Tag: redeveloped property

St Saviours Mansion: Church Conversion

St. Saviours is a former church that has been converted into a glorious private mansion in the heart of Knightsbridge, London’s prime residential neighborhood. This award-winning church conversion is the product of the collaborative talents assembled by the super-prime property developers, Rigby & Rigby, paired with the very esteemed international luxury interior design studio, Taylor Howes.

The home’s owners were international clients who lived abroad but were clear in their brief: create a chic, understated design while retaining the building’s original features. Ultimately, a neighboring mews house was also obtained and linked to the residence at ground and basement level in order to add additional bedroom suites to the existing five created in the main house, as well as to create an even larger basement level of living area. The addition brought the total to 11,500 square-feet of luxurious interiors completed with calm neutrals and custom detailing, all finished to the highest standards. This property really caught my attention when I initially came across it, and I immediately knew you would find it informative too. So, that is what makes this church conversion our design inspiration for today.

CHURCH CONVERSION DESIGN INSPIRATION

The entrance hall welcomes visitors with polished plaster walls with bronze inserts and marble floors. The ceiling above features a round coffered design which has been finished with platinum leaf, from which a platinized silver contemporary design chandelier is suspended.

To one side of the entrance hall is the comfy sitting/waiting room. If you must wait, this is a perfect place to do so. The glass wall before it is made with “electromagnetic” privacy glass which can change from clear to opaque at the touch of a button for those occasions when your visiting guest are super high-profile, and they don’t want the help to see them. The custom furnishings are smart with clean lines and neutral earthy shades including the mahogany cabinet which holds a pop-up television that disappears when not in use. The crocodile leather upholstered ottoman clearly is the star in this arrangement, after the painting whose colors defined those in the room.

Forward from the entry hall, the space opens wide in all directions. The central open locations of the former church are now the wide, open-plan drawing room that is the heart of the home. The room boasts 42′ vaulted ceilings with the original beams and stone pillars. A glass elevator of bespoke design rises through the center of the helical stone staircase that serves all four floors. The massive space is perfect for entertaining large crowds. The seating/conversational areas gather on individual area rugs that define their spaces along the marble floors. The walls are finished with limestone and polished plaster.

A cabinet of bespoke design placed behind the sofa defines the space between the dining and main reception area. The cabinet houses a double-sided pop-up television that provides for watching television from either the seating area or from the dining table, with the back-to-back televisions sinking into the floor when not in use. A mahogany temperature-controlled wine storage and display unit is stands behind the dining table. A discreet side door leads through to the kitchen.

Custom units by Boffi and Gaggenau appliances form the family kitchen and breakfast area. On the far wall, additional bespoke designed cabinets house yet another television. A Murano glass chandelier hangs above the breakfast table. Beyond this kitchen is a second kitchen of commercial grade in stainless steel and a full range of industrial kitchen appliances.

A mezzanine level living area provides a more informal place to hang and entertain close associates. The space gathers before the fireplace set in a thirty-one-foot-high limestone surround with a television mounted over it. Above the fireplace, a Damien Hirst butterfly painting hangs. There is a clear view through to the bronze and glass elevator that passes through the custom spiraling staircase around it.

Here we have the fabulous master bedroom suite up on the first floor, which includes vaulted ceilings and the ornate original beams. For this special space, the beautiful original church windows serve as the focal point. Three sections, divided by arches form the suite: bedroom, sitting area, and bath. The floors up here change from marble to walnut wood. Silk wall coverings dress the walls while silk curtains dress the windows. In the master bath, a specially commissioned bronze floating wall with cherry blossoms cast in bronze resin creates the focal point behind the soaking tub.

This is one of the several guest bedroom suites. It too features vaulted ceilings and original Gothic stone arches. The designers dressed the bedroom in silks and covered the walnut floors with a silk rug. The bathroom is just a harmony of natural light and smooth perfection; book matched marble, drawers finished in liquid platinum, and polished nickel fixtures, the list goes on.

Down on the lower level, we have the spacious media and entertaining room. Extensive mahogany cabinetry, built-in seating banquets, a full bar and countless fine details abound. The custom 120″ television with surround sound built-in makes for a wonderful experience. Mahogany and leather panels cover the walls. The designers finished the coffered ceilings with platinum leaf. This is quite a room!

