Freshly Finished

At the risk of becoming the official fan site for Retrouvius, I had to share this freshly finished, five-storey refurbishment in Primrose Hill with you. I've shared work of theirs before, here, here and here (yes, I know...it's a lot).
The reuse of timber is thoroughly imaginative and the tile details are just perfect. Don't even get me started on that kitchen...

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Amagansett Beach House

I think I've dreamt of this beach house...If I haven't I will now. If I can't live there, it's what I want my dreams to be made of.

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Kitchen Envy IV

SERIOUSLY, do kitchens get any better than this? If you've seen any, send me pictures...because I don't believe you.

images and design by Retrouvius. Image 2 previously posted on Yeah...Ok...Bye here

TIMBERYARD

Timberyard is on the old site of Lawson's Timber, somewhere I visited for bits and pieces for projects while at the Art School, just next door. It's unusual to find such an industrial space, just off the Grassmarket in Edinburgh, and thankfully the Radford family (formerly of Blue and The Atrium) have embraced it with a white wash and a soft glow of basic bulbs on knotted, basic white cables hanging from the high ceilings. It's so un-Edinburgh, so simple...and so excellent. The concept behind the newly opened venue includes an awareness of sustainability and the environment which not only describes the offering but also the interior. There are polished railway sleepers as tables and the reuse of furniture from their previous venues, as well as reclaimed antique pieces like the old school blackboard displaying the specials. I look forward to returning and seeing how the remaining areas evolve. I've heard rumours of space for a gallery, on the level above the restaurant, in the future, and was too busy enjoying my tasty mallard breast, amazing hot smoked trout and delicious chocolate and salted hazelnut pudding, to get a chance to see the private dining room or south facing courtyard.

My CV is rich in every level of 'front of house' hospitality positions in the years before I finally knuckled down and committed to art school. I loved working in the industry and it's where I met my husband and many friends. In fact, it was probably the most carefree and fun time of my life, so far...it helped that I was in my incorrigible and confident early twenties! With the husband still firmly in the hospitality trade as I've mentioned here and here, I think I'll always feel akin to those on the service side of the bar, so I can never be too critical (unless they are absolutely useless.) As a customer, I've managed to let go of the little things (empty glasses left on tables etc.) and can spot an 'up sell' a mile off but I also appreciate the relentless and sometimes thankless slog the job can be. Edinburgh can feel like a very small town sometimes with a few very difficult customers to please so I refuse to put more pressure on those who are already doing an excellent job.

The service at Timberyard was perfect; attentive, knowledgeable and polite ...and they make an excellent negroni. So... go.
Image 2 by Susie Lowe. All other images from Timberyard Tumblr

Kathryn Tyler

I know this has done the rounds on the internet and on repeats of Grand Designs for quite some time but I had to get it out of my head and into a post. 

Kathryn Tyler is a talented, young British interior designer who had the opportunity to build Corkellis House, her dream home, on the land at the bottom of her parents' garden in Falmouth. If you missed it on Grand Designs, I recommend you watch it or wait for it to be repeated. It's a pretty inspiring episode. The layout is simple and functional. Kathryn's office has an extensive design library and vintage mustard boardroom chairs, sourced on ebay, around a large table. Next to the office is the open plan kitchen and dining space with the sunken living room separated by a built in shelving unit. Obviously influenced by Scandinavian design and mid century architecture, the house is beautiful inside and out. 

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Primrose Hill Drawing Room

As promised in yesterday's post, here's one of my favourite interior projects by Retrouvius. It may only be one room but the textures are never ending. Raw concrete, irridescent tiles, grey painted floorboards, velvety upholstery and neon accents. Cold, but oh so hot!

Oh, and I'll be needing that chair...thanks.
Images from Retrouvius

Retrouvius

Retrouvius are a London based architectural salvage and design company. Their work is clever, inspiring and beautiful not to mention, sustainable. The other night I spent so long looking at the design projects and salvage items for sale, on their website, that my tea went cold.
Using reclaimed flooring as wall panelling is evidently a favourite and recurring method for them, and features in many of their projects. Here are a few awesome examples. Rustic versus polished; different finishes can give very different (but equally beautiful) effects.

Tomorrow's post is one of my favourite interiors from their recent projects.
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Bathroom Envy

...where else would you keep your filing cabinet?

scanned from Living Etc. October 2011

Table Envy...

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