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February 2021 £4.40
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Contents
February 2021
Regulars 11 EDITOR’S LETTER 17 KEVIN McCLOUD
Our editor-at-large on filming the long-awaited new series 138 MY GRAND IDEA Architect Taro Tsuruta on designing an innovative timber conservatory
138 13
News 13 ARCHITECTURE UPDATE
A spotlight on recent projects 113 KITCHEN UPGRADE The latest
cabinets, surfaces and appliances 123 BATHROOM EDIT Stylish new
additions for the smallest room
123 MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 5
CONTENTS
Homes 20 TV HOUSE LONDON
How two dilapidated old cemetery buildings were given a new lease of life 33 DETACHED SELF-BUILD
A sloping greenfield site proved to be the perfect spot for a smart family home 47 CONVERTED WAREHOUSE
Ingenious design helped turn an industrial space into a three-bedroom home 58 AUSTRALIAN BARN
Scandinavian style meets Outback tradition in this countryside retreat
33 Projects 77 RENOVATION DIARY Glazed doors
99 PROJECT STAIRCASES What to
overlooking the garden bring the beauty of nature a little bit closer 83 GRAND GUIDE Ten beautifully renovated and updated period homes
consider when replacing old stairs or fitting a new flight 114 PROJECT KITCHENS Clever ways to create a well-designed pantry, boot room or utility area 125 PROJECT BATHROOMS A look at what to expect for your spend
93 BUYER’S GUIDE TO FRONT DOORS
58
Practical advice and design tips to ensure a great first impression
83
114 6 FEBRUARY 2021 /
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EDITORIAL
GO ONLINE Find more from Kevin McCloud and our exclusive TV house tours, plus inspiring self-builds, real-life extensions, conversions and home-improvement projects. GRANDDESIGNSLIVE.COM
EDITOR K AREN STYLIANIDES ART DIRECTOR TONY PETERS CHIEF SUB-EDITOR MATT GL ASBY ACTING ASSOCIATE EDITOR JO MESSENGER DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR HUGH METCALF DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER BECCA GREEN EDITOR-AT-LARGE KEVIN McCLOUD
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PRODUCTION instagram.com/ granddesignstv
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PRODUCTION DIRECTOR TIM GARWOOD PRODUCTION MANAGER CAR A CULLEN SENIOR PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE JENNIFER TURNER PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE REBECCA SPURLING STUDIO DIRECTOR LEE MOORE CREATIVE DIRECTOR ELLIOTT PRENTICE
PUBLISHING MANAGING DIRECTOR RICHARD MOREY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER LEE NEWTON All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Text and picture material is sent at the owner’s risk. All prices and information correct at time of going to press. Grand Designs magazine is published by Media 10 in association with Channel 4 and Boundless. Grand Designs is a registered trademark of FremantleMedia. Based on the television programme Grand Designs, produced by Boundless (part of FremantleMedia UK) for Channel 4. Licensed by FremantleMedia Enterprises (fremantlemedia.com). © 2020. ISSN 1742-0695
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MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 9
EDITOR’S LETTER
N
ow that we’ve turned our backs on 2020, and have welcomed 2021 hoping for better times to come, the year gets off to a good start as the new series of Channel 4’s Grand Designs returns to our screens. Inside this issue, you will find an exclusive interview with Justin Maxwell Stuart, a Grand Designer who came up with the unlikely idea of turning a cemetery warden’s lodge and the footprint of an adjacent 1960s single-storey building into a contemporary home. Justin worked with architect Simon Gill to design the renovation of the neo-gothic gatehouse and add an impressive, partly below-ground, new-build extension. Pulling off such a complex and costly project is
incredibly challenging. Turn to page 20 to see whether he managed to find a way through. As always, this latest TV series is not just about the nuts and bolts of building a home. It shines a light on what motivates the amazing people who choose to take on a major project, what drives them on and how they tackle the inevitable obstacles along the way. Over the 22 years that the programme has been running, Kevin McCloud has gained an unrivalled insight into the spirit of endeavour behind every build. He touches on this and the difficulties of filming during the pandemic in his column on page 17. If you are planning your own Grand Design, page 18 is where you can find out how to apply to appear on a future series. Good luck!
COVER PHOTO JEFFERSON SMITH
K AREN ST YLIANIDES , EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPHY JIM STEPHENSON
@StylianidesK
Devon-based boat builder Tristan Stone and his wife Liz crafted this beautiful house by the water. See page 33 for more
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 11
As award winning architects and designers we aspire to create extraordinary buildings and spaces for our clients, sometimes from the most difficult of design briefs. Central to our philosophy is that good design should reflect the needs of our clients and respond to the surrounding environment. Pushing the boundaries of design we are able to achieve timeless, highly innovative and sustainable projects. We offer a complete design service from initial advice through to the completion of your project. We complete works all over the UK and internationally with construction budgets from ÂŁ250,000. Please take a look around our website and email us or call with your new project enquiry for a free consultation. Tye Architects t: 01525 406677 e: nicolas@tyearchitects.com w: www.tyearchitects.com
new builds
extensions
conversions
NEWS
Architecture update Original projects to inspire your own self-build or renovation
Rise above it
The tricky task of regenerating a brownfield site on a floodplain near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, fell to Baca Architects. It has completed eleven homes, built on raised piles with a floodable zone below, and guarded from debris by louvred screens. Access is provided by a gently ramped road up to the houses, and an elevated path provides a route through the site for pedestrians and cyclists. The remaining green space has been landscaped as rain gardens and swales to help retain and control water run-off. (baca.uk.com)
New homes built under Permitted Development Rights will have to meet space standards, says housing secretary Robert Jenrick. Homes developed from existing buildings without the need to go through a full planning application will have to meet the nationally described space standard, beginning at 37sqm of floorspace for a new one-bed flat with a shower room, and 39sqm with a bathroom. (gov.uk)
Shape-shifter Faced with a triangular infill site in Clapham, south London, which was hemmed in by Victorian terraces, Thomas Evans of TE-A devised a stepped plan for a four-bedroom house with a full basement to fit within the outline. Arranged around a spiral stair, the layout allows for open-plan living and adaptable bedroom spaces. To maximise daylight, there are open corner windows along the entrance path, clerestory windows and a top-lit glass box. The construction cost was ÂŁ600,000. (te-architects.com)
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 13
NEWS
Architecture update Taking turns Shaw & Jagger Architects (shawandjagger.com) remodelled and extended a 1930s country house overlooking the Wharfe Valley in Yorkshire. But a new staircase was needed to link the kitchen with the entertainment and gym space. Bisca (bisca.co.uk) designed a £48,000 spiralling staircase which turns around a column hidden by the stacked structure. It was completed with solid ash block treads, an ash handrail and a forged steel balustrade with copper finish.
Back in black
Keep a record
Roll up, roll up Not many remodelled homes can boast of taking their inspiration from a big top, but this four-bedroom house adjacent to Me-Kwa-Mooks Park, Seattle, USA, belongs to former circus performers. Architect Shed imagined the central hearth as a mast pushing up a gable ‘tent’ roof, with the main bedroom suite and office loft set above the dining, living and music room ‘rings’. A new entrance was added to improve access as well as a new deck. With exterior insulation, triple glazing, a heat, ventilation and air-conditioning system, and solar panels, it is intended to be a net-zero carbon home. (shedbuilt.com)
14 FEBRUARY 2021 /
MAGAZINE.COM
It’s a job in itself keeping track of everything involved in renovating a home. Interiors expert Kate Watson-Smyth’s Mad About the House planner (£18.99, Pavilion, out 4 March) is a room-by-room guide to renovation with a focus on sustainability and money-saving tips. It includes accounts pages, grids for floor plans and space to jot down shops and websites. (pavilionbooks.com)
WORDS CAROLINE RODRIGUES PHOTOGRAPHY JIM CATLIN, RICHARD CHIVERS, JAKE FITZJONES, FRENCH + TYE, TONY KIM
When Rhys Cannon, a director of Gruff Architects, first heard about a backland site in Brockley, south-east London, from a local builder who used it as a yard, he seized the opportunity to build this fourbedroom house for his young family. Located in a conservation area and bounded on one side by a railway cutting, the site posed many challenges. The first floor, clad in black timber boards, is set at an angle to reduce its visual impact, and there are no windows on the front elevation to guard the neighbours’ privacy. The project cost £600,000. (gruffarchitects.com)
new houses | extensions | refurbishments | basement excavations | swimming pools
If you have an architectural or interior design project please email gp@gregoryphillips.com
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For your beautiful new home Proctor & Shaw Architects Photography: Ben Blossom
Will Gamble Architects Photography: Johan Dehlin
or your beautiful old one.
EXCLUSIVE COLUMN
Kevin
McCloud Our editor-at-large takes us behind the scenes of the new series, filmed during the Covid-19 pandemic
P
anto may be a bit thin on the ground this year and that’s a shame as we all need a laugh after the fiasco of 2020. But there is a new series of Grand Designs. Oh no there isn’t. OH YES THERE IS! It’s a winter warmer special series to cheer us all up. I read in a report from the University of Huddersfield that during lockdown our viewing habits changed as we eschewed ‘anxietyinducing’ news and sought solace in box sets and series that brought four benefits: ‘sanctuary, companionship, connection and escape’. I hope that Grand Designs is able to provide all four plus some oldfashioned good storytelling, rollicking risk and heartfelt passion. As I write, the start date of the new season is 6 January running till mid-February – not our usual balmy autumn slot, I have to admit. Normally we transmit a series in the autumn, beginning in early September, which allows us the largesse of filming during the longer, warmer days of late summer. The leaves are on the trees and the architecture looks its best in the evening light. We learned, decades ago, that buildings look good and fulsome in a well-lit and fulsome landscape. They can be a joy as the sun moves round and adds new and changing personalities to the architecture. But the lockdowns – and the associated slowdowns of our projects – meant there was no way we were going to be able to complete a series for last September. And so we have reconciled
ourselves to the beauty of late autumn and winter: the trees are bare and the landscapes crisper and everyone is wearing wool and massive jackets, but we have crafted some glorious episodes. Filming in mid-December does bring its challenges, though. It only gets properly light at 8am and by 4pm we have to stop as everything seems to have gone dark grey. The weather is not the best either. Everyone is hard-as-stone freezing cold. Move inside and all the equipment steams up with condensation and the lenses on the cameras fog up. Huge logistical protocols are enforced
Expect oldfashioned good storytelling, rollicking risk and heartfelt passion just to stop the crew trampling mud everywhere. And I wish the sound recordist would stop trying to warm his hands up my T-shirt under the pretence of fiddling with the microphone. But our days on projects over the last few months have been different. Harder in some ways. We no longer go to the pub for a hot meal, instead the crew return quietly to their cars and vans to chomp on sandwiches at lunchtime. We have some viciously stringent Covidcompliant filming conditions in place: 3m distance increasing to 4m every
15 minutes for a five-minute break; regular trips to the wash station and spray downs with alcohol from the Covid supervisor; social distancing and masks at all times; and if we’re filming indoors, there’s a skeleton crew and all the windows and doors are opened to allow maximum air movement. This means the beautifully shot interior conversations, kept to a minimum, are conducted in arctic temperatures. Although the good thing is that the lenses now don’t mist up. I also get to rig my own sanitised microphone. And yet it’s not so hard in other ways. The camera movements are as beautiful as ever and the films are painstakingly graded to look their best. Our directors and teams are creative and brilliant, and we use all kind of foreshortening tricks, long lenses and shots with short depths of field (for the photography students reading this) to make sure the conversations on camera don’t look weirdly distant. As it is, a normal, pre-Covid gap of 15cm-20cm between people can look like a gulf on television. We’ve jettisoned all the old rules of thumb and written new ones as we’ve gone along. And despite the cold and the wet and the mud, we seem to have found in these new ways of
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 17
EXCLUSIVE COLUMN
A converted lodge and extension in south-west London from the new series. Turn to page 20 to see more
the celebration of human endeavour, powerful architecture and a whole gamut of emotions. The stories are as strong as ever. We have a young couple who both live in the shadow of life-threatening illness building a precious future for themselves, and they do build it almost entirely by themselves. We have a retired couple restoring a Cornish mill despite my constant criticism of their approach. We have a self-heating house – of course we do. We have a former soldier building a legacy home for his son and future generations that aspires to the 900-year-old Scottish house his family have lived in since
the 16th century. That episode rings with historic resonance. None of it is normal, none of it is middle of the road. It is everything we have come to expect of Grand Designs: people moving out of the mainstream to the fringes to try something experimental, spectacular, brave or personal. There are so many stories like this that we have witnessed during the pandemic. Tales of immense bravery in the NHS, for example. Not all of them are joyful by any means. I hope this new season of films can bring some light and contrast and a little joy; some ‘sanctuary, companionship, connection and escape’.
