Fancy a big Mack?
Charles Rennie influences are evident over this charming period flat
IT may not be an original work by the great man, but the Tail ‘O The Bank does boast a delightful slice of ‘Mackintosh lite’. And any home that can be linked to arguably our greatest designer, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, is more appealing to buyers.
Just as many houses in Scotland once claimed to have had Mary, Queen of Scots, as an overnight guest, now many homeowners insist their hall bannister has more than a hint of ‘the Mack’.
Not so at this delightful C-listed property overlooking the Firth of Clyde in Gourock, Renfrewshire.
The selling agents for this groundfloor conversion make no outrageous Mackintosh provenance claims, hinting only that the lovely touches may have been ‘inspired’ by the Glaswegian’s work.
Such flourishes greet you from the front door, where visitors are welcomed with the Lord Tennyson quote – in Mackintosh-style lettering – ‘Wheresoe’er thou move, good luck. Shall fling her old shoe after’.
The vestibule pays homage to the renowned ‘Glasgow Style’, with a lovely curved mantel above the door and a trio of inlaid stained glass windows celebrating the Mackintosh rose, in signature red.
The porch and the hallway are both white, while green, chevronstyle tiles on the floor direct you outward, not inward.
But when you do go in, the house is beautifully presented, with walls papered or painted to picture rail height, with white above neatly blending into the ceiling.
The architecture of the lounge has been designed to make the most of the views of the Clyde, with two curved, pastel-painted walls bending respectfully towards the big bay window. A plain black fireplace is set within a simple white surround, resonant of the Art Nouveau movement.
The history of the house was important to the current owner, who uncovered more about its roots in a public notice, dated 1903, in a local newspaper.
It states: ‘At a sitting of the Dean of Guild Court, plans were submitted by Mr Archibald Smith, Gourock, for the erection of a villa in Tower Drive and were passed.’ The dining /sitting room has been decorated in a traditional style but there is nothing old-fashioned about the galley-style kitchen.
Cool, white, industrial-style tiles are on the walls, nicely setting off the gun metal finishes of the fridge, extractor and cooker.
The bathroom is sleek, modern and benefits from earth-coloured tiling on the walls and floor and simple white sanitary ware. The master bedroom is an elegant affair, enriched by wood panelling on the ceiling, a large bay window and door with stained glass panel.
The second largest bedroom is spacious and again decorated subtly in warming greys and browns. A third bedroom is used as a sitting room but could also be a home office.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh was active in the area around the time this house was built.
In 1900, he designed the exterior and interior of Windy Hill, only ten miles away in Kilmacolm. It seems his work is still highly regarded in Gourock, as the selling agents for this property sold another house in the past week which also paid tribute to the artist.
Imitation, as they say, is the sincerest form of flattery.