DRIFT Abode 2022 by Engine House Media

£10.00

2022 Edition

A sense

of PLACE

To ﬁnd joy, comfort and the warmth of belonging, is to know you have made it home

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Drift /drift/

noun 1. the act of driving something along 2. the flow or the velocity of the current of a river or ocean stream

verb 1. to become driven or carried along, as by a current of water, wind, or air 2. to move or float smoothly and effortlessly

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On the cover The view from Tamarisk, Porthcothan. Image courtesy of David Schnabel, Watershedd Architects/John Bray Estates. Read more about John Bray Estates from page 8. johnbrayestates.co.uk watershedd.com

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Drift is published by: Engine House Media LTD Holbrook, The Moors, Porthleven, Cornwall TR13 9JX www.enginehousemedia.co.uk www.levenmediagroup.co.uk

ISSN 2632-9891 © All rights reserved. Material may not be re-produced without the permission of Engine House Media Ltd. While Drift will take every care to help readers with reports on properties and features, neither Engine House Media Ltd nor its contributors can accept any liability for reader dissatisfaction arising from editorial features, editorial or advertising featured in these pages. Engine House Media Ltd strongly advises viewing any property prior to purchasing or considerations over any ﬁnancial decisions. Engine House Media reserves the right to accept or reject any article or material supplied for publication or to edit such material prior to publication. Engine House Media Ltd cannot take responsibility for loss or damage of supplied materials. The opinions expressed or advice given in the publication are the views of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of

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Engine House Media Ltd. It is suggested that further advice is taken over any actions resulting from reading any part of this magazine. Engine House Media Ltd is a multi-platform media business with a passion for everything Cornish. Visit www.enginehousemedia. co.uk to ﬁnd out more. Our mission is to create READ-WATCHEXPERIENCE media opportunities marrying together consumers with the fabulous businesses across Cornwall. Our publishing and marketing teams are specialists in creating print and online communications, devised to achieve a range of marketing objectives. With over 20 years of marketing, brand management and magazine experience we develop eﬀective communications that deliver your message in a credible and creative way. We operate across all media channels, including: print, online and video.

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T E A M

Foreword Inspiration for our homes, interiors and gardens arrives in many guises. Often, it’s the local vernacular and where a property sits within that location. Sometimes, it’s inspiration we’ve found on our travels, bringing styles to our home from far-ﬂung places that enrich our lives; or it’s derived from the rich tapestry of media whose kaleidoscope of creativity reveals unique architecture and artistry. With so much expertise in the Duchy, we are delighted to present DRIFT Abode 2022. By far our most comprehensive volume to date, its pages are ﬁlled with ideas and images intended to inspire our community of readers to realise a home they may not even have thought possible. Award-winning garden designer Sam Ovens’ timeless spaces (14) have a naturalistic style, combining built elements

with exquisite planting. Such an essence of place is something that KAST Architects (26) also feel passionately about, designing in response to surroundings and context. Moving inwards, how we adorn our homes says much about ourselves and how we live within them. Adding bespoke touches such as the brilliance of colour achieved in Jo Downs’ fused glass structures (38); bringing the outdoors in with landscape art from Kurt Jackson (70); or commissioning a handmade kitchen from Rozen (124) where every tiny detail has been painstakingly thought out, transforms a property, elevating our abodes to a height of luxury that ensures a lifetime of enjoyment. Join us as we celebrate all aspects of the aesthetic spectrum, from minimalist and monochrome, to a splendid riot of forms, colours and textures.

Our contributors

Hannah Tapping

Rosie Cattrell

Dan Warden

Jamie Crocker

Rebecca Hawkey

Mercedes Smith

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Call Richard McEvoy on 07771 868880 or email richard.mcevoy@enginehousemedia.co.uk Visit drift-cornwall.co.uk to read more about our writers

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We invite you to continue your lifestyle voyage online. Find inspiring stories and uncover more luxury content on Instagram @driftcornwall. Join our exclusive e-journal community at drift-cornwall.co.uk to receive recipes, reviews and insider knowledge of some of Cornwall’s most-loved luxury destinations. drift-cornwall.co.uk T HE

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C O N T E N T S

At a glance 8

New heights of estate agency

T I M E L E S S S PA C E S

NATU RALLY I NSPI R ED

THE ESSENCE OF PL ACE

D E F I N E D B Y D E TA I L

BRILLIANCE BY COLOUR

100

Gardens that soothe the soul

106

Finding joy in the little details

112

In conversation with Nicholas James

124

Something truly out of the ordinary

130

Colour, clarity and composition

142

DESIGNED FOR LIFE For community and sustainability

A N T I QU E S O F T H E F U T U R E

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

S A L T O F T H E E A RT H

OUTSIDE, IN

T H E S T O RY O F S PA C E

TA I L O R - M A D E M OV E S

148

Keeping alive a lost art

154

Exploring the importance of lighting

160

The beauty of natural stone

166

Kurt Jackson talks art in the home

172

Taking yours beyond its walls

178

BEAUTY BY DESIGN An exemplary interior feat

KITC HE N C O N FID E N T IAL Exploring the heart of the home

PO IN T O F D IFFE RE N C E From Cornwall to London, and back

A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY Steered by family values

A T I M E TO B E W I L D Creating havens in an age of concrete

ODE TO THE GRAIN Furniture that lasts a lifetime

O N E O F A KIN D Uniting architecture and interior design

FORM MEETS FUNCTION Effortless beauty with natural tiles

A PAT H T O E X C E L L E N C E Leading the charge in sustainable design

KNOWN BY ITS CHIPS On a mission to be the best

H O M E AWAY F RO M H O M E Understanding what works

T R E A D I N G S O F T LY Casting a little light with St. Eval

B E N E AT H O U R F E E T Where durability and style meet

EVENTIDE A final word from Emma Stratton

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Tailor-made MOVES

WO R D S B Y H A N N A H TA P P I N G

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P RO P E RT Y

Providing full service and asset management advice for future planning, the estate agency bar is set to new heights.

ohn Bray Estate’s five decades of knowledge sets them apart in the property market in north Cornwall’s golden triangle of Rock, Polzeath and Padstow. Their historical knowledge, upto-date planning expertise and in-depth community awareness have meant they are the go-to agent for the most discerning of private individuals and developers. As a boutique agency with Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) qualified valuers, the years of professional experience in planning, structural, holiday letting, managing, and building is invaluable to their clients. I speak with Managing Partner, Josephine Ashby to find out how their full-service provision and expertise set them apart.

local housing or creating the right product in the right place. Josephine and her team are adept at reviewing all aspects of a proposed development, including the layout, plot size, specification, and finishes. They can advise on how to optimise assets and the best strategies to maximise returns, whilst achieving optimal values and rates of sale. This teamwork approach with clients guarantees the very best chance of achieving exceptional results. The agency’s enviable portfolio and roster of past sales is a fitting testament to its skill set. “There is so much that can impact the return on investment, and our know-how ensures that you invest in the right aspects of your property or development, save money where possible, and safeguard the future value of your asset,” explains Josephine.

“We look after our clients’ interest in relation to their assets, whether that’s in terms of maximising those assets via a sale or through retention. We also help our clients create the best fit for the surroundings and natural environment. With larger developments, that might be by balancing a sensitive need for

In addition to market appraisals, John Bray Estates also undertakes RICS valuations for Inheritance and Capital Gains Tax purposes. Many properties across north Cornwall have been owned for generations, so they need to be revalued for inheritance tax. These are formal valuations and are an opportunity

LEFT & INSET Rosevarlock, Polzeath

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P RO P E RT Y

replacement of a landmark building,” explains Josephine. “It’s in a really special location between Millook and Widemouth with totally uninterrupted sea views. We’ve worked closely with the developer and their architect on a development consultancy basis for the creation of a replacement dwelling. We’ve worked with this high-end developer on several projects now and have built up a level of competence and trust between us that makes the journey seamless.”

for both parties to keep their finger on what is happening with the property market in the area, helping clients to understand what their asset is worth, and affording John Bray Estates with a deep and distinctive insight into a market that would otherwise be hard to achieve. The team is also adept at connecting the right people together, be those architects, interior designers, or gardeners, essentially facilitating a smooth and enjoyable experience. “We are estate agents in the sense that we earn a fee from property sales, but it goes far beyond that. We act very much on a consultative basis, and sometimes those conversations can last decades as clients revalue, reassess, or re-establish what they’re doing.” The fact that John Bray has been operating in the area for over 50 years gives them a unique insight, depth, and level of detail in the market that is hard to rival. An encyclopaedic and detailed knowledge of a very niche area could cause complacency but not in this case, as Josephine asserts: “Granted, we do have all the history, but we’ve also got nimbleness and innovation. The industry operates on a very different model now, and we have no desire to be left behind.”

Josephine explains that this particular property is for sale with detailed planning permission. It will be going to market with the site and plans already in place ready for a buyer: “There are also occasions where we will sell a project offplan, ahead of it being built, which secures the ground, and then the buyer enters a building contract. Effectively they’re buying the end house before it’s built. Alternatively, the property will be built, and we sell the finished product, an example of which was Cove, at Baby Bay. The developer in that instance chose to build it, partially furnish it to show how it could be lived in, we marketed it, and then it was sold.” The agency has also just completed on Rosevarlock, a development with a commanding central position in Polzeath village. The two adjacent semidetached new builds, Penhale and Pendeen were sold as primary residences to be occupied full time and are an example of how

A case in point is Ocean View, Millook, a substantial clifftop plot offered with detailed planning. “It’s a very exciting contemporary

INSET Tamarisk, Porthcothan

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TOP Tamarisk, Porthcothan

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A B OV E L E F T & R I G H T Cove, Baby Bay

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T O P & A B OV E Ocean View, Millook

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P RO P E RT Y

pace, it’s not quite a buyer’s market yet, but the balance is tipping, and this levelling is healthier. Sustaining the craziness of what we’ve seen over recent years was impossible. We must not ignore the fact that there is a war happening and our economy is in a very sensitive place now, however prime property in coastal locations tends to hold confidence; and when confidence is held, it holds the interest of the buyers and, to a point, the values.”

John Bray can tailor projects to areas, as well as planning restrictions. Josephine adds: “It’s not just one size fits all. It’s about investigating what’s possible.” Keen to gauge the current market in Cornwall, I ask Josephine for her take on where it’s currently sitting: “It’s seasonally a time where agencies will see much more come onto the market. The last two years were extraordinary and distorted the bigger picture. People held properties, particularly in prime coastal areas, because they wanted to use them, holiday lettings were at an all-time high, and any sellers in doubt opted to keep them. We’re now seeing a return to a more predictive market; it’s a prime time to sell, and there’s more stock coming, which in turn, settles the pace a little; but it’s still very, very active, and that’s positive. However, it is discerning because of the significant rise in prices that we’ve seen over the last few years, which makes it more fragile.”

John Bray Estates is diverse and flexible at all levels of the market, whether that be second home sales or primary residences, as well as creating developments that, where feasible, help benefit the community. The agency offers the same level of service, the same quality, and the same attention to detail, whatever the sale size. With that in mind, the agency is growing consistently, expanding the team year on year to dedicate even more time to the detail. Josephine sums up: “Whatever the sale, it’s important to remember that our job is all about relationships, and there’s often emotion and a complicated legal process involved, often more so in smaller ones! We thrive on challenges, and if somebody says that something’s not achievable, we rarely accept that. We refer to it as a journey, and some of those journeys are quite long (years even), and there are often lots of bumps in the road, but it’s what drives us.”

“In the current market, more than ever, people want to understand what they’re buying and give it more thought. It’s not that things aren’t selling at guide price, but rather that buyers are watching the market and really considering it, instead of jumping in first and thinking about it later – the pandemic frenzy has definitely calmed. It’s left us with a good market, but a market that we should not be too arrogant about. While it’s possible to achieve strong sales at a good

johnbrayestates.co.uk

INSET Kai Tak, Polzeath

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Timeless

SPACES WO R D S B Y H A N N A H TA P P I N G

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SU STA I N

Sharp geometrics meet soft natural planting to create inspirational and transportive gardens that soothe the soul.

After such huge success for a young designer, Sam set up his own studio in 2016 and now works predominantly from Cornwall.

rowing up on a farm in Cornwall it is little wonder that awardwinning landscape and garden designer Sam Ovens is inspired by wild natural landscapes. However, with an original degree in product design before going on to study landscape design at Falmouth University, it’s clear that bespoke built elements are also an integral part of Sam’s gardens.

The overriding style of Sam’s gardens is naturalistic, based on wild landscapes with a strong sense of place as he explains: “I want people to know where in the world they are based on the plants and materials used within a garden, I like to draw inspiration from my immediate surroundings, and think a thorough understanding of the specific locations where I am lucky enough to work is key.”

While studying and subsequently working for a number of private companies, Sam’s show gardens were what really set him apart. “My first show garden was at Hampton Court in 2011, and then in 2014, I entered and won the RHS Young Designer of the Year competition with my ‘Sky’s the Limit’ garden. Off the back of that win, I was able to secure sponsors for my next show gardens; Cloudy Bay for RHS Chelsea in 2016; Wedgwood in 2017 at RHS Chatsworth; and if it hadn’t been for Covid then it would have been a garden for Barbour at RHS Chelsea in 2020.”

In terms of current projects, much of Sam’s work is creating gardens for high-end, contemporary new builds, and clients tend to make contact with Sam at the same time as they instruct an architect: “I am usually involved from the very early stages, which is often two or three years ahead of the garden actually being implemented on site. I think that’s by far the best way to do it, because

INSET Sam Ovens

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SUSTA I N

clients come to me because they like what I do rather than based on locality. I think this leads to the best gardens as clients have the confidence to trust my judgement.”

I can then work closely with the architect and other designers. Being able to design the building and garden side by side allows you to really consider the two elements as one entity, ensuring maximum connection between spaces and continuity of design.”

I’m intrigued as to the design process and ask Sam how this works: “I’ll meet with a client in person on site, this allows me to get a good understanding of the client themselves, their wants, needs and aspirations as well as site conditions. I think it’s really important to take your time getting to know the site, how it feels, what’s currently growing there, how the light moves across the site, where it is in the world and its surrounding – some gardens are inward looking and need interest creating, with others it’s all about a view and working with that – every site is different!

Saying that, Sam does work on existing gardens which he explains can be slightly more challenging compared to the blank canvas of a new build, making sense of an existing building which might currently not feel connected to the garden can be a challenge, working around existing plants or built elements can be a little restrictive but, says, Sam: “that often makes for a more interesting design. I think sometimes I’m spoiled when I have a complete blank canvas to work with and some of my most satisfying projects have been where I have been faced with a very specific problem, be it poor connection between spaces, lack of internal light/need for privacy etc, and have been able to transform a property as a whole by changing the garden alone.”

Following this Sam goes away and produces a concept design, which is based around a 2D plan with a number of mood boards to back up the feel and materiality of the garden and the planting. After an initial meeting and further finessing, 3Ds are then produced so that clients fully understand the design; with new software the photo realistic visuals are an incredibly powerful tool for helping clients to understand how the new space

Sam feels fortunate in that the majority of his clients find him via recommendation or from seeing his work and unique style somewhere else. “I’m very lucky that the majority of

INSET Sam prefers to use natural material wherever possible

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A B OV E There is often continuity in material from house to garden

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A B OV E The structural elements of Sam’s gardens are crisp and contemporary

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SU STA I N

will look and feel. “Once signed off, we will move on to the detailed design stage where there’s a full package of working drawings produced, leading to works starting onsite which I generally like to oversee until completion.”

In terms of the plants themselves, it’s an ongoing learning journey for Sam: “I definitely came to landscape design from more of a design angle rather than a plant perspective one and it’s impossible to know everything about every single plant; I learn new things on daily basis. However, I think the most important thing is I always have a strong understanding of how I want the garden or landscape to feel when you are in it. Being inspired by natural landscapes doesn’t mean everything has to be native, I don’t want to replicate but instead try to capture the overriding feeling of a space.”

Sam has two other designers who work for him and also works with a range of local landscaping companies and contractors to actually build the gardens. “Whilst I don’t physically build the gardens myself, I think it’s important I am on hand to oversee the process and sign-off the different elements as we go. The next most involved stage for me is the planting; I always come and physically place every single plant. Planting, particularly in a more naturalistic style, means you have to take into account site conditions and respond accordingly as plants would in the wild. You can only go so far on a piece of paper or at a computer, whilst planting plans are fully detailed in the studio beforehand there’s always an element of tweaking and adjusting on site.”

“The big thing with gardens as opposed to other designed elements is that they’re a living thing and constantly evolving. A garden is never complete, I will regularly revisit my gardens as it’s really important to go back and review, edit and adapt. It’s this ongoing process that drew me to landscape design in the first place.” samovens.co.uk

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Naturally

INSPIRED WORDS BY ROSIE CATTRELL

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I N SPI R AT I O N

Taking the time to realise the meaning of home, and ﬁnding joy in the little details; in conversation with Lydia Allen.

put these huge extensions on the back which are always really modern, often cladded with metal zinc or timber, I think it’s a really nice hybrid between old and new, so you’re getting the character but you’re also getting a really modern design, which is a great juxtaposition of modernity and history.

ith a shining reputation and an impressive portfolio of projects to charm anyone in search of a fresh interior, Lydia Allen takes us behind the scenes of her world as an interior designer, and lets us in on a secret or two. Where do you inspirations for interior styles?

seek your

Do you have a signature style that clients have come to expect when you are involved in a project?

I’ve always been drawn to the interiors you see in Australia. You’re never too far away from a coastline, they’ve always got that naturally calming, peaceful style, and it always appears effortless. They use a lot of natural timbers, linens and polished concrete ﬂoors, creating the perfect balance between hard and soft, feminine and masculine. Whenever I’m in need of a little bit of inspiration or if I’m just having a read online, my go-to websites all seem to be Australian. I think it’s just the relaxed nature of a lot of the interiors you see over there which really draws my attention. For example, there’s a lot of old Victorian bungalows, which are so beautiful and classical, but then they

It really depends on the property and the location of the project. A lot of my projects have been in Cornwall, and they tend to be mostly by the coast or coast inspired. So again, there’s a natural, laid back luxury style that runs through a lot of my Cornish projects. For example, my projects in London tend to be a bit more formal. There’s often classical architecture, traditional cornicing and fireplaces to work with. We would also bring in velvets, beautifully veined marbles and a richer tone throughout. But overall the interiors still have that sense of calm, ending in an effortlessly elegant interior.

