Grand designers
Hiring interior designers to help decorate and furnish this converted stable block has proved to be good value and a great investment. Sharon Dale reports.
INTERIOR design is nothing new and there is plenty of evidence to show that humankind has been practising it for at least 2.5 million years, albeit originally in a rudimentary kind of way, when cavemen and women decorated their homes with simplistic drawings. The Greeks and Romans excelled at home decor while the Georgians ramped it up with colour, verve and panache.
Now, we have Instagram, Pinterest and multiple TV shows delivering an avalanche of ideas, which can be both a help and a hindrance.
There is so much choice in terms of products and styles that it can be overwhelming and some of us simply don’t have the time or energy to devote to making our homes picture perfect.
Product sourcing, finding the best tradespeople and making the whole house flow are challenging.
That is why good interior designers are a Godsend and Martin and Fiona O’Grady were well aware of this when they bought and enlarged a converted stable block in Nidderdale.
Martin’s work is in luxury hotels and he says: “I know the benefits that good interior designers bring. They have different ideas and access to suppliers you wouldn’t find if you were looking for them yourself.”
He and Fiona hired Justine Kirkham and Rachael Webber, aka Harrogate-based Stylesmith Interiors, and they are very glad they did.
“They had a great ready-made team of builders, electricians, plumbers, joiners and cabinet makers who worked with them, which meant we didn’t have to try and find them ourselves.
“We bounced ideas around with Justine and Rachael and they came up with mood boards with ideas we would not have thought of,” says Martin.
“Instead of buying everything off the shelf, we were also able to have some bespoke pieces of furniture that will last a lifetime, including the kitchen, made by a superbly talented cabinet maker.”
Crucial in informing the interiors was the McGinty’s collection of art and Stylesmith came up with designs that matched the colours in the pictures, a number of which were sourced in Yorkshire.
“We love the York Open Studios event that allows you to visit artists and makers in their workspaces. It’s like an art safari and a lot of the work is affordable. We also like the Zillah Bell gallery in Thirsk. It’s a tremendous place with a superb and ever-changing collection,” says Martin.
One of the O’Grady’s favourite rooms is the
nd aforementioned kitchen with that exquisite handmade cabinetry plus a blue La Cornue cooker, a bespoke banquet and an old favourite chair, which was reupholstered and given a new lease of life, all planned in and organised by Stylesmith.
“Having a bespoke kitchen is worth the investment. You get something that will last and everything fits. You aren’t trying to get off the shelf cabinets to fit the space and making compromises because of them.
“We also added new tiling and we increased the size of the kitchen window to make the most of the lovely rural views,” says Justine.
She and Rachael also specified a comfy corner seating unit under the window and a large island with wine fridge plus dining chairs rather than stools to ensure comfort.
The sitting room features a wood floor, bespoke sofas and the largest media unit Rachael and Justine have ever commissioned. It is softened by beautifully embroidered curtains in Colefax and Fowler fabric.
The main bedroom is white with wood side tables, a bespoke embroidered headboard in a blue Lewis and Wood fabric and lamps from Heathfield and Co., while the ensuite has a deep blue vanity unit and walk-in shower
The colourway in the main house bathroom, which has a deep, double-ended bath, is warm greys that tie in with art by Leeds born artist Norman Ackroyd, one of Britain’s finest printmakers.
Among Stylesmith’s favourite grey paint is Normandy Grey by Little Greene.
“Little Greene paint is really good quality with plenty of pigment and we also use Farrow & Ball paint for that reason.
“You can get the colours matched in a cheaper paint but you will never get the depth of colour you get with the real thing,” says