To complete the home with the very best, more indulgent spaces were created down on the lower level. These include a thirty-foot heated pool with Jacuzzi, a spa area with sauna, a steam room, and private treatment rooms. All this, and a fully equipped gym and a juice bar.

There is a total of seven bedroom suites, plus additional quarters for the staff. The details are endless. This church conversion covered every detail while staying true to the original architectural style.

For more of this designers elegant work, be sure to see:

Luxury Interior Design: Mayfair

Compact Luxury Design: Taylor Howes

TAYLOR HOWES’ CHURCH CONVERSION

Over the last two decades, Taylor Howes has made its name within the industry for interiors that are intelligent, elegant, dynamic, and infused with passion and creativity. Their interior design practice is talented, friendly, approachable, and absolutely committed to achieving the best design solution possible for any given project, whether private residence, show suite, hotel, spa, or restaurant environment.

Property Development: Rigby & Rigby

Interior Design: Taylor Howes

Photography: Tom Sullam

Thanks so much for reading along with me! Let me hear from you all in the comments. What do you all think of this beautiful church conversion?

Have a great day!

March 7, 2016
Knightsbridge Townhouse Reinvention

For our design inspiration today, we have a Knightsbridge townhouse reinvention. This grand Georgian-style townhouse located in the heart of London’s fashionable and exclusive Knightsbridge across from Hyde Park is reimagined for modern life. This preservation protected residence is restored to its original splendor as a single family luxury home complete with fully modernized interiors after a meticulous redevelopment. The design firm Oro Bianco, with its team of RIBA architects and interior designers, completed the interior transformation with a special turn-key finish of the highest standards.

The residence provides elegant and comforting accommodations over seven floors with an elevator serving the principle levels. Additional living space made possible through a basement excavation greatly enhance the home. This allowed the home to go deeper, since property lines and city ordinances prohibit it from growing in any other direction. The excavation provided for the inclusion of a subterranean spa level that features an indoor swimming pool, sauna, and home gym. Light wells created through several floors allow natural light to flow throughout all levels.

Guests enter the home through the front gated gardens on the ground floor level here into the entrance hall. Mirrors and gloss define and expand the sense of space. The design team created a mirror on mirror vignette here which I love. The balancing of traditional and contemporary design begins at the front door. Note the contemporary lighting and art.

The entrance hall opens to the central lobby area giving way to the stairs and elevator, as well as to the study and formal dining room. The paneled mirror, a verre églomisé design on antique mirror glass, is a special work designed and made by Gorman Studios. Peter Gorman, founder of Vancouver’s Gorman Studios, pioneered many new techniques to create exquisite modern interpretations of chinoiserie, reverse glass painting, lacquered panels, and other fine art details. These designs are growing in demand as the push for customization and couture quality finishes continues to grow. The graceful curves of the French Rococo style chairs pair with the sleek lines of the modern lighting sconces.

HAND-CRAFTING THE WORLD’S MOST MAGNIFICENT PRIVATE PROPERTIES

The formal dining room is a dressed-up delight combining soft traditional design elements with edited contemporary design for a transitional effect. I love mirrored walls and declare them timeless, and adding that marble fireplace surround is pure genius. The molding and ceiling designs are classic, though interpreted with fresh designs. Ralph Lauren Home principally furnishes the home, complemented by bespoke designed British and Italian pieces.

The study features handsome bespoke lacquered wood designs inlaid with brass. The look is very smart and of sophisticated design. Custom carpets cover the dark oak timber floors. Note the glass portion of the ceiling forming part of the light well.

The powder room completes the ground floor. Mirror and marble with wood and brass accents give the small space maximum impact.

The first floor holds the formal reception room, as is the custom, with a terrace off the back. The room occupies the entire floor designed with contemporary classic style. Lacquer, mirror, bespoke woodwork, and custom designs complete the look. It is very Ralph Lauren in its effect. The lighting used in all the home is of bespoke design from America. The room serves for formal entertaining, but not too formal. A Ralph Lauren Duke bar positions ideally between the sitting area and the terrace. It looks like a perfect place for cocktail hour. The effect is all perfectly cosmopolitan and chic!

The lower ground floor holds the more informal family rooms. Here we have the informal family dining room located right off the kitchen. Everything is contemporary down on this level.