INSET Lydia Allen

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I N SPI R AT I O N

of British coastal because I think that has a very particular style. I lean towards global coastlines. You can walk into the home and feel as though you could be in South Africa, Portugal, LA. This way it keeps the designs modern and stands the test of time throughout all the trend and fads that often come and go. Take me through your thought processes and mindset as an interior designer, where do you start? Often clients will approach me after having seen my work. We start by sending them a list of questions. This will include budgets, likes and dislikes, where they go for inspiration and so on. This helps us get a general idea of their style. Following this we then look into the the architecture, location and what the property looks like. Moving forward we start by creating a look and feel presentation, which then leads on to a fully developed and more refined design, custom to each client. Depending on the different packages, this can either be a simple FF&E package or a full design service, which involves designing all the bathrooms, kitchen and choosing all the hard finishes throughout the home. This can also include technical drawings for bathrooms, electrical and lighting layouts, things like that. Once making sure the

There’s a natural thread that runs its way through most of my designs depending on whether it’s city, country or coastal. What changes when it comes to interior design in Cornwall as opposed to somewhere like London? A lot of the Cornish properties that I work on are holiday homes or second homes, so the aim is to create a home away from home. I use a lot of natural tones and a variety of materials to create the perfect layered aesthetic. They tend to be light and bright unless the clients have specifically stated otherwise. We are actually working on some dark and moody schemes at the moment which will look fabulous when they are installed. A lot of people are scared of dark tones, however, on a wall it can add great depth to a room and having black accents throughout can keep a space feeling timeless. Sometimes, when people think of coastal design they might think of blue and white stripes on the wall, and that’s really the complete opposite to us. When I think of the coast I don’t only think

A B OV E A comfortable space in which to reﬂect on the view

TOP An immersion of comfort

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TOP A contemporary living space

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A B OV E A sanctuary of neutral warmth

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I N SPI R AT I O N

client is happy with the designs, we start the procurement process, which then leads on to the exciting part and what we’ve all been waiting for – the installation. Each project and each client is very different; some clients hand over the reins from the get-go and simply let us work our magic, whereas with others we’ll work more as collaboration, making each project very exciting and completely unique. While having free rein has an exciting freedom to it, being collaborative is a great way to take you out of your comfort zone. For instance, there was a project in Cheltenham last year where the client wanted this raspberry pink sofa, which wasn’t something I would have selected, but after taking that into consideration during the design process, the result was beautiful. It was very British country style that we’ve never had the opportunity to work on before, but we thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to anymore quintessentially British homes we may work on in the future.

designers and I thought, ‘I know how this is done, let’s give it a go ourselves.’ At the moment we’re starting off quite small with candles, diffusers, place mats and cushions made from the fabric leftover from upholstery or curtains. making them incredibly sustainable, and eventually we’ll turn to furniture. Being a designer, you can spend hours looking for the perfect chair, sofa or table – you’ve got one in your mind that would be perfect for the project, but you can’t find it or you can and it’s hideously expensive. So, why not design it myself?

In your professional opinion, what is it exactly that makes a home? I think it’s important to have your own stance. When it comes to working with an interior designer, some people worry that you’re going to take away thier own personality from the home. So, I try and make it very clear that it’s not my home, it’s your home. While I’m here to advise and provide a fresh vision for your house, you need to make sure that you include things that you want amongst a fresh design. Sometimes it’s a piece of furniture like the raspberry pink sofa, sometimes a piece of art. Home looks different to everyone, it’s those special details that really make the difference in the end.

Are there any recent projects that you’re particularly excited about? I recently worked on a project for a South American snack company called Nature’s Heart. They’ve hired a huge double decker bus, and over the last three months I’ve designed all the interior for them, it’s touring all over the UK. It’s seriously cool. This was a great opportunity to touch on the South American style, so there’s lots of bright colours in there, neon lights and green walls, it’s a bit of a party vibe. It was a very fun, and rather unusual, three-month project; everything was completely custom – when you’re inside you wouldn’t even know you were in a bus. I loved it.

What inspired you to start House L? It’s something I always knew I wanted to do eventually. I was procuring all these candles, placemats, rugs from all these other lovely

lydiaallen.co.uk

TOP South American style

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The essence of PLACE WO R D S B Y H A N N A H TA P P I N G | I M AG E S B Y A N T H O N Y G R E E N WO O D

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SU STA I N

In conversation with Nicholas James, founder and director of KAST Architects.

requires analysis of different options and a great deal of questioning and testing. We value the people that we collaborate with and try to engender a culture of respect and openness, of finding solutions rather than highlighting problems and of positivity and laughter. In short, we work hard to ensure that the people we work with enjoy the experience and the end result makes our clients smile.

here was no big plan when it came to KAST, it very much happened by accident as Nicholas explains when I speak to him.

My wife was diagnosed with cancer and so I decided to step back from my role as a director of a large practice to dedicate more time to caring for her and our two young boys. KAST emerged out of a simple need to keep working, but in a way that could be moulded around our needs as a family at that time. Seven years on, Claire is fit, healthy and has been given the all clear, the boys are running rings around me and slowly but surely KAST has grown in size and reputation. Even now, though, the way that we work ensures that time with family and friends comes first.”

What drives KAST’s designs and do you have a signature style? Sustainability underpins, over-arches and threads through our approach to each project. It is fully integrated within the design process and therefore neither dominates our work, nor is it left to chance. For us it is about how can we design in such a way as to minimise our impact on the planet, through our choice of materials and the energy efficiency of the building. Sometimes it is about questioning whether there is a need for a building at all.

Can you tell me about how the creative process at KAST works? We strongly feel that design should be a collaborative process and are lucky to have some wonderfully creative people at KAST, all of whom have a voice and a passion for good architecture. Alvar Aalto once said “you can’t chew pencils and spit ideas” and as with most things he was right. Design is something that you need to work at and very rarely do you arrive at the perfect solution at the first attempt. It is an iterative process, one that

Where does the design inspiration for each new project come from? We believe that it is important to design in response to a site’s surroundings and context rather than merely reflect the look of adjacent buildings. Superficial ‘styles’ come and go so we work hard to understand the essence

LEFT Sea Edge

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SUSTA I N

workers and manage our customers, engage with our local community and increase our environmental awareness. So, being B Corp certified is a huge honour for us, but it is also just the beginning of our journey to continually progress, putting people and the environment first, collectively working to redefine what it means to be successful in business.

of the place, its history and evolution. With much of Cornwall falling within designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we strive to ensure our designs respect the landscape through their form, mass and choice of materials. The coastline, hills, valleys and rivers will be here long after our houses are gone, so we have to remember that we are temporarily borrowing the sites that we build on.

The housing market in Cornwall is somewhat incongruous and there can be a tension between the building of multimillion pound homes and affordable housing. How do you feel about this?

You have recently become B Corp certified, can you tell me about this and how it aligns with your commitment to reducing the impact to the planet?

We are so fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the world and it is only natural for people to want to visit. Over the last few years, and in particular as a result of the pandemic, more and more people have chosen to holiday in Cornwall. As a result many homes have been removed from private rent and are now holiday lets, more people have chosen to relocate to the county and some have bought a second home here. House prices have risen, fewer homes are available to rent and therefore local people are finding it harder to stay and live in the county. Businesses are losing staff who are moving away due to limited affordable housing and communities are losing their soul.

Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. The certification process measures a company’s entire social and environmental impact. We have therefore joined a family of like-minded companies, many of whom are our sustainability heroes. Collectively we believe that people and place are of the utmost importance. We are all interdependent and therefore responsible for each other and the generations to come. When we started KAST, we knew we wanted to run a company that, at its core, had a desire to design and build more sustainably. We have also always believed in the importance of staff health and wellbeing and how essential it is to strike a balance that puts home life over work life. For seven years we have felt in our heart that we were working in the right ways but had no real hard and fast method to demonstrate it. The B Corp Impact Assessment enabled us, for the first time, to measure this in a meaningful way. It also highlighted areas where we could improve as a company in the way we look after our co-

As an architect, being asked by a client to design a new high value house could potentially put us in an uncomfortable position. However, given our approach to design, and a passion for putting people and planet first, we feel there is always an opportunity for us to test our sustainable design skills and have a positive impact. Often clients come to us because they want to achieve the highest environmental standards, but for some this is not so high on their list of priorities.

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A B OV E Sylvania

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A B OV E Milk Moon

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Our challenge is therefore to bring them on a journey and persuade them of the benefits in building more sustainably.

to look after our planet and the moment we start digging in the ground we are impacting on our environment.

Addressing this challenge then enables us to use the same approach in our designs for affordable and social housing. Millions of households in the UK are being dragged into fuel poverty. Cold homes can lead to damp and mould problems which then contribute to respiratory infections and illness, not to mention the impacts on residents’ mental health. We can apply our knowledge of designing highly insulated, air-tight and energy efficient homes to the social housing projects in the county that we are currently working on, while also creating beautiful homes and sustainable communities.

We are in a climate emergency and we urgently need to reduce carbon emissions. At KAST we are committed to designing in a way that touches the earth lightly, minimising our use of high embodied carbon materials such as concrete and steel and moving towards a more timber based method of construction. We also focus on the energy efficiency of our designs (factoring in orientation, solar gain, insulation levels and air-tightness) to ensure that the operational carbon demands are reduced. So our task is to design sensitively, to ensure that any impact is minimised and that the resulting building sits in harmony with its surroundings and benefits the wider community.

Being put in an uncomfortable position needs to be embraced. It challenges us to question whether we are doing the right thing in any given situation. I would be more worried if we were becoming complacent about the work that we do. So for us it is about searching for that balance to enable us to design for those who want a dream home and those who dream of affording a home.

What does meaningful architecture mean to you? I hope that our buildings are meaningful on a number of levels. Firstly, that they are visibly simple, humble and sustainable, carrying the meaning wrapped up in our ethos, and secondly that they carry meaning for our clients, in that they are specific to their bespoke needs, family structure and life experiences. Ultimately our buildings are the background and structure onto which our clients add meaning over the course of a life spent in them.

From your point of view, what are the overall responsibilities of an architect for society and environment? When I was younger, someone at university put it to me that architects were little more than professional vandals. That stuck with me and of course, in a sense, he was right. We have a huge duty of care and responsibility

kastarchitects.com

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Defined

by DETAIL WORDS BY ROSIE CATTRELL

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Finding ways to translate ourselves into our interior spaces for something truly out of the ordinary.

team have built an impressive portfolio of completed projects both in London and Cornwall, but there are two recent projects in particular that deserve special attention, on which Adam was happy to take us behind the scenes.

e are all seeking something different as we find our way through life’s many paths, and the team at YEO Design believe that our home spaces should reflect just this. With each of us as unique and individual as our very fingerprints, there’s no reason that the interior spaces that we spend much of our lives in can’t be just as extraordinary, but it can be diﬃcult to know where to start. That’s where YEO Design come in.

“These projects took place during the pandemic, which for obvious reasons created its own challenges. Both were designed by us, and while designing over Zoom is not quite the same, we were really lucky to have clients on these projects that embraced that process and we made the best out of a tough situation. Metalwork of different kinds were at the forefront of both designs; the Newton Ferrers has floating cabinetry within a structural Crittall screen and a cantilevered liquid metal breakfast bar, and the Harlyn project has masses of 8mm hot rolled sheet steel.”

Headed up by friends and business partners, James Yeo and Adam Hodgson, YEO Design is at the forefront of luxury interiors, designing and making bespoke cabinetry and furniture to suit any and all, pushing the boundaries of what you thought your home could be. Managing the entire process from start to finish, the

INSET James Yeo and Adam Hodgson

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D I A LO G U E

looking at it. There were over two tonnes of steel in the staircase and balustrade, and we worked closely with the structural engineers to make sure it was all structurally sound.

No sooner had Boris told the nation to stay indoors than the phone rang with YEO’s Harlyn client, who had been let down by a previous designer going into lockdown and needed some help. “Here was an extremely detail orientated client,” continues Adam, “who loves design and really wanted to know exactly how things went together as well as how they would work and look. There’s nothing better than designing for a lovely family who are embarking on building their forever home, which is made all the better when they want to do something out of the ordinary.”

“The technical development of the project was extremely challenging. We had cantilevered metal stringers and the top balustrade had to connect to the building’s steel structure. We had to figure out how everything would be fabricated; connecting on site required on-site welding, and then special lifting equipment to get things into place. It’s fair to say it was challenging bringing it all together, but we definitely learnt a lot on the project and we’re very happy with the finished product.”

Walking through the front door of the Harlyn project, you’re immediately faced with the most exquisite feature of the house, the ‘twisted’ staircase. “This is, I think, YEO’s finest work to date,” says Adam. “The design is as crisp as you like but also very different. We had been working on the design for around a month and we hadn’t quite nailed it, when our head of design called me one morning to say he’d had a dream that night and he had the design, ‘Give me an hour to draw it up this morning, we’re going to twist it!’ At that moment I knew this was going to be very special, and this is the design we see today. You’ll walk under and around the 8mm hot rolled steel staircase balustrade into the kitchen beneath a slatted ash ceiling, where hot rolled steel cuts through the floating ash cabinetry, the ash and steel connecting the kitchen space to the staircase next door.

Faced with another lockdown project, the YEO Design team were approached by a charming family looking to create a south west get away for the whole tribe, with kids and grandkids expressing great excitement at the prospect of spending time in one of the most special locations YEO Design have ever worked on – the Newton Ferrers river side: “Again, lovely people, it was an absolute pleasure to work with clients who loved everything we produced on the design side of things. I remember when I first saw the design with the floating wall at the end, everybody in the studio loved it but we were very unsure if the client would be on board with it or not, but luckily, they loved it. They were happy for us to push the boundaries a bit as long as we kept a classic design feel. We always want to do something different within a design and count ourselves very lucky to be given the opportunity to do that.”

“The design of the staircase is so pure and different, I absolutely love it, and photos just can’t convey how striking it is when you’re

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A B OV E The ‘twisted staircase, Higher Harlyn

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TOP Higher Harlyn

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A B OV E Herons Reach

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difference to them, we want to show people what is doable with a bit of imagination, but none of it is possible without clients who are willing to let us try. We’re so grateful for this.”

With a particular dream held in the mind of the client, the brief for this project was ‘traditional, but with a modern twist’, and the YEO team are not ones to disappoint. “We get this kind of brief a lot,” Adam explains, “but I really think we nailed it on this project. The design is traditional at its core, but we created this super-modern floating wall of cabinetry, with angled veneered fronts and brass framework that houses the ovens and sits within a structural Crittall screen. I think this definitely gives it the modern twist!”

Having built a sterling reputation amongst their clients across the borders of Cornwall and London, who have come to learn that their trust is well placed with Adam, James and the team, YEO Design are pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible when it comes to our homes, and are showing us just how far we can take our home interiors, if we only have the imagination.

While these two projects are completely different to each other, both epitomise what YEO Design are bringing to the bespoke home interior table, on which Adam reflects: “We try to design things that have a bit of

yeodesign.co.uk

A B OV E Herons Reach

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Brilliance

and COLOUR WO R D S B Y M E RC E D E S S M I T H

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C R E AT E

In conversation with Jo Downs, where glass fusion meets interior installation in a mesmerising combination of colour, clarity and composition.

ell me a little bit about yourself and your background?

interior pieces. That proved really successful, and it allowed me to work and be a mum at the same time – I had my two sons around that time, so life was busy, and fun and pretty chaotic, but we made it work. In 2005 I took a real plunge forward with the business and opened the very first Jo Downs Handmade Glass gallery in Padstow. That was such a scary time business-wise, but it worked beautifully – people loved the work and 17 years later the gallery is still going strong. Since then I have opened galleries in St Ives, Fowey and Tintagel, and expanded the workshop in Launceston to include our biggest interiors gallery where visitors can get a first look at my latest designs. I’ve also opened a gallery in the south east, near Ascot, which includes a dedicated space for glass-fusing workshops. They have become really popular.

I grew up in the midlands with my parents and two brothers, and at school I had big plans to become an art teacher. I was really interested in working with clay, but a tutor suggested I try working with glass and I fell in love with it instantly. That was the moment that changed my life. I went on to study Glass and Ceramic Design at Sunderland University, and after graduation I set up my first studio in London, just me and a kiln and all my enthusiasm for making beautiful things out of fused glass. It was the start of an adventure that I’m still on thirty years later! What led you to start Jo Downs Handmade Glass, how did it all begin?

Where do you take your inspirations for your stunning collections?

I set up Jo Downs Handmade glass straight out of university and began working on really big projects, designing glass installations for hotels and cruise liners. It was a wonderful start to my career, so exciting creatively, but very demanding technically. It really taught me to perfect my skill in the studio, and I learned a lot about business. In 2001 I moved to Cornwall and set up a new studio in Launceston, deciding to focus on making

Creatively, moving to Cornwall was incredibly inspiring, and you’ll see the colours and textures and details of this place in nearly all my work. But these days, thanks to the support of my lovely glass fusing team, I am sometimes able to find time to experiment in my studio, to try out new patterns or designs or new shapes.

LEFT A shining chandelier

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It’s important not to get too fixed in your ideas as a designer, so creative freedom is essential. I launch something new at the galleries every season, so our visitors can get excited about what’s next. Take me through your process, how do such beautiful and intricate pieces such as yours come together? I begin by sketching out my ideas, and then spend days or sometimes weeks making test pieces – testing colours and textures and how different combinations will react in the kiln. Eventually, really great forms and colour combinations will emerge, and I’ll refine the design until it’s perfect. Then I’ll start making collections with my team, and they go in the galleries. It’s always fun to see people’s reactions when we launch a new design. Talk to me about any commission pieces that you’re particularly proud of, or stand out to you. Creating commissioned work is my favourite thing to do. It’s a special thing to design a one-off commission for somebody, it’s really meaningful for them and that makes it all the more important to me. I created a wall mounted Shoaling Fish design for an architect designed house in Padstow some years ago, and that was a really key commission for me – it kicked off a whole world of wall-mounted art installation commissions that have just run and run. Another key design was when I began making bespoke chandeliers for clients. That took so much experimentation and testing at first, but the results were spectacular and those pieces have become really high profile for me. I absolutely love that moment when they are delivered to the client and installed

A B OV E Jo Downs

TOP Shoaling Fish

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TOP Art and function fused

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A B OV E Blue copper splashback

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TOP Adding a little sunshine

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A B OV E A stunning interior addition

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C R E AT E

for the first time. It’s always so special. But all commissions are special! Lately I’ve been creating bespoke glass panels as kitchen splash backs – turning a practical idea into a custom work of art in someone’s fabulous new kitchen, in the heart of the home. Splashbacks effectively take the form of long paintings, so the design possibilities are endless. What do you feel your pieces add to an interior space? My bespoke work offers clients the opportunity to express their own personality, their own passions. Because my work is built around the client’s own wants, and is tailored to an exact space, the results are always unique – and we all want something unique and beautiful in our lives, don’t we? It’s good for the soul!

‘melting’ glass, and letting it drop downwards to create really soft and natural shapes before it sets to a lovely, polished surface with beautiful twists of colour through it. I’ve spent nearly a year playing around with various designs and testing them out with different forms and textures. They are gorgeous! I hope people will love them as much as I do.