ARE YOU PLANNING A ? TV’s Grand Designs is looking for exciting projects to feature on the programme. Does your build fit the bill? To apply, please visit granddesigns.tv
18 FEBRUARY 2021 /
MAGAZINE.COM
Harry and Briony Anscombe built this single-storey house in Padstow, Cornwall
PHOTOGRAPHY ISTOCK, FIONA WALKER ARNOTT
working a renewed enthusiasm. Perhaps it is the same in so many disciplines and working environments, I don’t know, but after more than 20 years of making the programme, we have found a fresh collective purpose. I hope the freshness communicates itself. None of the pain or worry, I think, can be spotted in the series. Not the frozen toes or the unusual camera angles; not the rigorous healthand-safety briefings or the naughty injection of a delicate patch of CGI blue sky into a rain-soaked January shot. What I do detect in the films is the same qualities that Grand Designs has always been famous for: beauty,
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Then and now Two run-down buildings have become a luxurious home that is far more than the sum of its parts WORDS ALICE WESTGATE PHOTOGR APHY JEFFERSON SMITH
IN BRIEF –
LOCATION South-west London TYPE OF PROPERTY Converted neo-gothic lodge with contemporary extension BEDROOMS 5 PROJECT STARTED September 2017 PROJECT FINISHED November 2020 SIZE 489sqm LAND COST £1.8 million BUILD COST £2.7 million
HOMES TV HOUSE
LEFT Elements of the Victorian lodge are echoed in Simon Gill Architects’ design for the new extension, most notably the handsome Bath stone used in its construction ABOVE Bi-folding glass doors lead from the living room into the walled garden. Privacy is provided by a high boundary wall that still allows a lot of natural light into the house
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 21
In the living room, exposed ceiling beams recall those in the adjacent lodge. The upholstered chairs are from William Yeoward
22 FEBRUARY 2021 /
MAGAZINE.COM
HOMES TV HOUSE
D
uring a daily walk with his dog Thunder, Justin Maxwell Stuart would often venture into the local cemetery, past a fascinating yet dilapidated neo-gothic lodge that had once been the graveyard superintendent’s home. When it disappeared behind wooden boarding, Justin didn’t take much notice. But when a for sale sign appeared in late 2014, he couldn’t resist trying to find out more. ‘I just had to ring the agent and ask what the story was,’ he says. Justin, 47, an ex-army officer who runs adventure fishing expeditions, had recently divorced and was living nearby with his son George, now nine. ‘I was at a crossroads in my life, with the opportunity to do something new and live somewhere different,’ he explains. ‘I was brought up in Scotland where everyone’s houses have so much character, and I liked the idea of recreating somewhere like that in London.’ He knew that the building was in a poor state of repair and was relatively expensive. ‘You could have bought a small castle in Scotland for what they were asking,’ he admits, ‘and the survey said that everything was either already falling apart or about to fall apart.’ The lodge, which dates from around 1860, along with an ugly 1960s single-storey building that stood beside it, had already been bought by a developer who had gained planning permission to convert them into a house, but Justin asked architect Simon Gill to cast a fresh eye over the plans. ‘The original scheme didn’t make the most of the possibilities,’ says Simon. ‘I saw the potential to create something really wonderful as the building had such great character.’
‘I was at a crossroads with the opportunity to do something new and live somewhere different’
ABOVE The fish on the wall behind Justin and his fiancée Hideko Kawa is a motif repeated throughout the house, a nod to his job leading adventure fishing trips all over the world LEFT The scalloped pattern on the lightwell wall is inspired by detailing from the lodge windows MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 23
HOMES TV HOUSE A section of dark wood panelling on the chimney breast wall is designed to match the elegant dining table
24 FEBRUARY 2021 /
MAGAZINE.COM
F L O O R PL A N S EN SUITE
BEDROOM
DRESSING ROOM
FIRST FLOOR
GARDEN BEDROOM
BATHROOM
STUDY
MOAT
TERRACE
CLOAKROOM
LIVING ROOM
WC
TERRACE
KITCHEN
DINING AREA GARDEN
PANTRY
LIGHTWELL
SNUG
GROUND FLOOR
UTILITY
PLANT ROOM
SAUNA EN SUITE WINE CELLAR BEDROOM
EN SUITE WC
WC
BEDROOM
POOL BEDROOM
MEDIA ROOM
BASEMENT
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 25
ABOVE In the bespoke kitchen, the dark cabinets run seamlessly into the sections of wood panelling in the dining area. The kitchen worksurfaces are Dekton Opera, a quartz composite that looks like Carrara marble 26 FEBRUARY 2021 /
MAGAZINE.COM
HOMES TV HOUSE
BELOW The beautifully crafted Bath stone stairwell that leads down to the basement is a semi-spiral shape. Its central post mimics the points and curves of the lightwell above
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 27
HOMES TV HOUSE
Simon proposed renovating the lodge – which, though not listed, was deemed a Building of Merit – to give two bedrooms and a study. The 1960s block would be demolished and replaced with an extension for Justin’s ground-floor living spaces: a kitchen/dining area, a snug and a living room. Beneath the new extension would be a basement giving the potential for what Justin called ‘some serious fun’ in the shape of a subterranean swimming pool. Further grand flourishes would include a stone staircase leading down to the basement and a moat along one wall of the house at ground level. The big question was whether the extension should mirror the style of the stone-built lodge or whether it should be something entirely different. ‘I am used to living in old buildings because my family home in Peeblesshire
dates back 1,000 years,’ says Justin. ‘Left to my own devices, I would probably have built the extension in a gothic style, but I have watched enough episodes of Grand Designs to know this might not have worked. When Simon suggested that the new section should be utterly contemporary, built from Bath stone to form a visual link between the two halves, I followed his lead. The stone is a defining part of the build and, though it came with a pretty massive price tag, I realised it was crucial to the success of the scheme as it would marry both parts together.’ The already-stretched budget was increased further when the contractors began to dig beneath a section of the lodge, underpinning it in preparation for the pool installation. ‘They asked why we were only excavating beneath part of the building when digging under the whole thing would add a huge amount of extra room to the finished house,’ says Justin. ‘As we were already halfway there, I decided we should go ahead because space is money, especially in London, and I would therefore get a bigger potential return on my investment.’
‘The stone was crucial to the success of the scheme as it would marry both parts together’ The work was painstakingly slow as well as costly. ‘The concrete itself wasn’t expensive, but holding up the old building while we dug underneath it was another matter entirely. It took months, a metre at a time, but it has added a huge amount of value to the property,’ says Simon. It also gave the basement an extra bedroom, a media room, a larger wine cellar and a sauna. To decorate and furnish a house that had two such distinct sections – the new wing with its open spaces and the smaller-scale lodge with its original features – Justin called on interior designer Gretchen Trusted. ‘Walking into the new wing from the cosy rooms in the lodge could easily have felt like stepping into the freezer aisle in a supermarket,’ says Gretchen. ‘I worked hard to meld the two parts of the house together, adding colourful fabrics and traditional upholstery to the new rooms to make them feel warm and lived-in.’ Justin describes the result as being ‘unique but not ostentatious’. The original 18-month timeframe has more than doubled and the costs have spiralled, but he has no regrets. ‘I now own a house in London that’s steeped in history and has 13 acres of green space around it,’ he says. ABOVE In the lodge’s sea-themed family bathroom, Rolling Hills fabric was used for the Roman blind and is teamed with deep-blue hexagonal tiles. The freestanding bath is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue 28 FEBRUARY 2021 /
MAGAZINE.COM
Justin’s bedroom is tucked under the exposed roof timbers on the upper floor of the lodge. The rafters have been painted white for a sense of spaciousness
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 29
HOMES TV HOUSE
In the subterranean pool room, the flooring is the same buff-coloured honed limestone used throughout the extension
S U PPL I E R S – PROJECT TEAM Architect Simon Gill Architects (simongillarchitects.co.uk) Main contractor New Wave London (newwave.co.uk) Basement contractor Five Star Basement (fivestarbasement.co.uk) Structural engineer Green Structural Engineering (gseltd.co.uk) Interior designer Gretchen Trusted at Shake the Sky (shakethesky.com) STRUCTURE Roofing contractor Redwing Roofing (redwingroofing.co.uk) Stonework Farmington (farmington.co.uk)
30 FEBRUARY 2021 /
Lodge windows Joinex (joinexlondon.co.uk) Extension windows and glazed doors Alco Glass Systems (alcoglass.co.uk)
Bath in main bathroom Nationwide Bathrooms (nationwidebathrooms.com) Bath in family bathroom BC Designs (bcdesigns.co.uk) FIXTURES & FITTINGS Family bathroom tiles Popham Design Stone flooring Intermarble (intermarble.co.uk) (pophamdesign.com) Wooden flooring Woodmar (woodmarltd.co.uk) Main bathroom sconces Circa Lighting Flooring in main bathroom Mandarin Stone (circalighting.co.uk) (mandarinstone.com) Bathroom taps Waterworks Kitchen cupboard handles Armac Martin (waterworks.com) (armacmartin.co.uk) Kitchen worksurfaces Cosentino FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES (cosentino.com) Living room sofas, chairs and rug Paint on kitchen panelling Little Greene William Yeoward (williamyeoward.com) (littlegreene.com) Living room coffee table Andrew Martin Paint in main bedroom and on bath in family (andrewmartin.co.uk) bathroom Farrow & Ball (farrow-ball.com) Dining table I & JL Brown (ijlbrown.com)
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Dining chairs and bar stools Chelsea Upholstery (chelseaupholstery.co.uk) Chandeliers Porta Romana (portaromana.com) Snug sofa Ben Whistler (benwhistler.com) Family bathroom blind fabric Schumacher (fschumacher.com) Main bedroom curtain fabric Lizzo (lizzo.net) Main bedroom chests of drawers Julian Chichester (julianchichester.com) Outdoor furniture Neptune (neptune.com) Living room artwork Jon Schueler at Waterhouse & Dodd (waterhouseanddodd.com)
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HOMES DEVON
Absolutely shipshape A boat builder has crafted an immaculate family home with meticulous attention to detail WORDS AMY FREARSON PHOTOGR APHY JIM STEPHENSON
The house sits on a hillside plot overlooking the Kingsbridge Estuary. Its terrace is framed by an arc of stacked wooden blocks
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 33
T
ristan Stone’s family have been constructing wooden boats on the edge of the Kingsbridge Estuary near Salcombe, Devon, for generations. When it came to building a home for himself, wife Liz and children Lily, six, and James, four, it was inevitable that he would tackle it with the same level of craftsmanship as a seafaring vessel. Every detail of the home they call The Boathouse has been engineered to ensure it is as sturdy and practical as it is beautiful. ‘I just wanted to do it to the best of my ability,’ says Tristan. The challenges of boat building are nothing compared to planning a house near the estuary, something that Tristan and Liz, both 39, were aware of from the outset. Because it had been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it was unlikely the local planning authority would allow new constructions. Buildings are generally only permitted on brownfield sites – those that have been developed in the past. Developing greenfield land is usually out of the question. The plot that Tristan and Liz had bought was exactly that – a hillside field, close to the water’s edge and adjacent to Tristan’s business, Stones Boatyard. It’s where more than 60 wooden vessels are stored and maintained, including Salcombe Yawls, a small sailing dinghy local to the area. This involves regularly moving them in and out of the
ABOVE Beneath a roof of structurally insulated panels (SIPs), the walls are made of locally quarried Dartmoor stone with sections clad in Alaskan yellow cedar 34 FEBRUARY 2021 /
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IN BRIEF –
LOCATION East Portlemouth, Devon TYPE OF PROPERTY Detached new-build house BEDROOMS 4 DESIGN STARTED July 2016 BUILD STARTED March 2018 PROJECT COMPLETED March 2020 SIZE 192sqm BUILD COST £2,000 per sqm
HOMES DEVON In the open-plan living area on the upper ground floor, the kitchen is designed around an island. The house’s main entrance is off to one side, with a balcony on the other
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 35
LEFT Having a hob with a downdraft extraction system on the island keeps the area free from any visual obstruction
F L O O R PL A N S DINING AREA LIVING AREA KITCHEN
UTILITY
WETROOM GARAGE
PLANT ROOM
UPPER GROUND FLOOR
BEDROOM
DRESSING ROOM BEDROOM BEDROOM BATHROOM
MAIN BEDROOM
SHOWER ROOM
WC
LOWER GROUND FLOOR
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HOMES DEVON
The flooring is 10m-long planks of Douglas fir timber from Canada. Overhead, the pendant lights are fixed to a series of custommade cube frames MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 37
JO...TO COPY AND PASTE INTO INDESIGN FOR WRITING NOTES....
JO...TO COPY AND PASTE INTO INDESIGN FOR WRITING NOTES....
