Berkshire Luxury Homes & Interiors magazine -Spring 2013

BERKSHIRE LUXURY HOMES & INTERIORS MAGAZINE

AUTUMN 2012 BERKSHIRE LUXURY

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Your clothes have never looked so good and you’re not even wearing them 2

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hülsta are Europe’s leading furniture manufacturer providing a highly versatile range of contemporary designs for living and dining-rooms, bedrooms, children’s and youth rooms as well as home offices. The combination of traditiona l craftsmanship with modern cabinet making techniques delivers outstandin g “Made in Germany” qualit y. The wide choice of products, which include individua l units, modular systems and entire wall combinations, offers stylish, innovative and functional solutions for any requiremen t. Virtually all of the ranges are available in different wood finishes, high-gloss lacquers or matt lacquers , which are beautifully enhanced by materials such as glass or aluminiu m.

Optional height, width and depth reductions provide a perfect fit for almost any room layout. hülsta furniture is now available at our new store in Manchest er along with Rolf Benz upholstery and Poggenpoh l kichens to complete the range of fine German designer living.

www.hulsta.co.uk BERKSHIRE LUXURY

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CONTENTS 6. Kelly Hoppen talks you through the ultimate in planning your perfect living room.

12. Pages of the most luxurious and up to date properties available in Berkshire from Savills and Hamptons.

48.

Kevin McClouds priciples of home – Can your home make you helthier and happier?

62. Where Eagles Dare. A look at the latest creation from The Design Practice at Uber.

76. Pippa Patton talks us through the interior design process.

86. Global wallpaper trends. Redecorate this Autumn with inspirational global

wallpapers, as described for us by Genevieve Brunet

Published by Cotswold Luxury Ltd. Managing Director, Matthew Evans matthew@cotswoldluxury.com Editor, Jonathon Middleton-Forty jonathon@cotswoldluxury.com Advertising Sales, Alastair McClare ali@cotswoldluxury.com Graphic Design, Simon Gale simon@cotswoldluxury.com Kelly Hoppen - Page 6 4

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The Design Practice at UBER - page 62

Contributors: Kelly Hoppen Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Kevin McCloud Geneviève Brunet Jim Evans

EDITORS NOTES Welcome to our inaugural edition of Berkshire Luxury.

You will find this issue packed with the best in design and property from the region interspersed with insightful features from some of the country’s leading interior designers.

We intend to focus on the individual merits and achievements of the region and why we should be proud to be living and working in such a fabulous area. Here we have timeless quality in beauty, design and craftsmanship and I hope this is evident in our features.

We have contributions from Appleton Interiors, Koubou, Gecko Cinemas and art from Simon Pink. All have brought something a little different to Berkshire Luxury so it is fabulous to have them on board.

We sincerely hope that you enjoy this issue and we look forward to seeing you again in the winter.

J. Middleton-Forty Jonathon Middleton-Forty Editor

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen tells us how to induldge ourselves!!

See page 26

Published by Cotswold Luxury Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied in anyway, either digitally or mechanically without prior written consent of Cotswold Luxury Ltd. Whilst every effort hasbeen made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of going to press, neither Cotswold Luxury Ltd nor the Editor accept any liability, responsibility or loss resulting from any person acting,refraining from acting or any otheraction as a result of any material in this publication.

Neither can Cotswold Luxury Ltd have any responsibility for the accuracy of the content of editorial, content written or within advertising claims of its clients. The opinions of the authors are their own and Cotswold Luxury Ltd and the Editor are not bound to agree with the opinions expressed within this publication. Neither the Editor nor Cotswold Luxury Ltd will be held liable for any manuscripts or photos or other materials lost or damaged whilst in their possession, though every care will be taken. Publication of acceptedarticles is not always guaranteed by Cotswold Luxury Ltd or its Editor.

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FEATURE | Living rooms Copy courtesy Jacqui Small Publishing

Living

rooms

By Kelly Hoppen

Living rooms can be integrated into an open-plan design just as effectively as they can be separately grand. They can be appointed as a series of places to sit, read and relax, and be as right for a party as for nights in with friends.

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“ Think hard about the role of your living space in your home before you start planning the design.”

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“ you often have to strip a room down to its barest bones, in order to layer it back up again.”

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hink hard about the role of your living space in your home before you start planning the design. Is it going to be an informal family room that is part work, part rest and part play, or will it be a formal drawing room styled for display and collections? Always begin with you, your vision and your needs. Study the ‘bones’ of the room, its very structure, and use a grid to help you to see the room three dimensionally.

The grid, zoning and flow bring each and every room together. Any architectural features are to be respected, particularly in a listed property, but all too often you will be dealing with the mistakes and cover-ups of others, and you often have to strip a room down to its barest bones, in order to layer it back up again.

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Original features should be integrated into your design. Cornicing, for example, is an excellent foil for a contemporary interior – it acts like a timeline in the house, declaring age or provenance. In the absence of notable features, look for means of introducing them. A successful way of doing this is to create openings and replace doors, often taking them to full height. A fireplace – s o welcoming in a space – is another obvious feature that can be left as it is, improved, replaced or installed.

The architectural elements create the basic grace and proportions of a space. Your job is to emphasize and harmonize, and often to compromise.

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Creating your scheme Work with your grid, so that you can see all the lines of the room, and keep them in mind when you are thinking the design through.

Where are the windows and how do they relate to the fireplace, the doors and other features? this gives you the beginnings of a layout.

Think about where the main seating will be; what the view into another part of the room and beyond into the garden, kitchen or other area will be; how many seating zones you need; where the television will be; and so on. Answering these questions will help you to decide on a layout and define how you will move through and around the zones or the space as a whole at this stage, I hold another image in my mind o f corsetry, good old-fashioned boning with stays, which you tighten to create a perfect body. I relate this to the room via my grid, and I like the sexiness of the thought.

By the time I am choosing the floor, I already have a picture in my mind of what all the other materials will be – the fabrics, furniture, lighting, joinery and wall finishes are all laid out on my mood boards. Flooring must be timeless, and not a fashion statement, as it will be down for a long time and is beyond expensive to change.

I have to know the fabrics and the textures of every other aspect of the room, sometimes including the art, so that when I choose the floor I know what further texture or tone to introduce, whether to create a contrasting flooring banner by mixing wood and stone, or whether the room needs darkly stained oak with bordered silk carpets. I know that my grid lines are creating the right proportion and drama, the symmetry or asymmetry, and that the lines and texture of the flooring are pulling the whole together, to ground the room. That way, I know that the visual play will be harmonious between all the ingredients in the room.

A few of my clients have wanted one-space wonders that combine living space, home cinema, dining area, study and bar. Others want gracefully laid-out rooms with two or three seating zones, the principal one being centered on the fireplace. A living room can work with an 10

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“ A well lit room will always have its own wow and welcome factor, however modest its features or decoration” Lighting and mood Pay attention to the lighting. A well lit room will always have its own wow-and-welcome factor, however modest its features or decoration, but a room where the lighting has not received due care will never sing out, whatever the decoration. The more you can vary and control the lighting, the better, and I strongly suggest that you engage a lighting consultant, to achieve an overall brilliant result. A critical piece of underwear to a room’s outerwear, lighting gives its own kind of structure, spirit and energy.

My final thoughts on living rooms are about looks and feelings – the feeling of a home is what people remember. I spend a great deal original, exotic or quirky coffee table at its centre, with groups of chairs and sofas surrounding it, leaving virtually no furniture at the walls and therefore clear space for shelving displays or art.

For some, a spectacular living space is a sofa in the middle of the room, an exquisite light and a single piece of astonishing art on the wall. Living rooms can be split in two, to define a live–relax space and a live–work space. For me, a living room must have a sexy, easy glamour and be for chilling, as well as for partying and being with my girlfriends.

