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Being on the Coast is a way of life, for 25 years have moved no less than 12 times. Now the Browns feel they have found the perfect place to settle down - a detached house in Dorset that enjoys stunning views eastwards across tile sea to the Isle of Wight.

 

SUNNY MEMORIES

 

Jill was raised in Bedfordshire, and remembers longing for the annual summer holidays spent at Trevone.  Bav ill Cornwall. 'I loved it there and was always so sad to go home. she says. But ^,hen Jill I was 13, her dream of remaining permanently near the sea was realised when her family moved to Rock, just across the bay from the Cornish town of Padstow. 'It was idyllic,’ Jill recalls. ' That time in my life had a huge impact, and ever since then, I've wanted to stay by the coast. Derek hails from Southampton, so lie takes living by the sea for granted.'

 

 

SITTING ROOM

Jill mixes check, striped and floral fabrics to add interest. Shaded White estate emulsion, £26.50 for 2.5 litres, Farrow & Ball (01202 876141, farrow-ball.com), The sofa is upholstered in Rosemoor fabric. £26.50 per metre, Blendworth (023 9259 491), blendworth.co.uk). The footstool Is from John Lewis (08456 049049), johnlewis.com): its large Berkeley design, £450, is comparable.

 

 

STUDY

Letter writing is never a chore In this calm and relaxing space. Gustavian dressing table from £267. Scumble Goosie (01453 731305, scumble-goosie.co.uk). The curtains were made up using a Jane Churchill (020 7244 7427, janechurchill.com) cheak. Romany in Red, £31 per metre.

IDEAL LOCATION

 

From the moment the Browns first saw ^this house, they knew it had to be theirs.’It was the perfect place in the perfect setting,' says Jill. 'You can look out of the front through the pine trees and onto the beach. It's just glorious.' The previous Owner. Who was a builder, had converted it into a two-storey property, incorporating both a loft conversion and a kitchen extension at the back of the house.

 

With no structural work required, the house's decor was the main focus of attention. Its walls', which Jill recalls as being 'a horrid pale yellow,' were quickly painted using a tried-and-tested palette. ­'I'm a great fun of Farrovv & Ball's colour range,' says Jill, who coordinated restful muted tones throughout, reflecting her love Of Scandinavian interiors. 'I adore white-painted furniture and crisp linen,’ Jill adds. 'It’s such a clean, fresh look and works well here.’

 

 

 

KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM

 

The cream Aga provides the focal point in this pastel-blue scheme. Cabinetry, £15,000, Handmadekitchens­-direct.co.uk (01202 475515) Aga: $7,000, Spillers of Chard (01460 67878, cookercentre.com) , The dresser was painted with Farrow & Ball's 101202 87614), farrow­ball.com) Light Blue estate eggshell, £42.50 for 2 5 litres, Jane Churchill's (020 7244 7427. janechurchiII.com) Romany check in Aqua, £31 per metre, dresses the windows.

 

 

 

 

FRENCH CONNECTION

 

The house also has a distinctly Gallic feel, inspired by holidays in the south of France. There's a shop in St Tropez called L'Atelier and every time we visit. I end up stuffing as many items as possible into the boot of the car,' laughs Jill. 'I've bought lots of antique linen there and teamed it with modern Striped, plain or floral fabrics to add character to my schemes.

 

 

 

DINING ROOM

White-pointed furniture and dazzling blue china create a distinctly Scandinavian feel. Gustavian table. from £1,450: Rustic Rose chairs, £450 each, Rosendahl linen seat covers, £49 each, all Nordic Style (020 735 1755, nordicstyle biz) Corner cabinet, £600, Claire Rose Interiors (01590 674798, angelcourtyard,co.uk)

 

 

MASTER BEDROOM

The Napoleonic bee wallpaper is based on a pattern found In Josephine Bonaparte's boudoir. Bumble Bee wallpaper, £62 for a 1 G-melre roll, Farrox & Ball (01202 876!4I, !arrax-ball ,COm). John Lewis' (08456 049049, johnlewis.com) Mirat;zllz bedstead. £795, is in this 18th-century French style

 

GUEST BEDROOM

A delicate palette of aqua shades reflect the house's coastal location. Recreate the look with aura Ashley's (0871 230 2301, lauraashley.com) Bramwell fabric in Duck Egg, £22 per metre. For similar table lamp bases, try India Jane's (020 8961 8844, indiajane.co.uk) Piccolo wood design. £60 each.

