form - David Heeley

selected | Lancashire home
In fine form
Three years in the making, this renovated
home in the conservation area of Lytham
perfectly combines contemporary interior
design with subtle artistic touches
Report: Sophie Baylis Photography: David Still
20 kitchens bedrooms bathrooms

Lancashire home | selected
The soft curves of the freestanding bath and wall-hung WC
by Philippe Starck for Hansgrohe are typical of the couple’s
love of organic forms. Natural light streams in from the
Velux roof window and enriches the luxurious basalt wall
and floor tiles from Mandarin Stone. The sun-bleached
finish of the olive ash vanity unit creates an earthy feel,
complemented by curvaceous washbasins from Hansgrohe’s
Fogo collection. Deep recessed shelves either side of the
vanity unit provide storage space
www.kbbmagazine.com 21

selected | Lancashire home
22 kitchens bedrooms bathrooms
The sun-bleached finish of the olive ash
vanity unit complements the organic curves
of Hansgrohe’s Fogo basin. The finishing
flourish is Jean-Marie Massaud’s stunning
flat-top mixer tap by Hansgrohe that delivers
a beautiful cascade of water

Above: The wall and floors of the walkin
shower are clad in beautiful basalt
tiles. An oversized rainshower head
by Hansgrohe was selected to create a
relaxing showering experience
Right: The bathroom is separated from
the dressing area by a simple glass screen.
A run of solid oak fitted wardrobes,
incorporating a dressing table and walk-in
component, affords ample storage
You could be forgiven for thinking that David Heeley is a
professional designer. He isn’t. Having grown up in his parents’
hotel he fell in love with the hospitality industry at an early
age and went on to launch the successful Hi-Life Diners Club
over 20 years ago. Good taste, however, runs in his blood. The stunning
three-bedroom house he shares with his wife, Korser, reveals an
expert understanding of art and design, a genuine affection for natural
materials and an innate ability to pull the elements together to create a
timelessly contemporary vibe that remains sympathetic to its picturesque
surroundings of Lytham Estuary.
“I’ve always been motivated by architecture and design,” begins David.
“I had already designed lots of elements of the house – the windows,
the doors, the staircase. So when we decided to embark on an extensive
renovation almost three years ago it was just a matter of having the
confidence to believe that we could do it ourselves.”
The kitchen is a perfect expression of the Heeleys’ minimalist
mindset. “We wanted it to be calm and easy on the eye compared
to those kitchens that look busy and make people feel somewhat
emotionally tired just by looking at them,” says David. The solution was
ample storage hidden behind floor-to-ceiling cabinet doors in glossy white
lacquer. “We originally came down to London and had a series of meetings
with ‘big name’ kitchen designers but were ultimately disappointed,”
recalls David. “None of them were able to incorporate what we wanted
into a design.” u
Lancashire home | selected
“There is nothing
worse than investing in
contemporary design
that will look tired in two
or three years’ time”
www.kbbmagazine.com 23

selected | Lancashire home
Above: Santa & Cole’s stunning G7
pendant is suspended above the Interlübke
bed in the master bedroom. The solid
oak headboard – designed by David and
made by local craftsmen – complements
the solid oak floorboards from Havwoods.
Philippe Starck’s Archimoon lamps are
fitted on either side of the bed
Right: David and Korser chose timeless
pieces of furniture to ensure their home
does not date. Their bedroom is furnished
with a pair of Le Corbusier’s instantly
recognisable LC2 leather armchairs
and Eileen Grey’s iconic side table. The
bedroom leads onto the bathroom and
dressing room via a solid oak door
Undeterred, the Heeleys returned to Lancashire and found kitchen
company David John Kitchens, which set about working with them to
design their dream kitchen. “I particularly love the double doors that open
out to reveal a hidden work surface,” says David of their clutter-free design.
“Everything from cups and coffee to the toaster is stored here. We even
have drawers for mail.”
The white cabinets are a striking contrast to the three-tonne
centrepiece – a Zimbabwean granite island with a beautiful backlit Carrara
marble panel that radiates a golden glow at night. “I was determined to
have that rough look,” David says, indicating the chiselled finish of the
island’s chunky front profile. “Unfortunately it proved impossible for most
suppliers in the UK so in the end we sent it to India where it was chiselled
and sealed.”
The Heeleys subscribe to the ethos that it’s the little details that transform
a good design into something unique. The understated but attractive
barstools that were spotted in a restaurant in Spain are a case in point, as is
the flooring where the tiles were subject to much scrutiny before the final
decision was made. “I immediately got in touch with the company,” recalls
David, “and in the end we opted for putty-coloured limestone.”
The kitchen is representative of the Heeleys’ signature style and repeated
throughout the house. Japanese-style oak doors that open out onto the
Oriental-inspired garden speak of its Zen-like atmosphere, while a trio of
retro-inspired lights suspended above the island unit are typical of the u
24 kitchens bedrooms bathrooms

