FAMILY HOME, RICHMOND |
Friday 13 Jan 2012
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De Hasse's brief from the client was to design a practical, but aesthetically beautiful living space. The family travel frequently and play sport so the ability to create as much storage for sports equipment, and luggage was primal to the effectiveness of the finished design.
The property, in an historical backwater, required a total refresh and the functionality of the space was paramount. The small dark warren of rooms on the ground floor was opened up, offering a large practical open space.
To multi function this, (entertaining reception, family, home cinema, TV space, office and effective, easy to use storage), as well as include the required 4 seat sofa within a 3.6m square area, practical movement though and around the room, and inclusion of other items of furniture, required careful consideration.
A curved sofa offering plenty of comfortable seating whilst also creating a visual break from the front and the rear rooms was selected, the space further defined by use of a 3.5m diameter rug. Storage was designed to the specific requirements of the client, though due to the wall, two fire breast removals and steal positionings, the run of storage was such that it needed to be made as one. However, two finishes were selected to further define both the front and the rear areas of the room. The lighting design adds further interest here with layers of light for differing moods and room usage and particularly the inclusion of recessed dimple LED strip lighting integrated into the cabinetry.
A strong visual lead in from the entrance was created using a floor to ceiling etched, curved glass wall to follow the contour of the sofa. The practical element of this was one of privacy at night as the sofa faced away from the glazed front door.
The design of the ground floor evolved further by the creation of mirrored columns, a gold leaf wall slicing up though the stairwell to the first and floor beyond and a fixed glass wall area to offer light to the rear of the hall and stairwell to the basement as well as a visually interesting break in the back of the hall storage for anyone sitting in the office area.
With the intention of creating interest and surprise from all angles in the house to provide the client with elements of the unexpected De Hasse also created the design for a bespoke rug, one of four made for this project by The Rug Company.
The kitchen design (manufactured by Bulthaup), was conceived by the designer and all the finishes for the property which include the polished concrete for the floor here, the wide board, silver toned oak flooring, and the exposed brick wall were specifically slected. Hoping to create a total contrast in finishes from the sleek white of the varying kitchen finishes to the rough original wall.
Seven other areas in the house aside from those listed above were conceived, including a bathroom, two Wc's and all of the interior fixtures, fittings and bespoke cabinetry.
De Hasse