< Previous10 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES A piece of Stamford’s history This Victorian Grade II Listed property presents a wealth of stunning period features. Sympathetically renovated, to bring it into the modern day, owners Tricia and Guy went the extra mile in ensuring The Gables retained and reclaimed its integrity and grandeur. 10-15.qxp_Layout 1 16/09/2019 09:05 Page 1T welve years ago Guy and Tricia bought The Gables - a property in a poor state, in need of some TLC. The home became the couple’s ambitious renovation project, and after a year of work the family moved in. In the renovation the family ensured to maintain its Victorian, grand feel. The couple created a decent sized kitchen, a utility room, added an ensuite bathroom to the master bedroom, overhauled the electrics, restored features and reinstated those that had been lost. Tricia detailed: “A lot of what we put into the home are authentic Victorian pieces, even down to the bath ware which we got from a specialist.” She continued: “All the work we have done here has been a labour of love, but there are certain aspects of the work, like the tiles, that hold a particularly important place in my heart. We spent a long time trying to find the tiles, some of which are actual Victorian originals and we travelled to Europe to collect them. We used to live in Belgium and knew of a tile store that would take original tiles out of churches and Victorian properties and sell them by the pallet load. So we bought some and brought them back, it was quite an adventure really. Today the kitchen’s tiles are 12 Á 10-15.qxp_Layout 1 16/09/2019 09:05 Page 2HOMES all original Victorian. Overall I think the decorating of the home was my favourite aspect of the renovation, making sure it all looked original to its day and age.” The couple were primarily drawn to the home because of its situation in Stamford. Placed in the prominent location of High Street St. Martins, it is in the heart of the town. In one direction there are a variety of restaurants, shops and cafes, the bustling market centre, meanwhile in the other, one is provided a taste of the countryside. As Guy notes, you can be at Rutland Water in ten minutes by car, or at the coast in an hour and a half, or in London by train in under an hour. Tricia noted: “We absolutely love High Street St. Martins. It’s a really lovely community, but you are also next door to Burghley and The Meadows, which are countryside. So the property is sort of a town and country house all rolled into one!” The double fronted property was built in 1882 by Joseph Corby, the former mayor of Stamford and an architect who designed prominent buildings in the town including the Burghley Estate offices. Peeking inside The Gables, one is welcomed by an entrance hall with graceful oak panelling, stained glass windows and ornate cornicing, all characterful features typical of the period which one continues to see throughout the home, scattered alongside classic fireplaces, of which there are seven in total, encaustic tiling and bay windows. Left of the entrance is a formal dining room, perfect for entertaining, and which Tricia notes has hosted a number of family Christmases and makes inviting people over for dinner quite special. Meanwhile to the right is a snug with a working marble fireplace. Continuing through the house one will find a utility room, cloakroom and finally the kitchen, which, as Tricia says, is the centrepiece of the 14 Á 10-15.qxp_Layout 1 16/09/2019 09:05 Page 3ORDER FORM Yes, I would like to subscribe to Lincolnshire Today magazine for the next 12 months, with the first 3 issues only being £1. Personal Details: First name: Last Name: Address: Town: County: Post Code: Tel: Mobile: Email: Payment by DEBIT/CREDIT card Name as it appears on card: Type of card: Mastercard / Visa / Visa Debit / Other Card Number: Card Verification number (3 digits on signature strip) : Expiry Date: Amount Authorised: Cheque enclosed YES / NO Please post this form back to: Subscriptions, Lincolnshire Today Magazine, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby. N.E. Lincolnshire DN31 2QE Make cheque payable to Business Link Magazine Group & Call now to subscribe on 01472 310301 8 or order online www.lincolnshiretoday.net/341 Total Price: £27.55 Subscribe today 4 great reasons to subscribe... 3 Each issue is brimming with a diverse topic range... • Heritage • Fashion • Hair & Beauty • Leisure • Homes & Gardens • County Motoring • Dining Out • What’s On • Free Reader Giveaways and much much more… 3 First 3 issues only £1! 3 FREE delivery to your door 3 Receive your copy before it hits the shops or Scan QR Code IWWWLNC IOLNSHIRETO DAY.NET www.blmgroup.co.uk T SEPTEM£2.95 fashion WWWLINCWWW.LINC OLNSHIRETOOLNSHIRETO ODAYNEODAY.NET G www.blmgroup.co.uk WWW.LINCWWW.LI OLNSHIRETOOLNSHIRETO DAYNETDAY.N www.blmgroup.co.uk First 3 issues for £1 Looking for a great gift idea? A gift Subscription is the perfect present that lasts all year round! 