Great article! And love this quote "When Japanese people buy Danish design, they also buy a bit of the lifestyle"
Such a success of a renovation - faultless & enchanting. But, like the person before me has mentioned, it's a shame the furnishings & decoration aren't a touch warmer; there's such heavy use of slate & stone (which is fabulous btw) it's crying out for a bit more colour and homely warmth.
I think it may be early days yet,its all new and pristine.When the owners have got used to their new surroundings they could decide to add some more personal touches ,colour and artwork.Its the kind of thing that evolves in a house of that size and style. Be nice to see it again in a couple of years time. An amazing house.
I really don't get this. Nothing gives me more pleasure than ridding myself of unwanted items. I donate unwanted xmas gifts as soon as the charity shops reopen.
I now tend to say to our clients that while we can deal with a permission relatively well if we follow the set rules, the biggest unknowns are the neighbours. It's so easy to knock on somebody's door, introduce yourself if you just moved in, and briefly mention what you are trying to do. Let them comment, engage in a discussion.
While the above is very useful, we still often find that objections from the very same people we approached come through once the permission is submitted. Still, it's a very good thing to speak to your neighbours.
Thank you for making this point :-)
As well as from architects, advice can also be obtained from planning consultants - many of whom these days are early retirees from Councils and tend to have more knowledge than the junior staff who replaced them!