andrew wood associates
RIBA chartered architect and interior designer
Grade 2 Listed The Boltons in Chelsea, London.
This is one of the smallest and most difficult commissions we have ever undertaken. We were asked to create a dressing space adjoining the master en suite for the ‘man of the house’. We were asked to blend the character of the house with the feel of a much-loved chest of drawers in the adjoining bedroom and also for the furniture to have a hint of a gentleman’s club about it too.
We were keen to avoid a pastiche, or a badly arranged copy of their original furniture, we sought to bring something fresh and interesting to the mix too. We must have worked through fifty options to reach the final design, with various arrangements and numerous material combinations considered.
The furniture is finished with a combination of American Black Walnut and walnut burr, with bronze bar inlay. The design sat well against the existing building, the detail had a hint of the old furniture about it and the whole installation had the feel of a walnut-panelled smoking room at a west end club.
The furniture was all hand-made by the outstanding furniture makers Opus Magnum in south London, the project was completed in 2013 and the project cost £23,000 before VAT, including the builder’s work associated with the fitted furniture.