IDEAL HOMES
" WE WENT FOR DEEP, rich colours "
| STYLE HOME |
RELOCATING FROM LONDON TO SCOTLAND GAVE RUTH BOND THE CHANCE TO REDESIGN A STRIKING VICTORIAN TENEMENT APARTMENT AND CREATE A STYLISH AND CONTEMPORARY HOME
HOME NOTES
WHO LIVES HERE? Ruth Bond, a creative director, and her husband Jamie Kenward, a recruitment consultant, with regular visits from Ruth’s grown-up children, Zeb, 23, and Caleb, 21.
THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom 1880 tenement apartment in Glasgow, bought in 2018.
1 " Get the feel of a space, before committing ”
‘We almost didn’t look at this property as we thought it was over-priced, but we are so pleased we did. The original features, ceiling heights and room proportions were incredible, and there were stunning views of Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens. The surrounding trees created a dappled light that we could never have appreciated via an online listing – it completely won us over. We made an offer after one 20-minute visit.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES Clovelly sofa in Velvet Smoke, £2,529, Soho Home. Orb chandelier, £490, Pooky, is similar. Try Slim arched mirror in Black, £318, Cox & Cox. Seki 1 Smoked Green bubble glass lamp, £99, Lights&Lamps
2 “Vintage gems inject character”
‘The living room featured some phenomenal ’90s gold patterned wallpaper, but the cornicing, ceiling rose, and fireplace were all original and intact. I found vintage double doors online which were a steal at £200 and look like they have always been there. As it is a listed building we had to keep the original entrance to the room, so we simply locked the door and built a shelving unit in front of it to house the television and my collection of vintage fashion magazines. I made the unit from salvaged scaffolding boards stained black, and an old support frame that I rescued from a dump years ago.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES Broadway round heirloom rug in Silver White, £466, Rug Vista. Como throw, £260, Soho Home. Tapeka accent armchairs in Sycamore Green recycled velvet, £179 each, Made.com. Walls painted in Gargoyle elite emulsion, £53 for 2.5ltr; woodwork in Gargoyle acrylic eggshell, £70 for 2.5ltr, both Zoffany
3 “Darker décor creates a luxury feel”
‘Our hallway is wide and very dark and we made it even darker by decorating the walls a moody blue. My builders thought I’d lost the plot, but I love the opulence it creates. The light through the stained-glass window bounces around the room on sunny days, and in the winter when it gets dark at three o’clock in the afternoon, I love putting on the lamps – it feels so welcoming