10-15.qxp_Layout 1 16/09/2019 09:06 Page 414 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES house. Opening out to a south west facing garden, the kitchen features a high-grade granite surface, pantry, and space for a double-sized cooking range. Tricia said: “We all congregate in the kitchen, which we actually extended in our work on the property as it didn’t go onto the garden. The kitchen is where everybody sits around, it’s a family community room really.” Moving to the first floor, one will discover the dual aspect sitting room with high ceilings, French regency style marble fireplace, original floorboards and picturesque views along High Street St. Martins. Tricia notes that this is her and Guy’s favourite room in the home: “We call it the blue room. As the name suggests it is painted blue and was actually blue before we moved in too. From it you can see all down High Street St Martins. While the views from every window here are spectacular of Stamford, that particular room is very peaceful, and we go there to read, listen to music, or just have a chat together. It’s a really nice room.” The master bedroom is also located on the first floor, with its original Victorian fireplace with gothic inset tiles and an ensuite shower room. A spacious family bathroom is also on this floor, decorated with hand painted tiles, alongside a further bedroom/study. Up another floor are two more sizeable bedrooms. Outside, the property has a secluded rear garden which one can reach through the house or via an external gated passageway. It has a seating area, shrubs and plants. The walled garden also hosts a shed, prime for storage. Tricia notes: “Although you are in the centre of town, it is a very private garden and in the summer it has a Mediterranean feel. 10-15.qxp_Layout 1 16/09/2019 09:06 Page 5FOR THAT OLD FASHIONED PERSONAL SERVICE 10% OFF VOUCHER* *OFFER TO BE USED ONLY ONCE PER CUSTOMER SUBJECT TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS Come visit our showroom at Princes Street, Brigg, DN20 8HG Email: briggbeds@hotmail.co.uk www.briggbeds.co.uk TEL: (01652) 651 828 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 15 HOMES Fireplaces – Fires – Stoves Visit the showroom to see our fabulous selection of fireplaces, fires and stoves in traditional and contemporary styles. Choose from wood, micro and natural marble, granite, limestone and cast iron with a huge choice of fires and stoves in gas, electric and solid fuel including multifuel and woodburning stoves. There is also a great selection of fireside accessories including log baskets, companion sets, cleaning and maintenance products and some lovely accessories for your home. Burning Sensation (Grimsby) Ltd Armstrong Street, Grimsby. DN31 1XD Call: 01472 351651 sales@burningsensation.co.uk www.burningsensation.co.uk When you’re sitting out there it is very quiet and peaceful.” The home also has a basement. After renovating the property to ooze regality but also familial warmth, and living in it for just over a decade, the family are now selling. When asked why, Tricia said: “We are of an age of retirement and the children are almost all gone. We have a holiday home in Norfolk which is smaller, and we just think it will be more suitable for us entering our sixties. We want to do some more travelling around, rather than rattle around in a big house, and our house at the moment is more like a family home - as just a pair it’s a little bit big for us.” The rare gem, The Gables, is now on the market with Humberts for £925,000. 10-15.qxp_Layout 1 16/09/2019 09:06 Page 616 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOME TRENDS Autumn is officially upon us and while our last issue argued to embrace the tail-end of summer, now it’s time to give your interior over to perhaps the most beautiful season of all. It’s time to bring out those heavier throws, cushions, curtains and rugs, but don’t squander the opportunity to really add a special seasonal touch to your home. Embrace the darker end of the colour spectrum, all those moody burgundies and browns. Paired with greys and blues, these colours really pop. Yet capturing an autumn aesthetic is about more than just colour. Try keeping an eye out for decorative pieces and furniture that evoke that warm and cosy feeling, or objects that have a textural or visual quality that suggest the season in a more abstract sense. Don’t worry if you’ve a dearth of inspiration, we’ve put together this helpful mood board to get your started. Evoking 1 2 3 4 16-17 .qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2019 13:41 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 17 HOME TRENDS 1) The latest addition to the Botti range of lights from DeligthFULL embodies all the details of wind instruments. The sophisticated structure is handmade in brass and gently covered by a golden mantle. 2) Inspired by American jazz legend John Coltrane, the Coltrane floor lamp from Covet House embodies the avant-garde jazzy vibe that this legendary musician transmitted in every music concert. 