01494 778787
01494 778787
With a brief to create a cool contemporary home by the sea, Jo Kroes Randell, director of Randell Design Group, reveals the style inspiration behind a property full of delightful details.
Project details
Architecture and interior design: Randell Design Group
Front door: Barn (external) and Rondo V in RAL 4003
(internal) 1005mm x 2245mm with option 18 handle
and fingerprint entry with motorised lock
Bespoke joinery: Wrights Joinery & Stephen Anthony Design
Lead contractor: Joseph James Construction
Landscaping: Andy Stedman Design
Photography: Julia Toms Photography
What was the brief for Iona?
Our clients wanted a cool, modern, low-maintenance home that embodies modern Scandinavian style and features natural and raw textures. Improving the connection between the house and garden to make the home lighter was key. Inside, the clients wanted a mix of vintage and classic mid-century modern style with Nordic furniture, accessories, lighting, colourful artwork, and fabric.
How did you meet the brief?
The nature of the site required a long deep footprint with a glazed gable elevation facing south towards the sea. We also used opportunities for ground floor projections, one of which forms the feature entrance. Natural, earthy materials were chosen for the exterior and the interior design uses elements that speak to the design aesthetic of our clients and their love of mid-century modern style.
Where is the house and did that impact the design?
Iona is located on the south coast, one row back from the seafront. The road layout and configuration of the neighbouring houses are such that the south-facing front gardens have become the main living spaces and the first-floor areas have oblique views of the sea. This made for an interesting approach to the house whereby the main entrance is accessed through the landscaped area of the main garden space.
Is Iona a sustainable build?
The house has been created with a high degree of sustainable design and has achieved an EPC A rating. The latest monitoring and evaluation systems have been utilised, which will allow for ease of renewal in the future, whilst items such as the photovoltaic panels have been designed to be easy to replace.
What’s the idea behind the unusual details and hidden gems within this property?
Colour blocking was an important design choice. The staircase was designed as a block of colour and serves as a marked pathway from the ground to the first floor. The recessed handrail mimics grove details seen elsewhere in the design such as shadow gap skirting and architraves. All such details were deliberately minimal in design.
We also worked with skilled joiners to create bespoke pieces, designed by Randell Design Group, to provide multi-functional elements that can be concealed when needed to maximise space. For example, wardrobes that open to reveal a dressing table.
What materials feature in the house?
A consistent material palette was used throughout the property consisting of polished concrete porcelain tiles on the ground floor, with a mix of oiled oak and wool carpet on the first floor. For a burst of colour, the stairs are painted in Harley Green by Little Greene.
What’s the design concept for the garden?
The landscaping was designed by Andy Stedman Design to mimic the nearby stony beach, with stepping-stone features and a low-maintenance planting regime, which the homeowners are developing over time.
What’s your favourite part of the property?
The layout of the interior works perfectly for the client’s lifestyle with views out to the garden from the living area and to the sea on the first floor. My favourite part is the main living space, especially when the doors are open to create a wonderful extension to the interior. The homeowner loves spending time on the balcony watching the sunset or winter storms. We all love the surprises and hidden gems throughout the design. It’s a special house.