LEFT Verdigris tiles from Mandarin Stone draw attention to the freestanding fire. They also feature on some of the bathroom walls BELOW The fire has a big viewing window for extra cosiness. The simple base and hearth complement the contemporary design of the room
water. As boats can only be launched when the tide is in, Tristan might be on site as early as 5am, sometimes staying until after 8pm. And if a problem arises, he must respond quickly, so living nearby is essential. Community support was vital to making the case for planning permission, and Tristan and Liz received more than 40 letters of endorsement from local residents. Equally important was developing a house sensitive to the area and its history. The couple turned to Rob Adams of Adams+Collingwood Architects, who designed the boatyard building back in 2004. Rob had a vested interest – although he is based in London, he’s had a second home in Devon for years and owns a Salcombe Yawl of his own, which Tristan looks after. With Rob’s input the design was based on the longhouse, a type of barn that dates back to the 13th century and is common throughout the region. The idea was to partially embed it into the landscape, which would not only deal with the slope of the site, but also make the house more discreet. Altogether, it was enough to convince the planners that the project would have a positive impact on its surroundings. All that was left was to deliver a building that lived up to this promise. ‘The challenge was to turn 38 FEBRUARY 2021 /
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HOMES DEVON
The roof has a gentle outward curve, based on the shape of a traditional thatched cottage. There are no gutters – instead a French drain system allows rainwater to run straight off
HOMES DEVON
‘The challenge was to turn a barn into something beautiful, and that’s tricky. We really wanted something special’
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LEFT The main bedroom is situated on the lower level, which has fewer windows, but fullheight doors keep the rooms feeling spacious RIGHT A copper bathtub makes a bold centrepiece in the en-suite bathroom
a barn into something beautiful, and that’s tricky,’ says Tristan. ‘I didn’t want to build something that for years to come people would say was an eyesore. We really wanted something special.’ This was achieved through the quality of the build, which was project-managed by Tristan and Liz, and carried out by a team of local specialists, many of whom they had worked with before. For the structural frame and flooring, they chose the same wood that Tristan uses for boats – Douglas fir shipped from Canada by his father, who is based there. The beams are held together with Allen key fixings, creating a more streamlined effect than would have been achieved with nuts and bolts. On the exterior, the builders constructed precise junctions between the Dartmoor stone that forms the base and the Alaskan yellow cedar that clads the upper walls. And for the eaves, they created a gentle outward curve based on the traditional shape of thatched roofs. ‘It’s a joy when someone takes what you’ve drawn and makes it better,’ says Rob. ‘You can only get to a certain level on paper, after that it depends on the skills of your builder.’ To make the most of the available light and views, the house has bedrooms and bathrooms on the lower level and living spaces above. Divided into different zones for cooking, eating and relaxing, the long, narrow proportions of the open-plan upper ground floor make it feel bright and spacious. The living space has a full-height window
ABOVE The unusual curved teak basin is by William Garvey, a company specialising in water-resistant wooden pieces for bathrooms. The warm tone and organic shape are a good match for the copper bath, brassware and verdigris tiles MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 41
HOMES DEVON
Every detail follows the curvature of the corridor, from the floor tiles to the steam-bent wooden bench that wraps the wall
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LEFT A curved corridor links the living area with the rear entrance and garage. Doors lead off to the wetroom and laundry room RIGHT In the wetroom, hexagonal patterned tiles create a feature wall in the shower area BELOW RIGHT Tristan and Liz sourced this blue cast-concrete sink from Kast
facing out over the estuary, while the kitchen is organised around a huge island – perfectly suited to Liz, who works in the production of food programmes for TV. As well as a more formal front door, a rear entrance by the garage leads through to a wetroom and laundry room, so the family can strip off any dirty coats, wetsuits or boots before entering. Every detail follows the precise curvature of the corridor, from the tiles on the floor to the steambent wooden bench that wraps the wall. Even the doors are slightly curved. ‘During the build, I learned just how meticulous Tris is,’ says Liz. ‘With his boats, everything has to be perfect, and it’s been the same with the house.’ The same is true behind the scenes as well. To futureproof the house as much as possible, the couple chose to install a ground-source heat pump, over-insulate the walls wherever possible, and take all the necessary precautions for waterproofing. They expect this to pay off in the long term, keeping down the cost of gas and electricity bills, and preventing the need for repairs. Since moving in, the couple say the house has already changed their lives. Some mornings, Tristan goes out to launch boats first thing before coming back to have breakfast with the family. Other days the whole family go out sailing together in the evenings. ‘We have a better work-life balance now,’ says Liz. ‘It’s great that the children are going to grow up by the water just like Tris did.’ MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 43
HOMES DEVON The Boathouse can only be accessed via narrow country lanes. During a full moon the tide comes across the road, cutting it off even more
S U PPL I E R S – PROJECT TEAM Architect Adams+Collingwood Architects (adamscollingwood.com) Measured surveyor Centre Line Surveys (cenline.co.uk) Planning consultant Luscombe Maye Rural Professionals (luscombemaye.com) Structural engineer PCA Consulting Engineers (pcaconsulting.uk) Landscape architect Rathbone Partnership (rathbonepartnership.co.uk) STRUCTURE Groundworks Elliott Hire (elliottgroundworks.co.uk) Timber Stones Marine Timber (stonesmarinetimber.com)
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Timber machining and oiling Beach Bros (beachbros.co.uk) SIP panel design Ovolo Interiors (ovolodesign.co.uk) Stone Yennadon Stone (yennadonstone.com) Stonework Andy Partridge (07989 735 949), Steve Elliot Tiling Jeff Pershing (jeffreypershing@gmail.com) Plumbing Nigel Boncay (plumbco24@gmail.com) Electrics Canec (canecltd.com) Carpentry Sean Jeffery (sean.jeffery@ btinternet.com), Colin Johns Metalwork DM Fabrications (07814 629 442) Steel laser cutting Laser industries (laser.co.uk)
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Copperwork A+S Roofing Systems (01837 810 287) Metal fixings Anglia Stainless (angliastainless.co.uk) Windows Fineline Aluminium (finelinealuminium.co.uk) Garage door HĂśrmann (hormann.co.uk) Balcony glass Glass + Stainless (glassandstainless.com) Balcony metal Sta-Lok (stalok.com) Tanking, waterproofing and green roof Protectahome (protectahome.co.uk) Drainage Pawsey Design (pawseydesign.co.uk) FIXTURES AND FITTINGS Tiles Mandarin Stone (mandarinstone.com), Tiles Direct (tiles-direct.com)
Heat pumps and underfloor heating Nu Heat (nu-heat.co.uk) Window blinds NewBlinds (newblinds.co.uk) Door paint Marineware (marineware.com) Door ironmongery SDS London (sdslondon.co.uk) Kitchen, dressing room and laundry room cabinets Rozen (rozenfurniture.com) Kitchen surfaces Kernow Stone (kernowstone.co.uk) Lighting Ablectrics (electricsandlighting.co.uk), Spark & Bell (sparkandbell.com) Fireplace Dean Forge (deanforge.co.uk) Basins William Garvey (williamgarvey.co.uk), Kast (kastconcretebasins.com), Scavolini at Jeremy Wright (jeremy-wright.co.uk) Copper bath and sanitaryware Drench (drench.co.uk)
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HOMES EAST LONDON
Above the living space are two mezzanine bedrooms. Shai is climbing retractable steps which can be lifted out of the way via a pulley system
Limited edition Though standard materials have been used, there’s nothing ordinary about this Victorian warehouse conversion WORDS EMILY BROOKS PHOTOGR APHY MA X CREASEY
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 47
IN BRIEF –
LOCATION East London TYPE OF PROPERTY Converted warehouse BEDROOMS 3 PROJECT STARTED October 2013 PROJECT COMPLETED February 2019 SIZE 92sqm HOUSE COST Leased for £19,000 per year RENOVATION COST £23,000
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HOMES EAST LONDON
B
uilt as a flour storage warehouse for a Victorian bakery, the brick building that Shai Akram and Andrew Haythornthwaite live in retains its industrial appearance – and is surrounded by commercial properties – but the couple have made it into a bright three-bedroom home. ‘I don’t think you would have any clue, from the outside, what’s inside,’ says Shai. They took on the lease knowing that the warehouse would be knocked down in as little as six years, so it was never going to be theirs forever. Instead, they set about upgrading the space on a budget, by being ingenious with the design and using their expertise to elevate ordinary materials into something special. A good proportion of the £23,000 cost was spent on materials that can be removed and re-used, such as the kitchen and sheets of
plywood, meaning it’s a sustainable project too. Even with the yearly rent on top, it seemed like good value. ‘Our friends used to have a live-work unit opposite and we always loved the space,’ explains Shai, 44, who, with Andrew, 41, runs interior and product design company Studio Alt Shift. ‘We heard about the lease coming up, and on visiting the building we could see it would be a big project.’ Andrew continues, ‘In London you don’t get much for your money, and this was an opportunity to have a big open space that we wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere.’ Once everything was stripped out – partition walls, old electrics and plumbing, boarded-up rooflights – it revealed a space with high ceilings, timber rafters and a concrete floor. Deciding how to turn it into a home was the next step, a process that didn’t need planning permission, only a conversation with the landlord.
LEFT Instead of switches, the lighting in the living area is operated by a series of pull cords that snake across the ceiling BELOW The dining table is a bigger, more family-friendly version of one that Shai and Andrew designed for a bar. The Eames chair has tennis balls on its legs so they don’t dent the plywood flooring
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 49
The layout they devised has three bays: the left-hand bay includes an entrance hall, living area and mezzanine bedroom above. The central bay has the kitchen and dining area, left open to the rafters, and the right-hand bay is Shai and Andrew’s bedroom, shared with baby Pip, aged one. Daughter Lea, six, sleeps in the mezzanine bedroom above. The first phase was completed in late 2013, but in 2018 the couple were allowed to extend their initial six-year deadline by two years, which is when they added the mezzanine levels. To make the building habitable, the ceiling and floors were insulated, and new plumbing and electrics installed. Plywood has been laid on the floor and over one section of the sloping rafters, while a woodburning stove provides the heating. The couple added windows in the kitchen and bedroom, supplementing the rooflights, but they are either high-level or opaque, so there are no views of the industrial surroundings. Shai and Andrew’s ethos is evident in everything they’ve done. ‘As far as possible, we try to work with quite ordinary materials, but make something cheap and bashed together feel crafted,’ explains Shai. So even though the rooms are divided by standard sheets of timber, they have an elegant shadow gap at the bottom. The plywood floor is perfectly level, but it belies the huge amount of work it took to get it that way when laying
F L O O R PL A N S
BEDROOM WITH RETRACTABLE STAIRCASE BEDROOM
VOID
MEZZANINE LEVELS
DINING AREA LIVING AREA BEDROOM
KITCHEN WC
BATHROOM
GROUND FLOOR
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HOMES EAST LONDON
The windows are either high-level or opaque, so there are no views of the industrial surroundings On the kitchen wall, galvanised trunking conceals the electrical wiring, with copper water pipes clipped to it. It’s also a handy hanging space for pots and plants MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 51
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HOMES EAST LONDON
LEFT The multifuel Hergóm stove was shipped over from Spain. A terrazzo company the couple worked with gave them the tiles that form the hearth platform BELOW RIGHT Under the mezzanine is Lea’s play area. The paper light was designed by Studio Alt Shift and the cabinet was constructed using pinboard sheets, painted white and used to hang artwork
it over an uneven concrete floor. Even though there are many exposed elements – which suits the building’s industrial past – the interior is ordered, with electrical cables neatly snaking up the walls and ceiling, and copper water pipes clipped to a metal channel that holds the rest of the cabling. The couple have been thrifty in other ways too. The bath in the bedroom came from their plumber, who had removed it from a previous job and was keeping it in his garden, and the floor insulation is polystyrene boards donated by a friend who works at a photography studio. Clever space-saving touches include steps that can be retracted on a pulley system and shoes stored under a timber platform in the hallway. Although they had some help from ad-hoc trades, as well as friends and family, Shai and Andrew completed most of the work themselves over a long period of time. Having acquired the lease back in 2013, the final phase was begun in late 2018 when the second mezzanine was added and the wetroom finished. October 2021 is now the provisional date for moving out and, with two children and the end of the lease in sight, it’s time to think about the future. ‘It’s going to be the end of an era, but we’re ready to move,’ says Andrew. ‘That doesn’t mean that we won’t miss it.’
