SURPRISE PACKAGE

The home that Lindsey Wislocki designed and built on the site of an old sorting office had an unexpected effect

When architect Lindsey Wislocki, owner of Hedgehog Architects, bought a derelict sorting office with plans to redevelop the site, she never expected to leave her beloved Victorian town house and move into one of the modern, new-build properties she was proposing. ‘But once the project was complete, I fell in love with this particular house,’ she recalls. The house has a distinct industrial feel yet retains a warm and welcoming family atmosphere. ‘For the windows and doors I used aluminium painted in a dark colour for an edgy feel,’ says Lindsey. ‘I tend to favour a neutral palette with feature walls, and the darker windows and shutters really complement this look.’ The theme continues in the kitchen with dark units. ‘I like kitchens that look like furniture rather than a traditional fitted kitchen,’ says Lindsey. ‘I designed the floor-toceiling cabinets to wrap around the cooker and worktops using a high-quality laminate, which is durable but also looks like timber.’ The understated kitchen allows the gold and copper fittings and accessories to catch the eye and create the sleek and streamlined look that runs throughout Lindsey’s home. ‘When I start a new project, I’m very methodical and I build up the main structure followed by the windows, doors and floors. Colour comes next then I source the furniture and lighting to fit the budget and complement the look. The mustard dining chairs are a favourite find of mine and they’re exactly what I always had in

DESIGN TIP ‘If you really love a particular feature or design, be prepared to spend money on it to get it just right’

mind for the dining area. I’m also keen on unique pieces like the dining table, which is a sanded down door with legs from an old table.’ Lindsey’s design incorporated many of the characteristics of a period property. ‘High ceilings and big windows were really important to me and I used lots of natural materials to add interest,’ she explains. ‘I vaulted the ceiling on the top floor and added a roof terrace and now it’s the most wonderfully, relaxing bedroom. As we’re so high up and I can see the treetops and the sea, there’s such a sense of the changing seasons that I never noticed when living in our old house.’ The exterior of the house is equally interesting, with Lindsey paying great attention to the environment. ‘It’s important for the homes I build to fit in with the surrounding architecture,’ she says. ‘My intention had never been to move into the house until I realised the potential of living in a spacious new property.’ After some initial resistance from her husband John, and their children, Anna, 18, and Oliver, 15, the move was agreed and no one has regrets. ‘Now, with the house so close to the beach, everybody loves it,’ says Lindsey. ‘It feels like we’re permanently on holiday.’

KITCHEN The concrete-look porcelain floor tiles add to the industrial feel. Cabinetry and surround, price on request, Cucine Plus. Thomas Kent wall clock, £49.99, TK Maxx. Brooklyn pendant lights, £79 each, Industville, are similar. Croft copper pan, from £70, John Lewis & Partners DINING AREA ‘I love to add a dramatic touch and the tropical wallpaper is just great fun,’ says Lindsey. Toucan wallpaper, £125 a roll, Lime Lace. Mustard chairs, £150 each, Rockett St George. Reclaimed dining table with black hairpins, from £231, Etsy, has a similar feel. Dark green stoneware plates, £9.99 each, H&M Home, have the same look

SITTING ROOM ‘I really like the intense hue of the wall colour,’ says Lindsey. ‘It’s a strong colour but doesn’t overpower the room.’ Walls in Stiffkey Blue estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Rochester armchairs, £799 each, Marks & Spencer

1&2 MASTER BEDROOM ‘The ever-changing light in this room is beautiful,’ says Lindsey. Nyfors bedside lamp, £35, Ikea. Emerald green chair, £269, Dunelm 3 BATHROOM The 3D-effect tiles make this small bathroom look bigger. Hydrolic 3D floor tiles, £24sq m, B&Q 4 BATHROOM Laying tiles diagonally creates a contemporary feel. Artesano Moss Green tiles, £33.08sq m, Tiles Direct