Are there any new projects in the pipeline? Yes! I have something really exciting in the pipeline. They are ‘drop vases’ – beautiful elongated forms that are created from ‘slumping’ glass, which effectively means

Tell me about your experience working with glass, and what it means to you. From childhood I never doubted I’d be an artist, but it was that first encounter with fused glass at university, with its brilliance and colour, that set me on a career path for life. I just fell in love with it! A whole world of creativity opened up to me right then, and I’ve never looked back. I’m never happier than when I’m in my studio, with a cup of tea and the radio on, and a full day of playing with glass in front of me. I feel very lucky to live such a creative life. jodowns.com

TOP A kitchen in colour

A B OV E Jo Downs in the studio

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Designed for LIFE WO R D S B Y H A N N A H TA P P I N G

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Creating a built environment that puts community and sustainability at the fore.

which complement the Cornish landscape. “We are committed to constantly evolving our homes to be the most energy efficient they can be through continually introducing the most sustainable and efficient energy sources. Our homes at Pentire Green will be our most sustainable and energy efficient yet due to our passion for seeking out energy and sustainability innovation without compromising on quality.” All 15 open market homes at Pentire Green will have discrete integrated powerful PV solar panels in their roofs. These can be combined with optional home storage battery systems that will dramatically reduce dependence on traditional energy consumption, delivering significant long-term cost-of-living savings.

he construction industry has been much maligned over recent years for its lack of eco-credentials, but there is one Cornish company that, in the face of climate change, is championing the need to build with sustainability in mind and is taking steps to increase energy efficiency in its homes without compromising on aesthetics. Legacy Homes has put sustainability high on its agenda and is adopting a topdown approach when it comes to its new developments. I speak to Neil Simpkin, Head of Sales and Marketing, about what steps are being taken to minimise environmental impact with their new collection of three, four and fivebedroom contemporary homes near Crantock, Pentire Green. “The village itself is in an outstanding location with far-reaching countryside views and just a stone’s throw from the famous Crantock beach,” Neil explains. “Inspired by Cornwall’s north coast and its surrounding verdant countryside, we wanted to blend Legacy Homes’ trademark design-led architecture with contemporary living spaces to create a community of modern homes

While the PV panels will harness the heat of the Cornish sunshine, each home will be fitted with an air source heat pump. These work by absorbing the ambient heat from the outside air into a liquid refrigerant at a low temperature. Using electricity, the pump compresses the liquid to increase its temperature, which condenses

LEFT Created using CGI, these images give prospective buyers the chance to visualise each Legacy Home in intricate detail

A B OV E Three-bedroom home

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has a high capacity for thermal insulation, producing an A+ insulation rating. In a bid to also reduce water usage by up to 50%, the homes have aerated taps, showers and dual flush cisterns. The list of eco credentials is topped off by pre-wiring to accommodate an external EV charging point. Legacy Homes has been creating beautiful, luxurious modern living spaces in the UK’s most sought-after locations for more than 15 years. As a premium house builder, with an impressive portfolio of award-winning developments, the team work tirelessly to achieve the highest quality architecture and craftsmanship, as Neil explains: “To ensure our rigorous standards are maintained, we have an in-house Legacy Design Practice that oversees every element of our designs. Our spatial and interior designers maximise indoor and outdoor living space to create homes which are aesthetically beautiful and practical for everyday life.

back into a liquid to release its stored heat. The pumps will be used to warm the heating systems – which will include underfloor heating to the ground floor as it distributes warm air faster than traditional radiators and can also reduce energy consumption and your bills by 30%. In fact, did you know that air source heat pumps are deemed to be over 50% more efficient than a traditional gas boiler? There’s no doubt that eco-heating sources work well and are the fuel of the future, but they are at their most efficient when combined with other build elements. With that in mind, each window in a Legacy home is made incorporating recycled PVC and an advanced multi-chambered design which locks in heat ensuring environmental, market-leading performance, without aesthetic compromise, and delivering triple A-rated performance. A Legacy home’s energy efficiency also comes from its highly insulated walls and roofing, along with innovative flooring insulation blocks made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) rather than more traditional concrete. These blocks are 98% air, non-toxic and 100% recyclable, and due to its lightweight closed cell structure, which inhibits the passage of heat or cold, EPS

“We also have a long-standing partnership with ground-breaking Cornish business Green&Blue who produce innovative, aesthetically beautiful products that help us all to make the changes necessary to protect our environment for future generations. Their products include Bee Bricks, Bat and Swift Boxes and Modern Bird Baths, all of which are made from recycled Cornish clay and delivered to site in recycled packaging.” Sharing in Green&Blue’s vision that every new house built needs to provide a home for wildlife as well as for us, and with so many species in decline, Legacy Homes are determined to rethink the way they plan, build and manage both housing and gardens. Every new Legacy home includes at least one Green&Blue home for wildlife and

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A B OV E Four-bedroom home

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A B OV E Five-bedroom home and terrace

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SU STA I N

place you can truly call home. Legacy also aims to create communities to be proud of. As part of this, and its commitment to the village, Legacy is building 15 affordable homes at Pentire Green, exclusively available to local families, as well as building an extension to the local village hall. The development will very much be an integral part of the village.

many of the developments include wildlife hotels and bird baths. The site at Pentire Green will be fully landscaped so that it sits comfortably within the local vernacular and is also reflective of its coastal position, backed by Cornish countryside. The development will sit on the western fringes of Crantock village with Crantock beach, the Gannel Estuary and coastal walks almost on the doorstep. There is a vibrant village community here with St Carantoc Chrurch and a village green at its heart. The Old Albion Inn nestles amongst the ancient streets, looking after the victuals of its residents for some 400 years, while independent shops and cafés makes this a

Neil sums up: “We believe that our responsibility when building quality new homes includes thinking about the finer details in all aspects of a home. We are on a journey to continually improve our approach to the environment and communities.” legacyhomes.co.uk

A B OV E Street scene at sunset

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Antiques of

the FUTURE WORDS BY ROSIE CATTRELL

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Specialising in a very particular craft in the last foundry in the UK to carry on the lost art of traditional Victorian bed making, The Cornish Bed Company are making heirlooms to last longer than a lifetime.

one of the first train turn-tables in the country, which was built for the Cornwall Mineral Railway. Today, behind its original round-arched, keyed windows, craftsmen continue the traditions of iron bedmaking.

hen we think of returning home after time spent away in distant lands, there’s often one thing that we picture fondly calling us back to a familiar fold, a place of calming rest and comfort – our bed. As arguably the heart and soul of any home, your bed should hold pride of place in your own personal sanctuary, and be of a quality to stand the test of time to last through generations.

Mark Tremlett didn’t grow up making beds. By trade he, like his father before him, is a boat-builder. But it was while working on the family boatyard on the River Exe in Devon that he discovered something surprising: that even people with the most beautiful boats were sleeping on “horrible cheap, thin mattresses”. Rather than watch them ruin the look and feel of his father’s beautiful vessels, he started to make bespoke, ecofriendly mattresses, sprung with coconut fibre and filled with English wool. Soon, he was getting asked to craft breathable mattresses for babies’ cots and children’s beds. “And before long I had two Naturalmat shops in London and Devon, and was exporting to Europe,” he says.

The Cornish Bed Company, which was first established as a side business of a family that ran a Cornish antiques emporium and made reproduction Victorian furniture, has painstakingly revived every process that forms part of the craft of traditional bedmaking. The company’s foundry, still in the same location, was set up in old steam engine sheds near Fowey at the end of the old Great Western Railway. The red-bricked, slate-roofed Grade II listed building boasts

LEFT Brass Victoria

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skin to breathe, which only a well-ventilated bed and natural mattress will do.” The fact the beds are all made in Cornwall – an area of little employment – also chimes with buyers, he adds, “because they’re positive for local people and the planet. They’re beds that will last for ever, that you will pass down as heirlooms, which is why you find them everywhere, from Shimla to South Africa, because they were dismantled, put on to horses or boats or trains and taken all over the Empire.”

His progression into making beautiful Victorian-style metal beds happened by chance five years ago, when he came across a foundry still making cast-iron beds using the same moulds and methods as they had in Victorian times. The owner of the business had just died, and the building it was housed in, he says, was “absolutely incredible: a vast brick warehouse at the end of the Great Western Railway line, where the trains would turn around, be brushed down, and then go back to London”. The company’s real value, though, lay in its workforce. The six men at the Cornish Bed Company had more than a century of experience between them and “one guy had been there 30 years,” Tremlett says. “There was nothing he didn’t know about making beds. Having listened to them, I was sold.”

@OldHouseOurHome

In the past few years, bespoke models have begun to appear in bedrooms all over the country too: in hotels such as Soho House, No Twenty9 in Burnham Market and Paul Ainsworth’s No 6 Townhouse in Padstow, and in the homes of fans like Ellie Goulding, James McAvoy and Emma Bridgewater. Because the foundry is just a few miles from the Eden Project, clients often pop by to watch the process, Mark says. “It’s not everyone who can say they’ve seen their bed being made from molten metal. It’s a pretty special thing – kind of like having a boat made. Which is where it all started…”

Unlike most other so-called cast-iron beds – which are often a collection of metal pipes that are screwed together – the men crafted theirs in the same way their fathers and grandfathers had in the 1800s, from four poured-metal pieces: a headboard, a footrest, and two sides, all of which tightly slot together, “so there are no screws, no squeaking”.

It was not long ago that the idea of passing furniture down from generation to generation seemed old-fashioned and out of touch. ‘Fast furniture’ replaced purchases that would last a lifetime and the values of permanence were replaced with the idealisation of mobility and a lighter lifestyle. Now there is a growing desire again for considered purchases and

Unexpectedly, Mark adds, Covid has been a boon for Victorian-style beds, “because people have realised the importance of good ventilation to your health. Our body loses about a pint of moisture a day – and the only way to wick that away is to allow your

INSET The Maud

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TOP Adding the bed serial number

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A B OV E Four Poster Abingdon

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TOP Handcast moulds

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A B OV E Solid brass detail

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cast, and hand-spun brass, and with a unique look to provide a mixture of old-style decor and 21st century elegance and durability, the antique brass style is one of many that will stay in fashion for eternity.

heirloom furniture that won’t be replaced in four to eight years (the average lifespan of self-assembled furniture). Our collective shift towards more responsible choices is aﬀecting what we buy for our homes and is driving demand for products that are naturally sustainable and can be repaired, updated and refurbished to prolong their lifespan.

With awards like the Feefo 2020 Gold Trusted Service Award, the 2021 UK Enterprise Award for Best Speciality Bespoke Bed Makers, and the 2021 Southern Enterprise Award for Best Artisan Cast Iron Bed Manufacturer under their belt, not to mention the recently awarded Design Guild Mark for the Somerset four poster and the Tetbury cast iron beds, Mark and his team have left an impression of prestigious quality on the industry. With a traditional, long-lasting, timeless style that would suit any home from a London townhouse to a countryside cottage, The Cornish Bed Company oﬀer a bed for life and longer, and are in the business of creating beautiful future antiques to be passed down from generation to generation.

Bedsteads from The Cornish Bed Company are still made in the Victorian tradition, in the last remaining foundry in the UK that manufactures traditional metal bedsteads in exactly the same way that they were created over 150 years ago. The cast knuckle fixings are hand-poured at high temperatures to create strength and stability in the frame, joining the head and foot sections of the bed with the knuckle joint. Brass beds grew in popularity rapidly, and by the 1880s a brass bed was de rigueur in fine homes across the country, adding a touch of opulence and elegance to the room. The Cornish Bed Company’s brass beds are manufactured to the highest standards using real rolled, hand-

cornishbeds.co.uk

A B OV E Nickel Gloucester

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Style meets

FUNCTION WORDS BY JAMIE CROCKER

Sometimes it’s worth taking a step back and really breaking from tradition. The results can be transforming.

right blinds or shutters. The whole process becomes very streamlined and stress free with some placements achievable within a two-to-three-hour window – a boon on changeover days.

en years ago, Andrew cook spotted a growing interest in shutters within the home market and believed they would go on to be an alternative choice for window coverings, quickly replacing the need for blinds and curtains. He recognised that curtains had been increasingly under siege for many years and it’s not hard to see why. For centuries they were a great idea – indeed the best – for dressing windows, retaining warmth and maintaining privacy. But times changed and 21st century alternatives have left curtains in the shade. Andrew’s instinct proved correct, with the ensuing business success providing a vehicle for the whole family to relocate to Cornwall.

Besides being relatively easy to install shutters have also shaken off their purely functional, minimalist genesis. The number of different designs and materials available has exploded over the years, allowing you to match them with the over-arching theme of your interiors. Essentially each one can be as bespoke as you want it to be, and of course made to measure – the shutter style with smaller louvres and centre tilt rod style would suit a more traditional interior while wide panels will suit a more modern and contemporary home. They really can enhance your home’s aesthetics both inside and out, offering a touch of American chic and a break from the more obvious choices.

Although a national brand, Just Shutters prides itself on being a local company. Based in Newquay excellent customer service can be rolled out across the peninsula, looking after the needs of both long-term residents and for those in the holiday letting market. With the adoption and acceptance of online meetings, after the recent pandemic, non-domicile owners can utilise Zoom or Facetime hookups to engage with the company, negating the need to be on-site when choosing the

Whilst they might, in some instances, be the more expensive option, their versatility means they provide better value than curtains or blinds. If privacy, light control, efficiency and durability are important to you, there is no better window dressing option.

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In terms of use, window shutters can be set to be partially open which allows the required light into the room whilst simultaneously reducing the impact of full sun on fabrics such as furniture and carpets. A recent study proved that shutters reduce heat loss more than blinds and curtains – a big plus as we move toward a more sustainable future. Hence, they can help maintain a desired room temperature and ultimately reduce your heating bills. The process is simple – to make the most of the heat coming from the sun, the slats (louvres) should be tilted fully open; this allows the natural solar heat to reach through your window.

In colder weather, louvres should be fully closed so that your room retains more heat. So, there is no doubt they meet all the criteria for a practical window covering. And when you change your colour scheme you won’t have to change your window covering. Unlike curtains, shutters don’t date and they certainly don’t clash! To find out more, visit the Just Shutters website, or get in touch by calling 01637 808397 / 07957 281802 justshutters.co.uk

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In the

SPOTLIGHT WO R D S B Y DA N WA R D E N

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Exploring the importance of lighting within the wider world of home design.

ith a passion for the fine details, Woodford Architecture and Interiors has built a reputation for quality; for enabling the realisation of its clients’ dream homes via an approach that holistically brings all aspects of a project together to work in harmony. Regular readers of DRIFT may well remember that in our 14th volume, we approached company owners Gavin and Sarah, who gave us an insight into their backgrounds and what led them to open an architecture and interior design practice here in the south west. What became clear then, was their passion for the work. As a pair, they relish the challenges that each new project presents, and a huge part of this lies in the relationships that can be formed with a client. Which is a good thing, really, especially since the process of bringing a new home to life, more often than not, can take years.

But what really sets this practice apart is its approach to integrated architecture. As mentioned already, the methodology at Woodford is holistic; it’s all encompassing, considered, meticulous. This, in part, is thanks to Gavin and Sarah’s unique backgrounds. Gavin brings years of architectural experience that go back to his teenage years, and include working with world-renowned architects and interior designers such as Norman Foster and Partners, with whom he was able to work on some iconic architectural projects, including Wembley Stadium, The Reichstag in Berlin, the Millennium Bridge, and more. Sarah, meanwhile, studied Fine Antique Restoration and Conservation at the Sir John Cass Furniture School, before taking a job at Arnold Wiggins and Sons – historic framers to the Royal household and prestigious, international art galleries.

LEFT Charles Edwards lantern. Traditional lanterns are great for period properties.

INSET Sarah brings artistic awareness to every interior project

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colours can be used to dampen our emotions, when it comes to lighting, a similar scale can be applied. In short, despite being just one piece in a very complicated puzzle, lighting is fundamental to achieving the sanctuary at home that we all aspire to.

Honing her attention to detail, working on the framing of world-famous old masters’ paintings, as well as those of modern British masters, Sarah then completed her interior design training at the Inchbald School of Design before being invited to work with world-leading interior designers on large-scale renovations of central London properties. Using her traditional decorative skills in more contemporary ways, it was during this period that she and Gavin decided to pool their talents and launch Woodford. It was a ‘lightbulb’ moment, as they say, and the rest is history.

“It can’t really be overstated just how important it is,” says Sarah. “For us, it’s another layer of our design process that’s absolutely essential to how an interior works. But it’s also essential in terms of how it looks; light fittings can almost be like works of art.” In fact, in choosing something sculptural, for example cage feature lighting over a dining table, Sarah firmly believes that this can elevate the space in just the same way as a carefully curated piece of art. It provides you with that same, visually appealing joy every time you step into the room.

For this edition of DRIFT Abode, as a ‘case in point’ of the close attention they pay to detail, I’m interested to hear Gavin and Sarah’s take on the importance of lighting, of the role it plays within the wider architectural and design process. As it turns out, lighting is absolutely key, which in many ways I think I already knew. What I didn’t fully understand, was why. As an example, did you know that lighting has been shown to have biological and physical effects that can impact our health and wellbeing? Or that we can experience a whole spectrum of emotions depending on the brightness, saturation and hue of our chosen illuminations? Before coming to write this piece, I had a vague idea that blue and white light makes us energetic, and that it can interrupt our sleep patterns. What I didn’t realise, is that brighter light can actually intensify our emotions and can even make us less agreeable in negotiations. Low light, meanwhile, has been shown to have the opposite effect. Saturation also plays its part; just as in art, where more saturated hues can amplify the way in which we engage with the work before us, and where muted

I’m interested to know at which stage lighting ‘options’ are presented to their clients. The answer, is at the very beginning. Not forgetting that the bedrock of Woodford’s approach to architecture and design is to ensure every element works in synergy with the others, it would seem strange to leave such an important design decision to the last minute. “We want the whole room or house to look amazing, and that means everything working together in order to enhance the scheme,” says Sarah. This means that from the very beginning, the design choices have to work strongly together, “and we would only ever present clients with designs that we know are going to look great.” So, what about functionality? “There are always different fittings for different purposes,” says Sarah. “On some projects,

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A B OV E Highlighting the artwork that’s integral to any interior scheme

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MIDDLE Grouping pendants together to give a statement effect – especially effective in large or high rooms

TOP ‘Up lighting’ gives a great effect with artwork or playful collections

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question: how important is outdoor lighting? “It’s absolutely crucial!” says Sarah. “Even in those spaces that you aren’t using outside, if you’re not out in your garden, you still want to have a little bit of lighting under a tree so that, as you’re looking out from your living room, you’re not just looking into darkness. The thing we always say to clients is that the exterior is as important as the interior. If you can get all of those elements right, then what you’re going to end up with is a home that is absolutely outstanding.”

you might use Lutron systems, which allow for very quick and easy changes of mood. For example, if you’re prepping dinner, the lighting is really bright and your task lighting is doing what it’s supposed to. Then, as soon as your guests arrive, you just flick a switch and the levels become much lower, allowing them to enjoy the ambience. With kitchen lighting in particular, we try to hide the light fittings, so you might have LED strips under wall units and things like that, or recessed spotlights angled exactly to where you need them on your worktop or island. But then we’d also layer that with visible lighting, which just looks great. So, the visible lighting is there to look fantastic, and the task lighting is there to make sure you can do what you need to do.”

This is what it all boils down to. “These are people’s homes that we’re designing,” says Gavin. “Their heart is absolutely in it, and truly passionate about seeing it come to fruition. Sometimes, getting clients to see things differently is challenging,” he continues, however a strength of he and Sarah’s is their ability to build a relationship of trust; to always deliver not just a lovely new house, but a dream now home. In short, as Gavin puts it, “it always works out fantastically.”

