Contemporary Curves
Above: The kitchen was designed and supplied by Saffreys, 01730 829744, and the stools came from Harrods.
Above: Below: The imposing exterior.
Above: Photography: Tony Timmington
Above: The dining room is lined with a suede wallpaper by Louise Bradley, 020 75891442, and the wall lights are from Porta Romano.
Above: The loft room has a funky round bed.
Above: In the hall the fire surround is from Templestone 01963 3550242 and the chairs from Louise Bradley 020 7589 1442.
Above: .
Above: Bedroom
Above: In the master bedroom there is a chair upholstered in zebra fur from South Africa and the bedside tables from Andrew Martin, 020 7225 5100.
Above: The sitting room was papered in a wallpaper by Manual Canovas from Colefax & Fowler and the sofas came from Selfridges. The upholstery fabric on the chairs is from Nobilis.
When property developer Michael Holt set eyes on an eighteenth century cottage in Berkshire parkland near Binfield, his professional antennae picked up on a chance of a lifetime, which his wife Helen initially resisted. “All I could see was a dark pokey two bedroom cottage with nothing to recommend it.” Helen admits. “But Michael has an expert eye. He can see far beyond the confines of four walls and a roof.
The cottage had been used to house the head gardener of an adjoining mansion, so it was surrounded by 18th century landscaped parkland.” Even so, Helen says the decision as to whether or not to buy almost caused a divorce.
“For Michael the challenge was irresistible and in the end I had no choice.” Starting a dialogue with the architect put Helen into a more positive mood. “The idea of a three-storey tower to divide the old from the new extension began to emerge. I liked the castle analogy. Then the architect had another clever idea. He suggested that the new extension should be curved and not straight. Straight lines, he said, were predictable – and could make the house look like an out-of-a-catalogue home. As I always like to push the boundaries – and I positively embrace everything that is OTT– his idea appealed to me. Curves then became an important hallmark to the design of the house.”
The tower contains an open plan staircase raising three storeys with a metal balustrade designed by Helen. It winds its way up through the tower and from the top there is a dramatic aerial view of the hall below. “I love this hall most of all” says Helen, “It is architecturally exhilarating and quite theatrical. At first floor level it is spanned by a bridge which links the master bedroom suite to the rest of the house.”
Having designed the new extension on a curve, the interiors naturally reflect the shape. The wall dividing the new kitchen and living area is curved. Upstairs the wall dividing the dressing room from the master bedroom is curved. Even the dressing room cupboard doors are curved. “Curves have a soft, luxurious feel to them,” says Helen, “and as I am passionate about lush textures, I found a paint effects specialist, to create a highly polished marble effect to emphasise the shape.”
Helen’s love of lush textures is expressed in all her furnishing choices. The dining room has suede wallpaper, some chairs are upholstered in leather, real zebra and furrowed corduroy. Lots of Helen’s self-styled OTT gestures are refreshingly quirky and flamboyant.
The gas fire in the hall appears to burn Corinthian marble heads instead of logs and the wallpaper in the sitting room is a strong pattern of stylised pansies in flocked black velvet on a silver background.
“Quite in your face,” Helen admits.” But then I like to take risks and I am quite fickle and easily bored. I will probably change it when the spring comes round. Being so passionate about colour and design, means I am always tempted to want to try new ideas.”
In spite of her zest for new shapes and colours, Helen likes simplicity. The kitchen is designed on a simple curve as part of a large sitting room cum dining room because entertaining for Helen has to be simple and easy and she wanted a kitchen she could live in. “Most people do not do the formal dinner party thing anymore with Wedgwood plates and fondue sets. So this space is designed for family life and parties where everybody takes part in the preparations and that includes setting the table.”
Helen explains that some of her creative energy is now being taken up with embarking as a freelance interior designer after running a business with a friend. New designs and new colours are always on Helen’s agenda. “Next I would like to turn the dining room into a TV room and build on another summer sitting room. Then one day I want to build a round house,” she says,” with a view over the sea.” Meanwhile the tiny cottage she initially despised, has become her passion and a much loved home featuring dazzling patterns, colours and curved interlocking shapes.
For more information visit
www.helenholtinteriors.co.uk
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