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 53
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HOMES EAST LONDON A shelving system runs all the way along one wall. It’s made from materials readily available in DIY stores such as pine shelves and standard brackets
Even though there are many exposed elements – which suits the building’s industrial past – the interior is ordered
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 55
HOMES EAST LONDON In Shai and Andrew’s bedroom, the Ikea wardrobes have been fitted with roller blinds instead of doors. Pegboard panels line the interiors
S U PPL I E R S – PROJECT TEAM Architect Studio Alt Shift (studioaltshift.com) Electrician 0800 Sparks (0800sparks.com) STRUCTURE Pine joists, wall and floor cladding Jennor Timber (jennortimber.co.uk) Roof insulation Kingspan (kingspan.com) Georgian glass A&B Glassworks (abglassworks.co.uk) Rooflights Velux (velux.co.uk) Plywood cladding Latham Timber (lathamtimber.co.uk) Plasterboard Wickes (wickes.co.uk) Pine stairs The Loft Centre (loftcentre.co.uk) FIXTURES & FITTINGS Pegboard and fixings Amazon (amazon.co.uk) Plywood Wisa Plywood (wisaplywood.com) Kitchen Ikea (ikea.com) Stove Eurostove (eurostove.co.uk) Flues SNH (snhtradecentre.co.uk) Hearth tiles Diespeker & Co (diespeker.co.uk)
56 FEBRUARY 2021 /
Boiler City Plumbing (cityplumbing.co.uk) Floorcovering Pelican Flooring (020 7254 7955) Electrical trunking Medlocks (medlocks.co.uk) Ropes, pulleys and chandlery Arthur Beale (arthurbeale.co.uk) Telescopic spout Mechline (mechline.com) Shower Victoria Plum (victoriaplum.com) FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES Pine shelving Jennor Timber Brackets and wall mountings Travis Perkins (travisperkins.co.uk) Dining table, lighting and main bed Studio Alt Shift Vintage dining chairs Ercol (ercol.com) Hammock chair Marañon (maranonhammocks.eu) Table runner pantry curtains Ikea Dust sheet curtain Leyland SDM (leylandsdm.co.uk) Bedroom mirrors and storage Ikea
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ABOVE The freestanding bath came from the couple’s plumber – he’d removed it from a house on a previous job and kept it in his garden. The cabinet and floor were both made using Wisa-Spruce plywood
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Bush craft Building a home in a natural wilderness was a matter of keeping things simple and low-tech WORDS AND ST YLING MARTINA HUNGLINGER PHOTOGR APHY MADS MOGENSEN
Known as The Barn, this off-grid house in rural New South Wales is shaped like an agricultural building. The workshop/studio at the side was made from a converted shipping container
HOMES AUSTRALIA
IN BRIEF –
LOCATION Capertee, NSW, Australia TYPE OF PROPERTY New-build BEDROOMS 4 PROJECT STARTED 2016 PROJECT COMPLETED 2018 SIZE 175sqm
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 59
HOMES AUSTRALIA
W
hile on a romantic weekend in the Wolgan Valley, New South Wales, Australia, Kristine Lindbjerg Hansen and her husband Michael T Hansen decided to build a family home in the area. The Danish couple had moved to Australia in 2009, initially for just three years, but they fell in love with the country and wanted to stay. On their copper wedding anniversary, a Danish tradition celebrating twelve-and-a-half years of marriage, they marked the occasion with a trip from their home in Sydney to the Blue Mountains, and were smitten by the remoteness of the area and its wild landscape. Further visits followed and eventually Kristine, 47, a graphic designer, and Michael, 48, a managing director, learned of a plot of land for sale that would be perfect for them and their sons Oskar, 21, and Carl, 18. It had the ideal mix of seclusion, abundant wildlife and dramatic natural beauty that they were looking for. The couple commissioned architect Joe Snell to work on the project and interpret their ideas. Joe, who
ABOVE RIGHT Kristine, Michael and their son Carl enjoy the evening sun outside The Barn
The plot of land had the ideal mix of seclusion, abundant wildlife and dramatic natural beauty that they were looking for
BELOW A carpenter friend designed and built the dining table from recycled timber with help from Carl
had studied in Copenhagen and is married to a Dane, understood the couple’s wish to create an off-grid home that combined elements of traditional Danish design with Australian rural craftsmanship. Known as The Barn, the house is a three-hour drive from Sydney, reached along a winding dirt road through pristine countryside. It’s a remote spot, with the closest shop a 40-minute drive away. ‘We bring everything we need with us from the city, so we don’t have to deal with practical chores,’ Kristine explains. ‘The absence of internet, TV and a washing machine was intentional because our focus is on being together with friends and family, taking walks, cooking, reading or simply enjoying the stillness and silence.’ Built on sloping ground, The Barn measures 5m by 35m and is sensitive to its surroundings. To make the 60 FEBRUARY 2021 /
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Light fills the open-plan living space due to the skylights and large windows. The Ikea kitchen is teamed with Toldbod pendant lamps by Louis Poulson and 3D Gubi bar stools
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 61
HOMES AUSTRALIA
F L O O R PL A N S
LIVING AREA
KITCHEN
DINING AREA
BEDROOM
WATER TANKS
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
ABOVE A vintage cheese cupboard displays some of Kristine’s work. The paintings are by her aunt, Johanne From Clausen
SHOWER ROOM
BEDROOM
RIGHT Beside the Morsø woodburning stove sits a Reflect sideboard by Søren Rose for Muuto and a J16 rocking chair by Hans J Wegner
S U PPL I E R S – PROJECT TEAM Architect Joe Snell (studiosnell.com) STRUCTURE Roof Colorbond (colorbond.com) Skylights Velux (velux.co.uk) FIXTURES AND FITTINGS Kitchen Ikea (ikea.com) Bathroom tiles Marokk (marokk.com) Flooring Havwoods (havwoods.com) Lighting Louis Poulsen (louispoulsen.com) Woodburner Morsø (morsoe.com) FURNITURE Living Edge (livingedge.com.au)
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Double-glazed windows frame both ends of the vaulted interior, where carefully chosen works of art mix with classic pieces of furniture MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 63
HOMES AUSTRALIA
most of the valley views from every room, the floor plan evolved into a long, narrow box. The stable-style front door leads into the open-plan kitchen, dining, living space with Kristine and Michael’s bedroom located at the far end. Three more bedrooms, a bathroom and a toilet are flanked by a long corridor, where a custommade, 19m-long metal bar, welded on site, holds six sliding doors. Lance Owen, a carpenter friend, used recycled timber to make the rustic doors and door grips with help from Carl. Floor-to-ceiling glazing at either end of the house and three terraces allow the family to watch the wildlife from every angle. Kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and 64 FEBRUARY 2021 /
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ABOVE The sliding doors were made from recycled timber, creating a patchwork of different wood tones throughout the house RIGHT Kristine’s father Erik visited for two months and handcarved the stone basin for the bathroom. The rustic bench was found at a flea market
Three more bedrooms, a bathroom and a toilet are flanked by a corridor, where a 19m-long metal bar holds six sliding doors
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 65
In Kristine and Michael’s bedroom the extensive glazing helps to create a seamless connection between indoors and out. The sculptural chair is by Brodie Neill for Made in Ratio
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HOMES AUSTRALIA The outdoor dining table on the large terrace allows family and friends to eat while enjoying views of the rolling landscape
wild goats appear in the morning and late afternoon, grazing on the rocky outcrops that dot the landscape, while natural wonders can be seen overhead. ‘Thanks to the nineteen skylights in the roof, we can see the moon and stars from inside,’ says Kristine. With white walls, oak floors and minimal furniture, the rooms have clean lines without unnecessary details. Classic Danish designs are combined with contemporary finds, vintage family pieces, soft fabrics and textures to create the sense of comfort and cosiness known in Scandinavia as hygge. A woodburning stove and all the building’s steel and insulation materials were shipped from Denmark in a container, which the couple subsequently bought and Carl fitted with sliding doors, windows, heating and insulation. It was given a pitched roof to match the house and serves as a workshop and studio – indispensable for the ongoing projects that Kristine and Michael have planned for the family’s much-loved retreat.
ABOVE In the main bedroom, an Ikea bed is covered with a crochet-work cover by Kristine’s grandmother. The decorative stripe of flower prints is by artist friend Pernille Folcarelli MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 67
HOMES AUSTRALIA
Floor-to-ceiling glazing at either end of the house allows the family to watch the wildlife from every angle
Built on a sloping site, the 35x5m house has a roof made from corrugated Colorbond iron, which is typically used for traditional shearing sheds 68 FEBRUARY 2021 /
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AS FEATURED ON GRAND DESIGNS
www.clear-living.co.uk info@clear-living.co.uk 01606 45109
Extend your living space The frameless insulated sliding doors by Sky-Frame blend naturally into their surroundings. So it is hard to say where the living room ends and where the view starts. www.sky-frame.ch
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A £350,000 overhaul transformed this once-dilapidated Victorian house in north London into a vibrant family home. See page 83 for more
PHOTOGRAPHY MARGARET M DE LANGE
PROJECTS
Renovation diary: part 17
Period home updates
A buyer’s guide to front doors
Staircase designs for all budgets
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PROJECTS RENOVATION DIARY
Reena looks out over the garden from her bedroom on the first floor. She rests her arm on a fixed glass balustrade
A new connection with nature
WORDS NAME HERE PHOTOGRAPHY NAME HERE
Glazed sliding doors bring the family closer to their leafy surroundings, and there’s a change of heart when it comes to open-plan living Reena Simon, 37, interior stylist and blogger (hyggeforhome.com), lives in Cardiff, Wales, with her husband Matt, 41, and their three young daughters. Follow the family’s progress each month as they convert a 1960s bungalow into a two-storey home
We have been in the house for four months, which is hard to believe as the time seems to have passed by very quickly. In recent weeks the building work has come to a complete halt. Matt and I hoped to have made further progress, but due to a combination of factors – the festive period and the Covid-19 situation leading to a delay on the next batch of materials – everything has taken
longer than we had anticipated. On top of which, we have also been busy with work commitments. We juggle full-time jobs while project-managing the build with our main contractor, and it has been a challenge to find time to tackle our remaining renovation to-do list. As we near the end of the build, its progress rests on us making the last set of design decisions and ordering
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PROJECTS RENOVATION DIARY
Neutral colours create a serene scheme in Matt and Reena’s bedroom. Round Cane Pendant, £55, Graham and Green (grahamandgreen. co.uk)
RENOVATION PROJECT PLANNING GUIDE
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FINDING A PLOT OR RUNDOWN PROPERTY Search via land and property websites, contact local estate agents and get on the mailing lists for upcoming property auctions.
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SEEK PLANNING PERMISSION It’s required before you start any work, apart from changes completed under permitteddevelopment rules.
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SET A BUDGET AND HIRE YOUR TEAM Work out a budget and then secure funds as a priority. Seek recommendations for architects and builders. Visit their completed projects.
4 materials. Until we can make that happen there is nothing for the build team to do. There are still a few big tasks to tackle such as designing and ordering the internal glazing and the cabinets for the combined utility/cloakroom and the laundry room. I can’t wait to get the latter finished, as we will then have a fully functioning family home that will make daily life more manageable. But there are some rooms that feel homely even though they are not quite finished, and our bedroom is one of them. Although the en-suite bathroom and the fitted wardrobes still need completing, it is a lovely space to be in. A guiding principle for the design of the house was to create a connection to the surrounding trees and the wildlife. To do so, we added a timber-framed first floor to the rear
REENA’S RENOVATION TIP Consider a brokenplan layout instead of an open-plan one. Homes need to work harder than ever right now, and having multifunctional spaces with a degree of separation is the most versatile option.
of the bungalow, which includes our bedroom and a spare room. I wanted to echo the design of the glazed sliding doors on the ground floor directly below our room, so we installed matching metal-framed, almost floor-to-ceiling doors that give us a great view out over the garden. The section that slides open is made safe by the fixed glass balustrade, which was an essential requirement of the installation. It feels like being up in a treehouse, opening the doors brings the sounds of birdsong and the water running in the stream. It is as lovely as I had imagined, and it brings us joy every day. I just have to add curtains before the lighter mornings are back and we need a greater degree of privacy. There is a room adjacent to our bedroom which will have internal glass doors. It will be a multifunctional space serving several purposes. At
MANAGE THE PROJECT Give your team a clear brief for the build. Set a schedule of works and make sure that the legally binding construction contract is ready.
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MAKE REGULAR INSPECTIONS Visit the site to ensure that everything is in order and the work is progressing as planned. Address any issues as they arise.
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SIGN OFF THE PROJECT Take a tour of the finished work with your build team and note down any snags that need to be corrected before signing off on the renovation project.
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PROJECTS RENOVATION DIARY
The bespoke black aluminium sliding doors are from Maxlight (maxlight.co.uk)
â—? Next month: Time to turn our attention to lighting 80 FEBRUARY 2021 /
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F L O O R PL A N
FIRST FLOOR PROJECT TEAM Architect Downs Merrifield Architects (downsmerrifield.com) Builder REG Construction (regconstruction.co.uk) Concrete floor Premier Concrete Design (premierconcretedesign.co.uk) Electrics Liam Broad Electrical (07948 834 166) Interior architecture Alex Nikjoo (nikjoo.co.uk) Kitchen Devol (devolkitchens.co.uk) Landscape architect Victoria Wade Landscape Architecture (victoriawade.co.uk) Lighting Nicholas Merchent, Home Lighting & Design (hldstudio.com) Planning consultant LRM Planning (lrmplanning.com) Plaster Vale Venetian (valevenetian.com) Staircase Ad Hoc Designs (adhocdesigns.co.uk) Flooring Waxed Floors (waxedfloors.co.uk) Woodburner Topstak (topstak.co.uk) Glazed doors Maxlight (maxlight.co.uk)
PHOTOGRAPHY MARIE PALBOM
the moment, Matt and I use it for home-working, but fitted cupboards will be added for clothes storage along with a sofa, a projector screen and a small woodburning stove, so it can also become our second living area and snug. This idea was always our intention after scaling back on the footprint of the house in order to obtain planning permission. But being in our new home over the past few months has challenged my views on open-plan living and reinforced the importance of having a second living room. I find myself retreating upstairs in the evenings because I want to feel snug and cosy, while during the day I want to be downstairs enjoying a completely different space. To that end, Matt and I will plough on to get the rooms finished and functional. We will also be making a start on the landscaping, as we have welcomed a new four-legged addition to our family. Having a puppy means we must prioritise making the garden secure.
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10 Projects where original character and contemporary alterations combine in perfect harmony WORDS ANNA WINSTON
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Period home renovations With careful intervention, an older building can be transformed into a unique space adapted for modern living, overcoming issues such as listed features, previous alterations and dilapidated structures. From an apartment in a Glasgow tenement block to a 17th-century timber-framed cottage in Oxfordshire, these ten examples provide a diverse source of inspiration and prove that the charm of a period home can be retained and even enhanced.