What defines any well-designed living space, whether formal or informal, is that, however many zones are being created or however many different functions you are packing into the space, each part of the room has to have its own identity, while still retaining the feeling that it flows freely into the next. There are, of course, the practicalities to consider your mood boards, sketches and architect’s plans (and/or your own)

of time and energy on balance and flow. I use feng shui instinctively, whereby the energy in the space is harmonious, fortuitous and working for you. I naturally create a mix of old and new, soft and hard (or yin and yang), and always work texture to the nth at every level. The furniture I choose has presence and panache. My homes have always had a eclectic element – vintage, contemporary, ultra-modern, antique, and so on – because I mix it all up, but that does not mean any old mix will do. Eclectic means choosing one or two pieces that have nothing to do with anything else in the room. Eclectic is a point that draws the eye.

are your base-point tools and triggers. The grid has given you a framework for getting the space together. Your vision has defined the personality, function and flow of the room. Now spend time in the room with your sketchpad, tape measure, masking tape and chalk. Draw out the furniture using chalk, and mask off items for the walls, including any paneling, mirrors and artwork.

Mark up the position and sizes of the wall lights.

Take a virtual tour through the space in your mind, then take an actual one, to make sure that there is sufficient room between the coffee table and the sofa, between the table and the door.

This is the literal flow of space and will prevent you from designing a room that feels too full or awkward. Take large samples of fabrics to see how they look and ‘hang’ in the space. Leave the mood boards leaning against the walls, so that you can refer to them again and again. These are all things that I do to get design right.

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Savills Cheltenham The Quadrangle Cheltenham GL50 1PZ

01242 548000 cheltenham@savills.com

savills.co.uk

A DELIGHTFUL HOUSE, IN AN ELEVATED POSITION maisemore, gloucestershire 4 reception rooms ø kitchen/breakfast/family room ø 6 bedrooms ø 4 bath/shower rooms ø extensive cellars ø garaging for 4/6 cars ø indoor swimming pool ø in all about 4.2 acres Guide £1.5 million 12

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Contact: David Evans devans@savills.com 01242 548003

Savills Cirencester 1 Castle Street Cirencester GL7 1QD

01285 627550 cirencester@savills.com

savills.co.uk

AN EXCEPTIONAL QUEEN ANNE VILLAGE HOUSE elkstone, nr cheltenham, gloucestershire 3 reception rooms & orangery ø 7 beds & 3 bath / shower rooms ø guest cottage ø garaging, stabling & gardens ø about 11 acres Guide £2.5 million BERKSHIRE LUXURY

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Savills Cirencester 1 Castle Street Cirencester GL7 1QD

01285 627550 cirencester@savills.com

savills.co.uk

A COUNTRY HOUSE IN THE HEART OF THE COTSWOLDS stow-on-the-wold, gloucestershire Reception hall ø 4 reception rooms ø 7 bedrooms ø 6 bathrooms ø indoor pool ø gardens ø cottage ø extensive garaging ø stabling and paddocks ø about 4.4 acres Offers in excess of £1.75 million 14

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Savills Cirencester 1 Castle Street Cirencester GL7 1QD

01285 627550 cirencester@savills.com

savills.co.uk

A FINE COTSWOLD VILLAGE HOUSE IN A WALLED GARDEN south cerney, nr cirencester, gloucestershire 3 reception rooms and study ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 6 beds and 5 bath/shower rooms ø garaging and parking ø walled garden and outbuildings Guide £1.35 million BERKSHIRE LUXURY

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Hamptons Stroud Sales 01453 568148 stroud@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Uley, Gloucestershire Offers in Excess of ÂŁ1,750,000 Freehold Located in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this exceptional contemporary detached house is built in the former walled garden of a country house. Landscaped grounds measure 1.85 acres in total and the accommodation amounts to 4661 sq.ft. Private and peaceful setting.

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Hamptons Cirencester Sales 01285 688791 cirencester@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Cirencester, Gloucestershire Guide Price ÂŁ1,890,000 Freehold A Grade II * listed town house dating back we believe to the late 17th century offering prospective purchasers an opportunity to acquire one of the finest principal residences in one of the oldest and most attractive streets in Cirencester within only a few hundred yards of the Market Place. This elegant residence provides almost 6000 sq ft of beautifully presented living accommodation arranged over four floors, parking for 2/3 cars and approximately Âź acre.

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Hamptons Marlborough Sales 01672 890107 marlborough@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Rowde, Wiltshire Guide Price ÂŁ1,475,000 Freehold Rowedecroft Farm is a stunning detached family home which has been sympathetically refurbished and updated to provide excellent accommodation. Of note is the vaulted kitchen/breakfast room which provides the hub of day to day living with four principle receptions on the ground floor. There are five double bedrooms, the master bedroom suite with a dressing room and ensuite bathroom. In addition there are is a two bedroom annex, garaging and ample parking. In all this is an excellent package providing a wealth of accommodation and grounds of just under 11 acres set in a rural location.

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Hamptons Cheltenham Sales 01242 639414 cheltenham@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Guide Price ÂŁ1,600,000 Freehold A magnificent, beautifully presented, substantial (6,814 sq.ft.) detached Victorian villa, believed to have been built in 1874 and refurbished to a high standard by the current owners. The property is set on an elevated plot in Battledown, a highly regarded private Victorian estate, with lovely lawned gardens and a coach house providing garaging.

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A new name amongst Oxfordshire housebuilders but already beginning to make an impression on discerning purchasers. Millgate is an established home counties developer with a simple ambition; to

Millgate An award winning developer in a class of its own

be the best in British housebuilding.

Designing and building no more than twenty five homes a year enables us to create a portfolio of the very finest properties; beautifully specified homes in prime residential locations with architectural designs that blend gracefully and sympathetically into their surroundings. Our pursuit of perfection takes belief, vision, passion and a painstaking attention to detail at every stage of construction, with all work conducted by carefully selected skilled craftsmen using traditional house building methods.

Our ambition to be the best in everything we do has firmly established Millgate as one of the most respected and trusted companies in the industry. This has been reflected by winning numerous awards and accolades including the prestigious Evening Standard New Homes Awards no less than 26 times in the last 13 years. Including their celebrated New Home of the Year Award in 2008, 2010 and 2011, a record unequalled in the award’s nineteen year history.

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Sandford House, Harvest Hill, Bourne End Exceptional attention to detail on all levels

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This imposing house has an elevated position with commanding views across to Winter Hill and beyond.

Sandford House achieves a rare blend of timeless appeal and modern design. Laid out over three floors, the versatile living space flows from room to room to meet the demands of any lifestyle.

The substantial reception hall on the ground floor features two sets of double doors leading into the dining room and a large formal drawing room both of which feature doors opening onto the landscaped garden. Double doors also lead from the hall into an extensive kitchen/family room, also with doors leading to the garden. The ground floor also features a library, utility room and cloakroom.

Over the next two floors there are five bedrooms, each with an en-suite shower or bathroom and three with their own dressing room. The master suite features a rooftop terrace, dressing room, sitting room and a palatial en-suite bathroom. There are extensive gallery areas on both the first and second floor and the latter features a substantial games and media room.

The detached triple garage includes a first floor guest suite inclusive of kitchen and bathroom. www.millgatehomes.co.uk

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Mandarin Stone, market leaders in natural stone

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andarin Stone’s Marlow showroom, which boasts an impressive 200m2 outdoor stone display to the rear of the showroom, perfectly demonstrates why this family-run business continues to lead the natural stone market in the UK. Established in 1990 and a family-run business, Mandarin Stone are UK market leaders in the natural stone industry.

Over the years Mandarin Stone has carefully sourced an extensive range of stone floor and wall tiles which offer endless design concepts for both residential and commercial interiors.

Stones are imported from over 20 different countries and include limestone, marble, travertine, slate, basalt, sandstone, granite and terracotta which are available in a variety of sizes and finishes. Beautiful stone mosaics, basins, baths and shower trays are also available, together with a recently introduced selection of Porcelain tiles. Exterior cobbles and flags allow you to ‘take the indoors out’ and huge stone slabs can be fabricated into work-tops, vanity tops, stair treads and risers and so on.

