EDITORS CHOICE
The formal reception room is dominated by a feature joinery wall in stained oak , with a stone plinth and a column and further plinth in dark emperador marble set in front of it , that house a dumb waiter system ( hidden behind a sliding panel ) and fireplace respectively . The feature wall has inset cavities for the display of sculptural white vases . For the room ’ s lighting scheme , lamps are used to create a sense of intimacy ( and to keep the ceilings clean ), with the exception of two stand-out pendant fittings . The pendants , which use black , mirrored nickel shards to stunning effect , are by designer Tom Kirk . One is a standard size ( over the table in the study area ), whilst the other , over the dark wood , tenseater dining table , was created to bespoke dimensions for this project . The study area is very much a grown-up space , formed as an oak box , with the floor , walls and ceiling in dark-stained oak , with curvy , routed panels for the shelving serving as a more contemporary take on the traditional panelled walls of old-fashioned studies . A simple wooden desk and lime green chair finish off the space . A set piece relaxation area of sofas and arm chairs with cushions in greys and limes , forms the third zone to this elegant three-part room .
" The formal living space links , through the bay window , to an outdoor terrace facing over the rear garden for use whilst entertaining ( or for the use of guests who smoke )."
The formal living space links , through the bay window , to an outdoor terrace facing over the rear garden for use whilst entertaining ( or for the use of guests who smoke )
FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS :
The stair leading up to the bedrooms at the first and second floor levels is quite traditional , reflecting the other formal touches to the front of the house , with white-painted timber spindles and a French-polished oak handrail . A stunning Bocci chandlier light hangs down into the stair void , with glass bauble lights at varying levels providing a spectacular piece of theatre in an area that is often overlooked .
At the first floor level , a glass balustrade overlooks the lobby area to ensure as many sightlines are kept open in the house as possible . This floor houses the master suite to the rear of the space , facing onto the garden . Currently there is a guest bedroom also on this floor , which features built-in joinery ( created by Hannah Contracts ) and wallpaper by Tektura and an en suite bathroom with curved walls made of calacatta oro marble mosaics ( also used on the floor ), but there also is the capacity for the master suite to extend over the whole floor once the kids have left home .
The master bedroom features his ’ n ’ her wardrobes , which are accessed by a door to either side of the bedhead . Both walk-in wardrobe spaces are lined in maple veneer with walnut lipping , with ‘ his ’ space dark-stained and ‘ her ’ space a little lighter in tone . The two spaces are united and divided by a shoe display area , created in walnut and glass with fibre optic lighting . There are sightlines through to the other space from each side , but both are also acoustically sealed off from one another . ‘ Her ’ walk-in wardrobe features a make-up table additionally , with a backlit mirror ( which conceals a TV screen ) and integrated joinery for hairdryers , make-up and plugs .
The bedroom itself has an upholstered wall behind the bed to serve as a bed head , whilst a television is recessed into joinery opposite , clad in matching upholstery .
‘ Her ’ ensuite bathroom is a standout space in book-matched slabs of calacatta ora marble for the walls and floor , with an elegant freestanding bath made of reconstituted stone . A shell chandelier above the bath is by Danish design legend Verner Panton . The toilet and bidet are separated off behind a sand-blasted , glazed , fret-pattern pane , which also serves to enclose the shower area . The vanity unit is a bespoke SHH design in Corian with chrome legs , with a large mirror above , with a decorative pewter frame , housing hidden storage space and a medicine cabinet . A second similar mirror sits alongside the bath , concealing a hidden television .
‘ His ’ bathroom is strikingly dark and masculine in feel , with the floor , back wall and shower all lined in veined new port laurent marble , also used for the cantilevered basin , which is set into a dark walnut joinery unit . A bespoke medicine cabinet also features a mirror with an inset television that can ’ t be seen when switched off .
Three children ’ s bedrooms are located on the top floor of the house . All are en suite and benefit from plenty of natural light from the skylights above .
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