MERGING SPACE AND TIME Spread over the drawing-room level of two Georgian townhouses in Edinburgh, this flat was renovated by architects Luke and Joanne McClelland (mcclelland-design.com) when they moved back to the city. The couple had spent years living in London and wanted more space, seeing potential in the generous proportions of the property. On a budget of ÂŁ75,000, they reconfigured the interior to create an open-plan kitchen-diner and
a large living room, then stripped back the three bedrooms to reveal original features including floorboards. A previous owner had replaced the living room fireplace with an orange brick fire surround. Instead of removing it, Luke and Joanne painted it black, creating a bridge between the Georgian architecture and their mid-century furniture. To make their budget stretch further, the couple adapted Ikea kitchen fittings. (ikea.com)
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PROJECTS GRAND GUIDE
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MADE FLEXIBLE A two-bedroom
flat inside a Victorian house in north London has been overhauled to create a live-work space for a young couple: industrial designer Alexandra Gerber and graphic designer Matthew Fenton. The apartment had been repeatedly altered over time, so the couple called in architecture practice Morales Finch to salvage what was left of its original bones and reorganise the layout to suit their needs. Making the most of the generous proportions and the natural light, as well as the £65,000 budget, the architect focused on creating flexible spaces that could easily change use over time, and making new openings to allow for easier movement through the flat. Original features were retained and refurbished. But where these had been lost, they were replaced with simplified, modern versions at the same scale, helping to create visual links between the rooms without completely glossing over all evidence of the previous alterations. (moralesfinch.com)
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SMALL CHANGE, BIG DIFFERENCE A modest project
has transformed a single-fronted terraced house in Melbourne, retaining an extension that was added in the 1990s to allow the owners to invest their money where it would have the greatest impact. Austin Maynard Architects performed ‘keyhole surgery’ to transform the house for the couple, their two children and the family dog. The front and the back remain
largely untouched, apart from new carpets and joinery in the three bedrooms. But the middle of the house was gutted, removing a wall dividing the kitchen and a small, dark dining room. The new kitchen is designed as a unit that includes storage and a perforated steel staircase. The ceiling and deck above have been replaced with a pitched glass roof with sliding awnings so that the space could be filled with greenery. A similar project would cost around £3,550 per sqm. (maynardarchitects.com) MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 85
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LETTING IN LIGHT
A Grade II listed terraced house in Primrose Hill, north London, has been renovated and extended, adding a gigantic pair of pivoting glass doors at the back that create new sight lines through the house and out to the garden, filling the interior with plenty of light. The family who own it had lived there for more than 20 years, but wanted to rethink the rooms to suit their changing needs. They commissioned Robert Rhodes Architecture + Interiors, who worked closely with the council to create a scheme that preserved the historic fabric of the fourbedroom home where possible, helping it win planning permission. The ground-floor conservatory at the rear was removed, creating a two-storey space, while a small conservatory on the first floor was replaced with a glass box, merging with the landing and creating new views of the garden below. (robertrhodes.co.uk)
GRAND ON A SMALL SCALE A Victorian cottage in Darling Point, Sydney, has been updated inside to suit a young family of five. They wanted to make sure that there was plenty of space for privacy despite the building’s relatively limited footprint. The stairs, four bedrooms and a garden terrace were moved to create a new layout, while preserving most of the house’s historic appearance outside. Each of the children’s bedrooms has its own desk, wardrobe and play area, while the family bathroom
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references historic winter gardens with a steelframed skylight and timber panelling on the ceiling. Architect Alexander & Co included a number of features from traditional properties, helping to make the small house feel more like one of the bigger period homes in the surrounding conservation zone. These include an interpretation of a grand staircase and lightwell, paved limestone flooring in the kitchen, a contemporary update on traditional panelled walls and hand-finished materials throughout. (alexanderand.co)
PROJECTS GRAND GUIDE
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FOR THE LOVE OF TIMBER Having
raised a family in their Grade II listed barn since buying it in the 1990s, in 2017 the owners decided to undo some of the original conversion work to reinstate historic features and celebrate the timber-frame structure. Gresford Architects was tasked with the restoration and refurbishment of Great Barn, which is in the green belt and conservation area of Beaconsfield Old Town,
Buckinghamshire. Many of the 1990s alterations have been stripped away, including opening up the kitchen to create a double-height area by removing a bedroom shoehorned into the roof space. The 404sqm home has five bedrooms and a den. A new staircase and study separate the kitchen and dining areas from the living space at the other end of the house. Upstairs, a private staircase is hidden inside the timber panelling, leading up to a guest bedroom and bathroom in the attic of the garage. (gresfordarchitects.co.uk)
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PROJECTS GRAND GUIDE
7
FLIPPING THE LAYOUT
The owners of this threebedroom ground-floor flat in a Glasgow tenement from the late 1800s used their backgrounds in design to update most of their home themselves. But they asked architect Loader Monteith (loadermonteith.co.uk) to help with the £35,000 job of reconfiguring the dining area and kitchen in a single-storey garden extension. To make the kitchen feel less cut off, the layout was flipped by moving it into what had been the dining room – a space with a high ceiling and original cornicing that opens onto the hallway – and making it the new heart of the home. With Design Engineering Workshop (designengineeringworkshop.co.uk), the architect removed the ceiling in the extension and added a new rooflight, dropped the windowsills and added frameless windows, and moved the washing machine and boiler into a utility space by the back door, making the rear of the flat look bigger and brighter.
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TRADITION RESTORED
Working alongside his wife, architect Ben Mailen renovated Manor Cottage in the Didcot conservation area, Oxfordshire, creating a fourbedroom family home that they share with their two-year-old son. The cottage has an original stone above one of the fireplaces that bears the stonemason’s initials and the construction date, 1672. It had been through a number of layouts – including being divided into two homes in the 1700s and serving as a village general store – before sitting empty for two years when the couple bought it. It took another two years to strip it back and fix it up to create a contemporary home. The aim of the £200,000 project was restoring the original oak timber frame and masonry, and taking out the layers of additions and modifications accumulated over the decades. Wood-fibre insulation and natural lime render were used to improve the insulation while allowing the original structure to breath. Inside, the historic materials are complemented by a palette of neutral tones and mostly natural materials. (mailendesign.com) MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 89
9
CONSERVATION AREA UPDATE In the words of
Norwegian architect Siri Zanelli (collectiveworks.net), UpSideDown House in Highgate, north London, was ‘an absolute dump’ when she bought it, making it hard to get a mortgage. But the £350,000 transformation of the Victorian property proved to be worth the pain for Siri, her husband and their two sons. Siri wanted to be bold with the use of colour and texture, while designing a home that was both functional and cosy. So
she collaborated with Koi Colour Studio (koifargestudio.no) to create a vibrant palette, using tones of pink, yellow, green and blue throughout the house. A stepped extension was designed to win over the planners, which can be difficult in the Highgate conservation area, and holes were punched through the interior of the structure to open it up. The kitchen forms the heart of the home, while loft and basement extensions created enough space to add two extra bedrooms, taking the total to five.
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A NEW ARRANGEMENT
Johan van Staeyen was originally invited to refurbish the three kids’ bedrooms on the top floor of this four-bedroom, 19th-century townhouse in Antwerp, Belgium. But his efforts helped the family realise the rest of the house didn’t reflect how they wanted to live. So they asked him to take that on too. While reorganising the interior – including removing walls and floors to bring more light in – Johan respected original features, restoring the stainedglass ceiling light above the staircase, the ceiling mouldings and parquet flooring, even adding more mouldings in the kitchen. The back wall was removed to extend the kitchen and dining area and create a stronger connection to the garden, while bespoke, built-in furniture provides ample storage in the corridors and bright splashes of colour inject some fun. The project cost around £135,500. (vanstaeyen.be)
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PHOTOGRAPHY ZAC AND ZAC, OSKAR PROCTOR, TESS KELLY, MATT CLAYTON, QUINTIN LAKE, DAPPLE PHOTOGRAPHY, PETER LANDERS, MARGARET M DE LANGE, KAATJE VERSCHOREN
PROJECTS GRAND GUIDE
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PROJECTS BUYER’S GUIDE
FOCUS ON
Complete with Secured by Design certification, the FunkyFront door costs from £1,825, Klöeber (kloeber.co.uk)
Front doors Style, size, material and finish are all aspects that matter when selecting the best option for your home WORDS REBECCA FOSTER
MEET THE STANDARDS Minor changes, such as fitting a new frame or handle, typically don’t require planning consent. ‘Permission isn’t needed to change a door, providing the new one is similar to the existing style,’ says Elizabeth Assaf, co-founder of Urban Front (urbanfront.com). But it is needed if you plan to move a door’s position or build a new entrance. If you live in a conservation area or your house is listed, you will need permission to replace the door or change its colour. If you’re self-building, the entrance should comply with Building Regulations Part M. ‘There must be at least one level threshold, which means the ground outside and the floor inside need to be almost level with the top of your door threshold,’ says Matt Higgs, director/co-owner of Klöeber. Doors in existing buildings don’t have to comply to the same standards. ‘The latest Building Regulations emphasise security for new-build properties in Part Q,’ says Matt. Though the same standards don’t apply to new doors in an existing house, it’s wise to choose a product that’s been tested to withstand manual attack. For peace of mind, look for the Secured by Design certification. Thermal performance is important too. Replacement models should have a U-value of 1.8 W/m2K. This is a measurement of heat loss, with lower numbers indicating superior performance. For new-builds, the U-value for a new front door should be 2.0 W/m2K or less. RIGHT A triple-glazed timber door that exceeds the requirements for thermal performance, achieving whole door U-values as low as 0.8 W/m2K. Prices for this model range between £1,000 and £1,700, Green Building Store (greenbuildingstore.co.uk) MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 93
PROJECTS BUYER’S GUIDE
DESIGN AND FUNCTION Choose a door that suits the style of your home. Victorian houses often have imposing entrances including a panelled door in a dark colour with gothic details. Edwardian front doors are lighter in style and paler in colour with decorative glazing. For contemporary homes, an oversized door with glazing to the sides and above makes an entrance stand out and creates a light-filled interior. ‘Hinged, pivot and double doors are the main style options,’ says Elizabeth. ‘Double doors can often lead to one panel being unused, meaning that the actual walk-through is small. I recommend having one big door as it enables a wider walk-through and still looks impressive.’ Whichever material you choose, check how long it’s likely to last with the supplier. ‘If the door is good quality and regularly maintained, it should last a lifetime,’ says Matt. Timber designs should last at least 60 years, uPVC between 20 and 25, and aluminium somewhere between the two.
RIGHT This boarded insulated timber design can achieve U-values as low as 0.56 W/m2K. From £1,000 to £1,700 (depending on the specification), Green Building Store
WHICH MATERIAL?
ABOVE Porto e80 oversized pivot door set in European oak, £7,296, with adjacent cladding to create the appearance of one large door and a concealed handle, £1,600, Urban Front (urbanfront.com) 94 FEBRUARY 2021 /
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The cheapest option is uPVC – expect to pay between £300 and £1,000. Designs come in an array of colours and finishes, with off-the-shelf models in standard dimensions. ‘Fitting is relatively simple as the doors are light and small,’ says Leanne Chandler, director of CMS Garage & Entrance Doors (cmsdoors.co.uk). On the downside, uPVC products are more prone to movement due to temperature change. For high-quality composite designs, expect to pay from £1,200 to £1,500 for a door with good thermal performance and Secured by Design accreditation. ‘Composites are made up of several materials, with an insulated or softwood core and a plastic panel on the internal and external sides,’ says Matt. Aluminium can be powder-coated in any colour, and can have impressive thermal performance due to insulating material in the door’s core. Because of its strength, it’s possible to get designs that are taller and wider than standard. ‘There are several finishing options, including wood effect, rust, concrete, porcelain and liquid metal,’ says Leanne. ‘But installation can be trickier due to the size and weight, as most are triple glazed and laminated.’ Prices generally begin around £1,000 and rise to £2,500 or more. Steel is a robust option but unsuitable for coastal properties. ‘If your house is near the sea, a steel core should have an aluminium outer or a marine-grade premium protective coating,’ advises Rebecca Clayton, director at IQ Glass (iqglassuk.com). Prices range from £800 to around £2,000. Strong, durable timber can be used for oversized designs and has excellent thermal performance. But it’s likely to require maintenance and will need to be treated/repainted periodically. Softwood designs are more prone to warping if not properly maintained. Standard timber doors are likely to cost between £350 and £500. Bespoke designs can be more than £2,000.
steel reinforced natural hardwood doors entrance doors internal feature doors garage doors oversized doors passive house certified doors made and designed in UK
+44 (0)1494 778787 info@urbanfront.co.uk www.urbanfront.co.uk Secured by Design
For beautifully handcrafted contemporary handles visit pushpull.co.uk
PROJECTS BUYER’S GUIDE
Apertio Solid entrance door with reinforced steel core and a thermally broken aluminium frame. Available in a choice of finishes and sizes. From £1,800 per sqm, IQ Glass
ACCESS ALL AREAS Insider knowledge from Rebecca Clayton, director at IQ Glass (iqglassuk.com) ● A pivoting door can give
a very contemporary look, but it will require some protection from driving rain, such as a canopy. Alternatively, it can be sightly set back from the front of the house. ● You can choose a different
design for the internal and external face. If your house is in a conservation area, for instance, you may be required to follow certain rules regarding its external appearance. This can be achieved by having a different face on the inside than the outside to suit a modern interior. ● Try to make the door as
big as possible to create an impressive front entrance. Modern high-security designs can go up to 6m tall.
