The original windows of the nineteenth century building have been reopened, framing dramatic views of the dales to create a spacious and luxurious self-catering holiday cottage for seven guests. It has a large and fully equipped kitchen, a cosy living room, four comfortable bedrooms, two en-suits and a luxurious family bathroom. The reconstruction, designed by Evolution Design, has just recently been finished.

Historic features need to be preserved in a chapel conversion

As the existing building was in a poor state of disrepair and had been vacant for many years, the aim of the reconstruction project was to bring this unique property back to life and to enable visitors to appreciate the history and local architecture while providing a beautiful environment to explore the surround countryside and its vast range of activities.
At the time of acquisition, the property had sustained considerable water ingress due to its state of dereliction and not being maintained. Due to its exposed location, strong winds and driving rain, most of the interior finishes had been damaged badly, besides the main roof had deteriorated badly and the roof rafters required replacement.

Before any scheme or design had been drafted, the first tasks were instructing preliminary repairs for the damaged roof and board the windows and doors to prevent any further water damage. Once this had been completed the project team evaluated the available space to establish the type and quantity of facilities that would suit best the size and location of the Chapel.

New mezzanine floor

The insertion of a new mezzanine floor allowed for planning of three bedrooms upstairs and the kitchen / dining area, the living room, the bathroom and the fourth bedroom on the ground floor. Our approach was to provide solutions that answered the brief, but did not alter the historic details or essence of the Chapel. The main hall was the core element that gives the Chapel its feel of space and with its detailed simplicity it became the heart of the proposed design.

Complement the character of the building

Modern, stylish and yet in the context of the location and its history – these were the main criteria for designing the interior of the new holiday cottage. We wanted to create a space that was modern and yet had a traditional language that would complement the historic nature of the Chapel and appeal to a wide range of guests. This was reflected in our choice of furniture and finishes. All materials and design had been considered in the context of the character and appearance of the existing building and the Teesdale vernacular. Traditional materials were proposed to ensure the scheme respects the character of the landscape and the existing buildings.

As the heart of any home the kitchen and dining space was intended to be open and bright, taking advantage of the Gothic windows and the beautiful views of the surround landscape. The aim was to keep a traditional feel by retaining the roof trusses with a natural finish. The kitchen units were styled to keep a homely rural feel, which is framed by the feature wall tiles. By using traditional tiles to cover the full height of the back wall complemented the generous ceiling height and feeling of space.

Modern and comfortable holiday cottage

Being located in the very heart of the Upper Teesdale, the Chapel is a perfect location for unforgettable holidays spent walking, cycling, climbing, fishing or just relaxing with a book and a glass of wine in front of the log burner. Set high on the rolling hills, the Chapel offers peace and quiet, yet Middleton-in-Teesdale with shops, restaurants and pubs is just a few minutes drive away.

If you want, you can rent this chapel for the weekend at AirBnB

Also, it’s not only filled with really interesting, eclectic furniture, but it also retains many original church features (stained-glass windows, peaked windows, choir balcony) as well as some quirky additions.

This home retains the church’s original stained glass windows and full-height ceilings, but brand new parquet floors with under floor heating was installed. The kitchen has New York and Corian Concrete work surfaces.

Tha builders had installed bespoke storage, Lutron lighting, Air-conditioning, electronic Velux windows and even a gym.

A balcony overlooks the main space, which includes a living and dining area as well as a kitchen.

This church is now for sale for a whopping 10 million British pounds (that’s 14,8 US dollars)

The expansive main living area boasts 25-foot ceilings truly making a grand statement. In this room, they kept a neutral, cohesive palette helping to unify each of the designated spaces.

The kitchen is pretty minimalist as not to compete with the historic glass it’s centered around.

White oak floors keep the mostly white space from feeling too cold and stark.

The fireplace is clad in quartz that goes straight to the ceiling.

The living room fireplace is back-to-back with a smaller version in the media room.

“The architecture is so beautiful; I loved everything about it,” she says. “High ceilings were a must, and this building has those and everything else — lots of character and history.” Camilotti’s main challenge was to fill the generous space of the church conversion without having her furniture get lost in it.

