Large modern extension

For this modern basement-level extension on a listed manor house in Somerset, William Garvey was commissioned to provide the bespoke joinery, cabinetry and furniture for a comprehensive home spa, office and media room.

Working for Kingston Building Contractors to Grainge Architects‘ exacting drawings, our brief was to achieve material consistency across the diverse range of environments in the extension including the high moisture conditions of the pool hall.

Technically challenging

A new staircase leads down into the extension from the main house and introduces the material detail and modern aesthetic that runs throughout. Crafted from solid walnut and flamed walnut veneers, the staircase features a solid curved handrail that flows around the corners of the landing and down into the extension. The installation required minimal tolerances, necessitating a meticulous process of refinement between our workshop, the stonemasons at Devon Stone and the site to ensure shadow gaps and angles remained precise.

A case study in continuity

The walnut palette continues throughout the entire 400sqm subterranean extension. To maintain this homogenous aesthetic while meeting the functional demands of a pool environment, we used our specialist lacquer finishes to achieve a robust finish where moisture levels were highest. This allowed us to use the same timber and flamed veneers in the pool and the wellness areas, as in the media room, stairway and office.

We crafted all the internal doors and door frames from the same walnut. However, to achieve the grooved, fluted centre panel design dictated by the architect and to make sure the doors remained flat and stable near the water, the thinner cabinet doors had to be made using an aluminium honeycomb core clad in solid walnut and finished with our specialist waterproof lacquers. This moisture-resistant rigidity allowed for the crisp, minimal shadow gaps seen around and between the doors and doorframes. Every door throughout the project is finished with bespoke metal hardware by Philip Watts Design.

Layered modern character

In the home office, the floor to ceiling fluted walnut wall panelling is paired with acoustic panels, and bespoke walnut fitted furniture finished with leather panels and brass inlays. Fine slatted sections in the flamed walnut wall panelling in the gym and media room allow AV and air conditioning systems to be discreetly hidden away.

Within the walnut panelling, hidden jib doors lead to plant rooms and storage spaces. These were crafted with perfectly matched walnut veneers and a bespoke “press and pull” catch system, rendering them invisible when closed.

Contemporary wellness

To one side of the swimming pool, we crafted a waterproof timber surround for a large recessed jacuzzi. An adjacent lounge space features a kitchenette for entertaining. The very high moisture levels in this area had to be taken into consideration when we were creating the walnut joinery and cabinetry for the kitchenette. Again we used aluminium honeycomb cores clad in walnut and coated with our specialist waterproof lacquer finishes. One set of tall double doors hides a fridge and freezer. A matching set of double-width retractable walnut pocket doors reveal a wet bar with wall hung storage for glassware, and four cabinets with perfectly matched flamed walnut veneer below a stone worktop.

The project concludes with a pair of walnut doors leading into a series of wellness rooms including a sauna, steam room and a treatment room with fully fitted walnut cabinetry and a vanity unit.

Project Manager, Dominic Roberts commented “I was pleased with how happy the client was with our work. They went on to order more joinery including a desk to match the joinery and cabinetry we’d crafted for the home office plus a bar. The whole project is very considered, and the details are consistent and flow throughout. You can stand in one room, looking through the doorway into another space a few rooms away and the furniture, joinery and cabinetry is cohesive and intentional.”