Virtually the entire stone range is stocked to high levels in the UK which enables customers to have delivery of their stone within short time-frames. Customer service is of paramount importance at Mandarin Stone and integrated within this service is an experienced and knowledgeable technical team. Advice can be given on issues such as creating a wet room, using the correct sealants and laying over under-floor heating or problematic substrates. All such ancillary products can be purchased and delivered with the stone.

Mandarin Stone 47 West Street, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 2LS. T. 01628 485015 W. www.mandarinstone.com

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Indulge yourself...

By Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

Personally, I think it’s a little pointless to live in a manor house and not indulge yourself with panelling, antlers, big stone fireplaces, concealed passages and all the things that such a space demands. But perhaps that’s just me...

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hile this manor houses great room might have oozed history, thanks to several decades of unsympathetic ownership there was surprisingly little here of architectural interest. Apart from the Cotswold stone fire surround, the room itself was a blank (or more accurately beige) canvas. So, where to start? That the room needed bookcase units to house this huge collection of books was a given.

In creating these, I took design inspiration from the bigwigs of history, the taste mongers and

Laurence Llewlyn-Bowen. Decorating 26

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style gurus of the seventeenth century (the time when this manor house was built) such as Samuel Pepys, who were all for covering bookcases in fabrics or hand-painting in patterns. Papered in the same custom-designed paper as the walls in rich shades of chocolate and orange, the bookshelves were built in wallet-friendly MDF (as the budget precluded polished timber), and the disparate colours and odd sizes of the books they house make for a randomly patterned, everchanging wallpaper background to the space.

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Accessory accents in slippery tangerine lacquer – such as the eye-catching faux-lacquered console table made using printed tissue paper and PVA – bring warm hospitality to the chocolate brown throughout this north-facing room. It’s the perfect plinth for the laser-cut iron lamp bases and shades showing continuous views of Venice.

Finally, for practicality’s sake I bordered the pale, sand-coloured carpet with rufty tufty brown, so that constant journeys in muddy country boots wouldn’t make their mark.

I chose sofas for this room that would be of a comfortable size, but not so gigantic that they would dwarf the space. Covered in cosy silk velvet, they’re the perfect perch for conversation.

The large coffee table is, in fact, an old wooden door (carved with the date 1672, which places it around the age of this part of the house) simply displayed on an MDF plinth covered in a piece of carpet. The panels aren’t hugely convenient for putting down items that need to balance on a flat surface, so I’ve placed a series of lacquer trays, books and platters to act as safe perches for those coffee cups or water glasses.

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“ the taste mongers and style

gurus of the seventeenth century” This room profits enormously from its uninterrupted blocks of displayed books and art, so using guile to cover the tracts of utilities or dull conveniences is one way of preserving the space’s bookish character.

The large bookcase behind the sofa conceals a spring-hinged panel door – leading to an odd collection of boot and flower rooms – over which real book spines have been stuck. Meanwhile a simple, gate-hinged flap on which I’ve hung a framed map conceals a large flat screen television.

I’ve drawn attention to the pleasing rhythm created by the four tall windows in this room by using elegant tangerine-lined curtains and by placing bronze radiators in the spaces between each. Stone shelves turn the radiators into console tables, whilst bronze mirror panels on which I’ve hung ornately framed portraits make a knowing nod in the direction of early Georgian decorating, where light was maximised by placing classical ‘looking glasses’ between windows.

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PERSONAL EXPRESSION MEETS MUSICAL PERFECTION PIANOS AS UNIQUE AS YOU ARE

WITH STEINWAY & SONS CUSTOM PIANOS DIVISION STEINWAY & SONS • 44 MARYLEBONE LANE • LONDON W1U 2DB TEL: 0207 487 3391 WWW.STEINWAY.CO.UK

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Since 1899, the Miele motto has been “Immer Besser”, or as we‘d say “Forever Better”. This is as true today as it was then. It’s also built into every oven, steam oven, coffee machine and hob. And demonstrated through ‘Creative Living’ – a world of exciting courses designed to showcase the unparalleled quality and outstanding performance of their appliances that promise to transform the way you cook.

Transform the way you cook with Miele D

iscover the secrets of Britain’s seasonal

master a variety of ingredients and techniques in the course of a day while developing your cuisine. Also on hand are talented chefs and home economists, who will combine the features and functions of Miele appliances with their own cooking skills to prepare you a delicious two-course meal.

Hungry to know more? Treat yourself to a truly unique cooking and dining experience.

Courses are held in a range of locations across the UK, including the Miele showrooms in Abingdon, Oxfordshire and London – visit www.miele.co.uk/events.

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Experience Miele If you’re planning a kitchen but need help deciding which appliances to include, why not visit one of the Miele showrooms?

You can book a one-to-one appointment with an expert and choose products that are right for you by calling 0845 337 7105.

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Spectacular design and a clear conscience When regattas are staged on the Thames in summer, Stefanie and Neil Jackson and their two children shout encouragement to the rowers from the bank, since their new home is on the second row, just a stone’s throw from the river.

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hey live in Marlow, a small town with about 14,000 residents, 30 miles west of London.

Thanks to its setting on the banks of England’s second longest river, the outstanding transport links to the capital (the journey takes just a good forty-five minutes if the traffic is light) it ranks amongst the most sought-after places to live in England.

In contrast to their immediate neighbours, who live in a half-timbered Victorian house, the American and her British husband wanted to live in a brand new house. As enthusiastic viewers of “Grand Designs”, a television programme broadcast on British television presenting unusual private-sector dwellings since 1999, and as readers of the journal of the same name, 34

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they came across Baufritz as a result of an article they read in it. Then Stefanie and Neil Jackson visited the office in Cambridge. The fact that Baufritz only uses non-toxic building materials and the energy balance of its houses is so outstanding were so impressive for both of them, that the pair decided to have a house built by the house building company in the Alllgäu. “Because our children are still small it is important for us that they grow up, at home at least, without being exposed to dangerous substances”, explained Stefanie. “Besides which, we want to build a house bearing sustainability in mind for ecological reasons and even trap CO2 with our house.”

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As an aficionado of architecture the design had to be modern for the business-owning family – he manages a logistics company. To ensure that everything went smoothly on site Baufritz contracted an experienced architect who had already been working for Baufritz for several years. He will also be submitting the draft planning to the authorities. The Jacksons only travelled to Bavaria once on a fact-finding mission. They will never forget the day on which the first of a total of eleven container lorries packed with house components drove up to the site. All the neighbours had been forewarned since the lorries made it impossible for any other vehicles to park, let alone drive or turn in the one-way street. It only took three days before the building was weatherproof and the work on fixtures and fittings could begin. For the onlookers and others the scene could have come straight from a film.

The building supervisory authorities approved the luxurious new house because there had already been a bungalow on the 1,100 square metre site. However, they only allowed the larger living space of almost 290 square meters on two storeys because the new home had a flat roof like the bungalow. The wangles and dodges allowing the right hand side of the building to overhang towards the road and to have a diagonal wall leading in towards the front door, give the house character. Staggered lines along the length of the house and to the garden create an exciting field of vision.

Organic mineral rendering covers the walls to maximum thermal insulation standards. The house is built around the loadbearing framework of German kiln-dried structural solid wood. The organic “HOIZ” made of wood shavings either produced in making the house components or from inspected FSC certified wood growers. It is the top natural insulation material in the world to be awarded the coveted “Cradle to Cradle”certification. The EPEA-Institut (Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency) in Hamburg under the management of Professor Michael Braungart only awards the accolade for products which are sustainable from Cradle to Cradle and which do not harm the environment, nature or mankind in any way and which can be recycled at the end of their useful service life. Baufritz uses natural whey for fire prevention and sodalye is used as a fungicide.

