Being located in a remote location
without any communications, installing
services and sewage treatment was one
of the very first tasks to bring this old
Chapel back to life and to allow for the
conversion of this historic building into a
holiday accommodation.
The initial brief was to provide three
guest bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen /
dining area and a living room on the
ground floor. However, it was soon clear
it would reduce the space, therefore a
mezzanine floor was proposed. “One
of the main elements of the Chapel is
the Gothic style arched windows that
elegantly frame the beautiful views and
allow the space to fill with light. Before
the mezzanine floor could be considered
we had to ensure that the new ceiling line
would not obstruct any of the windows,”
says designer Paul King.
The 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,” says Paul King.
Once the new level had been installed, all
new bespoke timber frame windows and
shutters were installed to complement the
unique style and details of the Chapel.
Interior designed to 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,” explains designer
Paul King. “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.
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The kitchen units were styled to keep a
homely rural feel, which is framed by the
feature wall tiles. By usi