapped the boys’ recessed lights for some much more attractive round white ones that almost disappear into the ceiling. Choosing designs that fit into the original cut-outs made the process easy and cheap, yet they make a real difference aesthetically. The topic of carpet required a family conference over a box of samples; all four of us had to agree because we were carpeting our master bedroom as well. In the end, Dylan and I came up with a really convincing argument to get our favourite colour and style across the line! This project was something the boys and I enjoyed doing together, but ultimately they chose what they wanted, including some pieces from other rooms in the house. We’ve now instated a one-in-one-out policy, so we’ll see how that goes.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Jul 30, 2019
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