Above: The beauty of the second
bedroom is that it doubles as a
sitting room-cum-study when the
couple don’t have guests. The bed
is suspended by bespoke laminated
beams on either side and accessed
Lancashire home | selected
via a ladder. Highlights include
Andy Warhol’s iconic print of Jackie
Onassis, a cream version of Mies
van der Rohe’s leather Barcelona
chair for Knoll and Le Corbusier’s
iconic daybed
Below: David and Korser’s guest
bedroom is a lesson in savvy
storage. They have used the
apex roof to install bookshelves,
which are accessed by a portable
steel stepladder
www.kbbmagazine.com 25

selected | Lancashire home
Above: The backlit Carrara marble panel
of the luxurious island unit lends a warm
golden glow to the kitchen at night. A
Gaggenau fridge-freezer sits flush into
cabinetry, while to the left are three
backlit glass shelves – the couple’s only
concession to exposed storage
Right: The centrepiece to the Heeleys’
minimalist kitchen is a three-tonne
Zimbabwean granite island unit. To create
a casual dining area the island is teamed
with high stools. Three retro-style George
pendants from Tobias Grau cast a gentle
light onto its rich surface from above
couple’s appreciation for classic aesthetics. The chiselled edge of the island
unit recalls their repeated use of unrefined natural materials that exude
an earthy appeal and a Van Gogh print hanging on the kitchen wall hints
at their love of art.
“In fact each room in the house is dedicated to an artist,” says David,
“somewhat pretentiously,” he adds with a laugh. “There is the Mark Rothko
room, Roy Lichtenstein room, and Ian Fleming room.”
This artistic flair is captured in elements of the room, which is defined
by a stunning freestanding Philippe Starck tub framed by a mural shower
screen, plus twin washbasins set on top of a sun-bleached olive ash vanity
unit. “There is nothing worse than investing in contemporary design that
will look tired in two or three years’ time,” says David when asked about
his choice of materials. “By using timeless materials like olive ash or basalt
tiles for the walls and floors – materials that have been around for millions
of years – we hope to avoid this.”
Delivering a gentle cascade of water to their freestanding tub is a
ceiling-mounted filler, while for the basins the couple specified Jean-
Marie Massaud’s minimalist mixer tap that similarly focuses attention away
from the fitting and onto the water itself. In contrast, the Heeleys’ walk-in
shower, separated from the rest of the bathroom by a simple screen, is
dominated by a luxurious oversized showerhead.
The bedroom-bathroom suite is the result of a recent extension. “We
wanted to incorporate an unashamedly modern extention that would look
different from the rest of the house but work with it as a cohesive whole,”
explains David. Problems arose, though, when local authorities rejected
their plans for a zinc-clad barrel roof on the grounds that it was not in
keeping with the conservation area. “I agree. It’s good to conserve the best
of the old but it’s also important to add new buildings rather than make u
26 kitchens bedrooms bathrooms

