The Brief
Elegance and a timeless aesthetic were the prerequisites for this five bedroomed Edwardian family home in Didsbury. A total renovation was undertaken, with a new roof and windows installed, a bespoke staircase built, and new bathrooms and a new kitchen fitted, as well as redecoration of all four floors. The interior designer, Zoe Fernyhough of Artisan Interiors, was given free rein when it came to the project.
‘The client has an eye for design. He travels with work and stays in a lot of lovely hotels. He really wanted to create that feeling of luxury, particularly in the bedrooms and bathrooms, and he craved a hotel luxe feel,’ explains Zoe. ‘We were on the same page from day one about what the look and feel should be, we had very similar ideas, so it was a really lovely project to work on.’ When it came to the flooring, there was no particular requirement for practical flooring - although children live here - the emphasis was quite simply on a beautiful interior.
The Project
A statement was made with Artisans of Devizes’ stone flooring in both the entrance and the master bathroom. ‘There was a generous budget for this project so I knew I could choose something a little more luxurious and opt for marble,’ explains Zoe.
The entrance is an elegant light and airy space and the bespoke monochrome floor features three different marbles - Nero Marquina, Calacatta Iceberg and Cloud Grey in a dramatic geometric design that creates a sense of identity. ‘Previously the hall was quite dark. It’s a beautiful big wide space so I wanted to keep it bright with a standout floor,’ says Zoe. She had undertaken careful research and was inspired by a similar floor design she had seen. ‘I showed it to the client and he really liked it.’ The floor tiles anchor the scheme and are complemented by warm white walls, with pops of black showcased in the furniture and front door, resulting in the eye being drawn downwards. The bespoke staircase is an additional elegant focal point. For a cohesive feel, the marble flooring was carried through to the downstairs cloakroom, where it beautifully complements the handpainted botanical landscape wallpaper by Ananbô.
The aesthetic of the master bathroom floor was influenced by a pattern Zoe had spotted in a hotel. ‘I was inspired by the design in terms of formation,’ she says. She had already selected a classic green marble period-style washstand by Drummonds, and teased the green shade through to the floor tiles. Here, a beautiful bespoke pattern was created with Avant Garde, Verde Guatemala and Carrara marble. The emphasis with the aesthetic was a traditional-style bathroom that featured skilled craftsmanship and products made in the UK. ‘The design needed to be in keeping with the age of the house - I felt it was really important to create a scheme that complemented it,’ explains Zoe. The timeless look was elevated further with a wow factor bath tub by Waterworks that replicates a period French bath.
Credits:
Project by Artisan Interiors
Design Consulant: Alison Conti at Artisans of Devizes
Bathroom Products: Drummonds & Waterworks
Master Bathroom cabinet: Atelier Joinery
WC Marble sink: Porter Bathrooms
Carpet: Crucial Trading
WC mirror: Gubi