Of course, as many of us have realised in the last two years, it is no longer enough for our homes to have lovely interiors. With numerous lockdowns, the value of our gardens and their ability to re-connect us with nature, particularly in the summer months, has never been higher or more widely felt. So, I ask the

woodfordarchitecture.com

A B OV E Pendant lighting, chosen in the same way as artwork – to help enhance a scheme

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Salt of

the EARTH WO R D S B Y DA N WA R D E N |

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I M A G E S B Y K E L LY PA I G E

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I N SPI R AT I O N

The product of heat and pressure over millions of years, natural stone has long been associated with the realisation of luxury homes and interiors.

to do so. At Duke Stone of Cornwall, theirs is an ethos that’s all about bringing customers’ visions to life with a high-quality experience. From discussing initial ideas with them, then drilling down to the fine details and eventually overseeing the installation, Duke Stone aims to ensure the entire experience is enjoyable for each and every client. And rightly so; if you’re investing in your home and improving it for the years to come, it should be an exciting process, not one that has you tearing your hair out at every turn.

f you cast your eye over the interiors and finishes of any luxury home, be it a Pinterest board, an Instagram story or the latest interior design magazines, what will likely stand out as a recurrent theme is a clear attention to detail in the curation of everything that combines to bring it to life. More often than not, the solutions that the interior designers and tradesmen have used to complete the space, be it a single room or an entire house, are rarely ‘off the shelf ’. They are bespoke – carefully considered, meticulously designed and crafted to fit, in order to maximise on the available space and dovetail beautifully (or in deliberate contrast, depending on style!) with the wider interior scheme.

Duke Stone of Cornwall provide clients with the opportunity to upgrade existing and new-build properties with bespoke kitchen worktops, bathrooms, flooring and more. And, as the name suggests, its speciality is stone. At the core of the business is quality of product and customer service. As skilled stonemasons who specialise in the design and manufacture of natural stone products, the team’s passion for the materials with which

What you can’t usually see in such images, is the process that the property owners went through in order to bring their vision to life. Nor the experience they had with the brands, businesses and tradesmen that helped them

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Dekton and Neolith – manufactured from natural stone, which is powdered and treated under extreme heat and pressure. The materials come in a huge range of colours, patterns and styles, too, and if a customer is unsure of what direction to go in, the team are happy to meet and show them around their workshops, giving them the chance to see plenty of samples as well as full slabs. An added appeal – at a time when sustainability and reducing our environmental footprint has never been more important – is that Duke Stone’s suppliers are beginning to adapt and introduce greener ways of producing stone. With innovation and advanced technology, factories are now able to use renewable energy, recycled water and even recycled materials to produce the products we rely on.

they work is evident. There is an immense pride not only in the quality of what they do, but in their ability to meet each customer’s individual requirements, however large or small. From the offset of any new interior project, a key choice is the materials you’ll use. Whatever the options, be it wood, metal or stone, you have to ask yourself: what are the benefits? With stone, there is no short answer. Another point worthy of note, is the uniqueness that each piece of natural stone brings to your interior. Each and every stone is different, with its own quirks and imperfections, making each creation truly one of a kind. It’s strong and durable, with timeless appeal and natural beauty. Natural products such as the granite and quartzite are one of a kind, meaning that they are always completely unique to each customer. There are also a range of finishes available with natural stone, from high-gloss polish to more tactile, leathered finishes.

So, how might you go about incorporating stone into your home? Specifically in the kitchen, there are a number of ways in which you can use it. Worktops are the obvious example, and the Duke Stone team take us to a number of recent projects in which various stone products have been incorporated to provide an impressive level of functionality. One in particular – a kitchen incorporating Sensa Black Beauty – has recessed draining grooves routed into the section immediately adjacent to the sink. Others have been fused

A wide range of materials is made use of. These include natural products such as granite, marble and quartzite, as well as man-made products such as quartz (a mixture of natural stone and resin) like that of Consentino, and sintered stone, including

INSET Cool and contemporary

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TOP Flawless finishes

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A B OV E Sleek designs

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TOP Made for modern homes

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A B OV E Functional forms

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Projects like this, whilst a rarity, are testament to the team’s expertise. The majority of their work is supply and installation, ranging from affordable quality worktops to high-end luxury homes and developments, but regardless of the project, Duke Stone thrive on quality of finishes down to the tiniest of details, and are always eager to take on ambitious creative briefs.

with steel pan rods, protecting the worktops from heat, while some have done away entirely with a traditional sink, replacing it with an integrated stone basin – hewn of the same material as the rest of the worktops and flowing seamlessly with them. Perhaps most impressive, is a recent project that saw a substantial, original water tank – made from Delabole Slate – into a stunning set of worktops for the property’s new kitchen. The tank in question was 200 years old, and was carefully removed and brought back to the workshop, where the team restored and repurposed the stone into beautiful kitchen worktops. This included a showstopper island, which was once the bottom of the water tank. The island top is 10cm thick, and showcases the pearlescent grain that runs through the slate.

Ultimately, where Duke Stone excels, is in enabling clients to bring the beauty of Cornwall’s natural surroundings into their home and benefit from the kind of timeless durability that, in today’s world of fast-fashion and throwaway design, is becoming increasingly rare. dukestoneofcornwall.co.uk

A B OV E Created for living

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Bringing the

OUTSIDE IN WORDS BY JAMIE CROCKER

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C R E AT E

What is the raison d’être for art in the home? The founder of The Jackson Foundation Gallery expounds upon this and his broader vision.

will encourage you to think about what you really want your art purchase to be, rather than just a ‘pretty picture’ to fill a space.

here are numerous reasons why people choose to embellish their rooms with pieces of art. While ‘art’, as such, seems to have found itself spread thinly across home interiors in the form of imitation prints designed to fill a gap, perhaps pleasing to the eye on an aesthetic level, there is something to be said about selecting even one piece of an artist’s original work to hang in our homes. By choosing it as our own, can it transcend its origins and become a representation of something else, achieving more meaning than that initially perceived by the original creator? The truth is that art is versatile and amazing in many ways and cannot be easily pigeon-holed, accruing value far beyond the initial brush stroke or first pour. It evokes emotions, it inspires, it makes you feel at home, it improves mental health – the list could be endless.

Tell me a little bit about yourself, and how you became an artist. I am a contemporary visual artist, a painter, sculptor and writer living and working in the far west of Cornwall, in a rural coastal setting immersed in the Cornish community and surrounded by my extended family. I am the product of an artists’ family, both parents were practicing artists although working in other disciplines. My father was part of that St Ives modernist school of the 50s and 60s – his artist contemporaries and friends being the first artists I was aware of. My life was and continues to be two threads of both natural science and art – one influences the other and I’ve married the two together in my career of 40 years or so. I studied zoology at university but chose art as my main path.

So rather than pontificate and theorise in a vacuum I asked one of Cornwall’s leading exponents, to extract an insider’s take on the value of purchasing a special piece of art for the home. It sits on a biographical backdrop of a lifetime spent creating and exploring the natural world. He is the unique Kurt Jackson. Hopefully, it

Take me through one of your more recent collections. Where do you draw your inspirations for your work? The most recent body of work, just completed (and to be exhibited at the Jackson Foundation

LEFT Down with the waders, 2022 (detail), mixed media on linen. 103 x 118cm

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and allowing for observation and experience, noticing detail and the particular shifts in diurnal, seasonal and tidal rhythms. The ‘Helford River’ will be exhibited from August 27th at the Jackson Foundation Gallery in St Just, West Cornwall. From your perspective, what place does art have in the modern home? What is/ what should be its ‘function’, if any? I guess the art we choose to live with reflects our own tastes, attitudes, character and even politics. We may be more motivated by colour, form, subject, location or the artist themselves but ideally the art says “this is me, this is what I love”. Art can act as conversational pieces, thought-provoking, mood lifting and comfort. However, we know there’s a host of other reasons out there!

Gallery from late August), is the ‘Helford River’, a series of mixed media paintings, printmaking and ceramics of varying scale, capturing and celebrating the Helford watercourse – that beautiful tidal ria with all its tributaries and creeks between Gweek and the sea. This river divides the Lizard peninsula from the rest of Cornwall and passes through heavily wooded countryside. An amazingly biodiverse Atlantic rainforest of largely sessile oak, the trees touching the saltwater and mudflats. The river itself supports internationally important fisheries and water bird habitats. My intention was for the works to reflect the beauty and fragility, the history and culture, the topography and the changing seasonal dress of this place.

Tell me a bit about your own home and any personal collections you have on the walls, what do they mean to you? What do they add to your home? Our own home has a combination of favourite pieces (some quite old now) made by family, friends, colleagues or people we respect alongside a constantly changing, revolving series of works by myself. Sometimes it’s good to live with a piece to judge its qualities; sometimes they are pieces that Caroline has chosen to keep, some are very personal

My creativity is fed and inspired by my firsthand immersion in nature, taking time

TOP Pengwidden Wood. Jack by the hedge, wild strawberry and lesser celandine, 2021, mixed media on museum board. 22 x 22cm

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TOP From a Helford breakfast table, 2021 & Across a moonlit Helford, 2020, mixed media on museum board. 22 x 22cm

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A B OV E Across the mouth of the Helford to a misty Falmouth, 2022, mixed media on museum board. 50 x 50cm

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TOP The Helford gets good sunsets, 2021, mixed media on museum board. 22 x 22cm

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A B OV E Trenarth Bridge, Port Navas, High water with the grey wagtails, 2022 (50 x 50cm) & Autumn Helford oak and wild roses, 2021, mixed media on museum board. 22 x 22cm

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C R E AT E

to the family. Some become friends in themselves, associated with events, places, time and relationships. With it in mind that art isn’t just for ‘the collectors’ as such, what do you think someone can achieve by bringing work such as yours into their home? I would like to think people who live with my work appreciate the marks I make, the pallete, the texture and surface; with an intrigue and delight that survives and increases. The elements of nature, light, topography, place and mood are all bringers of emotion and thought; taking the outside in, the summer into winter, the day into night, the Cornwall into England or vice versa. We are very fortunate with the Jackson Foundation gallery, for anyone who was interested in buying one of my paintings or even just start a conversation about how the process works, or thinking about a purchase later down the line, to have gallery manager Zinzi Tucker leading a team who are extremely knowledgeable and perfectly placed to figure out via face to face meeting, telephone call or email conversation what a new or existing client is looking for in an artwork in terms of mood, colour, energy,

size, budget and what will work in their space to find a perfect match of client and art. What advice would you give to somebody who is just ‘starting out’ and buying art for the first time? To start out finding art for the home think what are your interests, what catches your eye, who is the artist, what is the artist doing and why; how does that relate to you and your life? If there is a limit to budget or wall space or sideboard? Maybe look for smaller pieces, studies or print making. Try and find out about the artist, their career so far, their back catalogue; read up about them. But go with your gut instinct, what makes you feel good? You’re the one who’s going to live with it. jacksonfoundationgallery.com

A B OV E Mawnan acorns and apples, 2021, mixed media on museum board. 22 x 22cm

TOP Sea campion and sea mayweed, 2020, mixed media on paper. 27 x 16cm

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The story of SPACE Pip Hayler

WORDS BY ROSIE CATTRELL

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Marrying landscapes with culture and innovation to take your story beyond its walls.

the way we bring our dream homes into being. Through virtual-reality, Marraum’s clients are finding themselves stepping into their new home before it’s even passed the design phase. In conversation with Adam and Daisy, I wonder what prompted such an innovative step for the team.

t’s easy enough to imagine what our dream home might look like. While some think of a lush, open garden bordered with flowers and a glinting greenhouse, and windows stretching from floor to ceiling to let the outside in, others will dream of secret libraries with dark wooden beams, stained glass windows and a grand staircase at the centre of it all. That’s the easy part. But what if you could walk through the front door of your dream house to explore the layout and get a feel for the space you’d imagined before it’s even been built? That’s where Marraum comes in.

Pip Hayler

“One of the jobs I was running at the time didn’t quite go as smoothly as I’d like on site,” Adam explains. “At that point all of our drawings were modelled in 3D so we explored options to provide even more clarity of the design to our clients. I started talking to a good friend of ours who was a software developer and virtual reality (VR) gamer. I worked with him to try and get the 3D model into a format to put into VR goggles. That was the first time that we realised it could happen, that this could work.

Headed up by husband and wife team, Adam Laskey and Daisy Sawle, Marraum is an architectural practice at the very forefront of a ground-breaking technology that is setting a new standard for

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puzzle, working with the constraints that you have within the building and site. As I’ve learned how a construction goes together, I know how it can be taken apart, reconfigured, and put back together. Each room is a jigsaw piece, and once you start developing a brief with your client, those pieces change and you can move them around and put them back together in different configurations. That plays to my strengths. So very quickly, I can rip everything apart and come up with a bit of an idea. Within the team here at Marraum, we’re able to say ‘let’s think outside the box’. Just because they’ve asked for something to be here, does it have to be? Can we approach this from another angle to make the most of this space?”

From then on, every project that we’ve had has been put into virtual reality for our clients, as standard, before going into planning to ensure that they fully understand our design and their investment moving forward.” Having both grown up in Cornwall, Adam and Daisy have a real connection to it, and seem to understand all that this wonderful area has to offer, on which Daisy kindly elaborates: “The culture is unique, Cornwall is unlike anywhere else. It’s a beautiful, wild place. We have a fantastic team, who are all connected by our appreciation for the environment around Cornwall, and making the most of that. Our projects stretch all over the county, from north to south and east to west, so we have to really look at what Cornwall has to offer and bring that sort of connection into the projects.” Hugh Hastings

For one client in particular, a carefully designed home was paramount, and the Marraum team were only too happy to help after seeing the plans for a family friend’s timber frame-kit home. “Our friend Sarah is in a lie down wheelchair most of the time,” explains Adam, “and after looking at these designs we quickly realised that this had not been considered. Consideration had been made for a wheelchair user, but not for a lie down wheelchair, and there were areas of the home that she wouldn’t have had access to. We also didn’t feel the orientation made the most of the setting. In the original scheme, the living

“When I was growing up, I found that school could be a challenge at times,” Adam reflects, “but in college I started finding my way, and part of that was getting tested for dyslexia. When I did the test, it showed a very high problem solving ability, which gave me the confidence to concentrate my energy on the things I am good at. So, I started learning softwares, particularly architectural drawing softwares, which was my path into the industry. I love puzzles, and this industry is just one big

INSET Exploring a virtual reality

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Pip Hayler

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Pip Hayler

A B OV E The Marraum team

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Hugh Hastings

D I A LO G U E

looking at other areas in the home that might not be working as well as they could, we often discover a perfect opportunity to reconfigure these underused spaces. That then unlocks the whole puzzle. It’s a lot easier for us to spend the time to understand our clients, helping them make informed decisions, than it is to just draw what they want. It’s all in the journey, constantly analysing what works, what doesn’t work, working through every option for the client.”

room was right up against the boundary next to the neighbouring property. Whereas on the other side of the plot, we had great views and natural light. We invited Sarah to view the scheme in virtual reality. With the controllers at the end of her wheelchair we moved around the house, and she realised how narrow the corridors were and how tight the corners were, she couldn’t really move around the property.” Thanks to their employment of virtual reality, Marraum were able to anticipate this client’s very particular needs in order to help create her perfect home before construction went ahead.

As a leading practice for their use of virtual reality technology, Marraum is opening eyes in the world of architecture to the possibility of standing in a new kitchen, extension or entire home before it’s been made reality, with the option to change that reality before it comes to fruition. With a mind to solve the puzzle of the perfect home, no stone is left unturned as the Marraum team take you on the ultimate journey to your own, unique vision.

“Some of the most rewarding jobs have been for people who value the knowledge and skills that you can bring in reconfiguring these spaces,” Adam continues. “A lot of new enquiries start off with people looking for more space, they want an extension, which can incur a huge amount of cost and disruption. However, by going through our process and

marraum.co.uk

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Beauty

by DESIGN

WO R D S B Y DA N WA R D E N

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I N SPI R AT I O N

Experience, knowledge and an eye for beautiful design come together to form the very pinnacle of holiday home luxury.

local team – a team whose knowledge, insight and insider know-how is there to be taken advantage of. “We can advise on where to be less choosy, and where to be playful with choices,” says Julianne. “Celebrating over 15 years of experience and success, we’ve learned how to develop and sustain long-lasting relationships with our owners and customers, whilst delivering the high standards of holiday accommodation that our discerning guests have grown to expect.”

or many, the dream of owning a holiday home in Cornwall – of providing a luxury sanctuary to which your guests can escape – can come in many guises. Holding it in your mind’s eye, it could be a sprawling home in the countryside, or a cosy bolthole just a stone’s throw from the ocean. Either way, no matter how detailed and idealistic the vision, it’s only when you receive the keys and step foot inside your new property that the extent of the work required to bring that dream to life becomes evident. And for those with busy schedules, or who don’t live in Cornwall, the scale of work required becomes all the more daunting. This is the founding principle behind Gems Interiors; to take the sting and stress out of turning your property into the ultimate holiday sanctuary.

Especially now, with the pandemic still fresh in our minds and the bitter remembrance of lockdowns and everything that came with them, holidays have become an important way in which to nourish and replenish our sense of wellbeing. This means that finding a homefrom-home that provides a feeling of comfort and luxury, is important. As a guest, you want to return day after day to a property that feels fresh; you want to know that the owners, the interior designers and the letting agents, care about your holiday experience as much as you do. So how do Cornish Gems ‘stack up’?

Gems Interiors is the latest string to the bow of long-established and trusted holiday cottage agency, Cornish Gems. For Managing CoDirector, Julianne and her team, it’s about providing clients with the reassurance that everything is being taken care of by a reliable,

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garden sauna, private cinema room, double hammock, and scintillating sea views. Across five bedrooms, it welcomes up to ten guests to luxuriate in its creature comforts, sinkinto furniture and lavish interiors that have received the ‘Gems’ treatment. Tara DonovanSoltys, a recent addition to the Gems team, led the project. Refusing to use Instagram or Pinterest for inspiration, Tara instead chooses to treat her work as an outlet for her own creativity. Having recently come aboard to lead Gems Interiors as Senior Interior Designer, Sunset House, St Just is entirely Tara’s own vision. Since joining and heading up the team, she has inspired them to push further into bespoke upholstery and upcycled furniture. “In this case,” says Tara, “the owner trusted me entirely to make bold decisions on the interior schemes.”

In fact, since the launch of Gems Interiors, a number of guests have already expressed the inspiration they’ve drawn from Gems Interiors, to make changes to their own spaces at home.

At this point I find myself wondering exactly what the differences are between homes and holiday homes. Julianne explains: “Holiday homes are less cluttered, giving a more relaxed head space. They are less about function and storage, and more about experience and nurture. Our knowledge of the UK holiday market and trends has led us to ensure that everything is on hand that a guest might need, meaning they can worry less about the day-today essentials of home life, and more about immersing themselves in the care-free peace of mind that we ultimately all look for in a holiday.”