It was such an amazing project. I had no limitations,

she says.

The converted church, a National Heritage List property dating to 1890, seduced her with its arching ceilings and timber beams. “When it came to a base color, I decided to keep it neutral in order to accentuate the original beams,” she says.

“I needed lots of courage when it came to decorating,” she says.

The living area is a huge, open space, and a normal-sized sofa would have disappeared, so I supersized!

She has always had a passion for oversize furniture, and the generous proportions of her new home allowed her to indulge her whim for extravagance. “The upholsterer thought I was crazy when I gave him the measurements for the sofa,” she says with a laugh.

She was drawn to a monochrome palette and is happy the colors worked to the building’s advantage. “I just couldn’t imagine this place in another palette — I think it works perfectly,” she says. The gleaming surface of the glossy white Koishi coffee table reflects light from the large windows.

A self-playing piano tucked under the staircase is a decadent touch and keeps Camilotti and her staff entertained during working hours. “I always wanted to integrate the office and living areas, and I think it works very well. This whole house is very me and reflects my style and personality perfectly,” she says.

An elegant Nur pendant from Artemide pools light on the kitchen island to highlight the black granite surface. The extractor fan is integrated into the ceiling, folding down only when it’s needed. The bar stools introduce a touch of brown, linking with the wooden beams. “The stools are my own design and made in Milan from cowhide and chrome,” Camilotti says.

With so much space at her disposal, Camilotti was able to zone off different areas. This comfortable corner is next to the entrance and her workstation and acts as a waiting area for visitors. The chrome and walnut table is a vintage find.

During the day the grand dining table is filled with brochures and pattern books, but in the evening, it’s transformed into a glamorous dining area for up to 12 people. “I designed the table myself,” Camilotti says. “It’s a sheet of glass resting on two enormous wooden blocks.”

Camilotti’s home is filled with expressions of her personality, such as these lily-print cushions and the Gherkin canvas, both of which she designed herself. “The Gherkin is my creation,” she says. “My degree is in fine art, and I love playing around on Photoshop. It was difficult to find something that fitted this space, so I just created an artwork myself.”

The large master bedroom has an accompanying dressing room, negating the need for bulky wardrobes that would inhibit the view of the arched ceiling. “I decided to put mirrors in the niche here to reflect the beams, which I love,” she says.

Camilotti chose a palette of gold and earthy tones for the guest bedroom, which has a slightly baroque flavor. “I took some baroque images of angels and put them on a black background for the decor in this room,” she explains. “It’s glamorous, but with the white floorboards it still feels very contemporary, which I love.”

“The window here is so beautiful, I didn’t want anything to block it,” Camilotti says. “It has wonderful colors and shapes, and is such a gorgeous composition. It’s lovely to gaze on this from the living room below.”

The master bathroom is relatively compact compared with the rest of the house, so Camilotti wanted to open up the space as much as possible. The rustic brick floor is light, and the mirrored panel around the walls makes the room appear larger.

“I absolutely love the garden,” Camilotti says. The scent from the lemon trees evokes memories of holidays in Sorrento, Italy. Though fairly small, the garden is set up for dining and relaxing. “It’s a wonderful space in which to spend time,” she says. “This and the piano are my favorite parts of the house.”

This design incorporates the original church space housing an open plan living/meals and kitchen with butler’s pantry and formal living/home theatre room with side vestibule with panoramic views of the north- west garden, alfresco area and feature solar heated pool via vast floor to ceiling glazing. A mezzanine level within the volume of the church houses two huge bedrooms with built in joinery opening onto a rumpus room and adjacent bathroom overlooking the living room void and large arched window to valley views of the area.

The roof space within the timber trusses of the church has been converted into a New York-style loft space.  It is a multi-functional room with its own kitchenette and private bath room. Roof skylights and a circular floor to ceiling window encapsulate a panoramic view of the valley & city skyline.