Deeper foundations are required by building law in this area, to protect the building from flooding should the Thames burst its banks.

Three outside doors provide access from the site to the raised ground floor of the house. The impressive entrance hall serves as a central focus of the house. A leaf-door leads from there into the family room, which is to be used as a television room. Another sliding door leads into

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the library. Besides this door there is a cloakroom and a guest WC. Thanks to almost ten square metres of windows in the roof lighting the entire stairwell, and the balustrade of safety glass the entrance hall is an architectonic eye-catcher.

The open-plan kitchen, dining and living area also benefit from the incidence of light.

Along the entire width of the house floor to ceiling windows, triple glazing of course, separate indoors from outdoors. They also benefit from the warmth of the sun since they are south-facing. The Jacksons only allowed brickwork for the fire place. A mounted steel cross in front of a section of glass by the dining table was required to provide static support to allow the enormous spans. The Jacksons furnished the entrance level sparingly in order not to impair the extensive lines of sight. Their two-storey cube is a conscious antithesis to many half-timbered houses characterised by their small windows and rooms.

The healthy living architecture is continued with the fixtures and fittings. All walls are painted with organic paint, the flooring consists of oiled wooden floorboards or slate. The Jacksons had several cupboards made from solid wood by a joiner working on behalf of Baufritz.

Upstairs there is the main bedroom with a separate dressing room and two bedrooms for the children overlooking the garden. The design of the three bathrooms is particularly clever. In addition to outside windows, all of them also have a light strip to the gallery which makes them even lighter. The office and guest rooms overlook the road.

As a result of the sustainable method of construction the Jackson’s new home will be making an active contribution to protecting the climate, since it absorbs more than 40 tons of CO2 over the longer term. The aim of the sophisticated energy concept is to harm the environment as little as possible. Solar collectors heat up the used water. Photovoltaic panels generate electricity and a controlled ventilation unit with waste heat recovery exploits the heat energy of the gas therms. The Jacksons collect rainwater for flushing the toilets and for watering their garden!

For more information visit - www.baufritz.co.uk

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Gold Medal Gardeners

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ould you like a Chelsea Flower Show Designer with Royal Horticultural Society gold medals to design and build your garden?

Paul Dyer and his close-knit team are The Gold Medal Gardeners. Being as close to natural perfection as possible is a daily norm– whether it’s the Chelsea Flower Show or your own private garden. With an impressive 55 medals and awards (and counting) for show gardens designed, built and mostly planted, each project is given the same dedication and expertise by the Gold Medal Gardeners’ specialist staff.

Every project is considered, as is each unique requirement; Paul was once even asked to design and create a garden for the Chelsea Flower Show at the very last minute – and the final creation gained great approval from Her Majesty.

This professional perfection flows into their private clients’ water gardens and features, with a high-style, low-maintenance approach to suit your space. Experts in creating and building beautiful gardens and ‘all features great and small’, private and commercial gardens can be designed to include patio and lawn ponds, formal pools and fountains, tropical water displays, large water features, planting displays, redesign and reconstruction and even full landscaping. As you would expect from the best, designs are enhanced with carefully-selected plant life for year-round interest and enjoyment.

A personable and professional service is available seven days a week from a Gold Medal Gardener in Marlow, Henley, Ascot and across the UK, as well as a base in Brittany, France. With an impressive portfolio of over 3000 past projects to entice, inspire and admire, Paul and his team blow any competition straight out of the water.

It’s time to bring your garden to life with a Gold Medal Gardener.

Gold Medal Gardeners are based in Marlow, Henley, Ascot and across the UK. T. 0800 919833 W. www.goldmedalgardeners.co.uk Chief Designers Direct Line 7 Days 8am to 8pm 07970 309 165

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C

hristine Scott Interiors Design Studio is based in the heart of the Berkshire countryside, just outside Newbury.

Led by Christine herself they specialise in residential and commercial design, and will help and guide you to create a unique space which reflects both your personality and practical needs.

Christine has been working in the interior design industry for over twenty five years, and for twenty of those has been running this very successful interior design company.

Their inspiring studio has become renowned for housing the largest collection of fabric and wallpaper books in the area from top names such as Colefax & Fowler, Zoffany and Designers Guild, as well as stylish accessories for the home.

To find out more about Christine Scott Interiors please call 01635 254200 or email info@christinescottinteriors.co.uk or please pop into our studio at The Coach House, Burlyns, East Woodhay near Newbury.

Christine Scott Interiors, The Coach House, Burlyns, East Woodhay, Newbury RG20 0NU. T. 01635 254200 E. info@christinescottinteriors.co.uk W. www.christinescottinteriors.co.uk

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www.lmdesignsltd.com 40

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M Designs excel at luxe-living: creating cool and contemporary interiors that are comfortable, effortlessly stylish and exceed expectations at every

level.

Whether conceiving highly impactful creations in exclusive, new build developments, or commissioning bespoke furniture for individual residences as part of an internal transformation, LM Designs work closely with each commercial or private client to create inspirational living spaces.

After an extensive career in luxury showhome design, Lani-Marie Bhoyroo established LM Designs in 2010 to provide the home counties, London and beyond with the ultimate in style and service. Working with a trusted team of skilled craftsmen and specialist suppliers, the company is renowned for seamlessly delivering exceptional interiors; from concept through to completion.

Based in Ascot, Royal Berkshire, the company’s professionalism and efficiency is matched by its personal service and flexibility – with a friendly and practical approach that helps adhere to the overall vision for each project. Throughout the entire process, clients can rely on LM Designs’ incredible passion and commitment to providing the best.

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For commercial projects, LM Designs has a proven track record in consistently working to pre-arranged budgets and within clearly defined timelines; decorating, furnishing and dressing each room to create the atmosphere that sells a home.

For private clients, LM Designs’ forte is in making each house a home and creating comfortable living spaces for their clients. The team’s friendly approach and ability to build strong working relationships ensures that every design meets their clients’ needs; be it refreshing an individual room within the home or creating whole house schemes for a truly inspiring design statement.

What’s more, LM’s unique expertise also allows them to be invaluable from the earliest stages of the build programme; working closely with architects and contractors, the team considers from the outset spatial planning, furniture layouts and technical specifications. In ensuring that interiors are perfectly integrated into the fabric of the property, LM Designs’ pursuit of perfection and passion for detail is clearly apparent throughout.

Find out how LM Designs can deliver on your aspirations: LM Designs, Lodge House, The Brackens, London Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 8BE. T. 01344 882898 E. info@lmdesignsltd.com W. www.lmdesignsltd.com

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At Chaplins we enjoy a freedom to express our love for design and to push boundaries and trends quickly

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180 TOP BRANDS UNDER ONE ROOF

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ince Chaplins opened it’s doors almost 20 years ago it has showcased and delivered the very best in style, quality and service to a long list if discerning clientele, introducing many international brands to the UK market first.

Spread over 25’000 square feet, Chaplins scour the international design scene to display over 180 of the biggest and most exciting European furniture and lighting brands including B&B Italia, Cassina, Ligne Roset, Molteni & C and Reflex Angelo, to name but a few. All these wonderful collections are held under one roof, making it an inspiring one-stop solution for your entire home furnishing needs.

Managing Director, Simon Chaplin is the second generation to take control of what is a family run business. Simon’s fascination stems back to his youth, “I was fortunate enough to grow up in a furniture family so even though I was not working, I was learning through osmosis!”

Simon’s vision when taking over the Chaplins dynasty was to not only showcase the largest retail space showing high-end contemporary furniture and design in the UK, but to also build a concierge service around it, offering their clients a fully tailored package from the building stage to the finishing touches.

He goes on to explain, “Running a business enables me to build a team that I value who share the same design ethos. Furniture runs in my blood, It is not a business for numbers although they always have to add up! It is a business that has to be led by passion or the end result will reflect this.”

