Page 100 - homes & gardens

t is mid-afternoon and British cellist Matthew Barley and Russian violinist Viktoria EXTERIOR
Mullova are at the dining table eating chocolate cake left over from Matthew’s 50th Although the house is unique, architect
Jean-Loup Msika has ensured it blends
birthday party. “It was fantastic. We had more than a hundred people here,” he says. The
with its surroundings by using London
couple’s friendly manner makes it easy to forget they are both internationally renowned stock bricks and slate for the roof.
Imusicians who spend half the year travelling the world, playing to packed concert Architect, Jean-Loup Msika, jlmsika.com.
halls. It is equally easy to forget that their home is only a few years old, comfortable and well-
established as it is, having been built from scratch with the help of architect Jean-Loup Msika STAIRCASE
The pleasing confguration of built-in
and infuential antiques dealer-cum-interior designer Axel Vervoordt. “It wasn’t our aim to create
cupboards and drawers beneath the
an amazing house,” says Viktoria. “We wanted a comfortable home that would be aesthetically stairs maximises storage space.
pleasing, but it turned into something more.”
DINING ROOM
A pull-out storage element was added
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE
to the cupboard in the dining area
When the couple met, Viktoria was living in a terraced house in Fulham with her children, Misha (above right). “Axel respects antiques,
and Katia. “I was looking for something larger, but everything was very expensive and not quite but isn’t afraid to adapt them for
right.” A throwaway comment by an estate agent, however, led to her buying a piece of land in modern life,” says Matthew.
Holland Park. “Matthew and I had no plans at that stage to live together, but the agent said ‘If For similar reclaimed terracotta foor
tiles, try Bert & May, 020 3673 4264,
I were you, I’d just write a cheque. You can always sell it if it doesn’t work out’.”
bertandmay.com.
Thus it was that the couple found themselves in the position of having to build a home. It
took seven years to complete the project, of which three and a half were spent working on the MATTHEW’S PRACTICE ROOM
planning permissions. “Jean-Loup was brilliant, patient and diplomatic, but absolutely fanatical Curtains divide this semi-subterranean
room (right) from Matthew’s study.
about the design,” says Viktoria. While the delay was frustrating at the time, in hindsight the
The space, which also serves as the
two of them say that it was a good thing. “We were travelling as usual over that period, and we family television room, contains an
would spot things we liked and would send photographs to Jean-Loup, so the house has lots of impressive foor-to-ceiling bookcase
different infuences. As musicians, we know that creativity takes time,” says Matthew. (above, far right) designed by Axel.
“Lots of people say it doesn’t look like a London house,” he continues, nodding at the façade, For a similar bespoke coffee table,
try Marnie Moyle, 01635 281786,
which has a distinctly European air. Step inside, however, and the architectural infuences are
greenoakfurniture.co.uk.
less easily categorised. Throughout there are irregularly shaped rooms, unexpected curves and
unusually shaped windows. “All of my projects are based on the geometry of the golden ratio,”
100 | H&G | september 2015