This former church in Haarlo, the Netherlands has been transformed into a unique loft. The starting point for the design were the retained (mostly with a need for restoration) qualities of the 1928 dating monument; the façade, the bell tower with clock, the volume, the iconic location on the outskirts of the village and nice details like the wooden roof construction, the old panel doors and arch windows with leaded glass.

This project demonstrates that a transformation of a church with limited resources is possible, when using a smart design and an efficient plan. The concept was; strip, isolate and furnish. The execution represents the motto of the owners: “Cherish your inner child; remain pure, playing, exploring and a little bit naughty!”

It was a conscious choice, not to fill the volume of 1100 m3 completely with as many rooms as possible, but to minimize the demands, in order to retain the spaciousness of the building. The only architectural additions are the mezzanine for the relaxation room (couch, bed and bath) and the multifunctional “stairway to have fun” (stairs, room divider, closet, kitchen, acoustic element and exhibition wall).

The used materials are pure, sober, functional and budgetary; concrete on the floor, the original wooden floorboards from the church as cladding for the “stairway to have fun”, stainless steel kitchen elements, a hard glass partition to retain openness, white stucco for making the space light inside and strategically chosen red accents.

This project shows great passion, humor, respect, love and creativity. This is being reflected in the, specially for this project realized, elements like the swing “swinging sister”, the “KROONluchter” (inspired by the original organ), the “gate of heaven” flanked by a wall of guardian angels, the “stairway to have fun”, the “holy shit” on the toilet, birdhouses with lamp for strange birds that have seen the light and the wooden “lost sheep” in the garden.

The modern garden has large plastered planters, made by left-over-bricks. There is a herb garden, a vegetable garden, a flower garden and an orchard; a contemporary nod to the old monastery gardens. The outside shed with a porch is a 40ft container, integrated into the wooden fence and equipped with a green roof. By deepening the garden, a private garden is created yet still a view at the church is remained intact.

This project by LKSVDD Architects is an exemplary example of architectural transformation and sustainable conservation of religious heritage.

The current owner, a Italian businessman who lives there with his wife for three months a year, purchased the building in 2005. Abandoned by the clergy in 1960, the building changed its identity several times: it was a dance studio, a woodworking shop and a photographer’s atelier.The former prayer hall, built for the followers of the Protestant movement founded around 1740 by the Anglican clergyman John Wesley, however, dates back to 1854 and recorded in the register of national monuments. It is located near the urban area occupied until the seventies by the notorious District Six, evacuated and razed by the apartheid regime.

Perry Harrison-Hyde, an architect commissioned to adapt the building, preserved its authentic atmosphere and created modern, unpretentious, functional interiors. Retaining original heritage of the building reqired removing all the changes done by the previous owners. For example, scraping off several layers of paint, accumulated over a long period of time, revealed beautiful wooden floor.

Sharp contast between raw, authentic architecture of the building and well balanced mixture of furniture styles makes the interiors absolutely unique. Rustic floors and white cabinets in the kitchen correspond with gothic-style, arched windows. Metal chairs and lamps work as contrasting elements. Avant-garde art pieces add colour and spice up the white, airy, breathing interiors.

This loft is simply marvelous. The beautiful contemporary design, the colors, details and materials are inspiring and create an awesome environment, definitely a great place to live

Check out DOS Architects website for further details about this and other projects. See you next time.

The chapel conversion sits in the Mayfield Grange development in southern Britain. It is built by Weston Homes, comprises a selection of new build and refurbished houses and apartment blocks, together with this Grade II Listed converted Chapel. The entire development is situated in rolling countryside with breathtaking views.

As befits a conversion of this type, much of the original splendour of this interior has been retained. The chapel has it all, from the beautifully decorated vaulted ceiling to the unique stone carvings and dramatic stained glass windows. The builders have provided contemporary features and finishes to complement the original style, with special attention paid to the lighting.

Much of the ground floor remains open plan. The living area is dominated by a stunning stained glass window, whilst an elegant spiral staircase provides access to a mezzanine floor. On the mezzanine you find the master bedroom and ensuite. The separate bespoke kitchen includes state-of-the-art units and integrated appliances.