 

 

 

HOME COMFORTS

 

But it is not Just continental flavours that are dear to jill's heart. She also admires sonic quintessential English brands. 'Agas are the best thing in the world-' she says. 'This one is Our seventh. We've installed I range in each house we've done up, and none of us - especially our dogs Tarka and Bella can now live ^Without one.’

 

The same could be said of the Browns' longstanding love affair with houses by the sea. 'This place is just heaven on earth^,’ smiles Jill. ‘Waking each morning to the sound of the waves and the smell of salt air always gives us such a thrill.

 

 

 

BATHROOM

Tumbled marble tiles are a practical, yet stylish choice. Mandarin Stone's (01600 715444, mandarinstone.com) Ecru Honed tile. from £40 per sq m, Is In this vein.Bathstore's (020 7793 9799, bathstore,com) Euro Mono design,£179, is a comparable basin.

Luxury creates an experience focused on comfort, where quality abounds and beauty radiates to captivate your imagination. What better place to experience luxury than in your home? To create gorgeous rooms filled with luxurious furnishings, it's all in the details. Those finishing touches that define extraordinary interiors and establish your signature style. Home ac­cents, such as artwork, textiles, and sculpture reflect your passions. They make every home more beautiful, creating artful interiors that tell a story with style and distinction.

 

For luxury seekers determined to design living spaces that are uniquely defined, acquisition and placement of these furnishings brings tremendous joy. Through the transformative power of design, home accents are as functional as they are beautiful. Like fine jewelry, they can shine in any setting.

 

 

 

OBJECTS OF AFFECTION

 

Surround yourself with luxury: Living with objects of beauty can enrich your life, offer­ing significance that transcends the spaces they occupy. Pot selection, establish a design direction by evaluating your interests. Is your home decidedly contemporary requiring coordinated looks? Do you desire antiques that exude tradition and elegance, creating a time­less style? Are your home accents treasures from global travels, connecting time and place like a three dimensional photo album? Do you want to display objects that call for atten­tion, or that add value as you complement an expanding collection? Defining your criteria will help you find expressive f_urni_shi_ngs that support your design sensibility.

 

 

 

 

GOOD STYLE COMES WITH BENEFITS

 

Specialty and exotic materials such as glass, metal, fiber, and wood, impeccably crafted by artisans into imaginative forms, add sig­nificant value to _your- home The ultimate in luxury is having objects designed exclusively for you, to own something ₎'au haven't seen anywhere else. Merging elegance with ease, materials that are hand embellished and richly finished, display the fine workmanship that represents the skills and passion the artist brings to the work.

 

Commissioning an artist provides a reward­ing Creative experience which fosters pride in

ownership. Ownership does have its privileges. the work becomes a form of personal expres­sion. Have fun, and build an estate collection that features an assortment of objects pro­duced in your favorite material, or a series of works created b_y your favorite artist or crafts­man.

 

 

 

 

EVERYTHING HAS ITS PLACE

 

Design interiors with clean lined edited appeal. To create visual layers in a room, juxtapose patterns and shapes to add depth and balance. Address placement options that could create visual competition. Combina­tions of materials, color cones, and finishes punctuated throughout, offer detailing that becomes engaging through their compelling visual interest.

 

Texture adds character. Material interpreta­tions using pattern and unique surface treat­ments through textiles, offer sensory pleasures that partner comfort with elegance. Luxuri­ous textiles such as silk, velvet, and linen are appreciated for their touch, as well as their beauty. Surface embellishments using distinc­tive stitching, weaving techniques, or embroi­dery add a distinctive presence.

 

DEFINING DESIGN

 

Discover the ultimate in style, with the work of the following craftsman who redefine luxury with their unique works of art and dis­tinctive home accents :

 

 

METAL :

 

Using whimsical designs combined with a variety of materi­als and unique finishes, Linkasink fabricates sinks that blend practicality with imagination. Tie "Wave Bowl" is a handmade vessel sink crafted from 100-percent recycled bronze with a sleek, matte finish. This sink lends a Sculptural form and a playful touch to any powder room. With this work of art made from recycled materials, you can experience beauty and save the planet at the same time.

 

With metal as his medium. Ken Roby moves beyond form and function to create distinctive, must-have metal works for the home. His dedication to the art of the blacksmith is evident in his original designs, which are crafted by hand in the for_ge, then signed and dated. His work includes custom staircase railings and balconies, Fire screens, sculptural pieces, furniture, and lamps. Installations of his work can be found throughout the United States.

