At AO, we collaborate with a number of highly skilled consultants and creatives, and the partnership on this stunning North Oxford property with bespoke cabinet and furniture makers Langstaff-Ellis – a company who share our commitment to high-quality design and craftsmanship – is testament to a fantastic working relationship, and collective vision.
Located within one of Oxford’s most prominent Conservation Areas, this Arts and Crafts villa underwent a full-scale renovation and refurbishment programme and includes bespoke integrated and free-standing furniture, throughout, by Langstaff-Ellis.
A new, single-storey library and reading room hosts the client’s private collection of literature and poetry. Full-height shelving and base cabinets crafted from solid European Oak and Rift Oak veneer – with a hand-smoked dark finish – are complemented by contemporary T-bar Armac Martin brass handles, custom internal brass work and lighting. Every detail has been considered – from the sliding desk drawer, on which to rest a book for casual browsing, to the unique entranceway, engraved with (gold-lacquered) quotes from the client’s favourite poets, including Tennyson, T.S. Elliot, Seamus Heaney, Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson.
Bedrooms are expertly fitted with handmade wardrobes, dressing tables and chest of drawer units, with Cedar-backed beaded design work in a number of complementary styles. Bespoke cabinetry in the bathrooms continues the theme in the upper floors, where subtle grey beaded panels and mouldings reflect the Arts and Craft feel of the home.
Downstairs, work includes a stylish and functional boot room, along with a modern take on the traditional dining room dresser - finished in solid Oak and featuring integrated lighting to highlight our client’s objet d’art and eclectic ephemera. In addition, numerous bespoke, free-standing tables and side tables – a secondary phase to the original commission – complete the contemporary interiors perfectly.
When it comes to the successful design and implementation of detailed items at this scale, the quality of product, communication and shared understanding are critical. In this instance, Langstaff-Ellis’ experience, design input and standards of finish combine perfectly, delivering beautiful and functional joinery pieces that convey the same sense of timelessness and elegance achieved from the architecture. We continue to enjoy working with likeminded businesses like Langstaff-Ellis, and look forward to sharing further partnerships and collaborations, in the future.
