Freestyle

OFF-WHITE PANELING, PRECIOUS STUCCO. PATTERNS AND COLORS. A MANOR HOUSE FROM THE EARLY 1900S, REINVENTED.

Two and eastern light. things England, We come are to near in mind the Scotland. idyllic in the countryside park Susi of Bellamy, this of Edwardian Northumberland, the owner, manor: is an modernity artist in north- and textile designer, who lives here with her husband Michael. Her style could be defined as feminine, and is certainly very decorative. The classic house with its checked floors is full of fabrics and wallpapers, in a kaleidoscope of patterns. Born in Cardiff, after studies and work experiences she spent six years in Florence. When she returned, she discovered this house, and decided it needed to be reinvented with an accent on light, to make it more cheerful. All the old, dark wood was repainted in an off-white tone. With the help of the architect Ike Isenhour, she began by painting the architrave of the entrance hall. The neutral color enhances the lively accessories and fabrics. The layout has also been revised, adding a second corridor to connect the entrance, the kitchen and the living area to facilitate circulation. «The corridor is brilliant; I would never have thought of it. That’s why it is always good to have an architect involved», Susi admits. The kitchen furnishings are custom pieces by the local cabinetmaker Robinson-Gay, exploiting the high ceilings. While the ground floor has an essentially neutral palette, the first and second floors are an explosion of colors and patterns. The guestroom walls are in dazzling yellow, a courageous choice that echoes the solution for the wardrobe on the level below, an inebriating mixture of wallpapers with geometric motifs and a warm shade of orange for doors and cabinets. The project reflects Susi’s passion for color, also visible in marbled motifs (a technique learned in Florence and refined in her studio in Newcastle).