The peak in all its glory.

Jim Stephenson

As a substitute of riffing on renowned constructions and vintage layouts, architect Mat Barnes used a bevy of pop society references to notify the current transform of his suburban London residence. The CAN founder seemed to amusement parks, films, and museums for inspiration as he fully gutted the dilapidated Edwardian and reworked it into a colorful, whimsical household house. “It’s a assortment of random strategies, relatively than a singular tactic,” he describes.

However Mat preserved the common brick façade, his eccentric back again extension delivers a hypermodern distinction to the building’s record with a mountain-formed parapet produced of foamed aluminum. Enchanted by the construction of Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds ride, Mat conceived of this cartoonish roof aspect to set the tone for the playful challenge.

The outdated back garden was overgrown and neglected.

Massive glass sliding doorways guide from the back garden into the quirky addition, wherever royal blue trusses and Douglas fir plywood ceilings fulfill checkerboard tile and a burnt orange sofa. Two sq. skylights usher in sunshine from over, supplying added illumination to the sitting down place that doubles as a playroom for Mat’s younger small children.

Welsh brand name Smile Plastics is powering the terrazzo-like recycled surfaces in the kitchen area.

Jim Stephenson

Mat preserved the first, ornate balustrade and up to date it with a coat of abundant mint.

Jim Stephenson

As a nod to a derelict condominium scene in the movie Trainspotting, a partly demolished wall demarcates the primary exterior boundary and serves as an entry to the kitchen area. It is here that multiple themes emerge. A continuation of the topography motif can be found in cavelike textured concrete and a steel enamel eating desk that resembles rippling h2o, while encaustic marker tiles and structural columns painted purple and white to mimic ranging rods introduce the concept of surveying the landscape.

To develop a graphic program of cabinetry and countertops, Mat used a reconstituted plastic crafted from recycled chopping boards and milk bottle tops. A everlasting reminder of the material’s sustainability, as nicely as Mat’s have cooking mantra, is spelled out on the actions: “Waste Not Want Not,” it reads. “It’s a phrase that my grandmother normally applied to say in the kitchen area, like nonstop, so it’s personalized,” he reveals.

The residing room is a playful take on a museum. 

Jim Stephenson

“I used to work at McDonald’s when I was more youthful for about 4 yrs,” Mat divulges.

Jim Stephenson

The vivid, open area is juxtaposed with a moody, monochromatic residing home subsequent doorway. Cloaked in indigo, the cozy den is supposed for evenings viewing tv and stress-free. Its elaborate plaster wall elaborations and ornate fireplace, having said that, are an homage to Sir John Soane’s Museum. “It’s this outrageous old house formerly owned by an 1800s architect. He gathered masses of architectural fragments from across the earth and they are all crammed into this remarkable position,” Mat describes. “This area is a piss-choose on that.”

“It was in a really derelict point out,” Mat remembers. “The boiler did not work, so we didn’t have any heating, and we only experienced a single warm faucet. It was a quite dire predicament.”

“We put in a skylight so it feels like a gallery,” facts Mat.

Jim Stephenson

Up the pistachio green– and cheddar  cheese–hued staircase, the decor gets to be more mellow. White walls display screen choose artworks, purely natural wood flooring are exposed, and primary beams are included in pastels. “When you go to mattress or when you are waking up on a lazy Sunday early morning, you want it to be quiet,” motives Mat.

Mat’s daughter perched on a plush foam window seat.

Jim Stephenson

“When we had been uncovering the present aspects in the house, we arrived across the original fireplaces and they all experienced checkerboard tiles as a fireplace,” Mat states of the impetus for the recurring pattern.

Jim Stephenson

The only exception is the rest room, which feels like an extension of the daring lessen amount. A brilliant, fiery ceiling mingles with far more checkerboard tile and a tub with uncovered metallic framework. The zippy lavatory is the only sensible companion to the bubbly funhouse that is Mat’s property.

At night, the relatives retreats to the remarkable living area to decompress.

Jim Stephenson

The lively lavatory matches the downstairs vitality.

Jim Stephenson

Mat and his family members appreciate the addition.

Jim Stephenson