 

 

 

 

FIBER :

 

If walls could talk, the_y would thank 'Jim Hard­ing. The Tim Harding Studio creates reverse appliqu6 quilted, tapestry-like wall hangings. These colorful, textured artworks combine a contemporary feel with 4 the warmth and intimacy of a favorite quilt. His wall hangings provide an unforgettable backdrop in any space. Made from both opaque and iridescent Indian silks, his works have a rich^, distinct appearance . through the masterful use of textural manipulation, such as collage layering and stitching, pattern structure and creative color combinations. His work is available through fine galleries.

 

 

 

 

GLASS :

 

Leslie Rankin thinks big, designing dramatic works of art in _glass that welcome pause. Her studio creates home accents in glass for clients, and art collectors, who appreciate the modern forms, textural detailing, and grand scale that defines her work. Using multiple techniques such as fusing, sandblasting, painting, weld­ing and kiln forming, her _qualit_y craftsmanship and designs create unique visual interest. She has been commissioned to create glass works such as murals, room dividers, entries, wall tiles for architectural instal­lations, and sculptures.

 

 

SUN CONTROL FILMSV-KOOL Oman established in 2000, offers the most technologically advanced films that reduce heat; they are voted as one of the top 100 inventions of the millennium.These films work on the basis of continuous reflectance of the infra-red heat up to 94 per cent rather than absorbing it. They also improve the energy efficiency, safety and security as well as provides for higher comfort levels to the to the occupants.

 

Global warming is not only the prime environmental challenge we face today, but one of the most important issues facing human kind. V-KOOL International, recognized globally as a pioneer in providing daylight harvesting and energy efficiency solutions through advanced spectrally selective films for automotive and architectural use, has made its presence felt in 28 countries, including Oman.

 

The energy-efficient building puts less strain on the cooling system thereby reducing maintenance and extending the life of the equipment. Apart from the premium clear heat control films,  V-KOOL offers an extensive range of films. It provides protection from UV rays, thereby reducing fading of car upholstery, and interiors of house and retail outlets.

 

 

 

 

COOL AUTOMOTIVE

 

V-KOOL’s advanced smart coating can make the one-inch thick glass possess the same insulation capability of a six-inch thick wall. This particular feature helps bring down the amount of power required to cool a car or house – thus reducing carbon emissions significantly.

 

By rejecting solar heat and reducing air conditioning loads, V-KOOL films perk up the fuel efficiency of a typical car by 3 per cent. A study done by Environment Protection Agency in USA (EPA) along with Visteon says; every car coated with V-KOOL film reduces CO2 emissions by 132 kg per year, the same quantity reduced by 11 trees.

 

More than 20 million cars worldwide are incorporated with V-KOOL’s patented technology, and it is proud to be accountable for reduction of 2,64 million tons of CO2 annually. It is mention worthy that 198 million trees are absorbing the same quantity of carbon dioxide during a span of one whole year.

 

V-KOOL has recently opened a branch in Sohar and Muscat City Center. For our customers, V-KOOL provides the convenience to have their cars installed while shopping.

 

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded V-KOOL with the Energy Star Buildings Ally. This prestigious award is conferred on deserving contenders for technologies that make a significant contribution in reducing energy consumption at a global level, thereby reducing air pollution and emissions.

 

Committed to the cause of raising awarness for global warming, V-KOOL actively participates in key exhibitions and social events aiming for a sustainable environment for future generations.

DON’T REPLICATE OTHERS DESIGNS, APPLY YOUR MIND AND USE YOUR TASTE AND PREFERENCES IN DESIGNING YOUR HOME

 

In Oman there are no specific colour trends, when it is related to painting homes and rooms inside them. There is a lack of awareness on this issue. People are concerned about their clothes and their colours that change from one season to the other but not about the colour themes at home. Mostly, people prefer to apply white and off-white shades and this trend is common almost in all the houses in the Sultanate. People sometimes fear to use such colours and apply them on their houses because there is no awareness in how to use these colours and what psychological effect each colour has and how can they be associated with certain mood, senses or feelings. Therefore there should not be any hesitation to consult the colour consultant or the interior designers in order to be properly guided for colour preferences.

 

Each colour has a different effect and is associated with different feelings, so when we set to create a cosy mood in such a room, then warm colours would be the best to us, such as yellow, oranges, and shades of red. But we should also be careful when applying these colours as they tend to make the areas look narrow. Therefore, these type of colours can be applied only on one wall to create a focal point. When someone is seeking serenity and tranquility, then shades of blue and green should be selected, they embody the spirit of water. These colours tend to widen the spaces and make them look spacious.