As an independent run store all Chaplins staff have a background in design and are qualified to give you the fullest possible assistance, which is friendly, expert and efficient, taking your personal wishes into account. Simon goes on to say, “The love of design can be seen in every element of our customers’ lives, from the cars they drive

Simon Chaplin

to the watches they wear to the houses they live in. It is our skill of interpretation using these outwards signs which enable us to connect with our client base.”

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When asked what makes Chaplins unique to other furniture stores Simon explains “Working with over 150 design houses, it allows us to edit collections rather than be dictated to by a single brand as many furniture stores around Europe are. This reflects in the individuality of our displays and crosses over to our client’s homes. At Chaplins we enjoy a freedom to express our love for design and to push boundaries and trends quickly, without having to run through and constantly analyse figures.”

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If all the fabulous pieces on display in this design heaven proves too much for you, Chaplins also offer a ‘Home Design Service’ as many of their elegant storage systems for bedrooms and offices require an expert level of planning, which naturally they provide. This includes full floor plans, plus delivery and installation which is always carried out by their own team of fully trained fitters who know how to handle furniture and realise the importance of each piece, protecting and caring for it throughout delivery and installation as if it was their own.

As well as working on projects throughout the UK, Chaplins work all over the world. Liasing with designers and architects on various sized projects.

Recent projects have included a 40 million Euro home in Cap Ferrat, South of France and 68,000 sq ft mansion in Dubai. However they are just at home working on a TV room in the quiet suburbs, which surround them.

So what does Simon predict will be the next big trend in contemporary furniture design? “I’d like to think great interiors are timeless. An interior should reflect an individual’s personality and lifestyle more than current trends.”

“

Although Chaplins are very proud of their showroom in Hatch End, Middlesex

I’d like to think great interiors are timeless.

An interior should reflect an individual’s personality and lifestyle more than current trends

changing and people are using the internet for both research purposes and to make the occasional purchase. The Chaplins website (www.chaplins.co.uk) and new App for the iPhone/iPad are well worth the visit. As well as stylish furniture and accessories, they feature a trend-led section full of inspiring ideas and product news.

For more information about Chaplins please call 020 8421 1779 or you can email us at sales@chaplins.co.uk

Simon Chaplin

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and Chelsea Harbour, London they also appreciate that buying trends are

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FEATURE | CREATING HARMONY

Make the context of where you live part of the narrative of your home. Research local history, start a local food network, memorize your landmarks and visit the places of interest and history on your doorstep. Study the flora, fauna and geology of your place,

Design even if it is intensely urban. Invent a story for your place...

Excellence

By Kevin McCloud

Š Timothy Soar 48

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“invent a story for your place”

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FEATURE | CREATING HARMONY

“Can a building make you healthier or happier?” © Flore Palix/Oredia/Red Cover/Photoshot

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ngineers, marketing consultants, biochemists all use the design process. It is time honoured. Design incorporates philosophical discussion and scientific enquiry. Design includes time for research and reflection and the reabsorption of new data and ideas. Design can also embody the spirit of an age and cultural values. At its best it can improve the world and it can make things robust, easy to use and a pleasure, be that a building, a city or a spoon. It can provide those timeless ideas of Firmness, Commodity and Delight. And, I would add, a standard of excellence that no other process can match.

© Hemera/ThinkStock

© Lighting design and LED products from John Cullen Lighting

Design can also not only respond to context but has the magical ability to create context, by making objects, buildings and places that are really good of their sort. It can invent narrative and character and interest. Which, we might all subjectively agree, are good things because they make you feel better. With a little money and when imagination and human energy are in relative abundance, design can do this extremely well. Which means it has the ability to make a contribution to the sense of a place, which in turn 50

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can enrich our experience of being in a place and lead us to spend time there and respect it. These are fundamental requirements of good ‘social’ sustainability.’

I’ve always instinctively felt and publicly maintained that good design – be it an AppleMac laptop, a great spoon or a great building – makes you feel like a better human being. But can a building go further? Can it make you a better citizen? Can it make you healthier? Or happier?

By Kevin McCloud

© Simon Upton/architect, Adam Kushner/Interior Archiveing BERKSHIRE LUXURY

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A UNIQUE PASSION FOR BEAUTIFUL DESIGN

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Concept Virtual Design is a supply only architectural design and setting company, offering the latest in contemporary, classic and traditional styles to Berkshire, Bucks and Surrey areas.

They work with the best architectural practices, refurbishment specialists, main development contractors and luxury house builders, as well as special one-off detailed customer contracts. Â Concept offers a sophisticated personal service that you can rely on and are confident in the outcome of meeting your expectations, through their detailed design and setting out know how. Â The benefit of designing the project at an early stage means that they can plan for every eventuality, maximising your living space and desired finish.

Concept supply quality bathroom sanitary ware, brassware, tiles, wardrobe and furniture products to companies and private clients at contract rates. They provide all trades with the actual plumbing pipe positions, lighting positions and tile joints at a very early stage and view the design as their responsibility and will instruct your contractor accordingly to achieve the correct look.

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A UNIQUE PASSION FOR BEAUTIFUL DESIGN 54

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Concept Designs Beautiful Showroom offers the very latest in sophicated design ideas, offering a comprehensive selection of Designer Tiles, Marbles and Specialist Wet Room Solutions. A New Grohe Spa and Tile Centre has just been created in the showroom, showing the latest design trends. We highly recommend a showroom visit, to experience the Concept Designs Team’s creativity first hand.

For more information please contact the team on 01628 777122 or email info@conceptvirtualdesign.com . Â Concept Virtual Design Ltd 38 High Street Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 1QE T. 01628 777122 E. info@conceptvirtualdesign.com W. www.conceptvirtualdesign.com

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SIMON PINK S

imon Pink is an artist of distinction and has been commissioned by many art collectors around the world.

The Berkshire born artist has become well known through his abstract and contemporary work that is often influenced by nature. He has been painting since childhood and would run around the countryside with a net and a jam jar then hurry home with his findings, eager to paint a picture of its contents.

His work is inspired by the world and its animals, having worked voluntary at a local animal sanctuary in between studying, he has always had a passion to care for the natural world and this shows in his interpretations.

Simon works across a variety of mediums including his famous acrylic on canvas and watercolour on paper.

The acrylics on canvas are a patterned mixture of the bright and bold and would light up any room in the house giving strong definition to an interior.

Simon’s watercolours exemplify the natural beauty of nature, merging his passion for wildlife with colour, form, texture and vibrancy.

He is also an established writer and illustrator of children’s books, blending characterisation with his unique form of creativity influenced by his travels across the globe. Simon’s second book will be published later in the year.

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Simon Pink has solo exhibitions coming up and all sizes of commissions are welcome.

For more information and contact details please visit the Simon Pink website www.simonpink.com.

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Introducing

Exclusively at

Stocktons Manchester 140 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester M4 6DU. 0161 273 5331 Stocktons Liverpool The Home Quarter, 42 Hanover Street, Liverpool L1 4AF. 0151 707 0717 www.stocktons.co,uk www.timothyoulton.com BERKSHIRE LUXURY

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A recipe to practical and stylish interiors T. 07946 285221 60

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E. sam@appleton-interiors.co.uk

W. www.appleton-interiors.co.uk

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he ingredients to a truly successful interior are effective space planning, subtle lighting, harmonious finishes and stylish

furnishings.

The core ingredient is the space and how it is used. First, look at your existing space and ask yourself if you are using all the rooms in your home in a practical manner to fit in with your lifestyle? For example could a small guest bedroom be better served as a study or en-suite to a larger bedroom? Question the layout and use of furniture within a room: re-positioning, de-cluttering or sourcing new pieces will create a sense of calm and space.

Moving, knocking through walls or extending rooms will create larger open-plan living. These large areas should be divided into zones, often using furniture to define practical cooking spaces, informal dining and comfy family living. This concept can flow into upstairs, where wide landing floors can provide study or a quiet reading area. Bedroom suites can be transformed into private sanctuaries with zones for sleeping, dressing and bathing.

