This Belfast new-build is inspired by laid-back mid-century design
This home takes design cues from mid-century modern architecture, and blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings.
Low-slung and edgy, Tara Thallon and Curt Wigham’s contemporary family home sits neatly into the Antrim landscape, a line of dramatic trees piercing the sky behind it. All clean lines and natural textures, it shifts persona in the changing light, sometimes feeling Japanese, sometimes Scandinavian. And then there’s that pervading mid century modern sensibility, paying more than a passing nod to America’s great design movement.
But there is nothing derivative about this striking new build. Original and bespoke, the considered design was over two years in the making. “We bought the site six years ago,” Tara explains, noting that, on the day we speak, it is the first anniversary of when they moved in. Surrounded by fields, yet 10 minutes from Belfast city centre, the home offers a countryside idyll without the stress of a big commute. Tara co-owns interior design store Boünd in Belfast city while Curt owns a chain of cafés around greater Belfast. With three boys under 12, it is a busy, joyful and hard-working house.
Architect Robert Gilmour designed the house, having been recommended by a builder friend. “He was very open to our identity,” Tara recalls. “We were quite clear about what we wanted, and he really listened to us, working together on the plan.”
Partly inspired by mid-century Californian bungalow architecture, Tara and Curt knew they wanted lots of glass, light and natural materials. “It had to be very modern and comfortable. I prefer a wide, open-plan space than a narrow tall building.”
The couple project-managed the build and, while most things went to plan, there were occasional setbacks along the way. “Towards the end of the project we realised that there was a problem with our poured concrete floor. The levels were wrong so we had to rip up the whole thing, including the underfloor heating. We were going to try and just leave it, but we couldn’t open the front door.”
They were surprised to see that the replacement floor had a very different texture and tone to the original. “It’s an interesting material to work with, and you never really know exactly what you’re going to get. I quite like that it is so unpredictable and different,” Tara says.
The front of the house is dominated by five large Internorm windows, 13 metres in height, of which two slide fully open. The polished concrete floor continues outside, forming a terrace that’s neatly protected by the eaves, and connecting the garden and sitting room in one seamless flow. “That was probably one of our biggest and most expensive decisions. When you open those huge panels in summer, the inside and outside become one with the kids running about. It’s really lovely,” she enthuses.
The exterior is clad in dark larch, blackened using the Japanese method of shou sugi ban. Developed in the 18th century as a way to treat wood and weatherproof it, the technique involves charring the wood’s surface to render it a deep charcoal-black. Fire-treated by hand by Sasha Stewart of Toasted in Co Down, the artisan individually “toasts” each piece of timber to a custom shade.
“It becomes antibacterial and fire retardant, and is a really good natural form of cladding for your house,” Tara explains. “Initially, we were going to do a concrete exterior, but we made a last-minute decision on the shou sugi ban because we felt [concrete] might look a bit like an office block. It was a really good decision to go with the wood, because it blends in with the natural surroundings.”
The kitchen needed to feel modern without dominating the open-plan space. Slats of wood were incorporated, referencing the external cladding, while creating a feature that’s also found in the living room. “We wanted to incorporate wood. It has a mid-century modern feel but also references our love of modern design. We wanted to keep it really simple and understated, so it almost becomes part of the furniture.” With the oven hidden behind a pocket door, the units are designed to look more like a wall than a kitchen. “We didn’t want it to feel like a kitchen when it wasn’t being used as one.”
The addition of a generous pantry, with open storage, large Belfast sink and a utility space means that the kitchen can remain clutter-free. “From a practical point of view it’s been brilliant,” Tara laughs, “because it means that when we are entertaining or having people over, we can just shove everything in there and deal with it the next morning.”
After living in the house for nine months, their home is still evolving. Tara is currently picking out colours for the walls, which will remain largely neutral. Three weeks before we visited, they had just had an internal wall knocked down. Separating the kitchen and a bright sitting room, they realised that the sunlight wasn’t permeating the main living space in the mornings. “We have this beautiful light that comes in on one side of the house every morning and we weren’t getting it in here.” A low dividing wall now remains, as the concrete floor had been poured after the original wall had been built.
Integrated storage plays a key part in the home’s aesthetic, with Ashgrove Contract Furniture not only creating the sleek kitchen, but also the built-in cabinetry. With the integrated media unit, playroom storage, kids’ desks and walk-in wardrobe, Tara admits that they didn’t need to buy too much furniture.
This presented its own shopping challenges for the co-owner of chic design shop, Boünd. “It’s been pretty hard to decide – I’m not going to lie!” she laughs. “As much as we want to buy everything, you start to understand that not everything we bring in to the shop will be suitable for our home.”
Words: Jillian Bolger
Photography: Ruth Maria Murphy
Styling: Lesiele Juliet
This feature originally appeared in the Autumn/Winter 2021 issue of IMAGE Interiors.
Also Read