Lancashire home | selected
www.kbbmagazine.com 27

selected | Lancashire home
DESIGN
Kitchen Design David John
(0131 665 3461 or
www.davidjohnkitchens.co.uk)
Architect Christopher Rushton of
Lakes Architect (01539 442224
or www.lakesarchitect.co.uk)
KITCHEN
Cabinetry Gloss white lacquer,
David John Kitchens, as before
Cabinet frame Bespoke
smoked oak, David John
Kitchens, as before
Island Bespoke granite and
Carrara marble island unit,
David John Kitchens, as before
Appliances Single oven, steam
oven, warming drawer, induction
hob, microwave and fridgefreezer,
all by Gaggenau
(0844 892 8988 or
www.gaggenau.com);
Wine storage, for similar try
Liebherr (0844 412 2655 or
www.liebherr.co.uk); Built-in
extractor, Westin (01484
421585 or www.westin.co.uk)
Sink Stainless-steel sink,
Blanco (020 8450 9100
or www.blanco.co.uk)
Taps Hot-water tap, Quooker
(020 7923 3355 or
28 kitchens bedrooms bathrooms
www.quooker.co.uk); Axor
Citterio semi-pro single-lever
mixer tap, Hansgrohe
(01372 465655 or
www.hansgrohe.co.uk)
Floor Large-format tiles,
Mandarin Stone (01600 715444
or www.mandarinstone.com)
Pendant lights George
suspension lights, Tobias
Grau (+49 410137001 or
www.tobias-grau.com)
Stools Tantus Stool,
Indecasa (+34 938305225
or www.indecasa.es)
Double doors Japanese-style oak
doors, Howdens Joinery
(01253 729246 or
www.howdens.com)
MASTER BEDROOM
Bed Interlübke, Geoffrey
Drayton (020 7387 5840 or
www.geoffrey-drayton.co.uk)
Headboard Bespoke headboard,
Howdens Joinery, as before
Lights Archimoon Soft table
lamps either side of the bed,
Flos (020 7258 0600 or
www.flos.com); Santa & Cole G7
pendant lamp, Nest
(0114 243 3000 or
www.nest.co.uk)
Left: The couple wanted a calming
kitchen, free from unwanted clutter.
Their solution was sliding double doors
that open out to reveal a work area
equipped with wine storage, microwave
and ample shelving. The cupboard
the area look like a chocolate box,” argues David. “We appealed
their decision and after more than two years campaigning we beat the
planners and moved ahead.”
The bedroom takes its design direction from the rest of the house.
Classic pieces punctuate the space: Eileen Grey’s iconic side table, Le
Corbusier’s inspirational LC2 armchair and Philippe Starck’s Archimoon
Soft lights for Flos. Newer designs are also thrown into the mix – a wallmounted
fire from Gazco and a statement pendant light from Santa &
Cole. Nature creeps in via solid oak floorboards and the headboard,
designed by David and built by local craftsmen.
The final stop on the tour of this striking home is the guest bedroom,
designed to also serve as a study or second living room. “This is our
Andy Warhol room,” says David (cue Warhol’s pop art print of Jackie
Onasis hanging on the wall). “We opted for a suspended bed using
bespoke laminated supporting beams on either side. The great thing
about using the roof space is that we have effectively created two
rooms in one.” Excellent use of space is demonstrated by bookshelves
built into the apex of the roof and accessed via a ladder.
David and Korser have since embarked on a more ambitious project
in a rural spot of Majorca. “Renovating our house in Lytham was like
a trial run,” says David. “We wanted to know whether it would be fun
or sheer murder before we tackled a new-build. But it was great. Sure
there were problems, but there is always a solution as long as you work
hard enough to find it. We enjoyed the process and would encourage
anyone wanting to do something similar to just embrace it.” KBB
Curtains and blinds Interiors
Lytham (01253 735096 or
www.interiorslytham.co.uk)
Chairs Le Corbusier LC2
armchair, Aram (020 7577 7557
or www.aramstore.co.uk)
Side tables Eileen Grey side
tables, Aram, as before
Fire Wall-mounted fire,
Gazco (01392 261999
or www.gazco.com)
Floor Solid oak floorboards,
Havwoods (01772 627000
or www.havwoods.co.uk)
GUEST BEDROOM
Bed Bespoke frame, Howdens
Joinery, as before
Chair Knoll Barcelona
chair, Aram, as before
Sofa B&B Italia (020 7591 8111
or www.london.bebitalia.com)
Daybed Le Corbusier
daybed, Aram, as before
Floor Solid oak floorboards,
Havwoods, as before
ENSUITE BATHROOM
Sanitaryware Starck freestanding
bath, Starck wall-hung WC,
Fogo vanity unit and washbasins,
all by Duravit (0845 500 7787
or www.duravit.co.uk)
is located within easy reach of the
stainless-steel Blanco sink recessed
into the surface of the island unit. This
is teamed with Antonio Citterio’s Semi-
Pro kitchen mixer for Hansgrohe and
a Quooker hot-water tap
Brassware Raindance Air
Plate overhead shower
and Axor Massaud singlelever
basin mixer, all by
Hansgrohe, as before
Screens Glass shower screen,
Worthington & Graham (01772
555679 or www.worthington
andgraham.co.uk); Bespoke
shower screen, Novaglaze
Gardner & Newton
(01484 517010 or
www.n-gn.co.uk)
Floor Basalt tiles, Mandarin
Stone, as before
Mirror Bespoke. For similar try
Bespoke Mirrors (0845 226 2159
or www.bespokemirrors.com)
Mirror lights Archimoon
Soft lights, Flos, as before
Towel rails Bamboo towel rail,
House of Fraser (0845 602 1073
or www.houseoffraser.com);
Plaza towel rail, Radiating
Style (020 8577 9111 or
www.radiatingstyle.com)
Roof window Velux (01592
778225 or www.velux.co.uk)
COST
A similar kitchen, two bedrooms
and bathroom would cost
in the region of £300,000