Houzz Tour: A 17th century Cornish Manor is Transformed to modern life

Houzz Tour: A 17th century Cornish Manor is Transformed to modern life - country mansion in Cornwall was built in 1642 and although it has been occupied continuously since, not much work had been done on it since the 1950 "the current owners bought it two or three years. There was a kitchen dated housed in an extension of 60 years and only one bathroom, which was particularly surprising for such a large house, "says Russell Taylor Russell Taylor Architects, which was responsible for putting the property up to date .

Russell Taylor Architects

Houzz at a glance
Who lives here A couple with adult children
Location Cornwall
property A grade II Jacobean country house dating from 1642
Size 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Architect Russell Taylor Russell Taylor Architects
project finished December 2014

Russell Taylor Architects

"the basic task," Taylor said, "was to provide more bathrooms and a new breakfast kitchen-dining and to run the house in garden. Although the property is in beautiful gardens, there were no doors on the main part of the garden and you had to go into a corner and a hill to get there. "

Russell Taylor Architects

The old square kitchen has been replaced by a kitchen-dining room rectangular, offering subtle divisions between preparation and service area and the dining area quiet, overlooking and now opens onto the garden. The table is positioned so that it receives the morning sun.

The rustic-style slate floor has underfloor heating underneath, so the radiators cluttering the walls.

kitchen design and build, Martin Moore.

Russell Taylor Architects

the old extension storey who sat this place has been replaced by an elegant, two-story, one that has been built using local materials, such as granite and slate, so it empties into the old part of the house.

Before Photo

Russell Taylor Architects

As the house is listed grade II, Taylor was first undertaken an analysis of the property to watch what parts were particularly important historically. He then designed the new extension, covering the footprint of the kitchen block that was added in the 1950s

"We have shown that we have worked with the site's history and understood the building, so we have won the confidence of English Heritage and the planning authority, "Taylor said. "Besides the fact that it is cleaner, the new extension is almost indistinguishable from the old part.

Russell Taylor Architects

to room for expansion and create direct access from the kitchen-breakfast on the garden, it was necessary to dig into the hill, which is ideally up to the impressive wine cellar, kitchen and downstairs. high ceiling racks offer plenty of space to store bottles, while a wine coolers bank goes under the work plan.

'This room is underground, so beautiful, even the temperature is maintained at all times, making it the ideal place to store wine, "said Taylor.

Russell Taylor Architects

the original features of the old part of the house were restored if possible. the existing entry door opens to an impressive lobby, which features a floor in the building's original slate. "We designed the interior door opening of this corridor and put in the cornicing here but was made to look original, "says Taylor.

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Russell Taylor Architects

Taylor was also responsible for creating a library by hitting two rooms on the ground -from floor in one. The result is an impressive range of shelves that are also above the door.

Russell Taylor Architects

"We have laid a new floor in the library and carefully designed the library and a fireplace to make sure everything was in line with the period of the house, "Taylor said. Outside the windows, everything else in the room is new.

Sofas and armchairs in a mixture of fabrics and casually dressed with a selection of cushions gives this space a laid-back, casual feel.

Russell Taylor Architects

The lounge is more formal and was once the main hall of the mansion. To break the large space, Taylor created two rest areas :. A more sociable space around the mat by the impressive original fireplace, and a lonely area at the back of the room

Russell Taylor Architects

Having taken such care to ensure the new exterior worked with the former, the owners have also held design interior to be in harmony with the roots of their home. They opted for antiques or period of inspiration and stuck to a soft palette warmed relaxing muted with bold accents - but not brilliant -. Colors like burgundy and emerald

Russell Taylor Architects

the owner was very keen to include marble in the bathroom to add a luxurious feel. It has been elegantly incorporated into the bathroom backsplash and shower, but as Taylor says, "to enter a building constructed in 1642, up to the first floor and come across a marble floor would just felt wrong."

Although such a large bathroom too is unlikely to suffer from condensation, classic style mirror has a demister.

Room sanitaryware bathroom, CP Hart.

Russell Taylor Architects

Taylor used the original fireplace in the master bedroom, which is made of granite and plaster, as a model for new homes he designed for other areas of the house. "The plaster relief above the fireplace in the master bedroom is original, like the frieze that runs along the upper walls. We extended this frieze to complete the circuit around the room, said Taylor.

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Russell Taylor Architects

Heaters were used to heat the upper levels of the house, but are carefully concealed in envelopes under the windows. This small guest room has a range of more daring colors with large floral print curtains elegantly framing the quaintly crooked window.

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Russell Taylor Architects

just across the kitchen-breakfast is a little summerhouse with an open fire. This room gets the sun in the afternoon and the intention is that it will naturally encourage people who take advantage of the morning sun in the breakfast room to walk across the lawn later in the day to catch here rays.

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