Different types of lighting strategically positioned around the furniture such as task, feature and ambient lighting ranging from architectural lighting and decorative floor, wall and table lamps provide atmosphere

By carefully choosing the correct combination of colours & textures you can create contrast and light giving the illusion of space and a feeling of serenity.

Samantha Appleton has been designing interiors for many years and worked for a high end bathroom and kitchen company as their head of Interiors in London. Her company based in Marlow covers the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire areas and her services extend to a network of dedicated professionals, which include, architects, garden designers and audio visual experts.

to a room.

Appleton Interiors operate a ‘design and supply’ service which includes CAD drawings, presentation boards, estimates and ordering of goods and this goes for their fabulous kitchen and bathroom design.

The final ingredients to add to the mixing pot are the finishes, soft furnishings and art work.

They also offer advice and a personal shopping service which can be booked on an hourly basis.

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FEATURE | The Design Practice

Where eagles dare...

The team at Cheshire Luxury talk to The Design Practice at Uber about their latest mammoth interior architecture and design project at the highly prestigious Gleneagles golf course, and find out what is involved with a project of this magnitude.

The Design Brief To create an enviable country retreat centered around entertaining guests with lavish parties and relaxing getaway breaks. With an open plan feel ,yet contradictory intimate and cozy spaces using many natural materials where possible.

To capture, respect and compliment the house’s position in one of the most world famous respected locations of Scotland: the Gleneagles golf course, along with roaming wildlife.

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The project described A substantial new build property nestled between neighbours overlooking the famous Gleneagles golf course with breathtaking views of nature and wildlife.

A grand master bed suite with balcony and 6 further individually designed ensuite bedrooms.

A lavish entertaining hall with glass viewing balcony and incorporating a solid stone toped bar. There are various snugs, a sauna, steam room, gym facilities and of course the obligatory golf clubs room and owners wine cellar.

Built with all the latest eco advances and intelligent technology for lighting and security and with sound in every room (using iPads for control). All integrated discretely of course.

If the Scottish weather kicks up a storm there’s always the indoor golf simulator to keep you in full swing – or the ‘floating stag’s head’ bar for that matter!

Challenges There were challenges – akin to many projects of this scale - not the least logistics of a build in Scotland, but The Design Practice revel in a challenge. To highlight one example the drainage system was precast early on in the build. It meant for some thought around constrictions later on in the design process where the proportions left little space for lighting, air conditioning and the several miles of plumbing pipe work.

Favourite / Key areas of the project The sheer scale of the two and a half storey entertaining hall takes some beating as it easily envelops ornate, 8ft tall floor lamps, flanking the traditional stone fireplace. Even the viewing balcony seems appropriately scaled to take in the views of partying guests below the wooden A-frame roof trusses.

The centre piece doors in the entertaining hall are a grand and foreboding site. Clad in deep faux leather with antique bronze studs around the perimeter, but it’s the spear-like shell handles in deep anthracite which set the tones of nature’s grandeur that is a recurring theme throughout… take a breath before swinging through to the next experience.

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It’s hard to pick what to describe for fear of leaving out equally worthy mentions. But this ski chalet-come-entertainment lodge has luxurious touches everywhere and yet its whole remains accessible with a refined grandeur in a very modern setting. The use of local materials such as stone and oak cladding and exposed timber structure help soften the sheer scale of some of the open plan layout helping lend a warm and tactile atmosphere despite the glimpses of double height vaulted ceilings.

Each of the seven bedrooms and ensuites has a differing design on a similar theme. The over sized wooden headboards with individual patterns - some diamond, some striped and varying materials - are one of our most enjoyed touches as they capture the eye immediately and set the mood.

Centre piece in the entrance hall and backing on to the dining hall table is an almost artistic installment of a ‘Tree sofa’. Cut from one trunk this gigantic seating arrangement strikes a fabulous talking point for dinner guests.

Why does the design work so well?

The property doesn’t try to be over glamorous (which could have easily been the brief).

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Instead it complements the surroundings with such harmonious materials it makes you feel instantly relaxed and in tune with the setting.

The smoke oak wood used in abundance, the respect of the craftsmen from all discaplines and local materials have come together effortlessly to create a house which will stand the test of time and give generations fulfilling mix of contemporary grand living and cosy charm.

Final thoughts There are subtle hints of the location and its Scottish roots in every room. Paired with the loving touch of craftsmen and exceptional detailing give this property a beauty that matches the location and views.

If you require a modest room modernisation, or have grand plans for an exceptional residence our team helps clients stamp a completely individual mark on their surroundings. From the classically elegant to the non-conformist, we enhance lifestyles and property values in the process whilst remaining transparent and good commercial value for money.

Why not drop by to see what the team can do for you. www.thedesignpractice.com info@thedesignpractice.com 01565 621620 BERKSHIRE LUXURY

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“It is impossible to overdo luxury” - French proverb

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www.mulberryhome.com

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TailorMade Sofas Don’t compromise when you can customise

Tailormade Sofas are British manufacturers of high quality bespoke sofas, chairs, corner groups and sofa beds.

Customers can have any dimension altered, change the design, decide on cushioning and choose from thousands of quality fabrics. For the fantastic service they provide, Tailormade sofas are also extremely good value for money.

With their workshop above the showroom it gives Tailormade Sofas the advantage of direct communication and control of the production process. Customers are invited to park, free of charge, outside their showroom.

Their experienced showroom staff will guide customers through the process, if required, to help them make exactly the right choice.They also provide a free fabric sample service and home visits if required.

To find out more about Tailormade Sofas call 01494 462233 or email enquiries@tailormadesofas.co.uk

Tailormade Sofas, Victoria Street, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP11 2LT. T. 01494 46223 E. enquiries@tailormadesofas.co.uk W. www. tailormadesofas.co.uk 72

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Unique Solutions – with a bespoke stone

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Pyrolave offer a complete service of consultation, quotations, sampling, on-site measuring, handling & installation & responsibility for making projects happen successfully. They ensure that every order runs smoothly from the initial planning stages through to project completion.

Volvic lava is an ancient & natural volcanic stone extracted from the Nugere crater at Volvic in France by Mallet SAS which is part of the Pyrolave Group. The stone is processed in its natural form

by Mallet and glazed by Pyrolave.

If you wish to find out more about Pyrolave Architecture please call us on 01428 707154 or email info@pyrolave-architecture.com

or those looking for something different when it comes to stone work look no further than Pyrolave Architecture.

After 28 years in the business the Pyrolave brand is recognised through-out the world by architects & interior designers looking for that special touch to create unique personalised projects.

Whilst the lava is still a traditional construction material the skill of architects & designers skillfully re-styling the stone means that it is now a fantastic contemporary material for flooring, paving, construction and so much more.

Pyrolave, The Barn at Windfallwood Cottage Windfallwood Common Haslemere Surrey GU27 3BX. T. 01428 707154

E info@pyrolave-architecture.com

W. www.pyrolave-architecture.com

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Award Winning Audio Visual Specialists

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Established in 1995, Smartcomm has always been revolutionary in their home automation systems. Their first class service is all-encompassing from consultation & design, project management, engineering, installation, training and technical support, ensuring a personal touch throughout the project.

Whether the desire is for the ultimate home cinema experience or to control climate, lighting, music and other aspects at the touch of a button, Smartcomm design and install solutions that seamlessly integrate the latest technologies into a range of environments, adding superior luxury to every room in your home.

Smartcomm’s specialist knowledge, extensive experience and collaboration with leading architects, interior designers and contractors mean they have produced some of the most beautiful and sophisticated installations in the UK and abroad. Regarded as one of the UK’s leading AV integration specialists, their work has been continually recognised by respected industry organisations, having received multiple awards for their projects.

Smartcomm are BuildingConfidence and SafeContractor accredited, as well as certified members of CEDIA; the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association and InfoComm; the worldwide trade association for the professional audiovisual and information communications industries.

