Built in the 1920s during the post-war years of renewed optimism, the very bones of this house in St Ives, Cornwall, are steeped in artistry, cultural change, and history. If walls could talk, the level of chatter would be cacophonous.
It’s a house that has entertained important names from the St Ives School of artists; luminaries such as Barbara Hepworth, Patrick Heron, Bernard Leach, Peter Lanyon, and even Mark Rothko when he visited Cornwall in 1959 have gathered here.
Entrance Hall (right): ‘I used a soft pink here as it’s sensitive to the art deco period – the time when the house was built,’ says Emily. Pedestal table, Galvin Brothers. Antique metal bench, Maud Vaughan Interiors. Vase, Caroline Winn Ceramics
‘I remember our first site visit,’ she notes, ‘everyone in Covid masks – imagining how very glamorous and beautiful I could make it.’
Emily and Joe’s clients initially imagined that a lick of paint was all that was needed to spruce the place up. ‘Which is funny,’ recalls Emily, ‘as we worked on the project for close to three years by the end and had two children during the process.’ Joe explains that because the house had been built over several historic mine shafts, these had to be backfilled and the house effectively underpinned before work could begin.
Sitting Room (left): A beautiful climbing ivy artwork conceals the TV, which rises electronically behind the mantelpiece. Artwork concealing TV, Jess Wheeler Studio. Artwork (above fireplace) by Rob Lyon; sourced by art consultant Anna Kirrage. Antique rug, by Robert Stephenson. Sitting room (right): soft green and blue shades create a soothing feel, enlivened by Emily’s signature pops of yellow. Art deco chairs, Marylebone Antiques, covered in Holland & Sherry Bouclé. Lacquer side table, Studio Atkinson. Walls in Celadon, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint.
To future-proof the house and make it more energy efficient, Emily and Joe took a radical approach to the renovation, which involved rebuilding the majority of it.
The roof was replaced with a highly insulated one; the original slates were removed and reinstated. Extensive thermal upgrades of the building were undertaken, and a renewable heating source was introduced.
‘The idea was that the house should retain its original charm but perform like a modern home; improving the living spaces and drastically reducing energy bills and the operational carbon,’ says Joe. ‘High-maintenance work to hopefully be low-maintenance in the long run!’
Kitchen (left): ‘The star of the show here, the Verde Luana marble sourced for the island, is characterised by its wavy veins of milky green, resembling the movement of a turbulent sea,’ says the interior designer Emily Reilly. Antique pendant light, Skinflint. Jute runner by HKLiving.
Internal reconfiguring was minimal, beyond knocking down a half wall in the kitchen to create a different room layout. Instead, lots of restoration was undertaken, including making good the many Art Deco features and metalwork fixtures. Decoratively, Emily transformed the place from unremittingly bland to thoughtfully bold.
‘St Ives is bathed in beautiful light that reflects off the white sand landscape. It streams into the south-facing rooms here, and I worked with that,’ she says. ‘The family wanted the schemes to be fun and not too precious, so for starters, I used pink paint in the entrance hall, which is sensitive to the art deco period, and various yellow paints throughout to give energy.'
Every piece in the house was newly sourced, many from local antiques dealers, and as many again in bespoke commissions. In the dining room, a large table has softly rounded edges and a burr oak drinks cabinet, above which sits an artwork by Bernard Leach (won at auction), all of which evokes a 1920s feel.
Dining room: A large table was required to sit as many people as possible in the double-aspect room. Woodwork in Celadon, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Reeded slab dining table, Alfred Newall. Boundary carver chairs, Benchmark Furniture. Console, Arcadia Antiques.
The sitting room has a hidden TV that elevates electronically behind the mantel. ‘Instead of a log burner, we commissioned a scrolling ivy centerpiece by Dorset maker Jess Wheeler for the fireplace aperture itself,’ says Emily.
Upstairs, the opportunity for vibrant shades and patterns presented itself. ‘Our client’s daughter’s brief was for pink and teal, so we went for a mermaid’s grotto look with seaweed motifs,’ says Emily.
Child's bedroom (left): Photographic prints of Cornwall by Lulu Ash inspired the decor here. Komorebi rug in Forest, A Rum Fellow. Cushion, Penny Worrall. Antique table, Stowaway London. Bathroom (right): ’The overall look is one of a very sunny day at the beach,’ says Emily. Gambas Playa tiles, Maitland & Poate. Vanity unit by COAL. Mirror attributed to Audoux-Minet, sourced from Vinterior.
Photographic prints of the Cornish coast adorn her brother’s bedroom walls, while the guest bedroom benefits from a striking fruit and floral patterned wallpaper, which informs the color choices for fabrics and furnishings elsewhere in the room.
What’s evident here is a project that is a tailored response to the requirements of its clients. ‘Big credit must go to them,’ says Emily. ‘They were really committed to the project and, over time, gave us lots of creative freedom.’
Study (left): ‘The art deco-look office features pieces that are quite sculptural - taking a bit of influence from Hepworth,’ says Emily. Ray rug, Pinch. Wilmot desk, Soho Home. Walls in 'Sprig V'; inside of shelving in 'Deep Water Green', both by Paint & Paper Library.Main bedroom (right): Influenced by St Ives’ sandy beaches, this gold scheme has a sunrise feel. Chaise in Macclesfield, Rose Cumming. Soda table, Monologue London. Antide floor lamp, Atelier Vime.
The house is a testament to Emily and Joe’s passion for and understanding of the history of architecture and interior design when applied to modern living. Full of art, color, and creativity, those artistic luminaries of days gone by would doubtless be very happy to continue their conversations here.