The Knightsbridge townhouse features a fully fitted Bulthaup custom kitchen with Gaggenau appliances. The wood finished island/breakfast bar really balances the look.

This level also holds the very comfortable media room. Fabric upholstered walls and deep sofas with lots of pillows provide the ultimate in casual comfort. The designers continued the exceptional bespoke joinery in here as well.

The master bedroom suite occupies the entire second floor. The space is a calm oasis of clean lines and transitional styling. The fabrics used throughout are Lizzo, Fox Linton. The drapes and soft furnishings were made by Emporio Interiors in Chelsea. Italian marble and patterned mirrors outfit the sleek master bathroom.

The remaining bedrooms and bathrooms are all up on the third and fourth floors. All are done very tastefully with classic contemporary styling with Italian marble bathrooms. The look is very International hotel chic. The lower ground level holds another bedroom and bath for staff with a separate side entrance into the home.

The basement excavation made it possible to add in this extra level of comforting amenities. Down here, a complete home spa and health center were created. The subterranean space includes a 49′ long swimming pool, which is quite impressive when you consider it was added beneath historic London. Iroquois indoor/outdoor wood and Italian slab marble make up much of this space. Bisazza tiles line the pool. This level also includes a gym, sauna, steam/wet room, and a bath. You can see the natural light flowing in though the light well. This is a super luxury addition to an already nice home.

The latest Fusion Home Automation System, Lutron lighting, and electronic blinds complete this Knightsbridge townhouse reinvention.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more London residences reinvented for modern life, be sure to see:

Classic Mayfair Penthouse: Oro Bianco

London Georgian Townhouse Renewal

KNIGHTSBRIDGE TOWNHOUSE REINVENTION

Luxury interior design studio Oro Bianco specializes in creating magnificent architectural interiors for international clients around the world. Founded in 2011 by award-winning architect Luigi Esposito, interior designer Stefania Mazzarini, and MD Killian Thomas Lynch, the multi-national team of RIBA architects and interior designers work on global projects for the luxury high-end interiors market.

The company has two distinct areas – Oro Bianco Studio, which creates bespoke luxury interiors around the world, and Oro Bianco Milano, which designs and produces our luxurious furniture and decorative lighting.

Their website includes a Home Products Page with beautiful furniture, lighting, and antiques.

Property Development: Fenton Whelan

Interior Architecture & Design: Oro Bianco Studio

Thanks so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed today’s Knightsbridge townhouse reinvention. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments! What do you think?

Have a great day!

January 18, 2016
London Georgian Townhouse Renewal

Today’s design inspiration comes from an elegant Georgian townhouse located in the heart of London’s affluent Belgravia district. The five-story historical terrace residence, built circa 1817 by renowned architect Thomas Cubitt, is redeveloped with interiors designed for modern day luxury living. The interior refurbishment included the careful restoration of many of its period interior architectural details, balanced with contemporary interior design that brilliantly integrated the best of modern and luxurious amenities. The home was completed by the London-based luxury developer Residence One, with full bespoke interiors by design firm Laura Hammett.

The well-proportioned 4600 square-foot property includes five bedrooms, gracious formal rooms, staff accommodations, and excellent outdoor spaces. The home’s refurbishment includes the finest materials and finishes as well as the latest technology and home automation, complete with “turn-key” furnishings, interior styling, and bespoke design detailing.

In the opening photos, we see the family/media room down on the lower subterranean level of the home. The developer elected not to expand the space by means of the much debated, controversial basement excavations. Instead of expanding the square footage below, the emphasis is on the super high quality of the interior design and customization of the existing space. The room focuses on a custom wall designed to hold the television and equipment in the center with book/display shelves lit with LED lighting on either side. Bespoke designed furnishings gather on a luxury pile carpet. The paintings are by the artist Ben Lowe, with the contemporary lighting by Bella Figura. At the back, a custom marble staircase with frameless glass balustrade leads up to the kitchen. The bar area includes dual zone wine and drinks refrigerators.

The room opens to an inner courtyard with limestone floors that is open through the floors above to provide natural light and air into this lower back portion of the home. Down on this level, there are also two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms ideally designed for guest and staff accommodations due to the home’s separate entrance location here.

