A converted Victorian pub in Shoreditch

By Katie Pike

Published: Wednesday, 02 November 2022 at 12:00 am

Owen Pacey isn’t one to mince his words or to romanticise. He describes how he grew up as a ‘street urchin’, how he fell into the fireplace business after he was asked to strip a few pine numbers and realised he could make a bob or two, and how the transformation of his Shoreditch home was all ‘trial and error’. When asked what drew him to the property – which was, at the time, covered in bird excrement and located in what Owen describes as a ‘grimy and gritty’ part of town – he sums up: ‘I just knew. It was a gut reaction.’ 

The building was originally a Victorian pub but its most recent incarnation was as offices in the 1980s. Since then it had laid empty, save for the pigeons that had taken ownership of what is now the kitchen. The roof was falling apart and the third floor could be categorised as derelict. There was no doubt that the building would need to be gutted and the interior carved from scratch.

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On the plus side, this was 25 years ago and Shoreditch wasn’t the hipster heartland that it is today – the price and space that it offered were great. The ground floor was ideal for Owen’s already burgeoning business, which specialises in restored antique and bespoke fireplaces (and also sells 20th-century lighting, mirrors and statuary), while the three floors above provided the bare bones of the living area.

He would probably be the last to describe it as such but Owen has an eye. The interior has gone through various incarnations since he took it on, with the fireplaces – which range from elegant Georgian pieces to Gothic numbers – changing with almost the same casualness as other homeowners change their cushions. Today there’s a bold swagger to it and a slight brutalist edge: all hard lines, dramatic artwork and gold accents.

And for someone who owns an antiques business, it’s all remarkably minimal. The key to this, says Owen, is not to fall in love with what you buy or else you might not be able to sell it. Those pieces that do make it up the stairs are rather remarkable. Favourites include a collection of 17th to 19th-century religious books, which were bought from a nun in Hertfordshire (naturally) and are now displayed on floor-to-ceiling shelves in the living room. ‘One of my contacts told me about a convent that was being converted,’ says Owen. ‘I visited and offered the nun a price for half of their books. She wasn’t a mug – she said she wanted three times that figure or nothing. I ended up paying too much but I needed them.’

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The 1970s Venini chandelier in the same room was a lucky find. ‘I came across it in a box at an Italian flea market six years ago,’ he says. ‘I paid €1,200 (£900) for it. The seller didn’t realise what it was.’ Other standout items in the house include a table designed by Coco Chanel and a late 1800s carved wood gilt bed, which has inspired a reproduction made and sold by La Maison London.

Of course, Owen’s fireplaces, lighting and statuary are big players in the interior and help give it its distinct feel. The designs lean to the unusual. Aside from the Venini chandelier, there’s the contemporary ‘Elvis Fan’ light by Luke Morgan, a 20th-century ‘Spider’ chandelier by Carl Muylle and a haunting 18th-century stone cherub’s head. The look may have been ‘trial and error’ but it’s certainly enchanting.

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Owen’s living room features artwork by Scottish artist Calum Colvin and a collection of 17th to 19th-century religious tomes.
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The 1950s table is thought to have been designed by Coco Chanel.
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The sleek kitchen was designed by Owen. A 19th-century bust of an unknown woman and a 1995 piece by David Goode beautifully contrast with the modern units. The largest of the vases on the island is Murano and dates from the 1960s.
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The table and chairs in the dining area of the kitchen are 1950s and were designed by Maison Jansen. Owen acquired them by swapping a painting with a dealer. The floor lamp is a 1960s design by the Italian designer and architect Massimo Scolari. The painting above the 18th-century fireplace (bought from a monk in Italy who ‘had no flies on him’) is by a German artist.
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The building was originally a Victorian pub. The terrace is located above Owen’s shop and is accessorised with antique statuary.
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The stone cherub on the hearth of the carved Victorian marble fire surround in the bedroom is one of a pair and dates from the 18th century while the lamp is from Squint. The framed 18th-century maps were bought from Camden Passage some time ago. The internal doors were all fitted by Owen – these designs were bought in France.
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In the living room, the 19th-century Italian Gothic travertine fireplace is juxtaposed with the contemporary ‘Elvis Fan’. The ceiling light is a 1970s Venini design.
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A cornerstone taken from a Victorian fireplace is displayed on the 18th-century fireplace in the kitchen.
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The view looking from the kitchen to the hallway and living room beyond showcases the 19th-century chandelier in the hallway, bought in France.
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The chair in the living room was bought from a flea market in Italy while the lamp is 1930s and was bought from a French flea market.
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Above the 1800s carved wood gilt bed hangs a French art nouveau chandelier by the architect Hector Guimard. The bedside tables are from La Maison London, while the contemporary lamps are ‘Miss K’ by Philippe Starck.
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A 1950s mirror adds glamour to the bathroom. The statue is of a 19th-century boxer. For a similar bath, try Victoria + Albert’s ‘Barcelona’ design.