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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Try finding a dangerous read once your home is set in between Lincoln Greens Golf Course in the front and Lake Springfield in the back. In addition to the prime location, the house owner was drawn to the home’s fashionable up to date feel and open plan. “It jogged my memory a great deal of a Calif. home,” he says. And he would recognize, having settled from the West Coast before going in the house in Springfield, Illinois. mercantilism the beach for a lake, his home showcases elevated fashionable style within the geographic area — and 3 times more room. Recently restored, the house had a fresh base and was conjointly a blank slate. designer Celtic deity Glover was brought in to leverage the open layout that conjointly embraced the good outside views. “My conception was to make a classy lake house that had to reply to the geographic area,” says Glover. At over four,000 sq. feet, the home’s spacious floor arrange offered distinctive style opportunities. Glover wanted to “create meaty areas” that had interest and temperament. She was aware of creating space perimeters that were distinctive however didn’t feel boxed in. Glover used strategic furnishings placement to produce a spoken language space in the living space, that options a lounge arrangement of a restful female internal reproductive organ chair, sectional and facet tables that square measure unified in their shared mid-century style. a space divider screen set behind a settee creates a boundary between the front room and room. manufactured from cerused teak wood, the divider will its job of being a barrier while not utterly breaking the flow. The infusion of color in the home reflects the perform of every area. The main bedroom options slate grey walls to bring home the bacon a masculine and urban feel. whereas the muted tone fosters the intimate area of a non-public sleeping room, Glover injects attractive tones into common areas such as the nice and cozy earthenware color the basement room. The eating space is that the homeowner’s favorite area and most effectively options Glover’s intent to strike a singular style balance. “My goal was to produce a style that was fashionable however snug, luxurious however casual,” she says. Grounded by a geometric wool space furnishings, the space is anchored by a slim, walnut table that elongates the space. The multi-armed, antique brass pendant captures the up to date spirit of the area. Glover knew it was vital to give some visual relief from the clean lines and squares that square measure customary in fashionable style. Her efforts to add geometric selection throughout the home square measure evident in the curvature of the spherical front room low tables, globes within the eating space pendant and even the undulating wave style of a counter.    

Kirkwood residents Chris and genus Melissa Fox had designed their home nearly a decade agone. Even although it was comparatively new they weren’t happy. whereas the vessel sinks provided visual eye candy they weren’t terribly functional; water splashed everywhere the countertops, the area was dark, and the intrinsic corner bathtub tub was cumbersome. “Their dislike for the brown woodwork finally created them conceive to do one thing,” says designer Leah Jerrell, owner of LJ Interior styles. a lover of a lover had referred Randall Jarrell to the couple. She reminisced concerning their 1st meeting. “We paged through some of Chris and Melissa’s inspirations photos. typically folks just like the essence of a photograph however would like somebody to hone in on what they extremely like therefore they don’t go barking up the incorrect tree. we have a tendency to straightaway clicked.” It didn’t take long for them to form an idea. Her purchasers wished a clean, bright, unaltered look which translated into AN all-white toilet. as luck would have it, the size of the toilet was not a downside. Leah was ready to use an equivalent footprint. each of the recent brown cupboards were swapped out for brand new white vanities with additional easy undermount sinks with Corian Quartz countertops. “Some folks wish additional storage, however genus Melissa likable having an area to take a seat all the way down to place her makeup on or simply take a flash to concentrate on herself. So, we have a tendency to determined to stay an equivalent basic cupboard styles.”Once the bathtub tub was removed, the house was good for AN aesthetically pleasing separate tub by Wildon Homes. Even although Randall Jarrell went with Moen chrome taps she selected a surprising antique brass end lighting fixture to hold over the bathtub. “I love compounding finishes. It simply makes the house such a lot additional attention-grabbing." Leah wished to herald some texture to the all-white area, therefore she instructed victimisation shiplap on the walls painted Sherwin Williams Pure White. She understood her purchasers likable the concept of a hardwood floor however additionally knew it might be a tricky mission to keep up. they need 2 terribly active young daughters. It was straightforward to accomplish the same look with a look-alike wood tile Leah found at The Tile search in Brentwood. Last, however not least, it absolutely was time to tackle the problematic shower. Leah was fast to defend her selection of white subway tile, a ancient favorite. “I wished to keep a classic look however not be boring. therefore I modified it up and used larger 4x12 tiles.” the dimensions of the shower was quite ample, sufficiently big to feature his-and-hers shower heads and individual thermostat controls. Canine lovers can appreciate the hand-held shower focused on the wall. it absolutely was additional for a special member of the family, the loveable pooch, Bodie. All tails were wagging as accent mirrors and soothing design completed this Kirkwood toilet makeover. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and extra photos    

