November 05 Frontpage of KBB International

Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms
When each of the 30 apartments he viewed fell short of expectations the owner of this sleek duplex apartment realised that the only way to achieve the home he wanted was to buy an empty shell and create it himself.

Superbly located next to Birmingham's much-feted Mailbox development, with its designer shops, bars and restaurants, the finished apartment is, its owner admits, unashamedly masculine. Yet despite the full complement of boys' toys, it neatly sidesteps the cliched vision of a bachelor pad.

The open-plan living space has been designed as a series of zones that flow harmoniously from one to another and reflect the owner's interests and lifestyle. There are cooking and dining areas; a media wall, it's 55" plasma screen and sophisticated Linn surround-sound system facing a super-sized leather sofa; and a bar with it's own sociable curvy seating. LED lighting allows each zone to be clearly defined or merged into the whole, as required.

"I recommend Format."
Floyd Russell - Russell Interiors

In the spacious kitchen, a wall of wenge-stained oak-veneered units by German manufacturer Format houses an Amana fridge-freezer and Meile appliances, including the must-have Nespresso coffee machine, while the huge, stainless-steel topped island has an integral bianco sink, waste disposal unit and a six-burner hob.

"I recommend Format." says kitchen designer Floyd Russell of Russell Interiors. "because it offers all of the build quality you associate with a German brand, but with a greater degree of flexibility in the design and cost than some of the others. For example, the units in the bar area are 20cm taller than those in the kitchen to compensate for the step down from the platform, so that the eye sees only a straight line."

Like the kitchen, the glass-topped bar area indicates a man who takes a professional approach to his entertaining, with equipment by the US commercial manufacturer U-line. The ice-maker can make 27lb of ice, there are drawers for champagne and canned drinks and the wine cooler stores red and white wines at the optimum temperature.

The flooring throughout this level is wenge, too, but the dark wood doesn't overwhelm, thanks to the room's high ceilings. pale upholstered seating and careful choice of paint colour. "People often partner wenge with cream walls, which can look harsh." says interior designer Suzanne Barnes. "If you use the beige hues instead you bring out the warmth of the wood."

In the master bedroom suite, reached by a glass spiral staircase, a queen-size bed faces floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking one of Birmingham's canals. Voile panels, backed with blackout fabric, glide noiselessly across the windows on electric tracks when it's time to block out the city lights.

"If you use the beige hues instead
you bring out the warmth of the wood."
Suzanne Barnes - Interior Designer

Throughout the apartment Suzanne has commissioned bespoke seating from local upholsterer Kevin Connelly. "We just draw what we have in mind and Kevin creates it!" she says. In this room a modern chaise loungue in a retro fabric sits in front of a gel fire, a focal point on winter days.

The walk-in wardrobe, its wenge-stained wood a visual echo pf the kitchen, reflects the owner's meticulous attention to detail. Divided into carefully measured sections, it ensures clothes and accessories are kept in optimum condition. There's also a useful central storage unit on which to lay out clothes.

Like the furniture and fittings on the flow below the Porcelanosa bath and basins in the bathroom are larger than life, in keeping with the space they inhabit. The tiles are limestone-effect ceramic because, as Suzanne explains, "While the cost of limestone has come down, the complicated process of laying and sealing it, often twice, has not changed. Ceramic tiles are quite simply less time consuming and more durable."

"This apartment proves that contemporary and masculine needn't mean clinical"

The glass walls are a bold feature. In fact, 'smart glass' technology should have ensured opacity at the flick of a switch but proved incompatible with a wetroom approach and the owner was wedded to the idea of his drench shower. The safe option would have been to put up stud walls, "but that would have really closed up the whole floor, losing all the wonderful light." he says.

This apartment proves that contemporary and masculine needn't mean clinical. Luxurious materials and high-specification products, combined with supreme attention to detail, have resulted in a stunning home to enjoy in good company.

 

Pictures by Neil Davis.

Back to Magazine Articles Home