SUPPLY AND FIT The quickest and cheapest way to find a front door is to go to a DIY store. It is likely you’ll need to buy handles, locks and hinges before fitting the door yourself or hiring a joiner, and the installer won’t be responsible for the quality of the product. Some specialist suppliers offer a measure, supply and fit service. Suppliers that don’t provide installation usually have a list of approved installers/joiners. Where possible, visit showrooms to get a feel for the quality of the products. When you place an order, ensure all the fittings needed are included and that you are familiar with the terms of the warranty. If you’re building your home from scratch, it is possible that the opening the door fits into will move over time as the house settles. The door may also need adjusting when the weather changes through the seasons. ‘In general, movement issues are an easy fix if the hinges are adjustable,’ says Matt. ‘If any parts break or fail, the supplier should replace them if it’s within a reasonable timeframe.’ By having the same company measure, supply and install the door you will only have a single point of contact to liaise with should there be any problems following fitting. Traditional Victorian-style front door made from Accoya (accoya.com), a high-performance timber that is both stable and durable. Bespoke design, from £2,000, London Door Company (londondoor.co.uk) 96 FEBRUARY 2021 /
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PROJECTS STAIRCASES
Take flight A well-designed and beautiful staircase sets the tone for your entire home WORDS CAROLINE RODRIGUES
Even the simplest staircase is a feat of engineering, but the most inventive designs take your breath away. ‘Stairs are perhaps the most significant opportunity to infuse the character of the client or the ethos of the project into the architectural fabric of the design,’ says Alex Michaelis, co-founder of architecture and interior design firm Michaelis Boyd (michaelisboyd.com)
Architecture practice Tonkin Liu inserted this spiralling staircase as part of a project which turned the Grade II listed Old House in Brentwood, Essex, into six homes. The £16,000 CNC-machined birch ply staircase, its walls providing support, was assembled from the bottom up with the treads locked into position as each succeeding wall plank was fixed in place. (tonkinliu.co.uk)
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PROJECTS STAIRCASES
In the right place In a new-build, a centrally positioned staircase can have a positive effect on the layout of the ground floor. To add drama, consider a sweeping curve or a helical design which turns around a central void. In many period homes the stairs run from front to back along the hall wall, which is efficient but can result in narrow rooms. Inserting a design that runs across the house and turns back on itself by 180Âş may be a better use of space.
In a new-build, a centrally positioned staircase can have a positive effect on the layout of the ground floor In small or awkward areas, such as when accessing a loft, double-stacking with the flight directly below is a practical option. A spiral stair may fit a tight space, but it has limitations – getting furniture up and down is difficult and it can only be used by one person at a time. ABOVE AND LEFT When adding a two-storey extension to a semi-detached Victorian home in Hackney, London, architecture and interior design practice Cousins & Cousins incorporated a steel staircase, positioned for views of the double-height space. The structurally supportive balustrade is in thin sheet steel, and the patinated surface was an experimental process with tests and samples required before the end result was agreed upon. (cousinsandcousins.com) MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 101
When developing a dilapidated mews house in Belsize Park, north London, Mata Architects turned its garage into usable space, incorporating a lightweight folded steel staircase. Partly suspended from the steel frame supporting the first floor, it has a square hollow section steel balustrade and handrail with built-in joinery below. It cost £7,700. (mata-architects.co.uk)
Safety measures Planning permission isn’t usually needed when replacing a staircase, but do check if your house is a listed building or in a conservation area. Be aware that covenants or other restrictions in the title to a property or conditions in a lease can also affect the stairs. If it sits against a party wall, you may need an agreement with your neighbours. Building Regulations dictate every aspect of staircases, including the rake (angle), the depth and height of each step, and the headroom, normally 2m. A handrail is required and its height is also stipulated. If the staircase has open treads, the gap between these is restricted too, as is the permissible gap between balustrading. For more detail you can find Part K of the regulations at planningportal.co.uk. As the stairs are a vital means of escape in the event of a fire, when adding a staircase to access a loft conversion a fire-resistant door is usually required, unless a sprinkler system is included.
RIGHT Designed by Studio Octopi as part of the basement excavation of a house in Wandsworth, south London, this staircase emerges in the rear extension. The precast concrete stair and landing has stair spindles in bronze, picked up from the bronze-coloured zinc cladding of the extension. The £12,000 cost included manufacturing, craning it over the house, and installation. (octopi.co.uk) 102 FEBRUARY 2021 /
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PROJECTS STAIRCASES
What’s the cost? Since a staircase is a structural element it should be discussed in the early stages of a new-build or renovation. Starting with the most basic option of a straight flight, available in kit form from around £400, stairs get progressively more expensive as refinements such as winders or tapered stairs to negotiate turns are added. Straightforward stairs can be fitted by a carpenter, and an experienced joiner will be able to create a design for a self-build. Once you involve an architect or specialist stair company the options really open up. As part of a refurbishment undertaken by an architect, budget around £10,000 for the stairs, but a fully bespoke design can cost upwards of £20,000. ‘A design professional with a full understanding of the structural elements that go into a staircase is able to push boundaries in a way no off-the-peg product can,’ says Richard McLane, design director at Bisca (bisca.co.uk). RIGHT Design practice Deferrari + Modesti created this climbing frame staircase as part of the refurbishment of a 1980s home outside Prato, Italy. The iron structure is fitted with teak treads at the lower level, with perforated sheet-metal upper treads. (deferrari-modesti.com)
Design advantages Suspended stairs offer both style and practical advantages. ‘By hanging the stair from above, it’s possible to remove the bulk and structure from the bottom entirely, freeing up valuable space,’ says Daryl Fitzgerald, senior architect at Michaelis Boyd. Cantilevered stairs are another eyecatching option. ‘They are versatile and work with any period or style of property,’ says Richard. The treads appear to float, though they are anchored to a framework built into the wall. Open stairs with gaps instead of risers also have the advantage of allowing light to shine through.
LEFT Michaelis Boyd collaborated with manufacturer Diapo (diapo.co.uk) and Webb Yates Engineers (webbyates.com) to integrate a hanging staircase to turn two apartments into a maisonette in an end-ofterrace Georgian house in South Kensington, London. Built in perforated steel, it hovers above the living room floor. The staircase cost £50,000
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PROJECTS STAIRCASES
What’s it made of? Timber has long been the go-to material for stairs due to its adaptability. It works for the structure, treads and detailing, whether that includes elegantly turned newel posts or a straightforward contemporary design. You could take a modern approach with plywood or include concrete stairs for an industrial look. For a light, elegant appearance, consider a steel staircase. ‘Steel offers a high degree of precision and accuracy, so for any material you’re marrying it with, be it glass, timber or stone, the join will be seamless and perfectly integrated,’ says Richard.
RIGHT When Grey Griffiths Architects (greygriffiths.com) got permission for a two-storey extension of an end-of-terrace house in Wimbledon, south London, it added a bespoke staircase with perforated risers, allowing daylight to flood the hallway. Cake Industries (cakeindustries.co.uk) engineered the stair from standardised z-shape components of birch ply, joined by metal rods which fix to the wall. The staircase cost £10,000-£12,000 BELOW As part of the development of a mid-terrace two-storey 19th-century house in Camberwell, south London, David Money Architects (davidmoney.com) dispensed with a corridor behind the original staircase and positioned the replacement against the party wall to maximise the kitchen width. The £6,000 plywood design, its vertical slatted balusters rising up through the storeys, was built by Interfusion Joinery (interfusionuk.com)
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PROJECTS STAIRCASES
NEW FOR OLD Replacement solutions from Dan Marks, founding director at Mata Architects (mata-architects.co.uk) ● In period homes it’s likely that
the existing stairs do not meet current Building Regulations, so a like-for-like replacement can’t either, especially in a restricted space. If the new staircase is in the same place this shouldn’t be a problem, as you are working within a set of given constraints that can’t be changed. ● If you’re relocating the stair, it
should meet Building Regulations, though dispensations can be made in extraordinary instances. Involve an approved inspector early in the design phase to comment on the evolving plans and identify any grounds for a relaxation of the regs. building require Listed Building Consent. Whether a staircase in a listed building can be modified or relocated depends on why it’s listed and the stair’s contribution to the overall heritage value. Consider commissioning a heritage assessment to identify this. A pre-planning application consultation with the local authority could flesh it out too. ● Repositioning could create
a more efficient layout. A recent mews project relocated the stair from the back wall to sit centrally and inserted a large rooflight above it. This improved the layout of both floors, with the stair punctuating the openplan kitchen and living areas. ● When converting a loft, an
alternating tread design may only be used where there isn’t enough space for a conventional stair and where it is for access to only one room and a bathroom and/or a toilet, although this must not be the only WC in the home. ABOVE Designed by Bisca for a new extension adjoining a former church in West Yorkshire, this staircase has a solid oval-shaped handrail and a feature newel. Thick oak treads are cantilevered from a support structure hidden in the wall. A similar design would cost from £30,000
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Fine details A good balustrade is essential for safety reasons as well as appearances. Low-iron glass, without the greenish tinge of standard glass, gives the clearest view, while solid surface materials such as Corian and Hi-Macs are a means of creating seamless curved shapes. ‘A flowing handrail in elliptical-shaped timber or hand-stitched leather adds elegance to a staircase,’ says Richard. ‘Tapered uprights in hand-forged, blackened steel give a contemporary look, as does an organically shaped or sculpted bronze balustrade.’
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● A contemporary design set
against historic building features and materials celebrates the juxtaposition of old and new, so the combination should create something greater than the sum of its parts. Cantilevering stairs could prove expensive. If you’re on a budget consider off-theshelf solutions. You can buy entire stairs prefabricated out of concrete, for instance.
PHOTOGRAPHY ALEX PEACOCK, JACK HOBHOUSE, ANNA STATHAKI, JIM STEPHENSON, ANNA POSITANO, GAVRIIL PAPADIOTIS, ADAM SCOTT, TARAN WILKHU, JAKE FITZJONES
● Modifications to a listed
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STEPS TO SUCCESS Three inspiring staircase ideas for the home from Spiral UK The beauty of a bespoke staircase is that it can be custom-made to your requirements, from the style through to choosing materials and finishes. Spiral UK has been offering a full in-house staircase design and installation service for more than 30 years. Here are some of our favourite options.
Curved statement An oval stair design, also known as a helical staircase, makes for a wonderful entrance. Its lack of a core pole allows for wider treads, greater accessibility and a beautiful sweeping statement.
Stunning spiral The curling corkscrew effect that can be achieved with a spiral staircase not only makes an impact, but is great if space is limited. It’s our most popular design, and suits more budget-conscious builds.
Fabulously floating Looking to diffuse light and create an open, airy space? The floating staircase is a great choice. Usually designed to be fixed to a concealed wall structure, its treads cantilever to create a floating effect, with open risers allowing the light to flow through. Once you’ve picked your design, choose from a wide range of materials. Treads can be clad in wood, stone or even glass, and the balustrade can be glass, full-height steel or timber panels. As a finishing touch, handrails can be timber, stainless steel or wrapped in rope or leather. We recommend discussing staircase designs early in the planning process because they may have structural implications. Get in touch to explore your options.
ABOVE Make a movie star entrance on a helical staircase LEFT Spiral staircases are a stylish way to save space FAR LEFT Create a sense of openness with a floating staircase
● For more information, visit spiral.uk.com or call 0330 123 2447
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BATHROOMS
KITCHENS &
Bespoke Manhattan kitchen with glazed walk-in pantry, ribbed glass panels and central sliding door, from £30,000, Mowlem & Co (mowlemandco.com). For more utility areas, turn to page 114
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VISIT
GRANDDESIGNSMAGAZINE.COM is an essential online resource for anyone embarking on a self-build, renovation or home-improvement project. As well as ideas from Kevin McCloud and the inside scoop on the Grand Designs TV houses, we’ve gathered together all the tools you’ll need to ensure your project is a great success. You’ll find a wealth of design inspiration, expert advice and practical guidance to help you navigate your way through every stage of the process.