Exploring this exemplary feat of design, it’s clear that this trust in Tara has paid off. High-quality furniture and bespoke upholstery are obviously a big part of the project, however, for Gems Interiors, these have become ‘par for the course’. What really stands out is Tara’s intrepid approach to design; as you walk around Sunset House, St Just, there are exciting colours and tropical, mood-lifting vibes at every turn. At times, the scheme feels Moroccan; at others, you feel transported to Mexico, with vibrant touches like ‘Day of the Dead’ artwork adorning the walls. The colour schemes are daring; they provide a haven of fun, replete with audacious touches like neon marble swirl wallpaper and parrot-print wardrobes. This adventurous approach has helped

This ethos is evident in each and every Gems Interior; for the team, effective design is about creating a relaxing environment that welcomes you to spend time at leisure. It’s about providing all the necessary practical elements, but with an unforgettable flourish. “With holiday homes,” continues Julianne, “this begins with understanding what makes a guest’s experience nourishing. Even in its simplest form, it is far more than just luxury toiletries and restaurant recommendations!” Of all of this, Sunset House in St Just is a case in point. Located in the wild, unspoilt west of Cornwall, this newly interior designed home is dressed to impress, and provides guests with luxe features including a bubbling hot tub,

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A B OV E Meticulous design, from the inside out

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TOP Attention to detail is key

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A B OV E Space and comfort

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Sunset House, St Just was limited. Having Gems Interiors on board to break down the process into manageable stages, he says, was invaluable. “It would have been easy to visit the online department stores and fill the cart with beautiful things, but the Gems Interiors team took the time to hunt out bespoke, highquality pieces of furniture, upcycled bedside cabinets, commissioned curtains and more.”

to make Sunset House, St Just a rarity among Cornwall’s holiday homes, where the safe neutrality of whites and nautical blues have perhaps become ‘de rigueur’. Especially in terms of the space itself, Gems Interiors are very aware that holiday homes are used in different ways to residential properties. “There’s more need for both exterior and interior spaces,” explains Tara, “where everyone can share extra-special experiences. Dining areas are particularly important, as they really enable groups to come together, and the same can be said for the garden – it should really be considered as an extension of the house.”

As an example, he says: “I knew I wanted a fun outside space as we love having friends over, so Tara recommended investing in a huge fire-pit where guests can cook over hot coals. She was lucky enough to purchase the exact fire-pit that was taken on the Paul Ainsworth Travelling Feast last summer.” This is impressive, especially given the ongoing supply chain issues being faced throughout the industry. Indeed, as Tara explains: “We have been able to turn this into a positive, creating more bespoke pieces rather than using pre-manufactured furniture and soft furnishings, which in turn has only served to enhance the bespoke elements of each project.”

Karl Callighan, a local surfer known well in the Sennen area, is the owner of Sunset House, St Just. I ask what spurred him to approach Gems Interiors. “I was looking for something different, not only for our home, but an interior design that would wow and inspire guests, too. Tara understood from the start the passion and hard work that had gone into building the house, and the opportunity that it presented to create something incredible. As soon as I saw the first swatches of bright yellows and moodboards of cool artwork and extras, I knew we were on the same page.

Karl agrees with this, praising Tara and the Gems Interiors team for their “vision to think outside the box and to run against the grain to create something extra ‘wow’.” In fact, this is what makes Gems Interiors stand out. With every project being different – some involving sparkling new builds with clean lines, others involving older, character cottages with their wonky edges and angles – it takes a team of visionaries to get the very best out of the unique variety of homes that Cornwall is known for. As Tara puts it: “We love them all!”

“The team,” he continues, “took the house to the next level. It’s easy to want to hold back for fear of getting it wrong, but their expertise and consultation along the way helped me to see their vision, and I was absolutely delighted with the result, which has far surpassed my expectations. Even our children can’t believe their eyes!”

Sunset House, St Just is now available to book throughout the year.

A builder by trade with a young family, Karl has a hectic schedule to work around, and so his time to work on the interiors of

cornishgems.com

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Story through

STRUCTURE Photographer, Elliott White brings interiors to life in still images that evoke the essence of place.

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elliottwhitephotography.com

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Kitchen

CONFIDENTIAL WO R D S B Y H A N N A H TA P P I N G

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Achieving a luxury room in the heart of the home by combining sustainable principles and innovative design.

from one? A true handleless kitchen, such as our ranges from Nobilia and Ballerina have handle rails pre-milled in the actual carcasses of the kitchens that allow you to open the doors from either the top, bottom or the side. The benefits are many, not least the minimalist look you will achieve due to the smooth unbroken lines of the doors. A handleless kitchen can also give a spacious feeling, often with the effect of making a small kitchen look bigger and less cluttered, and there are no knobs or handles to clean or get caught up on.”

hen it comes to discernible luxury, your kitchen says more about you and your home than perhaps any other room. It’s not just a place in which to cook, as modern kitchens are much more than the sum of their parts. They function as home offices, classrooms, dining and relaxation spaces; places where tears are shed and laughter is heard; places to congregate at the beginning and end of each day. How we use our kitchens is personal to each and every one of us and no-one knows that more than Kitchen Kit SW, which specialises in German kitchen brands Nobilia and Ballerina, chosen for their beautiful designs and exceptional build quality. With interior trends changing with the seasons I’m keen to learn how this is being reflected in the world of kitchen design.

With kitchens now expected to have multi-functionality, and with so many of us spending more time at home over recent years, company Director, Nigel adds that the popularity in breakfast bars and kitchen islands has sky-rocketed. “They have the effect of achieving both extra space for sociable cooking and also an extension to a dining area. Many of our customers have reported that they have provided a focal point for family to gather, making meal times and coffee catch-ups more sociable than before.”

Olivia explains: “Handleless kitchens will remain highly sought-after in 2022. You might be asking yourself, what exactly is a handleless kitchen and why would I benefit

PREVIOUS Ballerina kitchen with unique island seating feature

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TOP An example of a handleless rail system

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MIDDLE The combination of white and timber exudes industrial charm

A B OV E A Nobilia anti-finger print kitchen

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with the local vernacular. Stone worktops aren’t the cheapest option, but they are a wise investment due to their combination of function and longevity,” says Olivia. Not only do Kitchen Kit take care of the worktops, they offer an expertly curated range of appliances from the likes of Neff and Siemens. While appliances are the necessary beating heart of the kitchen, we don’t always want to have them on display. Nigel suggests selecting integrated appliances: “You won’t detract from the design of your kitchen, as all the work horses will be hidden behind doors. This year will also see the rise in popularity of smart appliances which connect to your smartphone via WiFi. Choose from clever coffee machines, ovens with HD cameras or even fridges with apps to help you manage your groceries!”

Look at any kitchen Pinterest board or Instagram story and you’ll realise that the days when kitchens were either white or wood have long gone. Both Nobilia’s and Ballerina’s incredible ranges of colour and finish offer a kaleidoscope of choice. Olivia adds: “We are seeing an increasing lean towards dark colours, think hues of deep blue, green or even black. It may seem like a daring choice but going bold with colour makes a statement and is very on-trend. A two-tone effect, whether that be a mix of colours or white with wood for a mid-century modern look, is also proving to be particular popular.”

Sustainability is of huge national and global importance at the moment and that is certainly the case when it comes to kitchen purchases, as Olivia explains: “We are able to reassure our customers that quality, environment and energy efficiency have been part of the Nobilia philosophy from the very beginning, with each kitchen in the range meeting stringent international quality, environment and energy guidelines. In 2009, Nobilia was the first kitchen manufacturer to be certified in accordance with PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) with their timber products coming from sustainably managed semi-natural forests and carefully controlled sources. It’s a similar story with Ballerina. They have adopted an ecological product design meaning their kitchens benefit from a long lifespan, carcasses made from sustainable material timber derives from sustainably managed forests.”

When it comes to kitchen surfaces this year, stone always figures high on the Kitchen Kit trend list. “It’s both practical, stylish and hard-wearing, and should be the go-to surface for any budding pastry chef as it stays cold. Marble offers unique veining so you know your worktop will be one of a kind. Quartz is an excellent option if you are looking for a wider colour choice, and for a Cornish kitchen then granite is perfect as it will also be in keeping

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that, along with the fact that Nobilia kitchens were exactly what Verto were looking for in terms of form and function, were deciding factors in us securing the contract.”

Taking the sustainability story one stage further, Kitchen Kit have partnered with Verto Homes, the UK’s first housebuilder to specialise in the design, build and sale of smart homes which produce zero carbon emissions. Creating beautifully designed homes across the south west, Verto’s belief is that: “When you live in a home it’s often the little things you really come to appreciate, which is why they select natural materials that blend in with the surroundings, interior colours that create a sense of tranquillity, and quality appliances that work beautifully, day after day.” With this ethos aligning with Kitchen Kit’s own, all kitchens in Verto homes are designed and expertly fitted by Olivia, Nigel and their team. Each house type has its own kitchen design, chosen for its premium quality and engineering and fitted with the most energy-efficient appliances. “We have our own highly experienced in-house installation team,” says Nigel, “and I think

For private customers, Kitchen Kit offer a tried and tested process for achieving the kitchen of their dreams. A showroom visit comes first, and with a wide range of kitchens in situ, customers can experience the quality and finish first hand. A private appointment is offered to discuss needs and wants and then once a layout and design has been agreed upon, each kitchen is manufactured specifically to the customer’s requirements ; nothing is off the shelf here. As previously mentioned, with experienced fitters, installation is seamless and to the highest of standards. From conception to handover, every detail is considered. kitchenkitsw.com

A B OV E The Artis kitchen from Nobilia

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Point of

DIFFERENCE WO R D S B Y DA N WA R D E N

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Trading fast fashion for longevity in design, Frances Healy has been at the top of her game for more than three decades.

rances Healy trained and worked in a top London practice for 15 years, managing the interior design for everything from classic period London homes and contemporary apartments on the banks of the River Thames, to the well-heeled country estates of Surrey, Sussex and the Home Counties. That is, until she decided it was time to bring her experience, knowledge and address book with her to the south west, ‘setting up shop’, as it were, in Devon and Cornwall. “I grew up in Penzance in the 1970s,” she explains. “My parents bought a large Georgian country house, which was literally painted cream from top to bottom – every ceiling, wall and surface! I remember that they worked through the house, transforming each room with colour, wallpapers, pattern and textures – I loved it, and I knew from that moment on, that interior design was going to be my career.” Having grown up here, it seemed only fitting, having ‘paid her dues’ in London, that it was here she should return to in order to launch her own practice. As she puts it: “I lived in Penzance and went to school there, and although I moved away for art school and my early working years, I always knew I would return to Cornwall.”

That was 20 years ago. Since then, Frances has overseen the interior design in some of Cornwall’s most astonishing homes, and just a quick scan of her website is enough to whet the appetite of anybody in search of inspiration for their own four walls. She continues to work across an entire spectrum of property types, too, meaning that she is just as likely to be found restoring large granite manor houses on the moors of Bodmin, Dartmoor and Exmoor, as she is detailing the designs of ultramodern, new-build houses at the ocean’s edge. I’m intrigued to get Frances’ take on interior design in Cornwall, compared to the wider UK. In particular, London, which many might consider to be at the heart of UK design and fashion. In actual fact, she explains: “Interior design here in Cornwall is as good as in any part of the country, and I see no reason why anyone needs to compromise on design, product, quality or service, just because they are not London based.” Indeed, over 21 volumes of DRIFT to date, if we’ve learned anything, it’s that Cornwall is fertile ground for innovation, with no shortage of creatives breaking new ground across a multitude of disciplines. From crafters of handmade furniture, to weavers of luxury fabrics and wallpapers, to bespoke electrical specialists,

LEFT Frances Healy

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artists, and more, as Frances says, there’s really no need to compromise. I find myself pondering what is most likely a naïve question, and I’m quickly proven right. I ask whether Frances can define a coastal interior, to which she replies: “No, not really! Every house and every client is different, and I would never want to enforce one ‘look’ on anyone. Of course, if a client wants a classic ‘blue and white’ seaside theme, then they can have it. Equally, if they want the whole house swathed in chintz, they can have that, too. “My job,” says Frances, “is to guide, advise and hold their hand through the process, but at the end of the day it’s their home, and it must reflect their wishes and personality. It would be like insisting that you must eat fish, just because you are in a harbourside restaurant!”

What about a home’s surroundings, then? Is it always necessary to reflect or complement the landscape in which a home sits, with the interiors? “I think it’s nice to, because where a house sits in its environment is often a big inspiration for me. But it’s not essential. Everybody’s home is their castle, as they say, and they should have it designed as they wish.” Of course, as is only natural with a professional as creative as Frances, it’s impossible not to have her own personal ‘style’, but I wonder whether this ever changes at all, and if so, why? “My personal style changes all the time! Every time I look at a magazine, or go to a trade show, or stay in a new hotel – I’m constantly inspired and find myself wanting to use everything at home.” Laughing, she continues: “I drive my husband mad, as I’m constantly adding a new

A B OV E Interior harmony

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A B OV E A variety of styles reflects Frances’ client-led approach

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TOP Height and scale are important details

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A B OV E A mix of colours, pattern and textures create unique schemes

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cushion or lampshade, or changing a paint colour. I can’t help it, though – I love it! “I do, however, try not to be led by trends. The problem with trends, is that they often become quickly dated, and I believe that if you are going to take the time and expense of updating your home, you want to ensure your chosen décor has longevity.” This is a tough line to walk, and I know from my own experience how easy it is to be led by the latest ‘in vogue’ colour, metal or style. With the advent of online retail, not to mention the world of conflicting articles, Pinterest boards and Instagram stories, it’s very hard not to be led astray by what you see there. With this in mind I ask Frances what advice (other than hiring an interior designer) she would give to those seeking to update their home. “Take your time,” she says. “Try and live in the house for a while first, if you can; look at it on different days,

in different weathers and at different times of the year. The light can alter so much, and this might make you rethink how you want the house to work, or the colours you want to use. “I worked on a project recently where we moved the entire kitchen from one side of the house to the other, because the light was better. Also, because the kitchen is so often the heart of the home, this is where they knew they wanted it to be, but decisions like this are worth taking the time to make.” Even if you’re building your dream home from the ground up, says Frances: “Still go and stand in the site and see where the sun rises and sets. You’d be amazed how much it can influence your decisions. Also, as anyone else who lives in Cornwall will tell you, it’s well worth checking which way the prevailing wind blows!” franceshealyinteriors.co.uk

A B OV E Carefully considered zones add interest and functionality to large open-plan spaces

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of A pillar the

COMMUNITY WO R D S B Y R E B E C C A H AW K E Y

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Values of family and community steer a Cornish business in its vision to uphold the highest standards in contemporary Cornish architecture.

hen walking through the village of Porthleven, it is hard not to admire the properties that overlook the harbour and beyond. There are several exquisite gems nestled in between age-old cottages, the juxtaposition of modern and historic a metaphor for the journey architecture has taken over recent years. The creative eye behind some of these builds are Cornish Chartered Architectural Technologists RA Design, ran by owners and brothersin-law, Chris Strike and Tom Russell. After taking over the firm in 2009 from previous owner and mentor Robert Allen, Chris and Tom have continued to grow the business from the inside out. With Chris’s wife running the office, Tom’s wife managing the social media and marketing, and employing their good friend as a trainee technician/ surveyor, it really is a company that values family and community. Also sponsoring the

local football team, to name just one of many organisations that have benefitted from their support over the years. Originally based in the seaside town of St Ives, on Cornwall’s picturesque north coast, they designed several properties that elevated the architecture of the area and inspired other home owners to do the same, now it is hard to explore this town without seeing a hint of RA Design. St Ives is known for its cobbled lanes, delightful cafés and art culture, and the team really took this into consideration when creating properties in this area and beyond. ‘The Haven’, completed in 2013, is a striking example of this, and of considerate, innovative, artistic design that takes full advantage of its scenic location. Situated in Hawke’s Point, Carbis Bay, the view can be enjoyed from the floor-to-ceiling windows that make up the interesting hexagonal conservatory, allowing its inhabitants to take in the full expanse of the beach below and the glistening sea

LEFT A coastal retreat

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beyond, from the Hayle river mouth right out to Godrevy Lighthouse. Rightly so, this property also won the LABC Regional awards of the same year. To make this build even more impressive, ‘The Chalet’ was built in the gardens of ‘The Haven’, a true ‘wow’ property that the owners use as a holiday let. The design of this dwelling resembles the bow of a ship, which seems fitting given the ocean that is reflected in its grand glass front, and with the beautifully exposed oak beams that can be enjoyed from the inside this dwelling has character that is sophisticated, contemporary and undoubtedly timeless. During the past two years many of us had to make changes to our routine, and with this came the realisation that perhaps the worklife balance of before was not quite as it should be. With Chris and Tom both welcoming new

arrivals to their families in recent years it made sense to relocate their HQ and restore some equilibrium. “The hour-long round trip to St Ives each day seemed unnecessary and when the opportunity came up, we made the move,” says Chris. For RA Design, this meant their new home would be in Porthleven, and for Chris especially this meant being closer to his family business, F.E. Strike & Sons Funeral Services, which is based in the village and has been run by four generations of Strikes. They moved in 2021 to their new temporary office that overlooks the clocktower with envious sunset views, and have very recently had planning approved for a new build that will house their new offices, an exciting addition to the community and a strong step in the direction of an exciting future ahead. With the company going from strength to strength, Tom and Chris decided to focus on things closer to home. Over the last few years, they have both designed and built their own family homes in the town of Helston, a short drive from their new office space. Speaking with Chris, he explains: “Both Tom and I really enjoyed the experience, it made that part of our work more exciting, talking it through with family and friends whilst watching the build was brilliant.” Envisaging what you want your dream home to look like, and being able to put that idea onto paper yourself is something not many have the opportunity to do. Luckily, both homes were built before the wave of Covid hit our shores, allowing the team to work from home in a space of their own creativity.

A B OV E The Chalet exterior

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TOP The Haven

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A B OV E The Chalet

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A B OV E Tom & Gerogie’s lounge

TOP Chris & Lucy’s house

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A B OV E Chris & Lucy’s modern interior

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Chris and Tom have both been in the sector for over two decades, honing their skill and exploring new ways to bring their clients’ ideas to life. Thanks to their eclectic and extensive portfolio of work, and comprehensive industry experience, there is nigh a property that they will not be able to bring to fruition. Chris says: “We both have our own styles when it comes to designing properties, and working with our clients is of the utmost importance, as we try to incorporate their ideas as best, we can.” We speak about the mixture of classic Cornish cottages and the ever-present increase in more modern architecture dappling the horizon. “We believe it is important to have an architecture of our time,” says Chris, “rather than trying to match everything from the past.

It’s important to bear in mind heritage and conservation, but this can be done well with modern architecture.” The amalgamation of new and old coming together to create an entirely new era of architecture is something to marvel at, and appreciate as a step forward. As a family run business that constantly delivers quality, bespoke architecture and which creates houses and homes that are equally as aesthetic as they are captivating, it should come as no surprise that Chris, Tom, and the team at RA Design are as passionate now as they have ever been. radesign.org.uk

TOP Tom & Georgie’s contemporary exterior

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A time to

be WILD WO R D S B Y R E B E C C A H AW K E Y

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SU STA I N

Encouraging and providing sanctuary for plants and animals alike, in a time of concrete structures.

hen I was younger, we used to travel the never ending five-to-six hours from Cornwall to London, to visit my grandparents. Their home was a haven nestled between Heathrow Airport, the overground and high-rise shopping centres, and what made it so was their garden. Chrysanthemums and carnations in full bloom, the apple tree providing summer snacks and most importantly, the pond in the middle – home to five of our favourite fish that had seemingly been alive since I was a youngster. Now I am a little older, the importance of having an outdoor space, that makes me feel as serene as I did back then when wandering through the cobbled garden path, is paramount. This is why, when speaking with Declan at Aquatic Consultancy, I was interested in the driving force behind their business ethos.

