THE POSTMASTERS HOUSE – Holywood
THE POSTMASTERS HOUSE
Project: Complete restoration and fit out.
Designed and fitted out by On The Square Emporium
This was a full restoration, fit out, decorate and furnish from the ground up. The building was completely rewired including Cat 5 to every room and every breakout space and hall. High speed dedicated line internet was put in and state of the art wifi installed. The heating was upgraded to smart Nest system and security cameras and alarm system installed. Walls were removed new insulation put in and the roof overhauled. The front of the building was taken back to the 17th Century stoneware and re-rendered.
After the shell was in order we started the decoration and restoration. Reclaimed parque flooring was installed throughout the ground floor. Victorian style radiators were put into the reception/café area and new blinds fitted throughout. The modern staircase was removed and a reclaimed victorian one from the Parsons and Parsons building in Belfast was built in. The front terrace was brought back to its period glory with victorian quarry tiles and cast iron lamps with flickering gas effect. The outside was painted antique white with the windows and doors in a blue grey. Inside the ground floor was painted in a duck egg blue with the woodwork classical white. This gave way to a modern finish in office 3 and 4 and the first floor. The modern spaces were finished in Bolon plastic weave flooring and Muraspec wall covering both in contrasting shades of grey.
Period decoration being our speciality we went to town in the limited space we had; the café reception areas focal point is the large victorian mirrored credenza, this houses the Carimali Digital screen 2 bean coffee machine, milk fridge and hot water dispensor. Aswell as the POS system that was retrofitted into a 1950s cash register. Fitting snugly between the credenzas two pedestals is a ridge for chilled beverages. The central seating area comprises of original Edwardian Bentwood chairs and a georgian 6 legged expanding table. This is softened by the second seating area that has high backed chairs finished in grey wool with a light pink cross pattern. The sink unit is bespoke from vintage school lab cabinet and hides the dishwasher and microwave with some clever carpentry. The vintage mailboxes are French C1926 and were found in the basement of a Belfast office building having never been used. The room is finished with a pair of old sea paintings surrounded by vintage Holywood pictures and an Edwardian display case showcasing local bottles and stoneware.
The Postmasters office is directly off the café area and has an impressive partners desk and a victorian cast iron fire surround. The walls are panelled using reclaimed church pews and this is emphasised by the use of cut down pews in the recess and pew shelves.
The hot-desking room is a mix of period and contemporary with the reclaimed parque floor, solid teak lab tables and vintage green glass library lamps contrasting with the light grey Muraspec wall covering and modern ergonomic office chairs.
The other offices take on a more modern character, with Bolon floor and Muraspec walls and modern desks and office chairs. But the classic character comes through the traditional georgian style windows painted in downpipe grey.