During her three-decade career within the trade, triumph designer Gigi Lombrano has assembled associate spectacular list of purchasers WHO wouldn’t dream of operating with anyone else. These homeowners, 1st discovered her abilities twenty years past and, even once relocating to alternative cities, known as on her to individualise their homes.Returning to the St. gladiator space in 2006, the couple purchased this historically titled, 8,000-square-foot residence in Frontenac, wherever they raised their twin sons. once the boys left home, Lombrano and also the woman joined forces to make a replacement seek for their empty-nester modus vivendi. By this point, what had begun as a designer/client relationship had evolved into a shut friendly relationship. “Gigi is a nice attender, and she is aware of American state like the back of her hand,” says the woman. To that Lombrano responds, “We collaborate on everything; nothing intimidates her, and that we ne'er tire of every alternative.”Last spring, with houseguests regular to arrive for the PGA Championship in August, the inventive couple appropriated the chance to provide the home another complete makeover. Describing her consumer as “very tailored and dressmaking, however amorous details,” Lombrano urged a “neo-glam” aesthetic, fashionable and complex with a small amount of “flash.” The decoration would specialize in lovely shapes and contours, intriguing textures and patterns, meticulous particularization and a dignified palette of grey, blue, silver and black. For “flash,” they selected fuchsia, one in all the owner’s favorite hues. The challenge for Lombrano was to include this daring color selection and alternative shocking parts into every area therefore seamlessly that they would complement, instead of trim down from, the elegant atmosphere. With solely 5 months to attain their goal, the design was a significant endeavor. “Friends and family ar everything to U.S., and that we entertain a ton,” the woman explains, “so I wished the areas to flow along.” beginning at the front entrance, the exterior was accented with stone, and a custom, dark mahogany entry door with a neo-classic X motif particularization that will be perennial elsewhere in the home. Inside, the main-level oak flooring was stained and refinished to match the entry door.Open to the vestibule, the formal eating area could be a good illustration of their cooperative ingenuity. associate niche on the back wall was eliminated and remodeled as a full-wall cold wine bucket with a 498-bottle capability. The remaining walls were coated in antimonial grasscloth, accentuating the high-gloss, dark-toned furnishings, that embrace the owners’ original eating table and chairs, reupholstered in a Kate Spade silk with stripy velvet backs and antimonial trim. Positioned against a facet wall ar a graciously semicircular dessert apple Charles bombe chest and mirror in black eucalyptus with lustrous hardware and trim.An antique silver tea set, Edwardian candlesticks and a mid-1800s clock from Paris add straightforward magnificence, and the silk-and-wool floor covering hints at things to return with its deconstructed fuchsia pattern. Overhead, the wealthy grey ceiling introduces a shocking bit of glam, shimmering subtly with what house owner refers to as “pixie dirt.” Transitioning from the vestibule to the front room, the fireside surround was fake painted to tally the foyer’s marble flooring, and the ornamental firescreen repeats the ornamental X motif pattern of the entry door. Demonstrating her own inventive talent, the owner refinished every button on the firescreen by hand for a similar antimonial end. The living area ceiling soars to eighteen feet, and to make a additional intimate atmosphere for this expansive gathering area, the original 2 sofas were replaced with a Baker loveseat in a tone-on-tone Manuel Canovas fabric stripe and four sleek, modern klismos chairs in rough-textured silk.The denouement arrives within the activity areas, wherever the cool, serene atmosphere is remodeled by a vivid burst of fuchsia. within the casual eating space, a classic, dark-toned harbor pedestal table is encircled by modern Vanguard wing chairs that mix fuchsia fake animal skin with an attention-grabbing fuchsia-and-gray houndstooth cloth.Similarly dramatic, the adjacent fireplace area was equipped new sofas in an exceedingly neutral Manuel Canovas windowpane cloth, organized around associate outsize, made-to-order ottoman. Pre-owned and a old family “essential,” the ottoman was reupholstered for the third time in an exceedingly fuchsia-and-gray Romo cloth with fake animal skin sides. Granite was put in on the fireside surround and also the firescreen has associate X motif pattern; the wallpaper resembles grasscloth and also the windows ar lined with drapes in an exceedingly straightforward design style.A soothing blue-gray was chosen for the exquisite main-floor master retreat, wherever the eye to detail virtually becomes associate sort. The clean-lined cover bed is swathed in silk city district bedding, cut with Houlès beaded tassels. higher than the bed hangs a gorgeous cartouch from a church in Italia, and once this piece didn't adequately fill the area, Melodie Shocklee was engaged to color a trompe l’oeil frame, smartly ornate with his/her crowns in Swarovski crystals. Reupholstered in an exceedingly lush Scalamandré cloth, the bench at the foot of the bed options beaded trim and Houlès rosettes. The theme is perennial in carriage House drapes, accented with Houlès braid to that Lombrano additional rosettes. Still additional particularization is evident within the récamier chaise, coated in John Osborne cut velvet with a mix of Houlès braid and antimonial fringe.On the lower level, the fuchsia-and-gray color theme makes its reappearance in the amusement space, however every of the 3 guest suites has been given its own distinctive decoration. The “black-and-white” bedchamber showcases a Barbara Barry cover and bedding, florals and polka dots and another cartouch, this one noninheritable in Memphis. A second bedchamber encompasses a Tyrolean theme with associate FFDM bed and facet tables, a crewelwork-covered loveseat, framed antique needlepoint and gold-finished gladiator XVI chairs “rusticated” with potato sack sacking and upholstery tacks. The third bedchamber emphasizes pattern, texture and metallics with a Universal bed, beaded crystal cage lighting fixture and a fuchsia-and-gray cover contrasted with footstools in an exceedingly Clarke & Clarke stripe.The epitome of “neo-glam,” this extraordinary residence proves many things: handled skilfully, daring style decisions will be each tasteful and spectacular. Meticulous particularization adds excitement and a whole new dimension to the decoration of a luxury home. And, in an exceedingly extremely competitive field, Gigi Lombrano’s distinctive ability to interpret her clients’ modus vivendi and vision is clearly the reason for her enduring success. See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and extra photos.    

