Alex Cochrane reimagines his period family home in London with a modern attitude and a flair for finding fabulous furniture …
When remodelling his stunning 19th-century home in Kensington, Irish architect Alex Cochrane described his approach as “minimalism with colour”. “I favour a pared-down aesthetic. So, while I felt parts of the house, particularly the first floor entertaining rooms, needed to be preserved in their original state, other floors could be reimagined in a contemporary manner benefiting from the vast volumes and substantial floor plates.”
The curtains are fine linen by Romo. An admirer of the work of lighting designers Achille and Pier Castiglioni, Cochrane chose Tacia table-lights and Toio lamps.
It was those impressive proportions, along with extraordinarily high ceilings and fine ornamental detailing, that originally drew Cochrane and his Irish-born wife Alannah Weston to the 1870s Victorian home in a quiet square in the busy capital.
Alex designed the sofas and ottoman, upholstered in fine linen by La Cuona. The chandelier is from Carlton Davidson, the Gong table by Giulio Cappellini, rattan armchair by Nanna Ditzel and Zig-Zag chair by Rietfeld.
Years of slapdash overpainting had obscured the first floor living room’s fine Georgian-style plasterwork, so a meticulous restoration project was embarked on to gently remove the layers of paint and reveal the period embellishments, including the stone fireplace. The wood floor was past salvaging, so it was replaced with parquet blocks in herringbone pattern with a walnut border. The furniture is a mix of period, modernist, vintage and contemporary pieces which Cochrane says “offset the classicism” of the space.
The David Hicks-designed library in Barons Court, Co Tyrone, was the inspiration for the library. Cochrane chose dark navy for the walls and designed slim lacquered shelves in primary red, the bottom shelves shifting to a lime green colour for contrast. He has a particular appreciation for Gerrit Thomas 637 Utrecht chairs, now something of a signature and included in many of his projects.
The first floor landing with the original Portland stone cantilevered staircase and Victorian leaded glass window.
Although a century of general wear and tear had led to the steps being filled with grimy resin, the Portland staircase was also restored: “Rather than carpet over this resin, I thought it best to leave it on show because it provided an interesting textural appearance. Alannah would have preferred it covered over with carpet!”
The kitchen is accessed off the entrance hall through a monumental sliding door.
While appreciating the classical and period architecture, Cochrane’s interest in contemporary design and avant garde processes meant that significant structural alterations were always on the cards. “The house needed to be substantially modernised to suit our way of living. The floor layout also needed to be adjusted to allow for greater light. This was achieved by moving as many walls as we could. The house is much more open now.”
A continuous counter lined in 30mm-thick Carrara marble runs the length of the L-shaped galley kitchen. The Maarten Van Severen TW88 oak dining table is surrounded by vintage rosewood Model 78 and Model 62 armchairs by Niels Moller for JL Moller.
Previously three separate rooms, the open-plan kitchen now includes a sitting area in the bay window which overlooks the garden square.
The bespoke joinery bed includes an oak headboard, mattress plinth and side tables, with wide oak floorboards to create flow.
Cochrane’s appreciation of the Japanese aesthetic is evident in the minimalist design and sharp lines, particularly in the open-plan master bedroom, one of his favourite spaces. “There is a calmness that makes you forget that you are in a mega-city. I can spend hours in this room.”
A built-in vanity desk, and a rattan armchair by Nanna Ditzel.
Working with natural materials is part of his ethos, and many of the design elements are constructed using wood, stone and metal. “I like to push a material’s capabilities in order to celebrate its extraordinary qualities. For instance, sourcing very long floorboards that might actually make you pause and consider the height of the tree they have been cut from.”
Hans Wegner’s Haylard chair with artwork by Christopher le Brun. Photography by Alex Cochrane with words by Rachel Hurley.
Cochrane studied painting and spatial design as well as architecture, and the house is full of collected artworks and bespoke furniture. “A big part of what my practice does is design and specify furniture. We specify furniture and lighting for nearly all our schemes, and our home contains many of our own favourite pieces.”
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