design et al are delighted to announce that Rachel Deeks Design have been shortlisted for Luxury Residence Global Award within The International Design and Architecture Awards 2018.
Rachel Deeks Design were asked to revitalise a private island cottage into a dream getaway. The cottage is completed with a boathouse, cabin for extra guests, intimate spots for playing board games and a kitchen where everyone gathers at the end of the day. The cottage has been in the family for 23 years and the adult children now have children of their own. As the owner’s family were growing, they asked Rachel Deeks Design to assist them in designing a space that is more suited to their family needs. Their vision was a modern space that would accommodate everyone together and a retreat from their busy lifestyle. They wanted the space to be playful yet sophisticated.
Adults can gather downstairs for pre-dinner drinks in the sunroom whilst the children take full advantage of the games room on the second floor. The beautiful kitchen has been carefully designed to work with the exposed beams and the central island. Rachel Deeks and her team wanted to retain the exposed beams, they worked closely with the lighting designers and sourced the metal baling system to secure all the pot lights. The dining rooms large glass doors were designed so they could be opened in warmer weather, giving the guests an al fresco eating experience. The main fireplace runs through the entire cottage and is a constant gathering point for the family. It was carefully designed to play on the asymmetry of the exterior elevation. Rachel Deek’s favourite aspect of the design was said to be the custom fireplace and the open-air dining room.
The design works well due to its beautiful design but also does not lose its practicality and functionality for the owners’ growing family. As the location of the family cottage was built on an island, covered in golden pine needles and nestled on three sides by water, the designers wanted to take full advantage of the views and incorporate them within the interior through floor to ceiling windows not just the exterior.