3) The Thea metallic iridescent glass vase from Habit adds a warm colour to a space with its beautiful amber-toned base which graduates to clear glass. 4) Scaramanga offer this classic vintage travel trunk from the by-gone era of ocean cruises and stream trains. Imagine this wonderful historical piece of travel history as a cool conversation starter in your home. 5) The Mongolian faux fox fur bean bag from Bazaar Group offers a bold and comfortable addition to a bedroom or living room. 6) This exquisite chair from Koket embraces you with its heavenly curves and luscious accents. The fully upholstered Deliciosa chair is accented by stylish feet. 7) The pheasant salt and pepper shakers from Annabel James will add a touch of the country to your tabletop. 8) Designed in Denmark and available via Sweetpea & Willow, these pendant shades have been carefully designed using all-natural goose feathers. This versatile material gives a soft light and oozes elegance even when it’s not lit. 5 6 7 8 16-17 .qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2019 13:41 Page 2ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE Lincolnshire artist Jamie Blackbourn captures perfection within chaos. We take a closer look at his work and learn how painting and tattooing aren’t as different as you’d think. 18 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY boundaries has carved out his own niche in the artworld. Of course, earning enough from the arts to support oneself is by no means an easy challenge. So in order to pay the bills, Jamie worked a full-time job, but his need to paint and create wasn’t left by the wayside. During this period, he’d accept commissions for pencil and oil portraits. These he would work on during his spare time until he finally made the decision to take the plunge and become a full-time professional artist. It was a brave move, but with ample natural talent and plenty of derring-do, Jamie made good on his ambitions. In 2014, he made the leap from paper and canvass to human skin when he began tattooing portraits. For Jamie, tattooing and painting went hand-in-hand with one Blurring the B orn in Lincolnshire in 1982, Jamie Blackbourn demonstrated an early love of art as a child. That first early spark of inspiration came when he was around six when he would pay visits to a family friend who lived a short walk away. Jamie was amazed by this amateur artist’s oil paintings, comprised mostly of churches. “I was amazed by his paintings and remember taking my own drawings to show him weekly,” he says. Clearly Jamie was possessing of an innate ability as he never pursued formal training, instead honing his gift through perseverance, experimentation and his own in-built hunger to create. Of all the myriad avenues visual art can take, it was portraiture that most captivated Jamie and where he 18-19.qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2019 13:42 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 19 THE LITTLE RED GALLERY Love art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat. The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas. 8 Bailgate Lincoln LN1 3AE 01522 589134 8 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DP art@thelittleredgallery.co.uk www.thelittleredgallery.co.uk naturally enhancing the other. The more he tattooed, the better his painting became and vice versa, with one artform opening his eyes to other styles from the masters to contemporary talents. Indeed, some of the most recognisable and accomplished modern artists are those that work solely on skin. As well as tattooing his own distinctive works, Jamie also specialises in portraits of comic book characters and celebrities. A scroll down his Instagram page will reveal a treasure trove of delights from Marvel, Star Wars and DC, not to mention wildlife. He's now a full-time tattooist and the results speak for themselves. Whatever surface his work appears on, one thing that typifies Jamie’s portraits is his love for perfection within chaos. This can be seen in every artwork he produces, like glimpsing great beauty in the eye of a storm. His paintings showcase made-up models looking out at the viewer or at something just outside of frame. The backgrounds are impressionistic mood boards of coloured brushstrokes, often encompassing the model themselves so that the boundaries between the background and his subject are blurred. It’s a powerful mix that has won the hearts of art fans and tattoo enthusiasts nationwide. As for the future, Jamie is set to start on two new series shortly, a figurative one and some cityscapes. As is demonstrated by his existing works, there’s nothing this talented artist can’t turn his hand to. You can see Jamie’s work up close and personal by heading down to the Little Red Art Gallery in Lincoln. ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE You can follow Jamie on Instagram @jamieblackbourn 18-19.qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2019 13:42 Page 2Next >