Sector: Private
Main Contractor: H Cumberbirch & Sons Ltd
Architect: Bowker Sadler Partnership Ltd
Interior Designer: Mark Gillette Interior Design Ltd
Services
• inspection of ceiling fixings & securing as required
• haired lime plastering
• reproduction of existing mouldings
• manufacture extensive range of bespoke mouldings
The restoration of a privately-owned Grade II listed Georgian mansion presented an exceptionally intricate challenge to the Ornate Interiors team. Managing Director Ronnie Clifford recognised from the outset that, because of the multitude of plastering skills required, it also presented an ideal opportunity to extend the training of apprentices. Phased over twenty-one months, works involved one solid plasterer and a solid plastering apprentice, four site-based fibrous plasterers and a fibrous plastering apprentice, two workshop-based fibrous plasterers and a fibrous plastering apprentice.
The original historic plasterwork had suffered damage from building alterations, water penetration, and build-up of paint on surfaces. Work had to be undertaken in fifteen rooms in varying states of disrepair.
Initially a relatively small proportion of haired lime plaster was removed and these areas were sympathetically re-plastered. Chases and repairs were similarly treated. Ornate plaster ceilings were inspected and where necessary secured using the screw and penny washer method. Small repairs to ceilings and cornices were carried out by hand, but others required enrichments to be remodelled. In some places complete sections had to be replaced to match the originals.
Enrichments were removed and layers of historic paint were then painstakingly removed using just steam and picking tools to reveal the original detail. Moulds were then taken and new mouldings cast and fitted where required.
Where mouldings needed substantial repairs they were removed and recast as exact replicas, which were then fitted to recreate the original appearance. Elaborately-patterned ceiling roses also had to be remodelled in clay to match the originals.
“An excellent piece of restoration and reproduction, copying and extended existing cornices and column details into areas of new build. Harmonised and meticulously crisp elliptical lantern linings in a coffered ceiling, with no expense spared.” FPDC Plaisterers Award Judges
In the later stages of the project Ornate Interiors worked closely with designers to produce bespoke mouldings for a new pool extension. All items were designed in a Georgian theme to harmonise with the existing structure and included a coffered ceiling, columns and lanterns. Bespoke mouldings comprising niches, domes, columns, panel ceilings and lanterns were also manufactured for further areas of the property. All mouldings were manufactured in the Ornate Interiors workshop in Leeds and installed by their skilled team.
The client, designer and contractor were delighted with the final result, deeming it worthy of an award. Subsequently the project was entered for the FPDC Plaisterers Trophy 2009 where it so impressed the panel of judges that it achieved a Highly Commended Award in the Fibrous GRG Heritage category.
The judges commented: “an excellent piece of restoration and reproduction, copying and extended existing cornices and column details into areas of new build. Harmonised and meticulously crisp elliptical lantern linings in a coffered ceiling, with no expense spared.”
“We worked with Ornate Interiors on the refurbishment and extension of this historic Georgian residence over a two year period. The quality of the restoration work to the original ornate plasterwork, as well as provision of new sections, was of the highest quality, befitting a restoration project of this nature.” Christopher Heap MRICS, Director, Cumberbirch Construction
View and download this case study in PDF format…
ORNATE CASE STUDY- Georgian Residence.pdf
View a collection of interesting images in this project lookbook…
ORNATE-LOOKBOOK-GEORGIAN-RESIDENCE.pdf
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