 

The first step to relinquishing fear in the use of colour is to understand the psychological effect it has on us, then we should decide on the mood we need to create in each room. For example, hospital rooms, class rooms, fast food restaurants and offices should be painted in such colours to influence the behavior and moods of the people who use these spaces. For example, red is known to stimulate the appetite, so it is an excellent colour for dining rooms. Both blue and green are fresh and calming; they are colours of nature and could be perfect choices for bedrooms and areas that need to look wide and spacious.

 

 

The first step to relinquishing fear in the use of colour is to understand the psychological effect it has on us, then we should decide on the mood we need to create in each room. For example, hospital rooms, class rooms, fast food restaurants and offices should be painted in such colours to influence the behavior and moods of the people who use these spaces. For example, red is known to stimulate the appetite, so it is an excellent colour for dining rooms. Both blue and green are fresh and calming; they are colours of nature and could be perfect choices for bedrooms and areas that need to look wide and spacious.

 

Yellow and orange are energizing like sun, so they are good choices for rooms where energy is required. Orange and purple can be good choices for home offices. If you are stuck with idea, when trying to decide what colour scheme to choose for a room, look at the furniture and objects you want to use. Many interior designers build up a complex colour scheme from just one item.

 

This does not mean that dramatic colours do not have their place, for too many houses are painted with various shades of beige and off-whites, these colours are very easy to live with but in order to avoid monotony you should contrast and enliven them with bright highlights in your accessories and upholstery.

 

Colours can be toned down, for example, a bright red in dining room, can be toned down by application of various glazes so that its vibrancy is turned to a rich burnish. Bright yellows can be colour washed over a white base to wash them out. In such cases original character of the colour is maintained and only its brightness is muted.

 

Using colour is an art which needs a good knowledge of how to blend and match colours. It also depends on the individual’s personality, taste and preferences.

Manufactured stone is used on entryways, as accent walls and even to create the illusion of an old stone building. Whether it's meant to complement a home's exterior or create a fatal point inside a home, where manufactured wane is applied to a house is limited only by one's imagination.

 

The manufactured stone product category remains in the early stages of growth, and its

use continues to increase in both new con­struction and remodeling projects. Reports suggest that another $500 million could be added over the next three years to this already $1 billion category.

 

 

Exterior Accents

 

On the exterior of a home, manufactured stone is being used on entryways, around doors, under porches, on columns, as wain­scoting and even on some smaller applications like a foundation cover around the perimeter of a home.

 

"What we've found is there isn't any par­ticular style of home that is using manufac­tured stone," says David Barren, president of United Stone Veneer by PlyGem. "We have a stone profile that fits just about any style home that you build- Whether it's a Craftsman or old-world look or even a Tra­ditional Cape Cod, we have a stone profile That fits those needs."

Manufactured stone covers the gamut of home styles, from a contemporary home with products that are clean-lined and smooth, to a more rustic style stone for the farmhouse look. Manufacturers offer stone veneers in all shapes, sizes and colors. Depending on the size of the project, stone profiles could be blended together to create something truly unique.

 

"We have a stone that emulates a New York Brownstone so if you live in the city and have that style of home, you con pick that stone for your project," says Ramsay I^-lawfield, director of product development, Eldorado Stone. "Plus, manufactured stone products fit all sorts of home price ranges. We've seen it on $150,000 homes and $7 million homes."

Manufactured stone is used in outdoor living spaces more and more each day. As homeowners create outdoor spaces with living rooms, hearths, kitchens and patios, manufac­tured stone is being used to accent outdoor fireplaces, or even stoning-in high-end grills to create an outdoor kitchen island.

 

 

 

A home's entryway can be transformed by applying manufactured stone,

such as United Stone Veneer by PIyGem shown here

 

Interior Motifs

 

"We're starting to see the product used more on interior ^projects," Barrett says. The standard used to be putting stone around a fireplace. Now we're starling to see kitchens designed with stone, staircases, indoor col­umn work and some accent walls."

 

Designers are dealing nontraditional uses of manufactured stone and specifying more of it inside a home. This includes backsplashes in kitchens instead of tile, behind the slave, and around the wall that frames a refrigera­tor. Besides kitchens, manufactured stone can also be found in family rooms, as an accent in great roams, in wine cellars and in bathroom applications.

 

I would say that right now, The most popular places (for manufactured stone( inside the home are kitchen and family room accents," says Kelly Warren, product man­ager, Stone Craft, purl of the Tapco Building Products Group. 'That's what we've seen really take off over the last 12 to 18 months."

