In Safe Hands continued...
To decorate a 'blank canvas' of this size would be a daunting task for even the most experienced amateur, so Brian and Irina brought in Lynda Kerry of Lynda Kerry Interior Design. "She took care of everything indoors," he says, "sourcing all the rugs, curtains and light fittings, and even choosing the paint colours. It made a huge difference." The formal living room is furnished with a sofa in the Louis XV style and bergere chairs around a marble and gilt coffee table.
Matching curtains and chandeliers link the living and dining rooms where a custom-made dining table seats 10. "We've actually had up to 22 people in there by putting another table at the end," Brian reports. For formal occasions, it is set with a dinner service Irina bought from the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St Petersburg. "That is such an amazing place," he exclaims, "so beautiful you want to buy everything." The original servery is now a bar, but again due to the heritage restrictions, the white wall tiles had to be preserved, so they are cleverly covered with chenille fabric in a garnet shade by Gerald van Denbossche.
The kitchen was in a dilapidated state and separated from the rest of the house, but taking out a wall made it part of the enormous and now less formal living area. In keeping with the significance of the house, it still has a traditional feel with moulded doors on the cupboards, rounded edges on the benchtops and the floor tiled in the time-honoured black and white diamond pattern. As befits a couple who love to entertain, the stainless-steel appliances are top-of-the-line from the upmarket Electrolux European Gallery range and a separate pantry provides yet more storage and two large fridges.
Artist Joy Godley was commissioned to paint the delicate mural behind the Louis XV-style bed in the spacious master bedroom, and Lynda Kerry custom-designed all the bedding. The main bathroom also has its original terrazzo bath surround and the vanity is topped with matching terrazzo salvaged from the bar room. The size of this room with its deep tub and separate shower is typical of an age when space equalled luxury. The modern additions of the large vanity, tile-edged mirror, heated towel rail and tapware in a traditional style bring the room right up to date, while still in accord with the feeling of the past.
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