Charles Rennie (lite)
Arts and Crafts home has hint of Mackintosh genius, says Paul Drury
WITH its pretty stained glass windows, built-in furniture and even beautifully engineered brass door knobs, you can only imagine the impact Beaufort had when its was built in the earliest years of the 20th century.
With previous decades noted for their conservative construction in the Victorian style, this Arts and Crafts delight must have landed like a spaceship in the Scotland of 1904.
After the stiff formality of Victoriana this early example of Edwardiana in the village of Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, suddenly showed that houses could be fun.
You can’t inhale the wooden magnificence of the hallway without getting a whiff of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
There is no claim the Glasgow designer had a hand in Beaufort’s construction – its architect is unknown – but it is replete with touches of the Glasgow Style of which he was a key figure.
The square window-like indentations in the newels of the balustrade, the signature pink rose associated with his wife Margaret Macdonald and the high wood panelling are all familiar. Owner Sarah Deas makes no exotic claims about her home’s provenance but accepts it is reminiscent of CRM’s work.
‘It’s a fine example of the Arts and Crafts movement,’ she said. ‘You can see the Mackintosh influence but it is not a Mackintosh property.’
Let’s settle for ‘Mackintosh lite’ then.
Her favourite part of the house? It’s the contrast between the dark wood of the hallway – crowned by a magnificent timber fireplace – and the bright, airy dining room.
Mrs Deas said the house would have been designed with the needs of domestic servants in mind.
‘You can still see where the gas lamps would have been, and all the old Belfast sinks have survived,’ she added. ‘Even the dining room has an “in” door for the staff and another for the family.’
In all, Beaufort has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, living room, dining room, sitting room, kitchen, library and games room.
It offers the opportunity for grand living in an atmosphere heady with the scent of our greatest Art Nouveau architect.
Beaufort – it really is off the scale.