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Re-Use and Reinvigorate
Interior renovations don’t always demand that you rip everything out and start again to achieve the right look, as this Lake District property shows...
This feature appears in the September 09 issue of Designer. To see the feature as it appeared in the magazine click the BACK ISSUES button and read the online edition of Designer.
When refurbishing a house it's easy to believe everything is simply stripped out in order to ‘start again'. However in the spirit of recycling, interior architects Fidget UK, worked with the homeowners to help turn their traditional Lake District house into a sophisticated and modern retreat while making creative use of existing fixtures & fittings, local designers and suppliers, and natural 100 per cent recyclable products wherever possible.
“Our brief was to turn a Lake District house into an upmarket and modern weekend retreat,” explains Alison Tordoff of Fidget. “While the client was very clear about the kind of ‘look and feel' they were trying to achieve, we didn't have an unlimited budget to work with. A key part of the project was to look for innovative ways to recycle what was already there, and to use locally sourced natural materials.”
The result is a stunning modern home with a fabulous light and airy feel – challenging the usual image of darker interiors so often found in traditional Lake District properties.
REMODELLED NOT REPLACED
The house is detached, in a village location, with six bedrooms and 3 reception rooms. The exterior is finished with traditional Lake District slate. The building was virtually knocked down about 4 years ago apart from a small garage at the back and completely re-built by a property developer.
When the family first purchased the property, it had been left plain and bland by the builder – magnolia painted plaster walls and ‘busy' patterned carpets.
Instead of tearing everything out, the Fidget team kept some of the original tiling and bathroom fittings. They added decorative and unusual tiled wall panels and modern wash hand basin units to update and complement the original fittings. The bathroom floors were given a new lease of life with new modern floor tiles to replace the old worn out carpets. Underfloor heating was added by simply creating a feed from the existing hot water system.
By looking creatively at the existing kitchen layout, the Fidget team managed to re-use 75 per cent of the units and remodelled the rest by adding new matching units, an ‘island breakfast bar' and new glass splashbacks. The new kitchen also boasts water-saving aerated taps, which can make dramatic savings on water bills.
LOCAL ARTISTRY
One of the most striking aspects of this project is the extensive use of Cumbrian artists and producers to create a unique interior setting. Award-winning glass designer Jo Vincent (perhaps best known for her glass designs for Brown's Hotel London) created new light fittings and glass artworks.
A bespoke rug made from Herdwick wool (a breed of sheep only found on Lake District fells) was designed and hand made by the Woolly Rug Co. of Ambleside, and several pieces of specially-designed furniture were created by local furniture maker Iain Childs.
Lake District photographer Jack Loan provided images for distinctive ‘tree' printed fabric and wallpaper found in the guest bedroom and matching en-suite bathroom.
Also, local Artist Julie Ann Scott supplied artwork for printed canvases to cover the wall speakers and turn them into pieces of art.
“This project demonstrates that any home can be overhauled and given a totally new look without junking all existing fixtures and fittings – which naturally makes the budget go further,” adds Tordoff. “The house provides the family with a sumptuous weekend and holiday retreat right in the heart of the Lake District – while at the same time delivering ‘city-style' elegance and state of the art gadgets to enhance their comfort. It truly is a modern retreat.”
Fidget Design
www.fidgetdesign.com
