WE WERE INSPIRED BY Californian style
Its not unusual to return from a holiday yearningfor a different lifestyle, but the interiors Alice and Ernst Harrison saw in California so impressed them, they influenced their next choice of home, us Alice explains...
What was it about the layouts you saw in the States that made such an impact? It wasnt just the clean, contemporary lines and the fluid sense of space that we fell in love with. Ernst and I also visited Taliesin. which is the Frank I loyd Wright School of Architects in Arizona We looked at the houses Lloyd Wright designed back in the 1920s and 1930s, and wc were bowled over. And when this place came onto the market, there was no way we could pass it up, not least because it was designed by Royston Summers, who developed a very similar style of architecture during the 1970s.
Where is the house located? This is the only bungalow included in a development of 16 properties in a desirable part of Surrey. The house had been modernised in the 1980s, complete with avocado bathrooms. I have to admit wc were itching to get our hands on it. The vendors were a lovely couple, but I dont think they recognised the building? true potential. Ernst and I knew we could do something special with it.
Wltdf plans did you have in mind?
Our goal was to take the house back to its original architectural conception, but also to bring it up to date with some modern touches. So getting rid of those ugly bathrooms was definitely a priority! We also wanted to strip the stone - clad walls back to the original brick. The aim was to restore the propertys sleek, clean lines.
Did you stay in the house during the revamp? No. wc rented a place nearby, but I popped in every day to check on the progress, which proved to be essential. For example.
replacing the flooring in the living area was a particularly tricky issue. Its a huge space, and we chose large - format tiles to really do it justice. The tiles had to be laid on a perfectly flar floor, using only a tiny - amount of grout. Because it took so long for each tile to be positioned. I began to get frustrated. Day after day, Id arrive expecting to see some progress, but would always leave feeling disappointed.
How long did the renovation eventually take Five months, but at least it meant that from the day we moved in. the bungalow was exactly how wc envisaged it at the start. One of the first things we did was to hang our collection of artworks. Art is very important to us. and many of our paintings are of places weve visited Having them on the walls turned the house into our home.
Have the artworks influenced the decor? We certainly had to create a suitable backdrop. To give the bungalow an edgy, contemporary look, we used flat eggshell on the walls or sometimes matt emulsion - theyre unforgiving but do give a fantastic finish. Once the walls were dressed. I based the schemes around individual paintings. Ernsts favourite is the contemporary landscape hanging above the antique chest in the sitting room. Its bright yellow tones inspired my choice of fabrics and textiles.
What about the furniture? Did you buy everything new or introduce some old pieces? The biggest challenge was paring down our belongings for the new house. I have to admit, however, to renting a storage space nearby where I keep furniture I couldnt bear to part with! Still, I found room for most of my favourites. I bought the large hall table IS years ago. and its been with me ever since. It was originally used for fabric cutting, but Ive employed it as a dining table and its now a console.
How has the move to the bungalow changed the way you live? We bought it at a time when our kids. Claudia and Fdward. were in their teens and ready for a more grown - up lifestyle, so it feels like an adults house. Our everyday quality of life has improved, too. The house gets sunshine from early in the morning until late evening - sometimes it feels as if California has come to us.
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