Established in 2012, the team at Cornwall Ponds has over 50 years’ combined experience in the aquatics industry, providing private

homes, corporate properties, designers, architects and more with vital knowledge on aquatic installations and the positive impacts that they have on the environment and surrounding wildlife, as well as the visual improvements they make on our living quarters. It is hard not to mention the pandemic when discussing our relationship with our home and office space, given the impact that it has had on how we spend our time. So, when I speak with Declan, I ask if people are investing in their outside spaces more now than in previous years, to which he replies: “I think there is a lot more understanding in this day and age of the importance of nature and wildlife and the big role it plays in our everyday lives. “I think the pandemic has had a huge effect as well, as during its height there were more and more people working from home and the outdoor space they had was very important to them and has carried on being so.” I believe this is something we have all confronted in recent years.

LEFT Rewilding your garden

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Living in Cornwall and being surrounded by sea and rivers, most wouldn’t think to include a water feature or pond in a new build or garden re-vamp, but they are vital in helping to encourage wildlife growth. Declan says: “In the last 100 years Britain has lost over half of its natural ponds due to land drainage and building and the threat to precious aquatic wildlife is unfortunately ever increasing. Recent research has shown 80% of wildlife ponds in the UK are in a poor or very poor state. In the late 18th century, natural ponds were estimated to number around 1.2 million, and now only 400,000 are left. Of those, only 20% are considered a priority habitat, meaning of significant conservation and ecological importance. Those that remain are often polluted or managed for the leisure industry and rarely support an abundance of even common species, so it is no wonder why some of our aquatic and sub-aquatic wildlife has suffered dramatic falls in population and may even be under threat of extinction.” He goes on to say that even smaller water bodies like troughs filled with rain water will attract a plethora of wildlife, and all of the above “create stepping stones for wildlife to migrate from one place to the next and suitable habitats for breeding and feeding”. In an age where the environment and conservation are at the forefront of our minds, the little things we can do from our own homes can still play a vital role in this pivotal time. Given his vast experience on this topic,

I ask Declan what our options are for those of us who wish to encourage wildlife to return to our gardens. “By just creating small changes in your garden, from rock piles to dead wood hibernaculum’s,” he says, “you are creating a new habitat for hundreds of species of insects and amphibians. Wildlife ponds create and bring so much habitat to a garden space and even just a small body of water will bring frogs, toads and much more, which help keep slugs down! A bog garden will encourage a variety of plants to thrive and because their root systems remain wet, they will grow to their full potential, remaining colourful and lush. Any wildlife such as birds, insects and bats can drink from the shallower areas and amphibians can gain access, even hedgehogs can escape should they accidentally wander in at night.” These little tips alone seem manageable for the majority of us, and as Aristotle once said, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, so any small change we can make adds value to the larger ecosystem. Not only does this sort of garden addition benefit the wildlife, it also benefits the property owner. As Declan says: “Firstly, having a pond, specifically one that is done correctly, increases the value of the property. Not just that, but ponds can greatly help with de-stressing after a long day and can help your mental wellbeing, especially having some form of moving water, as the noise can bring you instant peace. For many it’s the enjoyment of seeing so many different

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TOP Seated areas to enjoy the pondlife

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A B OV E Creating the perfect aquatic habitat

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TOP A variety of styles available

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A B OV E A summer by the water

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varieties of wildlife coming into their garden and using it as a sanctuary from the busy roads and suburban areas that are more and more invading our green land.” I certainly feel at peace whenever I am surrounded by lush flora and fauna. It’s there to remind us of the simple things in life, and of being in service to the natural world. Cornwall Ponds have a deep understanding and respect for the outdoors, specifically aquatics. Their passion for conserving and protecting the natural world through freshwater aquatic habitats is what makes their business the go-to for these installations. Given their experience, it is no surprise that they provide everything you need. Declan explains: “We provide all services for ponds, from building them to maintaining them. From large ponds and small fish/koi ponds to wildlife ponds and natural

swimming pools and water features. We work with the customer to design a pond that suits their needs as well as blending in with the rest of the garden, such as Japanese style ponds, pond-less waterfalls and fountains. We can also add landscape around the ponds, which can include board walks, bridges, outdoor showers, saunas and seating areas. We all love wildlife and creating gardens and ponds for people that are going to help the ecosystem and positively effect wildlife.” Embrace the wild this summer and remember, the smallest steps make a big difference, so if an entire pond is a little out of reach, creating small scale homes for all manner of creatures is still a great way to encourage those critters to set up camp. cornwallponds.uk

TOP Picturesque walkways

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Informed by

EXPERIENCE WO R D S B Y DA N WA R D E N

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F O C U S

Beautiful interiors on the stunning north coast, curated with the goal of bringing the outdoors in.

luxury second home in Cornwall, for many, needs to perform two functions. Firstly, it needs to provide a home away from home – a luxury abode – to which you can escape whenever the mood takes you. Ideally, especially in Cornwall, this would be in a location from which you can immerse yourself in the outdoor lifestyle that drew you here in the first place. The second, at least for many, is that it needs to offer the potential to help recoup the money you’ve invested; excellent earning potential is key. Knowledge of these fundamental criteria form the very bedrock of the luxury lodges at Gwel an Mor. Open 52 weeks a year, this provides owners with the chance to escape the stresses of life at almost any time, with the flexibility of using the lodge privately or letting it out to help cover running costs, letting management fees, housekeeping services and cleaning; prospective owners can view earnings and cost examples on the very informative website. Having learned that Gwel an Mor took home a total of six awards at the 2021 Cornwall Tourism Awards, as I step across the threshold of the lodges in The Residence collection, I find myself enveloped in beautiful design, and it doesn’t take long

to notice the special touches and nods to the landscape that make these homes so special. Every detail has been considered: the stylish open-plan living space; the designer features that include atmospheric mood lighting, boiling water taps, air-con, underfloor heating; floor-to-ceiling doors that open onto a private sun-deck. The pièce de resistance is the inclusion of your very own outdoor hot tub. In fact, the stylish three-bedroom holiday homes have been designed, constructed and furnished to the very highest specifications. Stepping inside one of Gwel an Mor’s ecolodges, you’re greeted by one of three design schemes: ‘Fauna’, ‘Coastal’, or ‘Surf ’s Up’. Before conceptualising and bringing these themes to life, the team took time to immerse themselves in the local woodland and coastline, experiences of which would ultimately inform the interiors we see today. The unique location, breathtaking scenery, culture and charming atmosphere have long-made Cornwall a popular British holiday destination, and the resort creates the perfect opportunity for owners to enjoy all of this; and that starts with the interiors. gwelanmor.com

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Ode to

the GRAIN WO R D S B Y H A N N A H TA P P I N G

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Achieving a richness of detail, thanks to artisanal techniques and craftsmanship combined with bespoke designs, to create furniture that lasts a lifetime.

ased in the idyllic village of Ruan Minor on the Lizard peninsula, Rozen has been designing and handcrafting exquisite wooden kitchens and furniture for over 30 years. Ian Cox and Alan Pearce, both cabinet makers by trade, set up the company in 1986 and have grown it from humble beginnings to become a leading creator of the finest cabinetry. Joined by designer Gareth Jenkins, and with a 14-strong workshop team of craftspeople supported by skilled fitters, painters and administration staff, Rozen creates unique one-off, hand-finished wooden pieces that grace homes not only in Cornwall, but across the UK. Whilst I am familiar with Rozen’s furniture and kitchens, I had yet to visit their showroom and workshop so it was with some excitement that I met Ian, Alan and Gareth on-site, eager to learn more about the company and its product. We gather around an oak table; a bespoke design made specially for their meeting room, from which I can immediately appreciate the craftsmanship and design involved; I’m hard-pushed not to keep running my hands over its organic surface and curvilinear design. As we settle, Gareth covers the table with concept and design drawings for two kitchens in particular that he feels

showcase the quality and diversity of their work, style and craftsmanship. The first is a renovation project for a property near Truro. The owners commissioned Rozen to design and build not only a kitchen but to also fit out the utility room plus a library area. As all of Rozen’s work is bespoke, they were able to take the client’s exacting brief to create the kitchen of their dreams. As with most of their kitchens, they use a Poplar plywood carcass: “We use this material,” explains Alan, “as it’s a sustainably forested, fast-growing tree which is particularly good for the environment as it sequesters one of the highest levels of carbon of any tree. The doors are Tulip wood (another name for Poplar) which is a very stable wood and a good paint base due its slight furry surface. The internals are all oak veneer and solid timber (90% of our kitchens are such), the same with the drawer boxes… dovetailed of course!” Ian goes on to explain that the fashion for modern kitchens is to have them painted, which Rozen do in a two-part finish. The units are sprayed in the workshop to give an even tone and then hand-painted once installed on site to create a nice soft brush-stroked appearance rather than a flat one – this maintains the handcrafted finish rather than a manufactured one.

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When it comes to colour, there is an endless palette for the client to choose from and for the kitchen we are studying it was even colourmatched to the Aga. Our discussion has jumped to the finished product, so we backtrack a little as I’m keen to understand the design process. Either Ian, Gareth or Alan will meet with the client to understand the required design and how that will work within their home. Gareth then creates working 2D and 3D visuals. The design process has a very high level of bespoke detail; everything is considered as Ian expands: “I have measured a client’s existing olive oil bottles, a whole drawer of mugs and even individual knives to ensure that they all fit perfectly within the new kitchen.” Once the client signs off, the technical specification drawings go through to the workshop for production to start. Alan goes on to say: “If it’s a smaller job, then a single cabinet maker will take ownership of that project. For larger kitchens there will be a team of two who will be responsible from start to finish. Whether it’s bedroom furniture, a kitchen, chair or table, each piece is handmade and then assembled in the workshop. With kitchens, we will even include the appliances, and they are laid out in the exact footprint as they would be in the client’s home.” The customer is then invited to see their furniture in-situ in the workshop, so that everything can be double checked before it is carefully dismantled and taken for finishing before it’s off to site for fitting, with the whole build process taking approximately 12 weeks.

Once the furniture has been sprayed (if a colour finish is desired) it will leave the workshop in the careful hands of one of Rozen’s experienced fitters. They can also supply electricians or plumbers, although are equally happy to work with the client’s or developer’s own. Ian tells me: “50% of what we do goes into existing properties, however we are now taking on more commissions from architects and designers who involve us from the get-go. These have tended to be out of county and the kitchen we currently have made up in the workshop is off to Edinburgh.” Our attention turns to the second set of kitchen plans, this one distinctly different from the first. Destined for a new build on the Roseland Peninsula, the design here is more contemporary. Echoing an internal glass balustrade, the island unit curves softly, positioned purposely to maximise the view from the kitchen window. Again, detail is at the fore with a solid oak tambour door revealing a hidden drawer which houses tea and coffee making facilities. Slide open the drawer and a workspace is revealed, close it and this necessary kitchen paraphernalia is elegantly hidden from sight. The Rozen team has seen a massive shift in how consumers are furnishing their homes over the last 15 years, and interiors are much more considered. The client is now more deeply involved in commissioning furniture than they ever were before, and there has been a huge rise in the awareness of what is possible when it comes to interiors. Gareth explains that: “The second strand of our work comes

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A B OV E Rozen’s work covers the full gamut of kitchen design from traditional to contemporary

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A B OV E Rozen’s team of skilled craftspeople create furniture that lasts a lifetime

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from architects and designers who contact us to fit out new homes in their entirety. Gone are the days when buyers were happy to move old furniture into new builds; they are now much more discerning and want their interiors and furniture to be designed in as much detail as the house itself. With the advent of intelligent homes, the furniture and joinery need to work seamlessly with the wiring and so we often find ourselves commissioned to not only build the furniture but also the wall cladding, ceilings, internal doors etc. With more home offices, these too have to sit well within the interior space.” With between 30 and 40 projects in progress at any one time, whether that be at the design, production, build or finish stage, the Rozen workshop is always a hive of industry. What

strikes me as we walk through, is its neatness and order; each machine has its place, each cabinet maker’s bench clearly the pride of its owner; each person with their own job to do but working quietly and methodically as a whole unit. While a vast CNC machine has taken the brunt of the cutting work, as well as saws and routers helping with the larger jobs, on every bench are the hand tools of the cabinet maker’s craft. We pass one which has paper thin layers of oak veneer spread across it, ready to be used for an area of intricate marquetry inlay, while another supports a wardrobe drawer that is being sanded to fine perfection. The design, quality and craftsmanship here is a beauty to behold and what is being produced at Rozen are surely heirlooms of the future. rozenfurniture.com

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One of

a KIND WO R D S B Y R E B E C C A H AW K E Y

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D I A LO G U E

Uniting architecture and interior design to seamlessly construct the perfect home inside and out.

he importance of having a unique habitat, a home, one that is designed and created to be distinctive from that which came before, is the speciality of architectural and residential interior design firm Monotypic. I speak with Founder Howard Oates on where the idea for this unique name came from. “Looking for a name for our brand that actually meant something and encapsulated the unique and bespoke nature of what we create for our clients was a challenge. We stumbled upon a little-known word in the dictionary and just thought it resonated perfectly. It means ‘of only one type’. In a world of duplication and repetition, our clients look for something special that is tailored exclusively for them and that’s what we strive to deliver, so Monotypic was born.” With Howard at the helm of the ship, the company also benefits from his diverse experience in the field. Starting out by studying engineering, he changed course only slightly and followed a career in design, setting

up his first full-service design agency, Red Dot Design, in the ‘90s. He says: “Early on, when programmers and designers talked different languages and barriers existed, I recruited designers that could program and vice versa to push the boundaries of what was possible. Our company expanded into interiors and interior architecture in the early 2000s and rebranded in 2010 as Monotypic, focusing entirely on residential interiors and architecture. The concept of a ‘full service’ multi-disciplinary approach, integrating interior design with architecture, was born from always striving to deliver the most coherent and considered design for our clients, allowing us to work seamlessly throughout the process. Our clients love it and we keep control.” Exploring and experimenting with space, line, form, light, colour, texture and pattern allow for innovative ideas to take shape. Whether it’s redesigning an existing property, a new-build, interior design or landscape design, the team here are experts in their field, ensuring the

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final product is something akin to true artistry. The cohesive nature of combining interior and architecture creates harmony between two elements that collide, but that cannot work without each other. In an ingenious move, Monotypic have bridged the gap between architecture and interior design, removing the miscommunication and confusion that can sometimes arise between these two fields during the build process. Howard explains how they see interior design and architecture as intrinsically linked and believe that coordinating each discipline simultaneously is fundamental to a project’s success. Howard goes on to say: “I don’t believe it is rare to find other companies offering these services, however we have this approach baked in at the core of what we do and find this drives the success and quality of every project. We get very focussed on the details and have a slightly perfectionist attitude as we strive for a great finish for our clients.

Therefore, it is essential that both interior and architectural design work from the same brief and in parallel, so any modifications can be accommodated before the technical drawings are finalised. When our clients experience their design whilst walking through a photorealistic virtual 3D model, they have ultimate confidence to make key decisions and feel less pressure when committing to a final design. This is the real benefit of integrating interiors and architecture, as we can do this all under one roof.” Monotypic have a distinct way of working, but they also have a distinct style. Opting for simple and pared back, rather than cluttered and loud, the designs often consist of bright, modern clean lines with subtle and sophisticated colour palettes and textures that harmonise both inside and outside. Howard elaborates on their reasons behind this: “Everything we do has a functionfirst principle and we always consider how the occupants of a space may change in age,

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A B OV E Simple, modern and clean design

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TOP Innovative architectural design

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A B OV E Blending into the environment

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D I A LO G U E

lifestyle and preferences, ensuring the building can keep up and can adapt over time. Overly fashion-led design aesthetics can tire easily and do not follow sustainability principles. However, we are happy to accommodate quirks and enjoy the challenge. We have been asked for integrated bird cages, underfloor safe rooms and concealed ‘Big Green Egg’ cooking units; we just put our spin on it.” Understanding the client’s vision as to what they have in mind for their home can be challenging for a designer, as they have to take into consideration practicality, budget and overall finish. Having a broad portfolio from London Mayfair properties to large bespoke holiday homes in Cornwall, the team are well versed in successfully delivering high-end projects for discerning clients. Regardless of the location, Howard says: “Our design and project approach is always consistent. We start with creating a thorough brief that anchors the project, then through a comprehensive site analysis, we evaluate the constraints and opportunites for the site to develop our design concepts. We look for inspiration and design guidance from many sources and may be influenced by a piece of client’s artwork, site context or maybe something as simple as geometry.

“Every project takes us into new areas,” he continues, “where we design solutions, innovate and test out new ideas. If we can refine something from previous projects to make it quicker, more cost effective, more durable and so on, we will. Experience is everything, but we never stop learning – that’s what keeps things interesting for us.” Howard and the team at Monotypic have called Cornwall home for nearly 20 years and have delivered many successful projects here, for both locals and second home owners. Some of which are currently under construction in the St Ives area, where Monotypic promises to deliver three individual detached properties that overlook Carbis Bay beach, offering “a measure of peace and tranquility within the hustle and bustle of Cornwall’s top tourist destination”, and I for one am intrigued to see the finished concept. Contributing these innovative, perceptive, alluring designs to our Cornish skyline will undoubtedly elevate the architectural design community and hopefully encourage others in the field to be as crisp and evolutionary as Monotypic are when creating homes of their own. monotypic.co.uk

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Exceeding

ASPIRATIONS WO R D S B Y DA N WA R D E N

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C U I SI N E

Taking the humble kitchen and transforming it into the focal point of a luxury lifestyle at home.

s homeowners, generally speaking, we all have a vision. Before we’ve even secured the keys for our new home, we have an oftenvivid picture in our mind’s eye of how we plan to use the spaces available, and of how we intend to change or update the interior décor. Sometimes, this can go as far as which walls and features we intend to strip out entirely in order to create a space that’s tailored to the lifestyle we intend to lead. The same can be said for those of us who have inhabited the same four walls for years. What worked ten years ago – or even pre-Covid – is, in many cases, no longer to our taste. In some cases, certain spaces no longer serve the function we once envisaged them doing so. A classic example of this is the kitchen, which is surely at the heart of every home. But it’s all too easy to imagine what we want this fundamental space to do; it takes experience, knowledge and, often, a professional eye to develop the ‘negative’

you have in your imagination, into a physical reality. In short, it pays to enlist the help of experts, particularly when it comes to kitchen design, as they will be able to dive into how you currently – and intend to – use your kitchen, pointing you in the direction of the correct configuration to suit your lifestyle. This is what Bradshaw Luxury does best. “Our focus is providing the very best knowledge and support to our clients,” says Business Development Director, Lee Dauny. “We aim to be the first port of call for anyone looking for a kitchen – indoor or outdoor – in the south west, and our ultimate goal is to make luxury living a reality, not an aspiration.” Lee touches on an important point here. Outdoor kitchens are becoming an increasingly popular means of achieving the lifestyle that several lockdowns left us yearning for, that is, the kind that allows us to gather comfortably with our nearest

