{"id":33731,"date":"2024-05-15T12:03:17","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T10:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/d3018c75-ba70-40df-91bc-72196e74bc26"},"modified":"2024-05-15T12:36:41","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T10:36:41","slug":"like-a-museum-in-miniature-there-are-surprises-at-every-turn-in-this-1930s-suburban-semi","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/like-a-museum-in-miniature-there-are-surprises-at-every-turn-in-this-1930s-suburban-semi\/","title":{"rendered":"Like a museum in miniature, there are surprises at every turn in this 1930s suburban semi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Architect and artist Simon Hurst has spent years turning his everyday terraced house into a beguiling cabinet of curiosities. Photographs James Balston <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 15 May 2024 at 10:03 AM<\/p>

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Simon Hurst is considering the future of his East London home. Should he set up a trust to ensure it survives intact after his death? Or bequeath the contents to an arts institution? Simon, a classically trained architect, has every reason to be concerned about his legacy. <\/p>

Behind a high hedge and low gate, the unassuming terraced house he bought as a \u2018skint\u2019 20-something has become his private museum; a living cabinet of curiosities crammed with rare and unusual objects.Like a gallery, his finds are displayed by type: lustrous tiles, engravings, and amulets clustered in groups. <\/p>

The large central wall mirror was bought on Simon\u2019s first trip to Morocco and the small \u2018bow-tie\u2019 shaped glazed tiles are all from a recent trip to Uzbekistan. Simon built the sofa from two-by-four timber, adding some bun feet from eBay, and using cut-up mattresses and rugs to upholster it. Cushions are from trips to Marrakesh and Istanbul. – James Balston –<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

A \u2018naked\u2019 patch on a wall is a rebuke, he says: it has to be filled. \u2018One object is never enough; it always sparks a collection.\u2019 Simon points to a row of keys displayed on the wall like a decorative frieze: a basic wooden peg, followed by more sophisticated metal versions. <\/p>

\u2018My father, who was in the Merchant Navy, gave me one when I was a child. After that, I went on a quest to find more. The Victorian one came from Brick Lane Market; the others from different places, including Uzbekistan. I\u2019m fascinated by how objects have developed over time. The two themes that bind my collections are architecture and travel. Anything else, and I\u2019m not interested.\u2019<\/p>

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\"Conservatory
The conservatory doubles up as laundry room, so Simon designed the cabinet to hide a washing machine and dryer. It\u2019s decorated in Valspar paint, which he favours for its sophisticated colours. – James Balston –<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Dining
The dining room started as a repository for things brought back from three trips to India. The large central lamp is Moroccan, but came from a Moroccan lamp supplier in West London. The fireplace and ruby tiles are original to the house, but Simon added a projecting cornice to accommodate the elephant gong. The caryatids came from the plaster shop at Columbia Road, and the Biedermeier secretaire was bought in a distressed state at auction before being restored. – James Balston –<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Sitting
The aesthetic movement overmantel was an auction bargain. Although Simon says it doesn\u2019t really go with the Art Deco fire surround, he has plans to \u2018tweak\u2019 the surround to make it work. The Lebus glazed bookcase houses several collections of eggs, spheres and paperweights. – James Balston –<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Orrery
Sir John Soane had an orrery in his library dining room, and this modern German version is the closest Simon could get at an affordable price. Peruvian \u2018illas\u2019 \u2013 amulets used to say prayers to protect one\u2019s farmstead \u2013 and a candlestick bought in Budapest also feature in the display. – James Balston –<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Display
The exquisitely carved Japanese display case houses a multitude of collections. The woodcuts are all from St. Petersburg, while the chairs are Swedish and were bought at auction. – James Balston –<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Alcove
Simon added the glass block window and alcove to house more collections. The hand-cut screen is a radiator cover he made. – James Balston –<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>