Design for life
Tricia Douglas likes old properties – as long as they don’t feel dull and traditional. So, no wonder her fabulous York home incorporates period living with a spectacular modern twist.
Home gallery
Tricia Douglas has had to learn to love her home. On her very first viewing of this huge Edwardian house, which is located in a cosy village near York, Tricia was decidedly unimpressed – even though her husband, David, was immediately taken with it. The problem, thought Tricia, was that the property felt rather cold and austere, and seemed altogether too masculine.
‘But, I’m glad I went with it because, as I restyled the place from room to room, it started to grow on me. I love it now,’ Tricia says.
A sought-after York-based interior designer and property developer, Tricia also runs a business called Instant Interiors, aimed at furniture for the rental market. So, she’s used to renovating and redesigning properties belonging to other people.
But, the 108-year-old residence would present one of her biggest professional challenges – partly because it was so big, and partly because it was in dire need of some tender loving care.
‘The walls were in bright hues, mainly dark corals and yellows, while the flooring was well past its sell-by date,’ Tricia remembers. ‘It had been updated on a shoestring over the years – and needed a real, radical makeover.’
The kitchen was one of the few spaces in the house in need of structural work. The original interior had been dark and depressing, with French windows which, strangely, overlooked a brick wall. ‘It was not the most inspiring view in the world!’ laughs Tricia.
The Douglases decided to open up the room by adding an extension, to include a modern sitting room.
‘We invited an architect to plan the whole layout. But, in the end, David did the job himself – after all, he is a civil engineer,’ Tricia explains. ‘The kitchen feels much bigger now, with two sets of custom-made French doors that frame a wonderful view of the garden and overlook the swimming pool. It’s now my favourite room and has completely changed the way we use our house. I’m delighted.’
The bathroom was the next major project for Tricia. It had been decorated on a budget,
so the fixtures and fittings were looking tired. The MDF bath panel had warped and there was a lot of visible pipework.
‘When we first moved in, the shower was already in-situ, but it looked very basic,’ recalls Tricia. ‘We found a great joiner who put some architraving and corbels on the side of the housing. He also built a charming cabinet.
It makes the room look very sumptuous.’
She decided to complement this bespoke piece by having a matching unit made as part of the his ‘n’ hers washstand. The white sit-on basins bring a feeling of hotel chic to the space while the cupboards offer plenty of room to tuck away favourite pampering products.
Tricia stamped her own personality on the bathroom via the cunning use of colour and texture. She chose Antique Flamed Black Granite for the countertop and splashback of the vanity.
‘I prefer a more natural and understated appeal, and this handsome natural stone is not honed or polished,’ says Tricia. ‘The fireplace was already in position, so I renovated it myself, asking a local blacksmith to raise the grate.’
She also wanted to give every one of the bedrooms an individual style.
Interesting furniture teamed with lush fabrics in the master bedroom evoke a luxurious feel, which is further refreshed by a feature wall, papered with metallic wallpaper.
The harmonious hues of mocha, taupe and bitter chocolate form a relaxing retreat which is versatile enough to work with every season. Meanwhile, a classic sleigh bed, given a personal touch thanks to a lick of metallic paint, creates a striking focal point.
Tricia has transformed an older property into a warm and welcoming home by fusing elements of contemporary and traditional styles. ‘I do like old properties,’ she says.
‘But I’d be very happy in an ultra-modern house or apartment. I firmly believe that accessories and furniture can make or break a scheme. Plus, they don’t have to be in keeping with the age of the house. It makes sense to inject some modern pieces otherwise you may feel as though you are living in a museum.’
Interior profile
This five bedroom Edwardian mansion cleverly combines timeless flourishes with designer touches, from the striking bespoke kitchen and sitting area to the traditional bathroom and elegant finishingsof the master bedroom. The eclectic but classic design, completed by the owner, interiors guru Tricia Douglas, provides a wonderful insight in how to balance contemporary style with antique purchases, by using an exciting range of interesting textures, clean lines and heritage colours.
Interior Design: Tricia Douglas Interiors, The Croft, Hodgson Lane, Upper Poppleton,
York, YO26 6EA. Tel: 01904 781343. www.triciadouglasinteriors.co.uk
Stockists
KITCHEN
Bespoke handpainted kitchen.
Price on application, at Chapel Kitchens.
Fixtures and fittings
Honed granite worktop, £550 per sq. m., at Stone Connection. Beige limestone floor, price on request, at Lapicida. Perrin & Rowe sink tap, four hole-mixer 4376 in chrome, around £458, atTriflow Concepts. Ribchester 800 original sink, around £543, at Shaws of Darwen.
Appliances
Similar appliances: Fridge freezer 320FNRB Reflection, £3500, at Amana. Double oven DO81CSS-5, £1190, at Smeg. Dishwasher SN55M500GB, £560; gas hob EC745RU90E, £450, both at Siemens. Range cooker, £7130, at Aga.
Kitchen dining area
Similar dining chairs, Perth, £340 per pair; Tundra extending table, £840, at Go Modern.
Kitchen sitting area
Similar Ravel grand sofa, £795; similar wide striped vase, £45, both at John Lewis. Similiar lamp, Tripode G5, £495, at The London Lighting Company.
MASTER BEDROOM
Similar bespoke armchairs, price on request, at The Sofa & Chair Company. Similar bedstead, Brodsworth, priced from £7350, at And So To Bed. Similar Deknudt Steps Modern Designer mirror, £895, at Leigh Harmer. Similar Kai 08-01 wallpaper, around £35 per 10 m. roll, at Sanderson. Similar Montana Black table lamps, £342 each, at Juliette’s Interiors. Television LG M3702C-BA, £650, at LG. Curtain fabric Taffetta 1003X, from £23 per m.,
at Bennetts Silks.
BATHROOM
Similar Starck Oval freestanding bath, £2500; similar Bacino basin, around £208, both at Duravit. Similar floorstanding bath and shower mixer Serie 9,
£505; similar basin taps Serie 1, £148 per pair, both at TC Traditional and Contemporary Bathrooms.
Walls & Floors
Flooring, Molinos limestone, from £49 per sq. m., at Lapicida. Similar Tartalan emulsion paint, £32 for 2.5l., at Paint and Paper Library.
Furniture & Accessories
Cabinetry by a local joiner, £1000. Similar African Black Riverwashed granite, by Pisani, price on request, at Cerrig. Similar towel rails MD001, from £132, at Vogue Bathrooms. Similar mirror, glass on glass, £269, at Artdecomirrors4u. Similiar Interior wooden shutters, price on request, at Luxaflex. Similiar table, around £560 ,by Porada, at Mac & Mac Interiors.
*All prices are approximate.