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and dearest whilst immersing ourselves in the natural beauty of the outdoors. Gone are the days of a simple, often slightly rusted gas barbeque sitting under cover for nine or ten months of the year (although, as a barbeque enthusiast myself, I hold that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!). What I mean, is that approaches to outdoor cooking and what we want to achieve from it have significantly evolved. This, in combination with developments in the technology and equipment now available for outdoor cooking, have led us to a point where it’s no longer unreasonable to aspire to the same quality of build and flexibility outdoors, as we have come to expect inside. Although, as we’ve already learned, Bradshaw Luxury is about more than mere aspirations… The company has been importing and distributing luxury domestic appliances for more than 25 years. “We pride ourselves on the knowledge that we look after some of the world’s best brands here in the UK,” says Lee. And what do all these brands have in common? They each provide a specialist approach to manufacturing the finest kitchen appliances, from refrigerators and ovens, to wood-fired pizza ovens, charcoal grills and everything in between. Simply put, says Lee: “We specialise in the world of kitchens, inside and out.” So, what about the brands? “Gaggenau are a favourite of ours,” says Lee. “Their paredback, gimmick-free approach to design combines with supreme functionality to create appliances that are precision engineered to always work at peak performance.” Kalamazoo is another, setting out to fundamentally change not just grilling, but

the entire outdoor cooking experience. The brand has evolved its flagship Dual-Fuel grill into an even more formidable Hybrid Fire Grill – the most high-performance gas grill in the world, allowing you to cook with any combination of gas, wood and charcoal. Then there’s Sub Zero & Wolf, representing superb standards and performance, where form and function are key, allowing you to tailor your luxury kitchen configuration to match your very wish. Their innovative designs blend seamlessly into your kitchen, becoming the centre point of your chosen design.” Alternatively, they can ‘disappear’ into your décor, especially handy if you choose custom cabinetry and hardware. Added to all of these is Lynx, a company whose talented designers apply only the best materials and highest standards to deliver an outdoor kitchen collection that represents everything the home gourmand dreams of. For outdoor kitchen cabinetry, Urban Bonfire leave no stone unturned in the hunt for an outdoor kitchen cabinet that performs on every level. “Imagine an outdoor kitchen where no expense is spared,” says Lee. “Welcome to Urban Bonfire. They genuinely create outdoor kitchen cabinetry that’s as beautiful as you’d expect to find indoors!” So how, exactly, does the kitchen tie into the luxury lifestyle that homeowners in Cornwall aspire to? “I think the most exciting growth we’ve seen as a company, is in the outdoor kitchen market, and how more people are enjoying the outdoor lifestyle here,” says Lee. In actual fact, Bradshaw Luxury have seen a 400% rise in outdoor kitchen sales in the last 12 months

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C U I SI N E

alone, and as Lee puts it, “it’s looking like a trend that will only increase with a warm summer on the horizon.” Carolyn Bullivant, Director of Bradshaw Luxury, adds: “Leaving memories of charred sausages and smoky barbeques far behind, cooking outdoors has been elevated to new heights, and the outdoor kitchen trend is revolutionising how we view al fresco entertaining here in the UK.” This is an interesting thread to pull on; despite the world-beating wealth of seafood, meat and produce available right on our doorstep in Cornwall, it’s nevertheless fair to say that we Brits have been tarnished with a reputation for native cuisine that pales in comparison to the rest of the world. Having said that, especially nowadays with both TV and social media inspiring budding chefs to be more experimental than ever,

a well-considered kitchen – indoors or out – has become a much higher priority for homeowners in the UK who hope to build knowledge and culinary confidence. “The truth is,” says Carolyn, “we Brits are all brimming to let the hidden chef in us out. All the brands we work with have cooking first and foremost on their agenda, and we work with clients who share this priority.” Working with prestigious commercial clients that include Legacy Properties at Carbis Bay, as well as countless private homeowners who are looking to achieve the ultimate in versatility, functionality, quality and, of course, beauty of a luxury kitchen, Bradshaw Luxury have brought countless projects to life, demonstrating an elite level of expertise and professionalism when it comes to turning aspirations into reality. bradshawluxury.co.uk

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Where form meets FUNCTION WO R D S B Y H A N N A H TA P P I N G

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SU STA I N

Creating a synergy between reliability and beauty, ceramic tiles bring an eﬀortless beauty to any environment.

he way we live has certainly changed in recent years. There has been a distinct shift towards indoor-outdoor living and interior decoration has become more important than ever as we have spent more time in our homes than we ever thought we would. With that in mind, interiors have had to function as homes, schools, oﬃces and social spaces – sometimes all at the same time! There is no part of the home more used than our floors; they are where we step when we cross the threshold, they take us from room to room and where we place our feet at the end of the day before we sink into bed. There has been an increasing tendency towards having the same flooring throughout a property, creating a seamless flow between rooms, and ceramic or porcelain tiles may just be the only flooring material that truly works in any room in the house. Porcelain and ceramic tiles belong to the same family and although they are broadly similar and some interchange the terms, there are

a few differences; the main being the rate of water they absorb. Porcelain absorbs the least at 0.5%, whilst white ceramic a little more. Both are an excellent and beautiful solution for floors, walls, and surfaces in residential, commercial, and public architecture, both indoors and out. Porcelain tiles are not only resistant to moisture but are also scratch, stain and frost resistant, require no special maintenance and easy to clean. In a world where environmental impact is at the fore, I also learn that porcelain, as well as being durable, is an ecological flooring choice. With a production process that creates zero waste, is carried out using eﬃcient energy and water systems, a final product being fully recyclable, porcelain has a low environmental impact at each stage of its life cycle. Porcelain is also an extremely stable and durable material, an important feature for a sustainability strategy that focuses on the reduction of maintenance and the replacement of construction elements, both indoors and out, as well as on vertical

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or horizontal applications. Thanks to their thermal inertia, porcelain tiles also help moderate room temperature changes, reducing heating and cooling spikes year round, with consequent energy savings. As an allergy sufferer, beset by the pollen and dust that falls onto and is trapped by carpet fibres, it’s music to my ears to find out that porcelain is a hypoallergenic material, free of toxins and allergens. Porcelain tiles are free from any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as prolonged firing at over 1200°C eliminates any organic residue from the product. They are also free from one of the most common pollutants in our home, formaldehyde, contain no PVC or plastics, and are naturally inert and resistant to dust and, of course, they look beautiful. Chris Warmington, along with his business partner Maz, has made it their mission to bring beautiful tiles to Cornwall and the South West since the turn of the millennium via their business Cornwall Tile Centre. Offering a dedicated bespoke service to house builders, developers, architects and interior designers as well as serving individual clients who visit the showroom, they source their

porcelain and ceramic tiles from Italian manufacturer, Atlas Concorde, which allows them to offer an extensive range which covers both interior and exterior surfaces. In light of Chris’ many years of experience in the tile industry I ask him to tell me a little about the latest trends when it comes to porcelain and ceramic tiles. “Italian-made tiles are some of the finest in the business and Boost World has been one of the biggest trends for us, with marble also looking very popular,” he says. “The Boost World range of tiles from Italian makers Atlas Concorde reflect the trends in international architecture – with a collection of concreteeffect, stone-effect and raw earth look floor tiles and ceramic wall tiles with similar designs and colours. They are easy to mix and match, allowing designers to create tone on tone combinations or sharp contrasts between colours and textures. It appeals to those who like an elegant, contemporary style created with a palette of neutral tones and colour accents.” “Atlas Concorde’s collection of marbleeffect floor and wall tiles can create a rich, luxurious look with a timeless appeal. The Marvel collection offers a selection of whites

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TOP Deep verdigris colours are particularly on-trend

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A B OV E Geometric designs create a dramatic effect

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A B OV E Porcelain tiles are stylish used inside or out

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from purest calcatta to light onyx with delicate nuances, blended with greys and deep browns. Or opt for a darkly dramatic look with black porcelain tiles – Black Atlantis, Nero Marquina or Noir St Laurent.” Chris goes on to explain that for a more rustic feel, you can select porcelain tiles that resemble flagstones, or wood-effect tiles which channel the character of oak. Porcelain’s versatility makes it a hugely attractive material – it’s not unusual for tiles from four or five different collections to be chosen for one property. I had always thought that porcelain and ceramic tiles would only offer a set of natural, muted tones, however, some of the collections feature vivid colour palettes inspired by Italian culture. The Prism range is inspired, as its name would suggest, by the kaleidoscope of refracted light which can be mixed and matched to make colour combinations with a strong personality. Cool shades interact with brights, or warmers shades can be introduced to evoke sensations of cocooning and cosiness. As colours make a comeback in interiors, tiles are the perfect choice, particularly when

it comes to feature walls. Chris says: “There are lots of natural colours and natural, deep verdigris and aqua colours are proving popular. Or you can create a feature with tile structures – like a carved effect on tiles. You can add drama to a wall with geometric designs or consider the new 3D wall design collection, also from Atlas Concorde, which adds interest with the play of light and shadow.” While tiles come in all shapes and sizes, there is a growing preference for larger format tiles, with some sizes now measuring a staggering 120 by 240cm. These look fabulous, with fewer grout lines to worry about, although they do need specialist installation, which Corrnwall Tile Centre can facilitate. Cornwall Tile Centre’s luxury showrooms at Pensilva, Wadebridge and the Studio One Bath and Wetroom Showroom in Plymouth, give the best possible opportunity to view their extensive and unique tile collection, and their experience when it comes to tiling means that they are sought out by homeowners, developers and businesses across Cornwall and the South West, for both interior and exterior solutions. cornwalltile.com

A B OV E Wood-effect tiles add warmth and depth

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A path to

EXCELLENCE WO R D S B Y H A N N A H TA P P I N G

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Leading the charge in sustainable design, Tom Raffield uses his craft in innovative and contemporary ways.

ince discovering the traditional, age-old technique of steam bending wood whilst studying his degree in 3D Sustainability and Design, Tom Raffield has been on an incredible self-taught journey of developing and understanding the process to become one of the world leaders in his craft. His own unique family home featured on Grand Designs and showcased a talent that goes beyond the ordinary. One of a new generation of designers and makers, working originally from his woodland workshop in the heart of rural Cornwall, Tom’s range of contemporary lighting, furniture and accessories is based on beauty, integrity and a desire to create unique, high-specification objects that will be cherished by their owners for years to come. His purpose has always been to create new ways of living with original, timeless objects that are inspired by the natural world that surrounds him.

The artisan homeware designs are handcrafted by Tom and his skilled team in Cornwall, using traditional craft processes in sustainable and innovative ways and are intended to last a lifetime. The resulting pieces transform spaces with their natural swathes and curves and leave a lasting impression without having a negative impact on nature. Owning a piece from the Tom Raffield collection is a refreshing antidote to the over consumption we have become accustomed to. Inspiring a like-minded determined community, Tom Raffield is conscious that creating a world where people and nature thrive for future generations to enjoy has to be high on the agenda. I speak to Tom to ask about his fascination with the ecological technique that allows him to create intricate curves and twists, mimicking organic shapes and celebrating the very thing that inspires him – nature.

LEFT Semper Pendant, Stuggy Side Table

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What have been the product designs you have been most proud of ?

How did it all begin? At university, I was instantly fascinated by steam bending wood and knew I could make unique pieces that would not only be made sustainably, symbolise nature and tell a story, but would also last a lifetime. I have continued to develop the process and now share my passion with a small team of craftspeople at our BREEAM Excellent workshops in Cornwall with the aim to create as little environmental impact as possible along the way. How has the Cornish landscape shaped your designs and given you inspiration?

Every design holds a special place in my life as it has shaped the product range on our journey so far. I would say that I go through stages of favourites. Currently, it’s our Amble Hanging Seat; not only is the Amble a real showstopper, but it also takes an amazing team effort to bend the ash wood into place. The process involves a three-person bend, with ample time needed to dry and finish so, for me, it shows our steam bending craft at its best.

Our Cornish surroundings inspire everything we do. From the designs we create, to how we source our materials, we honour our environment at each step of the way. We design, create, make, sell, and deliver the entire Tom Raffield product range from our studio and workshop in Falmouth and this feels incredibly special. Whether it’s the power and beauty of the ocean, or the dramatic lines and tiers that make up cliff faces, every inch of Cornwall provides me with inspiration – I believe that this natural beauty shines through in each product.

A B OV E Amble Hanging Seat

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TOP Arbor Sofa, Leven Table Light

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MIDDLE May Coffee Table, Arbor Armchair

A B OV E Maya Wall Planter, Beeble Pouffe

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TOP Semper Lighting Range

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A B OV E Arbor Armchair, Verso Floor Light

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Have you had challenges in shaping the communication around your sustainability credentials? There’s definitely been a big cultural shift in companies labelling themselves as sustainable in recent years – a reaction to the changing consumer market. However, we set out our vision long before the word ‘sustainability’ was fashionable. For us, this is a calling and not just a business; a calling that we put our heart and soul into for over a decade. As a design-led brand, crafting functional pieces with long-lasting quality, sustainability has always been our goal. As we move forward, we strive to build on this pledge each year and set new goals to help fight the climate crisis. As you have scaled, did you find it hard to maintain your sustainability credentials and how have you navigated that? From the beginning we set out to put product quality, the environment and the way people are treated first, and this has led us to where we are today. We would never want our growth to affect the quality or sustainability of our products, so this is crucial from the very start of a supplier onboarding. These practises are not only good for the planet and people who live here, but also support sustainable business growth and employment. Each piece

that we create has been on an experimental journey – individual, organic and carefully considered. We source everything from sustainable woodlands, which, coupled with the low-energy steam bending process, is a very ecological practice with little wastage. What does the future hold for the business? We have been through some interesting times over the last few years, but we have remained focused on our values and the way we do business, which compels us to put people and the planet first. We have learnt a lot and know the importance of our customer base and engaging directly with them, offering them a unique experience, creating original designs that are made to last a lifetime and ultimately a beautiful and sustainable alternative to the mass-produced, poor-quality homeware flooding the market. We want to be at the forefront of the sustainability movement by helping change the way people buy, having a positive impact on our planet to create a world where people and nature thrive for future generations to enjoy. With the smallest ecological footprint possible, Tom Raffield continues to craft future heirlooms whilst protecting the natural world. tomraffield.com

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Known by

its CHIPS WO R D S B Y DA N WA R D E N

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Reflecting in their work the quality and standard of the materials they employ, is a company determined to do things differently.

esigner and hardwood specialist, Warren Bennett established TreConcepts in 2015 to operate with custom, hand-finished wood flooring, supplying and fitting to order for architectural projects across the south west. Before that, he had worked as the Manager of Woodstock. “I left there in 2015 and set up on my own. When I launched TreConcepts, I wanted to create a wood flooring company that would compete with the best in the country. To date we’ve had the privilege of working on some pretty amazing projects and we’ve done some very exclusive work along the way. What I really wanted to offer, however – as well as the wood flooring – was a service where creative designers, architects, interior designers and private clients could come together and work with us to find design-led solutions in joinery and furniture, as well as wood flooring.” He leads TreConcepts alongside Co-Director, Lee Endean. “The simplest way of describing our working relationship,” says Warren,

“is that I go out and find the work, and Lee makes sure it gets done. Once I’ve been out to meet the client and architects, I usually bring a seemingly impossible design back to the workshop and say ‘Lee, we’ve got to do this.’ After picking himself up off the floor,” he laughs, “he and the team set to work finding the best solution to bring that brief to life.” Behind this partnership is a growing team that share the pair’s core values. “Andre, for example, has been fundamental in the recent evolution of the company structure,” says Warren. “As our Special Projects Manager, he has brought a much more operational way of thinking to the business. Andre likes data, and loves nothing more than a good spreadsheet or flow chart! He’s very good at making sure we’re working efficiently and effectively. “We also have Wayne, who’s our Joinery Executive; Josh, our Flooring Executive; Matt, our Production Operations Manager; and Clive, our Workshop Foreman, who heads up the team of Bench Joiners. Clive,” says Warren, “is basically the Gandalf of the

LEFT Bespoke ‘glass’ stairs

INSET At the heart of the home

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joinery trade. He’s an absolute wizard! His key mantra is ‘be bothered’, so he’s very, very hot on quality control and ensuring things are done correctly.” In fact, the same can be said for the entire TreConcepts workforce, who are a testament to the work Warren and Lee have put into nurturing a team that ‘buys into’ their core company values.

element alone took three months to design and plan, and a further six on-site managing the actual installation. Being a Cornishman himself, says Warren: “I couldn’t let that project slip. It involved the repurposing of a building that was on my doorstep growing up – the old Redruth Brewery, into an archive centre for Cornwall.”

“What we’re trying to achieve,” says Warren, “or rather, where we see the future of TreConcepts, is in working closely with interior designers and architects on big projects, and offering clients the complete wood package. This means they can have their fitted furniture, their interior door or door linings, their architraves, skirting boards, floors – everything – and be sure that the design themes are coherent throughout the home. In one particular project we’re working on at the moment,” he elaborates, “we’re working with the architect to do all sorts of different things, from wall-cladding to flooring, to large doors, to hidden storage compartments within wardrobes, to the actual wardrobes themselves. To see all these things come together via one team is really lovely, and it’s on these projects that we really come into our own. Ultimately, clients who are spending a million pounds or more on their new home want quality – they want something unique that’s going to last and that they’re going to love living with, and that’s where we thrive.”

So what did it entail? “For the flooring in the main hall,” he explains, “the installation became quite technical, because the developers repurposed a lot of the granite slabs and turned them into little islands. We had to weave the flooring in and out and around these slabs, as per the architect’s design. We also had to ensure that everything was finished to the same floor level, so that there were no steps and everything was nice and even. We were also commissioned to design and install the sub-floor, too, so we created a system whereby we would actually support the floor from underneath, which would allow us to get to the same level as the granite.”