Contact Smartcomm to find out how they can deliver your audio visual project exactly as you envisage it and more.

Smartcomm, 3 Barnes Wallis Court, Wellington Road, Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP12 3PS T. 01494 471 912

E. info@smartcomm.co.uk

W. www.smartcomm.co.uk

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Oscar winners of the Interior Design World When it comes to choosing a property, buyers often find it difficult to trust their instincts but usually that indefinable ‘gut feeling’ persuades most to select one particular house over another. Buying vernacular and listed buildings, where some of the most attractive features such as stone and other traditional elements are part of the appeal, being able to truly visualise a property’s potential, mindful of planning and conservation requirements, can be difficult.

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“...but being included in the Andrew Martin International Interior Design review is a special achievement...”

FEATURE | Pippa Paton Text: Maarit Lilley

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ften the greatest challenge is seeing beyond the current layout or decor to develop a completely fresh vision that enhances those traditional features and marries them with striking contemporary elements to create a comfortable, stylish home. Pippa Paton Design, an Oxfordshire-based company which combines interior design with renovation project management, brings its expertise and the creative instincts of its Design Director, Pippa Paton, to fulfil such challenges. As a result, this design practice now has a growing reputation for creating exceptional homes which enhance the lives of those who live in them.

The company’s recent projects include the project management and interior design of a village estate in Gloucestershire comprising the main house, cottage, outbuildings and leisure complex, the conversion of an attic into childrens’ bedroom spaces and the ultimate fun play space (including an internal slide!) and the transformation of a 16th century manor and coach house. This latter project (which is featured in this article) has brought the company industry recognition since it

was included in the prestigious Andrew Martin International Interior Design Review. The Times has called the Review “the Oscars of the interior design world” and Pippa Paton Design is one of only 96 interior designers from around the globe to be chosen for this influential volume and the only one focussed on Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

“Being recognised by the interior design industry is always rewarding but being included in the Andrew Martin International Interior Design Review is a special achievement as it was a business goal I set for us in 2005 when we started the company,” explains Pippa, whose eye for design and fascination with fabrics, colours and textures defines her approach to each project.

Pippa’s interest in interior design began years ago as she bought and renovated a series of her own homes with husband Scott Paton and also advised on those of her friends while working as the commercial director of a large advertising agency. Realising that this was something she wanted to be more than a hobby incentivised Pippa to change her career and study interior

design at the Chelsea College of Art and Design where she now tutors.

The company’s approach embraces all the inherent qualities of a property, for example, its aspect, where the light falls, whether there is (or can be) easy garden access from the main living space and whether interior spaces should be enclosed, opened out or an extension added with the aim of making the interior space flow naturally and be usable in today’s open-plan style. Pippa focuses on how the house will be lived in and the priorities and preferences of the client so that the spatial design fulfils all their needs as a home. Once the spaces are agreed she will then design a coherent scheme that will include sourcing furniture, designing bespoke pieces and identifying standout pieces to create impact and focal points. Having worked on a number of listed buildings she has a skilful approach to identifying and incorporating the outstanding features of traditional buildings and ensuring they work seamlessly with new room purposes, be that as a cinema room, wine cellar, gym, swimming pool or simply within a bathroom or kitchen.

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Pippa describes her style as “Contemporary but with an eclectic mix of old and new; I won’t try and make new elements look old but will make sure they sit happily together with the older, traditional features of properties. In the manor house, for example, we uncovered a stunning Cathedral-scale wall of Cotswold stone that had been rendered over as an external wall. We stripped it, cleaned and re-pointed it and incorporated the wall into the interior of the extension design, juxtaposed with a clean, white contemporary staircase leading to a newly created curved gallery. It became a talking point for visitors as did the oversized new oak beams acting as a backdrop to huge antique lanterns. Similarly, we took inspiration from the original stone frame around the front door and commissioned other stone door frames to match but without distressing them to mimic the original.”

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Lighting is one of Pippa’s particular passions and she frequently sources vintage fixtures from Italy and France or scours antique shops in market towns for other unusual finds. “I may not always have a project in mind when I see an antique piece, be it a light fitting or one of my best finds, an old metal machine table found in Arundel which seats fourteen as a fantastic dining table, but I will buy things because I love them instantly and know I will be able to find just the right place for them”.

Initially the company focused purely on interior design but they found that its renovation project management services grew from genuine client demand.

Here, Scott Paton as Project Director, has adapted his skills from a previous 20 year career as a global advertising director working on among others, the GUINNESS brand.

He co-ordinates complex renovations on behalf of the client liaising with a range of contractors

from architects and builders to quantity surveyors, home automation specialists, landscape designers and pool contractors.

“Clients seem to appreciate this kind of service, especially when they are remote from the project and only available at limited times. I act on the client’s behalf, scrutinising the details and keeping the multiple strands of the project together to complete on time and on budget. My expertise involves understanding the role of each contractor, managing the critical path of the

project and applying the same rigour as though it were my own property then distilling any issues into concise reports for the client to allow them to make quick decisions and maximise their available time.” explains Scott, “We are flexible about arranging meetings around a client’s schedule and the work in progress updates mean they are involved and aware of each stage but, by acting as their single point of contact, it saves them time, effort and stress”.

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“They are looking for striking original ideas, commitment and dedication...”

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Scott and Pippa often work together and solve design challenges on a regular basis with a level of detail such as determining where Christmas trees will be so sockets will be in the correct places for Christmas light, designing a stainless steel post box capable of holding the client’s Sunday papers or simply having a child’s safety gate painted to match the scheme of the room. “The type of clients we work for are very successful and demand the highest standards in all that they do and they expect nothing less from us.” explains Pippa. “They are looking for striking, original ideas, commitment, dedication and the initiative to solve any issues that may arise with a complete focus on the details of the project including the timeline and budget.” This is what Pippa Paton Design aims to deliver so that clients can walk into their newly-renovated and interior designed home and find everything in place. Not only will all the main interior design elements have been completed to the last detail but artworks can be hung and even cutlery and crockery can be sourced and placed in the kitchen as part of the ‘turn-key’ service, if required.

Recognition in the Andrew Martin International Interior Design Review is a welcome bonus but for Pippa and Scott the greatest satisfaction comes from the reaction they get from clients as Scott recalls: “One client whose property is their second home said they now love being in the house so much they are reluctant to leave it and go back to London”. Another client recently wrote them a note of thanks saying: “Arriving at the house is always exciting, every room is beautiful. As I walk around I so appreciate all that you did.“ Pippa may trust her instincts and intuition in interpreting their vision but knowing that clients love their newly renovated homes is still the ultimate reward. www.pippapatondesign.co.uk pippa@pippapatondesign.co.uk 01993220720 BERKSHIRE LUXURY

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DESIGNBY DEBORAH A

t Design by Deborah Ltd we are a boutique Interior Design company based in Berkshire and we specialize in properties over a hundred

years old. We combine our passion for heritage homes with our knowledge of interior design principles to create dream homes for our discerning clients.

Many people buy an older property with every intention of restoring it to its former glory but somehow never get round to doing it. Either, they don’t have enough time, they can’t find what they are looking for, or they are simply unsure about where to start.

We adapt our style to the building and to the client creating something unique everytime. We have experience in renovating 17th, 18th and 19th century properties and have established a database of historical design concepts and specialist companies for the benefit of our clients.

Interior Design is an art form and we love to combine the classical with contemporary to give our clients the best of both worlds creating an inspired and comfortable interior.

If you would love to know more about what we do you can visit our website www.designbydeborah.co.uk or email Deborah at deborah@designbydeborah.co.uk to arrange a no obligation initial consultation, we would love to hear from you.

“

We want our clients to fall in love with their homes all over again.

”

Deborah Heath Interior Designer and Author

T. 07725 339370 82

E. deborah@designbydeborah.co.uk

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W. www.designbydeborah.co.uk

FREE INSTALLATION

*

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Imagine 100ºC boiling water instantly on tap.

