{"id":17879,"date":"2022-12-30T09:30:49","date_gmt":"2022-12-30T08:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=38271"},"modified":"2022-12-30T10:36:39","modified_gmt":"2022-12-30T09:36:39","slug":"a-striking-flat-in-a-georgian-bristol-townhouse","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/a-striking-flat-in-a-georgian-bristol-townhouse\/","title":{"rendered":"A striking flat in a Georgian Bristol townhouse"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Ellie Tennant\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 30 December 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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\u2018We\u2019ve always been fans of design and interiors but our interest really developed when we moved here five years ago,\u2019 says Cassandra Nicholas, who lives in this Bristol flat with her husband Edward. \u2018Being able to put our own stamp on a place was exciting, we were drawn to the individual look that you can achieve with antiques<\/a>. They make a home unique.\u2019<\/p>\n

Keen collectors, the couple spend most days sourcing curiosities and antiques for their nearby shop Dig Ha\u00fcshizzle. They are aficionados of flea markets, auctions<\/a>, fairs<\/a> and house clearances and work with a network of dealers, \u2018seeking out beautiful things\u2019 and \u2018trying not to keep everything.\u2019 \u2018Part of the fun is the thrill of the hunt \u2013 I\u2019m an advocate of taking your time to find things that really mean something and that will last forever. Older things are generally better made than newer things, too,\u2019 says Cassandra.<\/p>\n

In reality, not much of the shop stock comes home. \u2018If we keep something for the flat, it tends to be because it\u2019s not quite good enough to sell \u2013 we mostly have things at home that are a bit broken,\u2019 laughs Cassandra. \u2018We have a beautiful vintage<\/a> carpet armchair at the moment \u2013 it looks great but it does need new springs. It\u2019s the most uncomfortable chair in the world.\u2019<\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t mean that they are without charm though. \u2018Queena\u2019, the antique stuffed flamingo, is a good example of rehomed, sub-standard, yet beloved stock. \u2018I found it at Newark Antiques & Collectors fair,\u2019 says Cassandra. \u2018It\u2019s not quite right \u2013 flamingoes are only pink when they have eaten shrimps but I think this one was white and somebody has tried to dye the feathers pink.\u2019<\/p>\n

The intriguing contents aren\u2019t all that\u2019s striking about this home, the architecture and decor are equally as captivating. All too often, property developers who are looking to make a quick buck \u2018modernise\u2019 an interior swiftly and cheaply, removing all its character and soul along the way.<\/p>\n

Luckily, when viewing a space like this, some people are blessed with having the imagination to see past the present and to a possible \u2013 more beautiful \u2013 future, one that will reference the building\u2019s past. Edward and Cassandra are two such individuals. \u2018The bare bones were right,\u2019 recalls Cassandra. \u2018We loved the location, the high ceilings, the fireplaces, the little alcoves, the shutters and sash windows \u2013 but it was a very boring, blank canvas decor-wise, with beige walls and beige carpets. It looked so sad, we wanted to make it look exciting again.\u2019<\/p>\n

Many would have been put off by the house\u2019s lacklustre interior, but Cassandra and Edward optimistically viewed the space as \u2018a blank canvas\u2019 and dedicated their time and energy to transforming the rather plain interior into something altogether more fabulous. They swapped the \u2018boring\u2019 kitchen worktops for more interesting reclaimed school science laboratory benches, fitted some antique lights<\/a> and bravely painted everything \u2013 including the fridge \u2013 black.<\/p>\n

The makeover didn\u2019t happen overnight and Cassandra isn\u2019t afraid to admit that the end result is a product of a long and painstaking process, involving plenty of mistakes. In the living room, a stunning, arched alcove stands out against the now black walls. \u2018The alcove was one of the hardest things to get right in the flat,\u2019 confesses Cassandra.<\/p>\n

\u2018Painting our walls black was the best decision ever, but it meant that the beautiful alcove got completely lost. I wanted it to stand out again, so painted it olive green. It definitely stood out, but wasn\u2019t right, so I gave it a coat of pale grey paint, but it still looked flat, so I decided to strip it.\u2019<\/p>\n

A gruelling session with a sander and a hot-air gun revealed the original Georgian paints underneath. \u2018I uncovered a beautiful Harlequin pattern and now the paint effect is layered and mottled. The alcove stands out as it should, but doesn\u2019t look too perfect. The remnants of all the paints I tried added to the final effect,\u2019 she adds.<\/p>\n

The couple\u2019s determination to restore character has paid off. Today, their home is an eclectic cosy den, filled with fascinating antique and vintage finds with not a spot of beige in sight.<\/p>\n