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KITCHEN UPGRADE
Sustainable approach The recycled colours selection by solid surface specialist Hi-Macs is a range of durable, low-maintenance natural acrylic stone worksurfaces that contain up to 16 per cent recycled material, and are VOC emission, formaldehyde and nanoparticle free. Each has Greenguard Gold Indoor Air Quality certification. From £300 per m. (himacs.eu)
Structural integrity The EVO-C chair by Jasper Morrison for Vitra is a cantilevered marvel. Gas injectionmoulding technology ensures the 100 per cent recyclable polypropylene has the strength of tubular steel constructions, with the same springy properties. Measuring H815xW465xD510mm, with a seat height of 440mm, it comes in Ivory, Poppy Red or Light Mint and costs £285. (vitra.com)
Magic formulas
WORDS PAULA WOODS
On form One of six new collections from Life, the Structured kitchen blends industrial styling with classic cabinets for an updated Shaker look. Features include modular metal shelving, fluted-glass glazed doors and herringbone-pattern worksurfaces. Pictured are cabinets in Putty with a dark Fossil worksurface. From £25,000. (life-kitchens.co.uk)
Revamp cabinets and surfaces with Paint & Paper Library’s eco-friendly water-based paints. Architects’ Satinwood is a robust, washable, satin finish for use on walls, kitchen cupboards, timber trims and furniture. Architects’ ASP (all surface primer) can be used on all interior and exterior surfaces, including timber, plastics, tiles, glass and metal. Choose from a range of 190 colours. Architects’ Satinwood, from £31 per 750ml, Architects’ ASP, from £21 per 750ml. (paintandpaperlibrary.com)
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PROJECTS KITCHENS
Practically perfect A well-designed utility area, pantry or boot room makes light work of everyday chores, reduces kitchen clutter and helps with hygiene WORDS PAUL A WOODS
Planning pointers It’s easier and cheaper to site a new utility area near services and drainage, but make sure there are easy access routes to the rest of the house. When it comes to furniture, tailor-made ranges offer the greatest versatility. Chichester 550 laundry base cabinet, £790, 725 washing machine cabinet, £1,620, 690 broom cupboard, £1,870, 690 airing cupboard, £1,820, laundry shelf, from £260, ceramic double bowl sink, £435, Perrin & Rowe ceramic double bowl sink, £435, Neptune (neptune.com)
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For easy access When designing for a small room, a sliding or pocket door provides a neat, space-saving entrance. Bi-folding doors are another option, as is simply having no door at all. Bespoke Manhattan kitchen in Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe and Stony Ground with Caesarstone Raw Concrete quartz worksurfaces and glazed walk-in pantry with ribbed glass panels and central sliding door, from £30,000, Mowlem & Co (mowlemandco.com)
Bespoke investment
Pantry particulars
Custom-made furniture may come at a price, but offers a smart, streamlined finish and can exploit every inch of space. Try to avoid underestimating future storage needs during planning. Bespoke Metro matt lacquer handle-less furniture in Farrow & Ball’s Pavilion Gray, Silestone Blanco Zeus quartz worksurface and painted glass splashback in mushroom, from £30,000, Roundhouse (roundhousedesign.com)
Food needs to be stored in a cool, dry place. Unless you have air conditioning, site a pantry on a well-ventilated external north- or east-facing wall within easy reach of the kitchen. Longford Pantry in Linen and Helm with Caesarstone Black Tempal quartz worksurfaces and classic oak mini ladder for access to upper shelves, from £10,000, Humphrey Munson (humphreymunson.co.uk) MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 115
PROJECTS KITCHENS
Degrees of separation
Ways with walls
A big sink to clean dirty outdoor items is a good idea. Try ceramic or stone in a deep Belfast or Butler design. Solid surface composites or stainless steel are more lightweight options. Farmhouse 80 ceramic sink, from £340, Villeroy & Boch (villeroy-boch.co.uk). Haddon units in Charcoal and Burnished Bronze, from £15,000, Kitchen Makers (burbidgekitchenmakers.co.uk)
Sealed timber panels or painted tongue-and-groove can help prevent moisture from damp laundry getting to walls, and is a tactile alternative to water-resistant tiles and composites. Teddy Edwards bespoke laundry room in stained oak, with hanging rail, clothes chute and stainless steel sink, from £20,000, Kitchen Architecture (kitchenarchitecture.co.uk)
Liquid treasure
Clean-up zone
Proper storage conditions are essential for fine wines. Bottles must be kept flat, protected from sunlight and have humidity and temperature control. Bespoke insulated and air-conditioned wine room in walnut, with triple-glazed doors and bronze racks with LED lighting, from £30,000, Chamber Furniture (chamberfurniture.co.uk)
External access is a must for boot rooms, as is adequate space for removing outdoor clobber. A versatile mix of open, closed and hanging storage, plus seating, will keep things organised. Bespoke boot room utility with tulipwood cabinets in Farrow & Ball’s Lamp Room Gray, built-in storage bench, wooden coat rack, vented Maytag steel-fronted drying cabinets, sink and worksurfaces, from £25,000, Mowlem & Co
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Retrofit solution Extending isn’t the only route when creating room for a utility area. Repurpose space in a big kitchen, adjacent corridor or by converting an attached garage or outbuilding. An architect or kitchen designer can advise on design and build requirements. Solva Shaker kitchen units painted in Scots Grey and Vintage Rose, from £12,000, Masterclass Kitchens (masterclasskitchens.co.uk) MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 117
Small but perfectly formed Plan for at least a metre between units in a U-shaped layout to prevent open doors and drawers creating an obstruction. In a windowless area, a glazed entrance door with side panels, if needed, will brighten the space by allowing light through from an adjoining room. Bespoke kitchen with compact walk-in pantry and metal-framed glass partition, from ÂŁ45,000, Blakes London (blakeslondon.com) 118 FEBRUARY 2021 /
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PROJECTS PROJECTS BATHROOMS KITCHENS
Laundry essentials
Top treatment
Allocate specific areas for ironing and airing, and allow around a metre of space in front of washing and drying machines for loading and unloading. Stacked appliances save space – invest in the machine manufacturer’s stacking kit for safety. Linear units handpainted in Little Greene’s Confetti, from £20,000, Harvey Jones (harveyjones.com)
Though hardwearing and stylish, natural stone and hardwood worksurfaces require regular sealing to keep them in top condition. Whereas non-porous ceramic, porcelain or solid surface and quartz composites are maintenance-free. Ceralsio ceramic worksurface in Calacatta available in natural or polished finishes, also suitable for walls or floors, from £400 per sqm, CRL Stone (crlstone.co.uk)
It all adds up
Use the wall
Lightweight yet robust modular shelving can be adapted to suit the dimensions of a utility area. Measure up and plan ahead before you buy to ensure that you invest in the most advantageous arrangement. String Furniture’s metal String System can be adjusted to fit and added to when needed. Prices from £42, Utility Design (utilitydesign.co.uk)
To maximise the amount of clear floor space in a small multipurpose room, ‘A combination of tall, wall and base cabinets is ideal,’ explains Julia Trendell, design expert at Benchmarx (benchmarxkitchens.co.uk). English Revival Shaker utility room painted in Chalk White and Gunmetal Grey, from £5,000, Mereway (mereway.co.uk) MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 119
A place for everything
Focus on flooring
Drop zone
Concrete, stone and timber are resilient options – choose durable engineered hardwoods and non-slip tumbled or riven stone finishes. Large ceramic and porcelain tiles need minimal grouting making them easier to clean. Luxury vinyls are soft underfoot. Kahrs Oak Chevron Light Grey engineered wood flooring with oiled finish, £119.99 per sqm, Carpetright (carpetright.co.uk)
Laundry chutes send dirty clothes to the utility area. Specialist companies offer full installation, DIY kits are available for retrofitting, or ask your architect or builder early in the project. Part of a project by William Green Architects (williamgreenarchitects.co.uk), this laundry area includes a chute from the bedroom above. Handpainted cabinets and worksurfaces, £8,500, Hush Kitchens (hushkitchens.com)
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PHOTOGRAPHY PETE HELM , DARREN CHUNG
For a capacious alternative to a walk-in pantry, try a freestanding larder unit. With different shelf heights and depths, drawers and racks, it can hold fresh produce, bottles, tins, even small appliances. Suffolk larder, H2,160xW1,100xD600mm, with door racks, vegetable drawers and optional marble shelf, painted in Old Rose, £3,515, Neptune
PROJECTS KITCHENS
BREATHE EASY Tips on creating a safe and healthy space from Max de Rosee and Claire Sa, directors of architectural practice De Rosee Sa (deroseesa.com) ● Unless a property is listed,
permitted development (PD) allows you to make internal alterations to your home without planning permission. However, you will still need to comply with Building Regulations for any structural, electrical and drainage works. For more information visit planningportal.co.uk. ● Good air circulation is vital and
also a regulatory requirement when constructing a new utility room. Fitting a silent, externally vented extractor fan can help avoid damp or mould caused by heat and moisture. Installing airbricks and trickle vents also decreases the chance of damp and mould production. ● If external ventilation is not
an option in existing spaces, an electronic dehumidifier will help extract excess moisture from the air. Opting for a condenser dryer can also help, as it does not require venting. ● For safety, electrical sockets
Give it an airing Where space allows, drying cabinets keep damp laundry out of sight while it airs and are a boon for those who do lots of washing. A more traditional and no less effective idea is to capitalise on overhead space with racks, rails or a traditional ceiling-mounted clothes dryer. Extensive refurbishment and extension of a Victorian townhouse, including compact utility with bespoke storage and space-saving Sheila Maid clothes dryer, £1,917 per sqm, De Rosee Sa (deroseesa.com)
should be installed at a minimum distance of 300mm from a sink or drainer, and never placed directly under a sink or near pipework. ● It’s worth considering installing a gully in laundry areas, as a drain in the floor provides a route out for water from a leaking machine and avoids costly repairs. ● When incorporating boilers
and cylinders make sure they are sensibly laid out and correctly labelled with adequate space for future maintenance. Always install a carbon monoxide detector for peace of mind. ● Ancillary rooms can be loud.
If locating them away from relaxation/dining areas isn’t an option, opt for noise-reducing white goods. Those carrying Quiet Mark (quietmark.com) accreditation will have the lowest decibel levels.
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If you need professional help reclaiming VAT on self-builds, new builds, re-builds, conversions of previously uninhabited buildings or a reinstatement of an old dwelling then please contact Andrew Jones (The VATman) Ltd.
Tel: 01269 825248 Email: andrew@vat431.co.uk
B AT H R O O M E D I T Getting cosy With more than 200 shades to choose from, selecting the perfect colour won’t be a problem with the high-performance steel Tubone radiator designed by Andrea Crosetta for Italian heating brand Antrax IT. This compact tubular design can be fitted horizontally or vertically, and accessorised with a towel holder. For a greater heat output, two units can be placed side by side, or stacked on top of one another. From £1,093.20. (antrax.it)
A natural source Handcrafted in Morocco from clay, these tactile Bejmat tiles are produced using traditional techniques, resulting in an irregular finish that makes each one unique. The pared-back colour palette includes warm white, beige, delicate pink and earth tones. The tiles are suitable for walls and floors, and can be laid vertically, horizontally or in herringbone formation. Bejmat Ecru Rose, 14x5cm, £149.76 per sqm, Otto Tiles & Design (ottotiles.co.uk)
Top performance
WORDS PAULA WOODS
Marble-esque Marmomix is a digitally printed porcelain tile from Vitra. It comes in six sizes and three colourways, including St Laurent Fume (above). Suitable for all surfaces, the marble lookalike design has a textured matt or gloss finish and can also be teamed with Vitra’s Mode or Retromix collections. £43 per sqm for a 120x60cm tile. (vitra.co.uk)
According to a survey by Grohe, more than 36 per cent of respondents listed a lack of water pressure as their main showering bugbear. With this in mind, the company has launched showers designed for lowpressure homes. The Grohtherm 800 Cosmopolitan requires a bar pressure of 0.2 and the Grohtherm 1000 Performance, just 0.1. Both include watersaving technology. Grohtherm 1000 Performance, from £280.62. (grohe.co.uk)
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PROJECTS BATHROOMS
A good investment What’s the difference between spending more or less when it comes to buying a new bathroom? WORDS PAUL A WOODS
West One Bathrooms offers a full design service. Nouveau freestanding bath, £6,320 (westone bathrooms.com)
Updating the bathroom is the second most popular home improvement people make, according to a 2020 study by Houzz (houzz.co.uk). Its survey of 6,826 UK homeowners found that the average spend comes in at around £4,000. Its bathroom trends report also revealed that 24 per cent of us will budget less than £2,500 and 10 per cent will invest more than £10,000.
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On a budget It is possible to buy a standard bath, basin and loo for less than £500 in total. Research by Trend-Monitor (trend-monitor.co.uk) and the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (bathroom-association.org.uk) indicates that 38 per cent of us favour shopping at a DIY store, plumbers’ merchant or out-of-town retailer. For £2,000-£3,000 you will be able to mix and match entry-level and more high-end baths, basins and loos or buy a matching suite. Avoid the cheapest single-skin acrylic and steel baths and look for more robust fibreglass-reinforced acrylic or 3.5mm-thick steel. At this price point, furniture is machine-made in limited sizes, with both fitted and freestanding ranges available. It will be made of melamine-faced chipboard (MFC) or medium-density fibreboard (MDF) faced or wrapped in vinyl, laminate, melamine or timber veneers. Flat-packed cabinets are cheaper than ready-assembled ones, but in either case it is worth checking for good-quality runners and hinges. Most companies offer an in-store design service, but you will need to provide detailed measurements of the room. Some fittings and units can be taken home immediately. Otherwise, delivery takes a few weeks. Installation can be arranged independently, or through some stores including Wickes (wickes.co.uk) and Homebase (homebase.co.uk).
ABOVE Bathrooms to Love’s range of products are sold through a network of retailer showrooms. Manhattan unit, £875, with marble-effect laminate top, £120, Layla washbowl, £235, Ashbourne acrylic bath, £1,021, and Tiber stainless steel tap range, from £280 (bathroomstolove.uk)
WORDS NAME HERE PHOTOGRAPHY NAME HERE
Ikea’s Hemnes powdercoated fibreboard and pine bathroom furniture is supplied flat-packed. Hemnes/Törnviken open stand with ceramic basin and tap, £265, and Hemnes high cabinet, £129 (ikea.co.uk)
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PROJECTS BATHROOMS
Most companies offer an in-store design service, but you will need to provide detailed measurements of the room
Trade benefits Take advantage of available price reductions by asking your builder or fitter to buy the designs you want instead. ‘Many high street and DIY stores offer discounts to trade,’ says designer Rebecca Hughes (rebeccahughesinteriors.com). Installers can also buy from trade suppliers such as Howdens (howdens.com) – your tradesperson will provide costings prior to you committing to placing an order. If you prefer to shop online, many brands and retailers offer free planning tools and, in the case of Victoria Plum (victoriaplum.com), a full installation service.