100ºC on tap

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“Luxury is a necessity that begins where necessity ends” – Coco Chanel

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For over 20 years, Gecko has provided home entertainment systems for those looking to enjoy film, music and television at its very best.

Located in the tranquil Berkshire countryside and constructed to the same standards as the finest recording studios our listening rooms are the only place in the UK where you can experience the ultimate in music and home cinema.

For a private viewing of Steinway Lyngdorfs remarkable music and home cinemas, contact Gecko Home Cinema on 0845 2622882.

Gecko Home Cinema, Cherry Cottage, Gallery Lane, Headley, Berkshire RG19 8LJ T. 0845 2622882 E. rob@geckohomecinema.com W. www.geckohomecinema.com 85 BERKSHIRE LUXURY

Wallpaper... a Global Style At the beginning of the industrial era, there were just two contenders locked in a battle for world supremacy in the field of wallpaper production – France and Great Britain.

T

he dawn of the 20th Century saw production take off globally. France remained a front runner for elegance and chic, but British designers were the most adventurous. Then, in the period between the wars, the Germans also began to make their mark, enlisting the support of major contemporary artists, and today Germany is a leading producer, with the huge Russian market conveniently located on its doorstep.

Although originally slower to embrace wallpaper than Europe, the US and Canada have long since made up for any lost ground.

The Scandinavian countries were relatively quick off the mark and introduced some genuine design innovations. Italy, on the other hand, continued to prefer paint to paper for many years but it is now the home of the luxury brands.

Spain, predictably enough, began 86

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producing designs that would have looked at home in an AlmĂłdodovar film, while the Russians, rather than manufacturing wallpapers, have generally opted to buy them instead. Wallpaper it seems, is as varied as any other aspect of global culture.

The British have been pioneers in wallpaper design since its earliest days.

Queen Victoria is said to have taken a close interest in the choice of wallpaper for her various residences, insisting on identical colours and patterns – perhaps to ensure that she would feel at home in all of them. And British designers, traditionally regarded as the most innovative, have always had a talent for balancing quirkiness with tradition and a hint of wit.

Sanderson is one of the most internationally renowned of British brands.

The firm was founded in London in 1860 as

“Wallpaper it seems, is as varied as any other aspect of global culture.”

an importer of French wallpaper, but began to commission original designs in the late 1860s and built its own factory in 1879. Its papers were the work of designers including Christopher Dresser, George Haite and most notably C.F.A. Voysey, a magnificent Art Nouveau designer, decorative artist and architect, who also designed a new factory for the company in 1902. A pioneer of colour advertising from 1911 onwards, Sanderson was awarded a Royal Warrant as Purveyors of Wallpapers to King George V in 1923, and began to license motifs from the Disney Studios in the 1930’s.

It also bought up other firms including Rottman, Strome & Co., Charles Knowles, Turnbull & Stockdale and – most significantly – Morris & Co. in 1940, thereby acquiring all of the printing blocks and pattern books belonging to the great William Morris, BERKSHIRE LUXURY

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philosopher, designer and father of the 19thcentury Arts and Crafts movement.

The last member of the Sanderson family left the business in 1965 and it was bought by the Walker Greenbank group. The brand, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2010, has long been associated with upmarket elegance in a vivid and sophisticated colour palette, and has always remained faithful to the English country style.

Graham & Brown was established in the aftermath of the Second World War by two friends, Harold Graham and Henry Brown, both of whom were passionate about new printing technology.

Harold Graham died in 1951, but the company continued to expand with financial backing from the founder’s sons, and by the 1970s it was producing millions of rolls of wallpaper, becoming one of the top independent manufacturers in the UK. The third generation forged creative links with interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, as well as Linda Barker, Marcel Wanders, Wayne Hemmingway, Basso & Brooke and more recently designer Kelly Hoppen and fashion icon Barbara Hulanicki.

This dynamic company has even organized competitions in art schools as a means of 88

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“ a fresh colour palette and what might be described as a poetic approach to pattern”

recruiting new design talent and has built close links with the fashion world by selling its products through retail chains such as Monsoon. Its website offers a host of different wallcoverings, including ‘wall jewels’ for a customized look, and an ‘eco’ range that is manufactured without the use of harmful chemicals and printed on paper from manufactured sources.

Osborne & Little also grew up out of friendship, this time between two brothers-in-law, Peter Osborne and Antony Little, who started out with a small showroom in Chelsea in 1968 and went on to build the Osborne & Little empire thanks to their award-winning first collection of hand printed wallpapers.

The firm has expanded its product range to include fabrics, trimmings, accessories and furniture, creating complete interiors in which everything complements everything else. For the last forty years, Osborne and Little creations have occupied a central place in the world of interior design, form the paint effects of the 1980s to the current metallic trends, via the sun, moon and star motifs of the 1990s.

Osborne & Little have also began distributing designs by Nina Campbell and the Parisian design studio Lorca. What all of these wallpapers have in common is a fresh colour palette and what might be described as a poetic approach to pattern.

Colefax and Fowler – the creation of John Fowler, Sibyl Colefax and Nancy Lancaster – were founded on London’s Fulham Road and for the last fifty years have embodied the essence of English style, that sense of timeless elegance that is so characteristic of modern British interiors and which blends comfort, a restrained palette and relaxed informality. Colfax and Fowler also market the work of other design talents, including Manuel Canovas and the highly original work of Jane Churchill, whose fresh and relaxed designs seem quintessentially British.

The Wallpaper Book, Geneviève Brunet Thames & Hudson 2012

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people, plants and the perfect garden

Andy Sturgeon

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Andy Sturgeon

Here at Creative Landscape Co we have been designing, building and maintaining gardens across Berkshire for almost 25 years. During this time we have received numerous awards, including RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold medals and National Awards from The British Institute of Landscape Industries (BALI).

Some of the services we offer: At Home Advice and Consultancy Delivery and Planting Services Garden Design Landscaping Grounds Maintenance With our own plant nursery (The Big Plant Nursery) in Twyford near Reading , we are able to stock and supply a wide range of inspiring garden plants, hedging and trees, with access to more mature varieties for instant screening and impact.

The Nursery is open to the pubic 7 days a week. For more information and opening times you can visit our website www.thebigplantnursery.com Creative Landscape’s team of garden designers, landscapers, horticulturalists and maintenance operatives provide a wealth of imagination, reliability and craftsmanship to every client and garden project, from simple plant installations to complete design, build and maintenance schemes.

To make contact please call 01189 341500 or email info@creative-landscape.co.uk.

Wargrave Rd, Twyford,Reading, Berkshire RG10 9PN. www.creative-landscape.co.uk

the

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The forefront of pool design

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deal for keeping fit, entertaining a young family or simply for relaxation the pool can become the focus of any home.

It is considered by many as the ultimate luxury the swimming pool is becoming one of the most popular installations in homes up and down the land.

Ideal for keeping fit, entertaining a young family or simply for relaxation the pool can become the focus of any home.

One of the companies at the forefront in design and installation is award winning Portrait Pools who can offer the perfect bespoke package to suit all styles and budgets.

The company with over 20 years of experienced have transformed 100’s of pool dreams into a reality creating sumptuous designs including state of the art moving floors and walls, hidden automatic covers and extravagant water features. They specialise in producing energy efficient mood effect lighting and remote controlled pool and spa features that those pool dreams we speak of are made of.

Other Portrait Pool services include saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, hydrotherapy pools, spas, stretch ceiling systems and roll - on – roll off floors that can turn pool halls into comfortable, usable spaces in minutes at the touch of a button.

They call on a vast portfolio of past projects and reference books of pools from all over the globe.

To request a brochure or to contact the team please call 01704 544222 or visit their website www.portraitpools.com.

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Energy efficient mood lighting

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The ultimate in luxury swimming pools

www.portraitpools.com BERKSHIRE LUXURY

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