On the ground floor, guests enter the Georgian townhouse through the stately high gloss black front door into the entrance hall which sets the tone well for the style in the rest of the home. Polished ivory marble with Pietra gray borders make up the floors and include integrated lighting that highlights the architectural details. The corridor provides access to the main staircase. The length divides into sections complete with custom consoles and lighting fixtures. In one of the sections, 12ct white gold eglomise bronze beveled mirrors line the walls for a wonderful effect. Note the detail of the moldings.

Also situated on the ground floor level are the homes formal dining room and study. Both rooms include custom chevron parquet oak flooring with brass inlays and integrated LED lighting. Both also have white marble Chesney fireplaces with slate hearths. The exquisite chandelier above the dining table is a custom design from Serip. The pendant light in the office is by Porta Romana. The furnishings in both rooms are of bespoke design. Here we have great examples of Classic Contemporary design: Classic architectural details with Contemporary styling and furnishings.

A contemporary chef’s kitchen and informal dining area complete the ground floor. The kitchen includes dark custom cabinetry and book matched Calacatta Ora marble worktops with gray mirrored backsplashes. The sophisticated design features Gaggenau appliances along with all the amenities required to complete a modern kitchen. The furnishings are bespoke designed as with the rest of the home. The contemporary chandelier suspended above the table is by Baroncelli. The room opens to an outdoor breakfast terrace which fills the room with natural light. A skylight also provides ample natural lighting to flow throughout the home. The floor along the back and side open to the family room below allowing the natural light to flow through down into those spaces.

The home’s formal drawing room is located up on the first floor. The grand, double volume room combines classical elegance and contemporary styling effortlessly. The room allows for entertaining in style. The floors are custom chevron parquet oak with antique brass inlay, and this room includes two white marble Chesney fireplaces. The rock crystal chandeliers and wall lights are Ambika. The room divides into two seating groups composed of custom furnishings of bespoke design arranged on silk rugs.

Beyond the drawing room, one can make their way through the bar area with its bronzed beveled mirrored walls and custom cabinetry with brass inlays. The space includes integrated drinks refrigerators as well as a dumbwaiter down to the kitchen below.

Beyond the bar, the home opens to the rooftop terrace. This outdoor entertaining space includes a conversation and dining area with limestone floors. A computerized irrigation system maintains the plants, shrubs, and olive trees.

The entire second floor of the Georgian townhouse belongs to the master bedroom suite. The spacious suite includes a beveled mirror feature wall, luxury deep pile carpet, and bespoke designed furnishings. In the bathroom, Calacatta Oro marble slabs make up the double sink vanity unit and the wall opposite it. Vein matched Grigio Bellimi marble covers the floors. The bathroom includes a large shower and a soaking tub with a television perfectly placed above it. Designer fixtures and an Ambika rock crystal chandelier take the luxury level even higher. The mirrors include automatic demister functions.

The remaining bedrooms and bathrooms in the home display the continued attention to detail and luxury. Custom furnishings, marble bathrooms, designer fixtures, luxury deep pile carpet, silk wallcoverings, luxury bedding, it is all here.

This photo shows the view from above down through the back open sections of the home. As you can see, the refurbishment has tended to every detail quite well. The redevelopment of this Georgian townhouse was a success and the home sold quickly upon completion as expected.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more from residences completed by this team, be sure to see:

Contemporary Mews House: Belgravia

Classic Contemporary Design: Laura Hammett

GEORGIAN TOWNHOUSE RENEWAL

Residence One is a developer of elegant residences in London’s finest addresses. The developers pride themselves on their attention to the beauty and quality of the smallest detail. They make sure that their flawlessly finished developments showcase the world’s very best material finishes and technology.

Laura Hammett is a London interior design and interior architecture studio. The firm specializing in luxury residential projects for private clients and property developers throughout the UK and abroad. The design firm formed in 2008 and today, husband and wife team Aaron and Laura Hammett direct it. Their projects combine a creative timeless approach with a signature elegant and luxurious style.

Property Development: Residence One

Interior Design: Laura Hammett

Photography: Ray Main

Thank you so much for reading along with me today. I hope you enjoyed the renewal of this classic luxury Georgian townhouse updated for modern day living. Let me hear from you in the comments.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

November 4, 2015