organic reinvention

Raw textures and original features inspired there design of Mary and John Mulryan’s ‘upside-down’ family home, which began life as a Victorian pub

- Jo Leevers

A doorway with ‘Public Bar’ etched into its frosted glass is a reminder of the building’s previous life. ‘It closed in the 1970s, but I’d guess it was a proper local boozer with dark corners and a snug,’ says Mary Mulryan who, with her husband John, created its fresh feel.

The pub had already been converted, but the couple, with the help of Areta Soare from Glen Howells Architects, largely rebuilt the added wing and then reworked the interiors. The result is a calm, contemporary home that connects cleverly to its outside spaces.

Yet celebrating the structure of the building lies at the heart of the redesign. ‘We wanted to take an authentic approach, with an emphasis on the raw materials,’ says John. So the gritty brickwork has simply been lightened with paint and ceiling beams have been highlighted with dark finishes.