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Houzz Tour: A Live-Work Space Lets In Light and Creativity
Reclaimed flooring, vintage decor and curated artwork add eclectic flair to this inspired English home
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When Gary Richmond and Elaine Walker first met this house, they fell in love with its potential and agreed to buy it on the spot. The husband-and-wife design team knew they had a fixer-upper in their hands, and it was stuck in the early '80s. "We worked with the original brick structure, but we restyled the decor and much of the interior, which was never a priority for the previous owner," says Richmond. The home now reflects the couple's unique taste, their penchant for pre-loved furniture and their efforts to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Gary Richmond and Elaine Walker
Location: Central Southampton, England
Size: 2,500 square feet
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Gary Richmond and Elaine Walker
Location: Central Southampton, England
Size: 2,500 square feet
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| The couple pairs striking pieces like the Designers Guild drapery, printed rug and large-scale paintings with white walls, which enhance the artwork. They purchased most of their furniture at vintage stores and specialty shops in London and Brighton. Richmond salvaged the rich, solid mahogany floors from a nearby college sports hall. |
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| Richmond stripped off the floor's old markings by hand to retain its grain and patina. "Most people think the flooring is original to the house," Richmond says. "Hand-stripping the floors as opposed to sanding the whole thing with a machine really adds to the floor's character." Paintings by New York artist and friend Tim Kent flank the seating area. |
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| Sliding doors connect the living room to the atrium. This area had a lot more supporting joists before, "which was lovely to look at but blocked the light, Richmond says. "So we replaced the wood with an aluminum version." |
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| The reading chairs fronting the library shelves double as viewing lounges in front of the media center. |
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| Inspired by the reclaimed floors in the living room, the design team created a kitchen that is sympathetic to the home's brick structure while still expressing their modern taste. The custom kitchen cabinetry is a rosewood veneer. A floating black parapan locker unit echoes the black sheen of the light pendants. The flamed granite countertops have a textured surface that's warm and leather-like to the touch. Kitchen design and joinery: Walk Interior Design; dining table: Safire; light pendants: Conciluce |
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The kitchen and dining area change from bright and outward looking during the day, to darker with feature lighting and a cozier feel at dusk and into the evening.
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The bedroom reflects a more minimalist ethos compared with the modern-eclectic style of the rest of the home. A layered window treatment creates a sophisticated look and helps insulate the bedroom.
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Under-floor heating warms toes in the bathroom. The couple laid the bathroom floor and wall tiles in the same brick-like pattern used throughout the house.
Bathroom joinery: Walk Interior Design
Bathroom joinery: Walk Interior Design
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Shutters covering the large atrium window filter sunlight. Guests can control the solar-powered motor with a bedside remote.
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| The lined wallpaper gives more insulation and smooths out the imperfect plaster work underneath. The wallpaper adds visual interest and takes the eye away from the all of room's straight lines and angles. |
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"Bathing in the soaking tub is just the most relaxing feeling — day or night," says Richmond.
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| A separate studio (curved wall here) that once contained a swimming pool now houses the pair's office. "A pool was never an option for us, so we converted the pool to our work studio. We shortened the space to provide extra parking at the rear and a patio at the front," says Richmond. |
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Inside, task lamps, an arch lamp and industrial light pendants throw the pitched roof's angles a few curves. Tolix chairs and a pair of stools surround the work table.
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The design duo thinks of their house as the pleasant surprise at the end of the road.
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| "We're surrounded by Victorian terraced houses. Most people, even people from the area, don't even know it's here," Richmond says. |
Ideabook published on Nov. 15, 2012.
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Way too white for me, but I don't have to live there.
Way too white for me, but I don't have to live there.
The house was in a bad state when we took it over. All the walls were bare breeze/cinder block painted a 'beige'. We flat plastered some key walls then painted them all white to give a consistent colour for the smooth and brick finishes. All designed and considered to enhance this particular property, working with what we had. We also painted all the mixed wood joinery grey to highlight and unify the house structure. Colour, texture, character and warmth come from the red brick and mahogany floors, lighting, soft furnishings and the art. Which all came later as we found it and funds allowed. I appreciate it's not everyones taste, but it does suit 'this' house and makes a great home. It would not make a good museum. You should try to look at the bigger picture and consider all the elements. Every project needs to be considered and designed accordingly. Not one size fits all.