 

To aid designers with interior imagination, Eldorado Slone has created its Gemstone wall concept. This was conceived to show design­ers and architects what can be done inside with manufactured stone. The Gemstone wall concept takes a blank wall and shows three simple ideas of what can be done to make it more purposeful and a focal point.

 

One of these walls is focused on a dining/ entertaining area that includes wine storage. Another area is designed to create a spa environment in the bathroom, while a third Gemstone wall focuses on pic­ture hanging. To make it simpler, designers con go to Eldorado's website and download a PDF that provides the steps needed to create the space, such as framing needs, the different stones used in the project or recommendations on other stones that could he used.

 

"The trend a few years ago was to point one wall a deep vibrant color," StoneCraft's Warren adds, "Now we ore finding people using manufactured stone for those interior accent walls.'

 

 

Eldorado Stone illustrates the dramatic effect manufactured stone con hove on a room with these before and offer images

 

Regional Recipes

 

What consumers are asking for varies across the country and is dependent on the types of stone native to an area. For instance, in some parts of the Midwest, stone is muted and nor vibrantly colored. Its shape tends to be geometric, creating a kind of squared­ off limestone look. In northern parts of the Midwest, however, where cabin retreats are the norm, there is a liv_er rock look which reflects a rounded stone simulatin_g the type ^,of stone found in a riverbed.

 

 

Adding stone inside a home can dramatically change the mood in a kitchen, shown here with Stone Craft products by The Tapco Group

 

 

In tire South and Southwest many designs use a ledge stone in several different variet­ies. II depends on what is indigenous to an area and what people see as natural stone. From the Carolinas south, a more rough -faced, geometric-looking ledge stone is used and typically is dry stacked with no mortar.

 

In Pennsylvania or Ohio limestone is typi­cal, but fieldstone with larger cut profiles and more vibrancy in color are becoming popular because native stone shares this look in those areas. Moving farther into the Northeast, inure fieldstone products are used with a mor­tar application because of the severe freeze/ thaw cycles.

 

 

Power of Imagination

 

"From an aesthetic standpoint manufactured stone has come a long way to a point where it's now hard to tell the difference between a manufactured stone veneer and a real stone," Barrett explains. "We've seen reports that show the rate of return on invest­ment has been as much as 200 percent on product and labor combined.

 

As with most building products, a few limitations exist for manufactured stone. For instance, it is not designed for load-bearing applications such as a paver, on a sidewalk or driveway. II also shouldn't be submerged in water such as in a pond or pool, or below grace. Height restrictions are based on the structure and the substrate that generally are regulated by the local building code.

 

Some consider one of the best benefits of manufactured stone to be the ^ability to install il without a mason. This alone has prompted a few builders to add it to their slate of offerings, in turn making many homeowners happy.

 

"A lot of designers find that when they want to achieve a stone look, manufactured stone is a great way to create that aesthetic, but nor completely blow out the budget, because it has a much lower installed cost than natural stone,"

 

 

 

Brookstone is !he newest stone style offered by Quality Stone Veneer it replicates stone found in mountain livers and streams that have tumbled downstream for centuries. With rounded edges, smooth boulder surfaces and random patterns, it is designed to flow with authenticity and be visually stunning will- a powerful presence.

 

 

 

While full-sized brick can be cumbersome in interior design. and requires load bearing foundations in exterior applications, a thin veneer solution to real brick is Old Brick Originals Thinbrick from Robinson Brick. It begins as Robinson's signature full-sized FBX - quality brick which is then cut thin for easy application inside and out.

 

 

 

GAF Materials announces its Canyon Rock of product line or Premium decorative stone. Standard features include 90-degree corners, minimal over pours, well-defined mortar grooves and a special coating that makes it easier to clean off excess mortar for a neater looking job.

 

 

 

ArcusStonecoat from ArcusStone is a unique blend of crushed limestone and other natural min­erals, special bondin_g agents, Portland cement and numerous proprietary ingredients. Yielding a strong, reliable and versatile decorative coat­ing that allows architects and designers to put limestone just about anywhere hey wont it.

 

 

 

Owens Corning Masonry Products is the first manufactured stone veneer maker to qualify as Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified. The certifications are for the entire line of Cultured Stone and ProStone veneer products- The masonry veneer prod­ucts have also been approved under the NAHB Research Center Green Approved Products seal of approval.

 

 

Coronado Stone's Italian Villa stone is a combination of richly textured fieldstones arid ledge stones inspired by the centuries ­old villas seen across the Italian countryside. With a range of colors, this stone has a handcrafted chiseled style doling back to the Renaissance period and can be used in over-grout or washed applications for an Old World appearance.