Displaying posts labeled "Renovation"

The Becker Barn

Posted on Wed, 26 Jun 2024 by KiM

The Becker Barn is an ongoing project on the Toandos Penninsula in the Hood Canal (Washington). The property was lost by the family in a drunken Poker game by Saul’s Grandfather “Babe” in the 70’s (Saul Becker of Mutuus). The opportunity presented itself in 2020 to purchase the property which was adjacent to the tiny cabin that Saul spent his childhood in. Mutuus partners Saul and Kristen spend most weekends with their children there slowly remodeling, dreaming, and testing their design ideas. They see it as an opportunity to prototype Mutuus Made lighting, try out ideas, dabble in landscape design, harvest oysters, spend time with their family, and entertain friends. The gambrel roofed structure has a commanding presence in the landscape that Saul has known since birth. The Becker’s are a restless bunch and this project keeps them in their happy place, constantly dreaming.
Give me all the rustic, barn-like cabins in the woods. The perfect weekend getaway to escape to.

This spectacular castle, declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest, was built in 1894 and was designed by a renowned architect of the Catalan bourgeoisie. The castle has an eclectic style, with a certain classicist tendency, close to the modernism that was fashionable at the time. It is dominated by an imposing round tower, with slate roofs and a beautiful attached chapel. Currently, the castle is a private building , whose renovation and restoration works began in 2014 and ended in 2018. It is 1,966m² on 15.6ha, with 19 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms and a guest house. A little pricey at €3,490,000 but for all that space and renovated so beautifully I had to share. For sale via Lucas Fox.

A tonal terrace

Posted on Thu, 23 May 2024 by KiM

A four-storey townhouse in Dalston re-imagined and transformed into a bold, colourful and bohemian sanctuary. The existing house was divided into two dwellings, a small flat with fronts steps leading down on the lower ground floor and a family maisonette on the upper three floors, accessed up a flight of external stairs. The brief was to combine the two separate dwellings into one home and restore the grand townhouse to its former glory. Zoe and Benedict wanted to change the basement flat into the main kitchen and living space, so that it could open onto the generous garden. They also wanted to keep the original through-lounge on the upper floor as well as providing a main bedroom with en-suite, a family bathroom, and further rooms to be used as bedrooms and study space but able to adapt over time. Early discussions for the new construction elements of the project kept returning to mid-century Los Angeles style and we liked the idea of entering the house on a Brooklyn feel and switching from East Coast to West Coast to discover a brightly lit, mid-century Californian style living space inside.
This renovated home (another one by Bradley Van Der Straeten) is packed with really moody colours and really has such a wonderful energy about it. A very happy place to be.

The Venetian Pantry

Posted on Tue, 21 May 2024 by KiM

A calming remodel of a Victorian terrace in Stoke Newington, with a rustic, Italian charm, that is centred around a sociable kitchen and its pantry. Martina and Joe approached us from the outset with the most beautifully laid out briefing document, with a clear direction for the finished aesthetic – textured, rustic, Italian and English combined. On a practical level, the brief was focused on a ground floor extension that could achieve a wider, open and more sociable kitchen to accommodate our clients’ love of social cooking and entertaining. For the loft space, Martina and Joe wanted to convert this space into a calm, main bedroom and ensuite with dressing area, with Italian references like the ground floor. The extension is two peaked volumes that form a stepped plan to respond to the varying lengths of the neighbouring houses.
Oh how I adore this new kitchen, and the simplicity and practicality of the spaces London-based architecture firm Bradley Van Der Straeten re-designed and created in this home.

Two cottages in Norfolk become one

Posted on Thu, 9 May 2024 by KiM

Historically the two cottages were separate entities however they were usually occupied together. The accommodation in each was compromised; bedrooms accessed through bedrooms, cramped kitchens and no space where the occupants could gather. The scheme joined the cottages with an extension which freed up the floorplan and consolidated the spaces and created a large convivial dine in kitchen. The form of the extension was designed to reference the original pitched roofs of the cottages whilst the materials chosen were to contrast those of the existing cottages. The intention was that new and old elements were easily and proudly distinguishable. Elsewhere particular attention was made to preserve the integrity and character of the original cottages making interventions when only necessary. The emphasis for the interior decoration was that it should feel layered and lived in.
I am always a fan of a mix of modern and traditional so this renovation is a win for me, particularly if it means getting a large, functional kitchen in the end. Designed by Anna Haines; Architect: Kathryn Manning of Adaptation Architecture; Photos: Rachael Smith.