Boars Hill library and drawing room refurb

It’s been a great pleasure working on this fabulously grand house in Oxford’s Boar’s Hill. Not least producing this bespoke library space with wrap around custom built bookshelves, and  leading through to the drawing room with highly decorative re-design. A key feature on the Citrine green drawing room was to bring the fireplace back into focus, as the original surround had been lost.  However we have just given a bit of grandeur back to the space and a point to the room, with this newly commissioned fire surround.

Inspiration for the fireplace was taken from the adjacent library, and on an even grander scale, one which still remained intact on the first floor

We are off!- the hearth being formed - evened up and with heat protecting sub screed applied.

Putting down the Firebrick tiles with Vitcas fireproof adhesive. The tiles have a beautiful deep lustre (teapot brown) that just sings.

Marble for the insert was sourced locally and had a slight green tint and a fleck that added to its overall quality. The piece stool almost 6ft in the end. We were enormously pleased with the design that we produced for the surround and which was created in conjunction with the Barr Joinery team.

Please go take a look at the rest of this lovely house on our main page here, it’s full of surprises and some amazing colours!

We call it the Japanese bathroom

This room is called the Japanese bathroom because all the builders named it that, since our client found a square Japanese soaking bath to use. Its actually an exceptionally compact en-suite bathroom, created just by nicking a bit of under-stairs space!

The room has no windows, and lighting is key here, with separate controls creating different atmospheres, gentle and moody for an evening, clean and bright for a wake up. Clean lines, subtle lighting, simple fittings, and a soft blue rubber floor from dalsouple lend this room a spa like quality. Archtectural lighting at the rear and to the right gives a light warm ambient effect.

clean lines

Vertical tiling came from an inspiration picture by our client of the London Underground.

Basement Office and bolt hole.

This development to the basement area of one of our long term clients residences developed into a beautiful, tranquil and nostalgic working space. We produced this back in 2014.

The lighting is Millelumen lighting that floods the basement when required, with its disks that push light at the ceiling and create a wonderful layered effect. The 'Cavour' desk is the super design classic that stands the test of time, by Carlo Molina. The fireplace didn't exist (aside from the aperture). A wood burning effect stove was installed on to a sslate hearth and the surround we harvested from the back of a whole lot of sorry looking fire bits and bobs in a Dorchester reclamation yard. Added texture to the back of the aperture and black paint give the whole effect that we were looking for.

The flooring is Oak Karndean, which was particularly apt for the high traffic basement area. The units were made for the space and adorned with leather and copper riveted handles. adding to the overall earthly texture.

We particularly liked the perforated blind at the main window that allowed light throughas well as a simple delicate design, yet giving the user privacy when at the desk.

As the wrap around paneling was made to order we allowed the socket to be set in to it as though it had always been there (see below).