As a case study, I ask Warren to tell me about the wood-flooring installation at Cornwall’s archive centre, Kresen Kernow. Part of a £12M redevelopment project, the flooring

Built of local stone, Kresen Kernow is a beautiful example of Cornish architecture. There is something timelessly reassuring about a building of Cornish stone, particularly granite; it speaks of sturdiness, of reliability and durability, but like every ‘quoin’, it has two sides, and it can certainly come with its challenges. “If you visit Kresen Kernow now,” says Warren, “you’ll notice how uneven the granite walls are. In some areas, the planks of flooring had to be scribed so that they followed the natural contours of original stone walls, and in such a way that they still

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LEFT The main hall of Kresen Kernow

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TOP Beauty in bespoke joinery

RIGHT The complete wood package

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TOP LEFT Bespoke double doors

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A B OV E Traditional joinery in an area of conservation

TO P R I G H T An beautiful space with a view to match

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allowed for expansion gaps. It was a real test for us, technically, because we had to be incredibly accurate with how we fitted the floor – as well as with the techniques and products we used. Don’t get me wrong, it was a pleasure to be involved, but it was hard work! Fortunately we have a great team of fitters who are incredibly capable, and in the end, it was a really satisfying job to be commissioned for.” As is inevitable in a line of work that relies on heavy industry, we get to talking about sustainability, and Warren explains that TreConcepts only deal with suppliers and importers who have a responsible purchasing policy and, wherever possible, will specify FSC accredited materials, even though they themselves are not FSC registered… yet. They are also proud to work alongside companies here in Cornwall who are pioneering a future for sustainable architecture. “What we’ve found is that it’s the architects who are driving sustainability forwards within our industry, and we’re working with one in particular who are leading the charge. Of course, there’s a cost element to this, so it can’t be applied to every single job, but if we had it our way, we would use the most environmentally friendly products possible. “Internally, we are taking steps to ensure that our operations are much more focused on reducing our impact on the environment. We are currently in the test phase of a

breakthrough that would allow us to reduce single-use plastic by up to 85%. We also try to repurpose as much of our waste as possible, collecting all of the sawdust and turning it into briquettes that can be used as fuel. Long-term, we’d love to regenerate this into heat for the whole factory, further reducing our environmental impact. For now, we’re looking at our use of technology in our building and trying to find a way in which we can reduce our power demand, exploring more energy-efficient machinery and computers. We’ve actually started investing more money in our tools as well, which means they last longer than more ‘disposable’ alternatives.” In short, sustainability is very much ‘front of mind’ for Warren, Lee and the wider TreConcepts crew, which is important. As we’re discovering throughout this edition of DRIFT Abode, a bid for a cleaner, greener future is beginning to feed into every arm of the homes and interiors industry. Gone are the days of luxury at any cost, and surely any contemporary vision of a dream home must at least consider how it can be brought to life with minimal ‘footprint’. With Warren and Lee at the helm, it is in this direction that TreConcepts is being steered, and what is perhaps most reassuring, is that it will never come at the cost of quality. treconcepts.co.uk

INSET Elegance in precision

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Home away

from HOME WO R D S B Y R E B E C C A H AW K E Y

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Understanding the importance of holiday home interiors with three decades worth of experience.

ornwall is unequivocally the desired destination of choice for many, with individuals, families and friends travelling from all over the world to explore this little corner of British paradise. Nestled within our country lanes, rolling hills and wild coasts are some exceptional properties that host guests not just through the summer, but all year round. Having lived in Cornwall since the age of two, this halcyon dream vacation spot has been a top runner for as long as I can remember, and has only increased since the start of the pandemic. Whether you’re packing up the car full of bags and buggies, or relaxing on the world-famous Paddington to Penzance rail service, coming to Cornwall is always full of anticipation for a holiday to remember. Rainbow wind-breaks, melting ice cream, pints and pasties in the sunshine are amongst a few memories I know holidaymakers will take away with them when they leave. And in the background, providing a sandy safe haven after an eventful Cornish

summer’s day is usually a house. An unusual occurrence where families call somewhere entirely foreign ‘home’ for a short amount of time. Some bring home comforts, some bring everything but the kitchen sink, and some bring just themselves and a sense of adventure, knowing that at the end of each day they will have a place to rest their head and dream of the day just gone. Since 1991 Cornish Horizons have been at the helm of holiday lettings in Cornwall, with offices in Looe, Fowey, St Ives and Porthleven. Their teams across the county are experts in their field, ensuring the properties in their portfolio adhere to the highest quality, including exterior maintenance, landscape upkeep and interior design standards. All of these elements combine to ensure a happy stay for guests, as well as the likelihood of another visit. When looking for holiday accommodation I believe we all know what we look for. As soon as the overall look has drawn

LEFT A splash of colour goes a long way

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us in, our eyes cast over the interior with scrupulous scrutiny. Can we see ourselves, our family and friends enjoying a glass of wine at the kitchen island whilst the dinner is cooking away? Can we visualise the kids running amok around our feet? Can we see ourselves reading in the window alcove, stealing glances at the crashing waves below, or retiring to bed after a long day exploring the countryside? All of these things rely on thoughtful interior design. However, that is no easy feat. Designing the interior of your property to appeal to such a wide audience is a nigh-onimpossible task. That said, Cornish Horizons have over three decades of experience when it comes to creating the perfect space for memory making. When speaking with Annabel Leach, Senior Property Recruiter at Cornish Horizons, we discuss what she would deem important factors in customer satisfaction. “The world of holiday homes in Cornwall is highly competitive,” she says, “but there are great rewards to be had if your property has an edge. Properties where owners invest in hot tubs, log burners or open fires can often command higher prices and increase bookings that can easily cover the costs of the initial investment and installation. Cornish Horizons also see properties with offstreet parking attracting more bookings; as do those with character, privacy, and those within walking distance to community amenities like a local pub. We also know that over a third of our customers like to bring their dog with them on holiday, so this is also another important factor to consider.”

Annabel also mentions some smaller, more understated additions to help turn a house into a desirable holiday home, especially if luxury hot tubs and fire pits are unattainable. “I think the most essential style tip that applies to every property would be to not forget or underinvest in the finishing touches. These might include brightly coloured cushions, rugs, artwork, house plants, runners/throws etc, but these small additions can make a real difference to how the property is initially presented and can really help make a photo stand out when potential customers are searching.” Personally, these are the things that I remember the most from family staycations along the coast. That fluffy rug I would lie on after a long day where I could play my Gameboy before dinner, or the cushion fort we would make when it inevitably rained and therefore forced an impromptu hibernation day for the whole family. It may not sound like much, but it makes a big difference and can be achieved on a low budget with a high-end finish. With this in mind, I ask Annabel which rooms she thinks may warrant a little more investment on the styling front, that visitors would appreciate. “The rooms which warrant a little more investment and which visitors really appreciate are the communal areas of a property,” she explains. “For example, the kitchen or lounge – where people will likely come and spend quality time together on their holiday. We find sometimes adding more ‘tech’ extras like Sonos, Netflix, sound systems, Xboxes and so on can also make a property

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TOP Space for the whole family

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A B OV E Modern kitchen designs

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TOP Simple lighting to soften and soothe

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A B OV E Decorative flowers and fruit bowls

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more appealing (particularly to those with children or teenagers!).” This makes perfect sense, especially when travelling and entertaining youngsters can be tiresome. Given the stresses and strains of the past few years, I think we all deserve a little holiday, even if it is just down the coast to quaint old Cornwall, so including all of our home amenities, not forgetting the games device, isn’t a bad idea, allowing full relaxation for the whole family. Another thing to consider, for when the Cornish weather cooperates, is outdoor space. Gathering around a log fire, or a sizzling barbeque, or playing rounders in the garden is the perfect way to end the day. Ensuring guests have as much space as possible can increase bookings, as Annabel mentions: “Properties that offer outdoor space are, again, popular with families and those with dogs, and it is important not to forget about exterior design. If it’s sunny, many guests may spend a lot of time outdoors, so it is worth thinking about

how you can make the most of your outdoor oasis, be it with beautiful planters, sculptures, or landscaping features. If you have space, we also find properties with outdoor extras such as a hot tub or fire pit are popular with visitors, too.” Whether you’re thinking about starting your holiday home renovation, need some advice on interior design, or are trying to optimise your letting income potential by utilising the skills of a specialist agency, the team at Cornish Horizons are ready to help you. With dedicated local property experts backed by a recognisable national brand (being part of Original Cottages), they can offer you the best of both worlds, from high impact marketing to local personal service and property maintenance solutions. As one of Cornwall’s leading holiday cottage agencies, with more than three decades in the business, they know, in detail, what gives properties that extra pulling power. cornishhorizons.co.uk

A B OV E Cushions to add style

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Treading

SOFTLY WORDS BY ROSIE CATTRELL

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Making use of a centuries-old tradition to cast a little light on our home interiors and connect us once more to the natural world around us.

he flickering warmth of candlelight has been with us for thousands of years, and in many ways has kept with it a charming nostalgia that went before days of electric convenience and comfort – a light to be guided by on a dark winter evening, a comforting presence during times of sadness, a spiritual symbol lit in memory of a loved one, a gesture of romance in a moment for two. However, today the candle brings a little something new to our homes, and St. Eval have found a way to help put us in touch with our senses, our wellbeing and the joys of nature by treading softly on the path of tradition and sustainability. Begun over 28 years ago around the family farmhouse table, St. Eval was created by Sarah Young-Jamieson and her late husband Tim. While looking for a way to diversify their farm they struck upon candles, and so a dream to make the best quality candles in a traditional way was born. “We began making candles for local churches and the general public, dreaming them up over the kitchen table and artfully crafting them on the family farm,” explains Sarah. “We use centuries-old traditions to keep the artisan craft skills of the candle-

maker alive whilst making the best use of sustainable packaging, with a focus on cardboard and paper materials.” After a few years of focusing on classic church candles, Sarah and Tim naturally gravitated towards their first fragranced version, on which Sarah fondly reflects: “Tranquillity was the first fragrance we ever created. It remains one of our most popular fragrances to date and is still available in many of our different collections. Tim and I created this fragrance and ‘followed our noses’, so to speak, despite scented candles not being very popular at this point – certainly not like they are today. I’m happy that Tim was with us to see this product and fragrance come to life and bring joy to so many people.” Sadly, Tim passed away four years into the business. Later the same year, Ian Greaves joined St. Eval to help Sarah run the company, and has remained an integral part of the business ever since, managing the business for two decades before Sarah’s son Harry joined in 2017. Between the two of them, they have found new, innovative ways of creating the perfect candle, whilst remaining true to

LEFT Earth & Sky Collection

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the traditional and ethical St. Eval roots. From the classic church pillar candles, dinner candles, tin candles and pots, to reed diffusers, hand wash and lotions, everything created at St. Eval is made with the utmost care, each fragrance hand-picked from the natural world. From the rolling Atlantic waves to the bright gorse bushes along the coastal paths and meadows of wildflowers bursting with colour, the wild elemental nature of north Cornwall is deeply rooted within the St. Eval product ranges, drawing scents from sea, coast and wild moorland. “My goal has always been to create fragrances which are evocative of being immersed in nature,” says Sarah. “I love the simplicity of herbal fragrances in no fuss pots, such as our Victorian Herb range and fragrances which transport me to a time and place – when I smell Wild Gorse, for example, it takes me back to winding Cornish lanes adorned with this inviting aroma and joyful bright colours.”

your space and evoking wonderful emotive feelings. Choosing the perfect aroma to scent your space is important because through wonderful emotive scents we can craft the perfect atmosphere to meet our needs. Scented candles are a magnificent addition to the home, pairing the power of fragrance with the warm glow of candlelight to transform ordinary rooms into sanctuaries of mindfulness and relaxation.” Believing strongly in the role that candles can play in improving our health and wellbeing, creating candle experiences that enhance and improve moods lies at the forefront of St. Eval. The Meditation candle and the wider Retreat range that it belongs to were developed for yoga and meditative practises, with mindfulness and intention-setting at their centre, inspiring relaxation and inner reflection.

So, what exactly is it about a scented candle that has so many of us bringing them into our homes today? “Smell is a strong sense,” says Sarah, “powerfully acting on the limbic part of our brain which controls emotions, memories, and stimulation. When we surround ourselves with beautiful scents from nature we can evoke wonderful feelings, helping to improve both wellbeing and happiness. We work hard to create collections and fragrances to help create special moments and spark happy memories – that is the essence of a St. Eval candle.” “Filling your home with beautiful fragrances inspired by nature can have a huge impact, conjuring different moods in

A B OV E Bergamot & Nettle

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A B OV E L E F T Summer Folk Collection

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A B OV E R I G H T Sea Salt Scented Tin Candle

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TOP Wild Gorse Scented Tin Candle

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A B OV E Church Candles

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SU STA I N

“Our customers comment on the evocative power of our fragrances, for example our Sea Salt scent is often said to transport customers to the Cornish coastline, evoking beloved memories of time spent at the beach with loved ones. One collection in particular that I’m so excited about is our new Nature’s Garden. This special collection is a celebration of our affinity to the natural world and is linked closely to our efforts on site to increase biodiversity here at St. Eval.” “Often the popularity of our fragrances tends to vary seasonally. During the spring and summertime our fresh and uplifting floral fragrances are popular for brightening spaces and inviting the joy of season inside the home, while in the autumn and winter, as the weather becomes cooler, our herbal and woody scents grow in popularity as they’re perfect for creating a warm and comforting ambience while people enjoy time spent cosy inside.” Born from a love of nature and passion to ‘tread softly on the Earth’, St. Eval create unique fragrances and candle collections, seeking inspiration from our natural surroundings – the Cornish coast and countryside. “Cornwall is home to so many captivating landscapes, it’s impossible not to feel inspired. Each fragrance we create

has a story and a connection to nature. From Bay & Rosemary, inspired by flowers and herbs found in an English Country Garden, to Sea Salt evoking the sensation of walks by the coast.” By treading softly on the earth around them, Sarah, Ian, Harry and the rest of the team have found heart in tradition and the natural world, the product of which is of the highest quality and is ever increasing in popularity as we seek sustainable and mindful influences to shed a warm glow on our homes and sanctuaries. “Our passion for sustainability lies at the heart of all we do and is important to all of us here at St. Eval,” Sarah concludes. “Our products are made with an emphasis on sustainability and in recognition of this we were honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in 2021.” Having received the first-ever Queen’s Award for a candle manufacturer, representing the highest accolade for business success and sustainability, and after being one of only ten businesses in the country to be invited to No 10 Downing Street for a Spring Showcase in May of this year, it’s clear that St. Eval are leading the way by candlelight. st-eval.com

INSET Sarah Young-Jamieson

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Beneath

OUR FEET WO R D S B Y R E B E C C A H AW K E Y

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I N SPI R AT I O N

Where durability and style meet, allowing you to create the floor to last a lifetime.

ur lives are filled with the steps we take and the roads we travel. Crawling along the carpet as a toddler, running along the kitchen tiles with friends, out into the garden in summer and back through the hallway bringing mud and grass in with us as we go. We rarely pay attention to what is under our feet, how long it’s been there, what it feels like, or what it’s made of. Until, of course, you have the opportunity to build or renovate a property of your own. If this happens, flooring becomes a minefield, and you never thought choosing what you stand on would be so confusing. Even if you’ve never been privy to such industries, words like carpet, linoleum, wood, stone, resin and vinyl may be familiar. A relatively new addition to this vocabulary is Amtico. British company Amtico International was founded over 50 years ago.

After a combined merger between Courtaulds and American Biltrite, they quickly became the leading provider of Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) in the UK, Europe and the Americas. Whilst Amtico flooring comes under the banner of vinyl flooring, its appeal lies in the variety of finishes, durability and manufacturing processes. Amtico flooring is made of resin and plasticisers compressed under high temperatures and pressures to produce a thin, highly durable product, which gives a closer finish to that of stone or wood flooring, inevitably making this product a very cost-effective option. As you can imagine, creating a product that needs to withstand the padding of paws and muddy football boots takes numerous materials that can have a negative impact on the environment. At Amtico, they are fighting their carbon footprint from the get-go and have initiatives in place for their impact on

LEFT Durable and stylistic

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I N SPI R AT I O N

climate change and reducing waste. As it stands 100% of their energy purchased is through renewable sources, and 100% of their pre-production waste goes back into flooring and/or useful products. This is a great start to their sustainability journey and one that promises continued improvement. Amtico flooring is known across the world, and here in Cornwall we are lucky to have an experienced local stockist, ready to help you design and create your perfect room with LVT as the centrepiece. South West Carpets is a family run business that specialises in carpet, flooring, beds and furniture. They have a wide range of options, Amtico being just one of many, that will help you style your home just how you like it. They also provide expert fitters that have over 25 years’ experience in the flooring trade, ensuring that perfect finish.

it will be easier to clean than a natural product and will also be able to withstand a hectic home life. Our LVT will continue to look good over time with just a little care, and if you come to sell your home, it’s always worth a mention!” Not only is it important to match the style and finish of flooring to the house itself, but also to the homeowner. Taking into consideration the building’s age and floor plan, as well as the overall style of the property, deciding between colours and patterns can take time in order to manifest the most holistic pairing for

When speaking with Demi, at South West Carpets, about the benefits of Amtico over other flooring options, she explains: “LVT flooring is an investment, and we recognise this. There are lots of economical floor products, but, for us, it’s about adding beautiful practicality and value on the investment. A well-laid Amtico floor will last many more years than a carpet, for instance;

A B OV E Combining retro and modern

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TOP Rustic wood floors for all rooms

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MIDDLE Jazz up your hallway

A B OV E Patterns and shapes for effect

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TOP Pastel tones and earthy hues

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A B OV E Creating a feature floor

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I N SPI R AT I O N

each room. She goes on to suggest that when deciding on a laying pattern, scale is possibly the most critical factor. “The size of the space and size of the pattern should be compatible. A narrow hallway will suit a smaller scale pattern, like our Décor or our Basket Weave laying pattern, while a larger space will adapt well to bigger designs, like Flagstone.” From walking through the door after a long day into a warm and welcoming entryway, which could be laid with a Malthouse Oak effect LVT, to waking up on a Saturday morning and padding down the stairs to a modern kitchen fitted with Rose Marble underfoot, it may not seem like much, but it has an everlasting effect and one that takes time to choose. That is why the team at South West Carpets are with you from start to finish, to ensure every detail has been considered. With a great team of designers on board they can also offer advice as to what may be popular in the coming years, keeping your home timeless for generations to come. In conversation with Demi, we discuss what trends are set to hit our shores this year: “One of the main trends for 2022 is authenticity. People are looking for elements

of craftsmanship and heritage in the products they choose. Textures play a big role in this trend, helping to give flooring longevity. Our new wood embosses, in particular, give LVT a beautifully aged, reclaimed look, with varied grains and lots of movement. Rustic and painterly features work together to blur the lines between rural homes and urban spaces, adding warmth and cosiness to any room, regardless of its personality or style.” As a premier Amtico retailer, South West Carpets is delighted to announce the installation of the Amtico One show area, the only one of its kind in the south west. Here you can view some of the most popular styles and patterns in stunning room settings. It would be difficult to discuss our homes without mentioning the relationship we have had with them over recent years, investing in home improvement projects or moving house entirely to embark on a new build. When we have had to spend so much time within its confines, each of us have come up with new ways to create a comforting, safe space that is uniquely ours. Amtico flooring can help you do just that. southwestcarpets.com

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C O M M E N T

Eventide WORDS BY EMMA STRATTON

place to call home and being part of a community is something we all need. For many, Cornwall is that place. The Duchy has a longstanding issue with the amount, cost and standard of affordable or social housing despite delivering more new homes in recent years than most places in the UK. Cornwall Council’s focus on supporting people who are homeless to find a safe place to stay and to take actions to unlock more public delivery of housing has been warmly received. However, the impact of Covid and the removal of many homes for private rent, alongside a boom in house prices, has compounded an historical weakness. Encouragingly, if all parishes around Cornwall would invest in a modest amount of new, affordable and social housing this crisis could be solved for the next generation. New homes could be built to a different standard, so they use less energy, help us achieve our climate targets and allow nature and communities to flourish. Cornwall has the space to do this, with less of our land devoted to housing than elsewhere in the UK. Landowners and some key employers are now looking to invest in new homes for their employees. New innovative building techniques could speed up deployment, open up brownfield sites or dead spaces within our towns and villages. Whilst some major new villages are being built

the solution is likely to be in the many small developments delivered in all parts of Cornwall. However, it is key that any homes are built to enhance and create sustainable communities, contribute to biodiversity, wellbeing and culture. New tenancy models are likely to emerge giving more opportunity for people seeking to rent, share buy or buy their properties outright. We are starting a movement that seeks to bring fresh thinking, bold commitments, and creative approaches to how we crack the affordable homes crisis in Cornwall. We are bringing together stakeholders and leaders from across the county to begin building a shared vision for the provision of affordable housing. One that will attract the broad stakeholder support it needs. This collection of creative and influential thinkers will spend time understanding the stark reality of the situation, examining current and planned planning policies and get to the root cause of the barriers to solving the problem. We can be inspired by examples of imaginative approaches and start creating a vision for change with accompanying pledges for action. Emma Stratton is the owner of Scarlet and Bedruthan hotels in Mawgan Porth and co-organiser of the inaugural Homes For Cornwall conference held in Truro in this May. homesforcornwall.org

INSET Emma Stratton

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