David Stine is AN accomplished man. He was raised on a fourth generation, self-sufficient dairy. They grew their own crops, butchered their own meat and engineered their own furnishings. Stine then worked his approach through grad school at Chief Executive University. However, when active law for a bit, he determined it was time to head back to the farm. As Stine puts it, “There wasn't very AN epiphany moment on behalf of me. when graduating and a year of active, I simply complete that it wasn't on behalf of me, therefore I took off on my very own and formally started David Stine furnishings back in 1997.” over twenty years later, David Stine furnishings continues to be in Jersey County operating to handcraft superbly easy and property, custom furnishings out of Illinois' finest timber. Stine's company focuses only on “big flat surfaces” which means tables, desks, headboards, benches and a lot of. they are doing this to let the material itself be the focal purpose. Stine explains, “I strive to celebrate that material rather than twisting the piece of wood into any type of form. I realize it a lot of a lot of attention-grabbing and difficult to simply let the wood be what it desires to be.”His respect for the trees that they use does not finish there. In fact, the trees they weigh down ar all sourced from his family farm, and they take nice care of them. They ne'er weigh down live trees, solely harvest home what is either dead or invasive on the family's farmland. Stine continues, “We very simply let the trees grow. we do not worry regarding attempting to maximise our yields and to log each 10 years. it is a wholly property system wherever we tend to let the forest do what it desires and that we harvest what we'd like.”From there it's simply a matter of finding the right wood for the right shopper. Stine works with each residential customers and business purchasers to search out the piece that is right for their desires, whether or not it be a occasional table that ties the family space along or a conference table that makes a huge statement. It's one thing he takes pride in and that his purchasers notice. Stine goes on, “I feel that our customers very respond well to the actual fact that they get really personal service. What I do is different from a artefact. it is a piece of their home. it is the chance to actually participate that i believe keeps individuals returning.”For Stine, olympian his customers' expectations is implausibly gratifying, however if you raise what the foremost rewardful a part of the task is, he'll tell you that it's merely simply planning to do what he loves on a daily basis. Stine explains, “You know, I do relish meeting or particularly olympian my customers’ expectations and simply permitting individuals to notice that they will have a super custom piece of furnishings. however I suppose at the finish of the day, my favorite a part of my work is that the indisputable fact that i buy to be concerned in each facet of this work, from choosing and harvest home the trees to assembling and delivery. It very keeps Pine Tree State engaged, and that i ne'er get bored.” to examine a lot of of the wonderful items of furnishings that David Stine creates or to induce started on finding a piece of art of your own, visit his web site at StineWoodworking.com or on Instagram.    

Those 2 words will quickly muster a mixed bag of emotions for youngsters and pets alike. each 2-legged and 4-legged creatures either LOVE, TOLERATE or RUN once they notice tub time is close to. For the runners, the sound of the water dashing through the pipes and filling the bathtub is enough to place them in panic mode. Boys, for the foremost half, tolerate a shower as one thing they need to try and do. But girls, we have a tendency to love taking a shower or gratification in an exceedingly spa-like expertise.Imagine slithering away to your own personal luxurious tub retreat wherever sq. footage doesn’t matter. It’s your special place to unwind from a agitated day at the geographic point or managing a home stuffed with youngsters. Our triumph 2019 Baths of the Year (24 – 31) vary in sq. footage from powder rooms to expansive master suites. One issue they all have in common is that they all exhibit meaning and sensible area for eight lucky St. prizefighter owners. If you're trying to update your current tub area look no more. These cozy, serene and tranquil bogs, all brimful with vogue, class and sophisti-cation, boast several options that you simply might want to include into your own tub area. there's most inspiration simply watching for you to try! Our Annual reference (71 – 86) is enclosed during this issue. it'll facilitate guide you find the simplest craftsmen and style groups in STL!