ABOVE Victoria Plum has a design and installation service. Mode Foster acrylic bath, £589, Mode Spencer square tap, from £74.99, Mode 8mm walk-in shower enclosure with tray, £399, Mode Harrison square shower valve, from £169, shower head, from £54.99, and Eclipse slider rail kit, £69.99
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Schmidt supplies made-to-measure bathroom furniture through a network of showrooms. Arcos Edition in Sencha and Grey, plus mirror, resin sink, tap and lighting, from £4,000 including installation (home-design.schmidt)
In the middle ground If you are one of the 20 per cent of bathroom buyers who like to shop local and have around £4,000£8,000 to spend, there are a wide selection of brands selling through dedicated showrooms or a network of independent retailers. Unlike the independents, a brand’s showroom will only carry its own ranges. At this price point, there is a wider choice of fixtures, fittings, sizes and finishes, and it may be possible to customise furniture and shower screens. Similarly, there are more options when it comes to materials. Along with quality acrylics and enameled steel, you will find baths and basins made from ceramics, composite stone, solid surfaces, cast iron and natural stone. Timber, MDF or high-grade laminate furniture expands the choice of cabinets and shelving. You can expect to have access to an experienced designer for consultations, site visits and a measuring service, although this may incur an extra fee on top of the price of the products. Fired Earth’s home-design service (firedearth.com), for example, costs £200 and includes detailed plans and samples. Individual attention is one advantage of a design and installation package. ‘There will be a single point of contact from the moment you walk through the door until the final sign-off of the project,’ says David Roy, country manager at Schmidt UK. The timeline for delivery varies from company to company, but will be in the region of four to ten weeks after an order is placed. 128 FEBRUARY 2021 /
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ABOVE In addition to its home-design service, Fired Earth sells customisable shower screens and enclosures, plus a variety of finishes across selected baths, brassware and furniture. Aurea lightweight acrylic slipper bath, £1,600, Geometric hexagon mosaics, £128.98 per sqm
PROJECTS BATHROOMS
Individual pieces can be used as a feature of the scheme, or invest in the entire range for a coordinated look Cool collaborations Many leading brands offer capsule collections, created in partnership with renowned designers or architects. On a medium budget, individual pieces can be used as a feature of the scheme, or invest in the entire range for a coordinated look. Duravit has ME by Philippe Starck (duravit.com), while Laufen’s Designlines portfolio includes ranges by Marcel Wanders and Patricia Urquiola (laufen.co.uk).
ABOVE Designed by Cecilie Manz, the Luv collection includes a freestanding bath, £4,345.20, washbowl, £622.80, vanity unit, £2,935.20, console, £1,548.00, bath mixer £2,157.60, and basin mixer, £297.60. Duravit (duravit.co.uk)
RIGHT The Plural Collection by designer Terri Pecora includes basins in multiple finishes and colours, and positioned at different angles and heights. Monoblock washbasin, from £1,494, big countertop, £3,506, square low basin, from £392, and shelf, £743, Vitra (vitra.co.uk) MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 129
Part of a renovation project by Rise Design Studio (risedesignstudio.co.uk), this bathroom extension features a rooflight by Roof Maker (roof-maker.co.uk), plus design and fit-out using sanitaryware and tiles by Fired Earth. The project cost around ÂŁ540,000
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PROJECTS BATHROOMS
PHOTOGRAPHY EDMUND SUMNER
Invest in luxury Commissioning a one-off design allows for a bathroom tailored to your exact specifications. Turnkey solutions include everything from planning and installation to tiling and decorating. Furniture and fittings can be individually specified for unique sizes, shapes and finishes. You can also expect greater control over every aspect of the design, which will be exclusive to the project and completed using the highest-quality materials. Hiring an architect or interior designer is one route, and benefits include expertise in making a budget work harder, plus access to extensive supplier and tradesmen contacts. Services range from a basic design proposal to full project management. Fees can be charged by the hour, the day, or as a percentage of project cost, so it’s important to establish the level of service you want early on. Alternatively, use a bespoke bathroom company. Prices start at around £8,000, rising to £20,000 and more. You will be allocated a dedicated designer and can expect regular site visits, plus access to installers experienced in working with luxury and hi-tech products. ‘The time taken from design to delivery will be dependent on the project and products required, but can be anything from six weeks to four months,’ says Yousef Mansuri, head of design at CP Hart (cphart.co.uk).
ABOVE Italian design brand Boffi provides a comprehensive design and installation service from its London showrooms. Flyer units in wood, Iceland solid surface basins, Terra solid surface bath, Pipe brushed steel taps and showers, £POA (boffi.com)
ABOVE Designed by Louise Ashdown, head of design at West One Bathrooms, this bespoke scheme with Victoria + Albert Barcelona bath was tailored to the requirements of the client and the period setting. The project cost £10,000, excluding installation MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 131
PROJECTS BATHROOMS
PROCEED WITH CAUTION Advice on safeguarding your investment, from interior designer Rebecca Hughes (rebeccahughesinteriors.com) ● Buying from more than one supplier will increase the number of products you can choose from, but make sure that fittings from different ranges are compatible, that ceramic or composite colours really match – whites can vary considerably – and be prepared to juggle different delivery times. ● A carpenter or cabinetmaker may be able to produce furniture at a lower cost than a bespoke bathroom company. An interior designer should be able to recommend an experienced joiner, but if going it alone, always ask to see examples of their work. ● Plumbers’ merchants and showrooms often sell on discounted or ex-display designs, but after-sales services and guarantees may be compromised. ● Restored antique baths can be bought from specialist suppliers such as Lassco (lassco.co.uk) and Antique Baths of Ivybridge (antiquebaths.com). Alternatively, reclamation yards carry a wide range of fittings and many offer full restoration services – but do check Salvo membership to ensure provenance (salvo.co.uk). ● Always read the small print on all product guarantees. They range from one to 30 years, and don’t always cover all parts. ● When looking for professional help, the British Institute of Interior Design (biid.org.uk), Royal Institute of British Architects (architecture.com) and Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (ciphe.org.uk) will list members local to you. Choose trades accredited by recognised bodies such as TrustMark (trustmark.org.uk) or the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation (bikbbi.org. uk), which can provide help should any problems arise.
Bespoke companies such as interior architecture and design firm Day True will not only design and install a bathroom to your exact specifications, but provide a full start-tofinish service. Bespoke bathrooms from £8,000 (daytrue.com)
● Keep records of any
communications, quotes and plans from bathroom companies, trades, designers or architects. Establish in writing what the price covers, along with any specific requirements and workmanship guarantees.
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architects
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“Winner of Excellent Architecture Category” - German Design Award 2020
“Best Architecture Single Residence in Greece, Europe Property Awards” - The International Property Awards 2018
“Best Architecture Single Residence UK” - The International Property Awards 2017
T: 020 8332 9966 | W: www.3s-ad.com | E: info@3s-ad.com
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3s architects is an award winning practice of architects and interior designers which specialises in creating beautiful homes. From interiors to renovations and newbuilds we bring creativity and attention to detail to every project in the UK as well as abroad. We make designing and building an experience to enjoy.
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Traditional Finnish BBQ Cabins for all-year-round entertaining.
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Stressless Welcome to next-level dining Stressless ®, famous for producing beautiful recliners and sofas from their picturesque home in Norway, have now produced a beautiful range of dining chairs and tables. The chairs exude that beautiful Scandinavian style and simplicity but true to the Stressless ethos, they also move with your body, providing the perfect antidote to our busy lives. The tables are available in an array of wood finishes, upholstery colours and leg styles and extend to fit the number of diners you are expecting; allowing you to truly embrace the art of hospitality with family and friends. W: stressless.com
Quooker The original boiling-water tap Delivering instant 100°C boiling, hot, cold and now filtered chilled and sparkling water, the Quooker is not just a revolution – it’s a revelation. We’ll see you at your local Quooker showroom soon! Or why not book a virtual interactive appointment at quooker.co.uk to explore our full range from the comfort of your home? T: 0345 833 3333 E: enquiries@quooker.co.uk W: quooker.co.uk
North 4 Design DorGlaze® Vision Panels for doors are incredibly easy to install, and supplied as complete kits including glass, fixings and full fitting instructions. T: 0208 885 4404
W: north4.com
Pegasus Bespoke hand-built whirlpool baths
See your brand in these pages Take a space in the Grand Designs Arcade to benefit from premium placement in this beautifully designed section of the sought-after classified pages. E: richard.morey@m10group.co.uk
Our luxury whirlpool baths are expertly handcrafted in the UK, to your exact requirements. The unique 4G pipework, reliable performance and superb customer service – developed through hard work, determination and experience – mean the choice simply has to be Pegasus. Free brochure available. T: 01633 244 555 E: sales@whirlpoolbaths.co.uk W: whirlpoolbaths.co.uk
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RESOURCES
01509234000 234000 - www.floorsofstone.com 01509 - www.floorsofstone.com enquiries@floorsofstone.com
Staircase Design Consultancy 020 8980 1000 info@flightdesign.co.uk
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RESOURCES
INTERIOR DESIGN &
BESPOKE
WALL
ART
DIY VAT RECLAIMS FOR NEW BUILDS & CONVERSIONS WWW.ATLASINTERIOR.CO.UK
I offer a professional, friendly and helpful service with a very competitive fee structure. I can help you maximise the VAT refund received upon completion of your claim and with any queries you have throughout the build. Final fee payable AFTER claim successfully refunded from HMRC. Jayne Daniel, FCCA
FREE 1 HOUR CONSULTATION
J M Daniel Business Services Ltd 0161 763 5304 j a y n e @ v a t r e p a y m e n t s . c o. u k v a t r e p a y m e n t s . c o. u k
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Our screens can be easily mounted vertically or horizontally onto any fixture, frame, wall, fence, gazebo or any other support.
Tiewire, the alternative roof Tie Bar The TIEWIRE is the component of choice and has solutions for new conservatory roofs, refurbishments, solid roof replacements and traditional construction.
Contemporary design allows the TIEWIRE, with its 6mm diameter stainless steel cable to blend into the background. A variety of adjustable brackets are available to suit most situations.
BESPOKE DECORATIVE ARCHITECTURAL SCREENS Our architectural screens and leaf sculptures are made in the UK using premium quality materials.
The TIEWIRE is CE Marked. Certification and structural data available upon request.
T: 01543 897170 W: tiewire.co.uk E: sales@tiewire.co.uk .co.uk
www.
Whether your design calls for a timber panel, coloured aluminium composite or Corten steel, we can supply whatever you need in sizes to fit. We have a wide range of designs available and can supply mountings to fit a variety of situations, so the use of our screens is only limited by your imagination.
Since Arridge Garage Doors 1989
See our web site or call to discuss your project and see how we can bring your ideas to life.
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sales@arridgegaragedoors.co.uk
arridgegaragedoors.co.uk • 01691 670 394
MAGAZINE.COM / FEBRUARY 2021 137
PROFILE
MY GRAND IDEA –
To replace a leaky conservatory, architect Taro Tsuruta devised a clever timber structure with a faceted, glazed roof
— How does the roof design impact the interior? It gives a sense of space and light and, although fully glazed, it is warm and well insulated. The deep struts of the roof structure cast interesting shadows around the interior when the sun hits it in the afternoon. The new conservatory is the family’s favourite
ABOVE Inside the conservatory, the timber has been white-washed, contrasting sharply with the outside’s charred finish
part of the house and where they spend most of their time. — Which timber did you use and why? Mostly Accoya, which is a softwood that goes through acetylation to make it more stable and rot resistant. The exterior timber has been Shou-Sugi -Ban-treated to give a dark, charred finish, while the interior has been white-washed to reduce the wood’s green hue, and the panelling and cabinets are made of ash. Tsuruta Architects (tsurutaarchitects.com)
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LEFT The roof was modelled in 3D and cut by a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) router. It was assembled on site in small pieces, using traditional joinery methods BOTTOM LEFT The boundary wall leads off at a sharp angle, which influenced the diagrid shape of the roof
WORDS HUGH METCALF PHOTOGRAPHY STÅLE ERIKSEN
What was your brief? My clients, a family who live in a Grade II listed house in Islington, London, wanted to replace a steel and glass conservatory at the rear of their home that was leaking and damp. Its replacement needed to complement the garden, which is relatively big for the area. I proposed a timber structure because it is a material that is both contemporary and ancient, so the new-build wouldn’t overpower or be too subservient to the house. — Tell us about the roof A lot of inspiration came from the shortcomings of the original conservatory. There was a height limitation in place, determined by the boundary wall, so the roof had to have a shallow pitch and this is where drainage issues had arisen. The solution was a timber diagrid design with faceted double glazing, which created several small but steep pitches, allowing the water to be directed to a gutter at the junction between the house and the conservatory. Seen from the garden, the front of the conservatory is streamlined and free from visible gutters and drainpipes.
Your home. Your story. A Baufritz home is of unique beauty and quality. It is tailored precisely to your wants and needs. As a fully managed project, it is built to the highest possible standards. Be inspired by the story of self-builder Astrid Woloszscuk and her family domicile in London at www.baufritz-gd.co.uk/homestories