Design & Build
The soft bronze tones of the Extreme
Designs kitchen, with its extraordinary
leathered granite work top and latest
range of Gaggenau appliances, extend
harmoniously into adjoining family
dining and sitting areas, with focal
point centre piece floating gas fired log
fire.
Frequent entertainers, Anna insisted
on an out-of-sight utility room housing
dishwasher and deep sink, so she could
close the door on the increasing stack of
dinnerware until guests had departed.
Returning to the astonishing entrance
hall - definitely the scene stealer of
this extensive home - with no little
part due to the specially commissioned
digital mural, which extends from the
front door, around the vast swathe of
walls, and descends via a circular sweep
of marble stairs to the lower ground
leisure and fitness suites.
“We fell in love with the mural artist
Adam Ellis’ work, after discovering
some of his earlier work at The Ivy
in Richmond. He creates bold, colour
rich wall coverings to order, and will
incorporate features that have a special
significance for the client. For us, it
was important to include the flora and
fauna we grew up with, and because
my husband is passionate about Greek
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mythology, ancient temples and figures
were woven into the brief. Adam
and his artists install the mural, and
then embellish on site with their own
palettes and paintbrushes.
“For the hall floor, we asked the stone
suppliers to create an optical illusion
design in black and white marble. When
viewed from above, the tiles magically
transform from a flat, level surface into
a bowl curve, which is both clever and
intriguing.
“Part of the hall has been designated
for formal dining, where behind
retractable glass doors, our treasured
table, made from reclaimed Rhodesian
railway sleepers that have been French
polished, and leather lace (riempie)
seated chairs take pride of place.”
On the first floor are five substantial
double bedrooms, three en-suites plus
a separate family bathroom, and Anna’s
own study, with rough-hewn African
rosewood ‘work bench’ facing out of a
wide internal window into the lower
living levels of the house – the perfect
matriarch look out post.
The second floor is devoted to the
Master Suite, with a comfortable sitting
room, and a double length dressing room
with designated ‘his’ and ‘her’ storage.