Room of the Week: A Derelict Swimming Pool Becomes a Unique Home Office
Husband and wife design duo Gary Richmond and Elaine Walker transformed a derelict swimming pool in their garden into a dream office space
‘The house was a real fixer-upper when we bought it,’ says Gary Richmond, recalling the time 10 years ago when he and wife Elaine Walker first moved into their home. A derelict swimming pool in the garden was an unusual find in a city centre property, but it was in a pretty sorry state when the couple eventually got round to renovating it a couple of years’ later.
‘We run our own business, so we always had in mind that it would make a fantastic home office,’ says Gary. ‘We’ve kept it fairly simple, but it’s a wonderfully creative and functional space and the best thing is the commute – five seconds from our back door!’
Ten years since they arrived the couple are ready to move on, but they will miss their eclectic work space. ‘As designers, we’re always looking for the next project, but it’s going to be difficult to say goodbye to this place,’ admits Gary.
Office at a Glance
Who lives here Gary Richmond and Elaine Walker
Location Southampton
Designer Gary Richmond and Elaine Walker at Walk Interior Design
‘We run our own business, so we always had in mind that it would make a fantastic home office,’ says Gary. ‘We’ve kept it fairly simple, but it’s a wonderfully creative and functional space and the best thing is the commute – five seconds from our back door!’
Ten years since they arrived the couple are ready to move on, but they will miss their eclectic work space. ‘As designers, we’re always looking for the next project, but it’s going to be difficult to say goodbye to this place,’ admits Gary.
Office at a Glance
Who lives here Gary Richmond and Elaine Walker
Location Southampton
Designer Gary Richmond and Elaine Walker at Walk Interior Design
The A-frame roof already existed and, after giving it a lick of white paint, the couple decided to keep it. ‘It’s a hard-wearing, robust structure that definitely lends itself to an industrial-style aesthetic,’ says Gary.
Discover how to be smart with small spaces
Discover how to be smart with small spaces
Gary and Elaine furnished the space with versatile freestanding furniture that they mounted on casters. A curved Arco lamp on a black marble base adds a touch of glamour, and arches over the couple’s ‘boardroom table’, a snazzy eBay find. The stainless steel table base and Tolix chairs complement the industrial vibe, while the oak table top injects some welcome warmth into the scheme.
‘Everyone thinks the bike is an art installation, but it’s actually incredibly practical and I use it all the time!’ says Gary. ‘It’s on a winch and takes 10 seconds to get down when I need it, but otherwise it’s an incredibly efficient use of space that just happens to look good, too.’ A genuine New York traffic sign is another quirky touch that the couple couldn’t resist. ‘It had our name over all it,’ admits Gary. ‘Although we didn’t steal it! They were sold off a few years’ ago, so we snapped one up. It’s quite a talking point when we have clients over for meetings.’
Habitat bookshelves and an Ikea clock were cheap and cheerful buys that fit the couple’s scheme perfectly. On a practical level, the two oak desks, from Made.com, contain useful integral storage, while 1970s tractor stools add another level of quirkiness to the space.
Insulating panels on one side of the roof are not visible from the main house and are a discreet way of insulating the office in winter. An electric grid, integrated into the panels, help power the studio, with some energy left over to power the house as well. ‘First and foremost, it’s a fantastic space, but it is a luxury,’ says Gary. ‘A separate office five seconds from your house is a lucky bonus.’
An exterior wall already existed, effectively shielding the office from the street behind. ‘We added the patio space at the front,’ explains Gary. ‘It’s wonderful having meetings out here in the summer and, considering it’s in the middle of a busy town, it’s very quiet with lots of privacy.’
The white wall features cut-out circles filled with blue glass, adding a beautiful detail to the meeting area. ‘When clients and friends visit us, they’re always quite taken with the whole office,’ says Gary. ‘It’s such an interesting and unique space.’
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