Refurbishments
for wood nowadays, so do not feel that staining it or painting it white are the only options!
When it comes to furniture, you can be more adventurous in this area as the reception furniture will not have as heavy usage as furniture in social spaces. Elliscombe House is an Edwardian house so I bought a number of pieces of antique furniture, mirrors and artwork from various auction houses, all befitting of the large elegant rooms in the original house. Especially pleasing are an Edwardian
conversational sofa, which we have had refurbished locally and sits in the hall, and a couple of beautiful sideboards in the dining room.
Think about corridor spaces too. They do
not have to be a stark and boring route to another room. In fact - space permitting - they can take on a life of their own! We have turned a passageway just off
our reception area into a bar area for teas, coffees and nibbles by day, and a glass of whatever takes the residents’ fancy in the evening. Originally this was to be a cupboard space, but by turning it into a bar it has given the space a life of its own.
Social spaces When we took on Elliscombe House, the glorious reception rooms had been carved up and turned into bedrooms and bathrooms. I felt passionately that generous and comfortable social spaces were hugely important and the heart of the home needed to return to these lovely rooms. Furthermore, we have added a stunning orangery, with the entire area having been designed in such a way as to allow for flexibility in the way it is used.
If you have several social spaces adjacent to each other, and budget allows, bifold doors are a wonderful way to really open up your home and maximise flexibility in use of space
If you have several social spaces adjacent to each other, and budget allows, bifold doors are a wonderful way to really open up your home and maximise flexibility in use of space. By painting in folding doors and keeping colour schemes consistent and/or complementary across spaces, the versatility of the area is further enhanced as furniture can be moved around as required. At Elliscombe House, we have reinstated
two bow-fronted reception rooms, creating an elegant library and dining room, with wonderful south-facing views. We have retained the original fireplaces and blended traditional antique items with contemporary furniture from Shackletons, alongside modern lighting and artwork.
Bedrooms
In much the same way as social spaces can be reconfigured, so too can bedrooms. Today’s residents and their families expect far more than those of the past in terms of private space, with large bedrooms and en-suite facilities the norm in fee-paying facilities.
At Elliscombe House, we reconfigured
our bedrooms - adding private conservatories to two ground floor rooms - reducing the overall number of rooms so that residents have the private space they expect and deserve. While we had the luxury of doing this when the home was empty, if several small
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