The hub of the house is the crisp, clean lined, contemporary kitchen with lots of storage, worktop space and equipment. Two central island units form focal points for this area and with the backdrop of a large, well stocked, tropical aquarium this is the perfect space to spend much of the day. An area defined by arches between here and the kitchen allows for dining and to the western side of the kitchen is a casual sitting area. “Floor to ceiling” windows ensure interesting aspects and good natural light. Steps lead up to a comfortable, south west facing family room with similarly tall windows but in this case looking out towards the garden and Richmond Park beyond which rises away from the boundary wall of the garden. Practical joinery provides efficient storage function. Again the volume in here and most of the principle rooms is particularly compelling and exudes a feeling of considerable space.

An elevated, glass walled reception room with oak floor overlooks the most spectacular Great Hall. There is a strong interaction between these two areas. The Great Hall is magnificent with vast brick columns and arches and some intricate brickwork frames the recently installed windows. Measuring some 250 square metres (2,700 square feet) alone this exceptional space could be utilised even as a games room – he owners have erected a badminton net on occasion so a game of badminton is well within the room’s capability!

An octagonal library with a domed, wood panelled ceiling features an abundance of stone, red brick and wood evoking all the characteristics of All Saints House ecclesiastical origins.

Returning to the southern end of the property and accessible from the reception hall, are steps leading down to the indoor pool. A jacuzzi/hot tub, steam room/shower and changing area complement the pool room where a vaulted ceiling and an extraordinarily impressive marble carving on the rear wall are notable.

Upper floors

The family bedrooms include an unusual and striking master bedroom with a wood panelled, domed ceiling. From here there is a staircase to a generous barrel-vaulted bathroom, shower area and dressing room all finished in high quality stone and wood. Two children’s bedroom suites, both with galleries overlooking The Great Hall, a further bedroom and shower room and a laundry occupy the rest of the upper floor space.

At the northern end of All Saints House the accommodation is particularly flexible including a series of symmetrical rooms above one another within the Church Tower. On the ground floor there is a study and then above this a bedroom and also a bathroom across a small landing. Going further up there are two further rooms and a viewing gallery from which there are far-reaching views over Petersham towards Richmond and Richmond Park. In the centre section of this part of the house there is a guest bedroom and bathroom. This bedroom features a magnificent stained glass window through which light passes to give a wonderful spectrum of coloured light. There is a loft hatch from the guest bedroom giving access to a further room which, with a little adaptation, could provide further bedroom accommodation. Further halls and rooms for storage or other uses make up the rest of ground floor here.

Outside

The approach to the house is through automated gates and achieved along a paved path with extensive planting to both sides many of which are tropical species. There is also a large stone terrace from where one can enjoy late afternoon and evening sunshine in the warmer months. Beyond the walkway to the front door of the house is an extensive lawned garden with a delightful tree house and a substantial, historic boundary wall that borders Richmond Park. Established trees and plants provide privacy from the neighbouring houses although with no other houses behind this wall a degree of openness optimises the benefits of this exceptional location.

To the eastern boundary a large gravelled driveway leads to a substantial garage building which can accommodate two cars. The driveway would enable parking for further cars.
Accommodation

Reception hall, Great Hall, sitting room, family room, kitchen/breakfast room, dining area, library, study. Master suite with bathroom and dressing area, 5 further bedroom suites, 2 additional bedrooms, two additional bathrooms. Indoor pool, jacuzzi and steam room, numerous store rooms, Church Tower viewing gallery. Extensive grounds, terraces and a lawned garden, garage building and additional driveway parking.
Situation

All Saints House is located in historic Petersham a picturesque hamlet between Richmond and Kingston upon Thames. Richmond Park, with 2500 acres of parkland, is moments from the house and ideal for walking, cycling, and riding.

Local sporting amenities include Polo at Ham Polo Ground, rowing, cruising and sailing on the River Thames. Well regarded golf courses include Richmond Golf Club, within a few minutes walk, Royal Mid Surrey and public courses in Richmond Park. There is also racing at Sandown, Kempton, Ascot and Windsor.