This is a test blog for satellite server sites. Please ignore this blog.

Above: Architectural Forum’s shop in Essex Road, Islington“I don’t tend to buy furniture. I inherited quite a few bits and pieces from my grandfather, like a wonderful old set of leather suitcases - he was a lawyer and he used them for work; we use them as a table. Other things I need I tend to find by scavenging in abandoned warehouses and derelict buildings - there is an abundance of them around here. I have an amazing 1920s anatomist table that I found in an old building in Oxford from my student days at The Ruskin.”One thing I did buy was my roll-top bath, which I recently found on eBay. It now sits a few feet away from our bed. I painted the underside of it black to make it look more elegant. That was Sophie’s idea - she’s an actress and likes things to look dramatic. I also put two skylights in to give the room better light. One of my current projects is to build a study for Sophie. It is going to be between our bedroom and the living room and will be somewhere she can keep all her clothes and practise her lines.”The kitchen is one of my favourite areas of the house. I have a huge Belfast sink that I found in an architectural salvage store on the Essex Road in Islington (must be Jason Davies at Architectural Forum). Also, I have a great range cooker, which is wonderful for knocking up pasta on.Conrad Shawcross, son of royal biographer William Shawcross and the writer Marina Warner, lives in Clapton, East London with his girlfriend, the actress Sophie Hunter [Part of an interview by Tessa Williams-Akoto in The Independent]

Having worked most of my adult life dealing furniture,

I now find, source, procure, buy and sellAntiques to modern, Chippendale to Danish, postcards to paintings, magazines to moths, clock faces to apple crates. shop counters to bobbin reels, film posters to cinema seats, kitsch to cash, repro to recycle …

As a runner my stock is always changing. My warehouse is in the Old Gasworks off the Kings Road in Fulham and is viewable strictly by appointment only.
Please telephone or email for any enquires
Thanks
Simon

Premier Fires & Floors is run by Matthew Davies, whose family have worked in the architectural antiques business for many years.

Fires: Based in Hertfordshire, Premier Fires & Floors work throughout London and the South East of England, installing and restoring old and new fireplaces. We specialise in Victorian, Regency, Edwardian and Art Noveau fireplaces and chimneypieces. We deal with all types of surrounds and inserts; made from cast iron, limestone, marble, solid wood, granite, sandstone. We can dip, sandblast and polish cast iron surrounds and inserts.

Flooring: We supply, restore and finish solid wood flooring; pine and oak floorboards, wood block, parquet floors. We deal with the sanding, filling and sealing of floors. Floors can be also be stained any colour or a clear seal applied.

• Free quotes

• Fireplaces, flooring and materials sourced

• References available

VIDEO: Islington, London: Matt Davies of Premier Fires & Floors explains how to restore a Regency fireplace

Example of a restoration by Premier Fires & Floors

Click on a picture to see a bigger version

Pictures of the workshop and restoring a Victorian cast iron tiled bedroom insert.

This is test

Victoriana is a small family run business, established in 1980 specialising in the
restoration and sale of antique fireplaces, including Victorian and Edwardian
tiled inserts, Gothic arches, Georgian hob grates, combination grates, through
to large marble, slate, wood and cast iron surrounds.

Most can be supplied with living flame gas fires or for use with solid fuel.
We also stock a wide range of quality reproduction fireplaces.

Our stock is constantly changing, so a personal visit is recommended.
For the best response to any enquiries please telephone.

0161 775 4092

JAMES Rylands and Rupert van der Werff take a stroll around the lots in the forthcoming sale with Colleen Gowlett of Salvo Llp

This is test

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!