A Dressing-Room In A 14th Century Building Leaves You Wanting ‘Moore’

Martin Moore creates a stunning bespoke dressing-room to blend perfectly in a 14th-century building

For more than forty years, the British furniture Martin Moore Design has created stunning bespoke furniture. In 1975 Martin and his wife Barbara returned to England’s shores after travelling around the world, purchasing an old, Victorian house in need of some tender loving care. With time on his hands, Martin decided to design and make furniture for their property and Martin’s expertise, with the assistance of Barbara became the catalyst for the classic English design company we know today.

Today see’s ‘Moore’ additions, with their sons joining the company at the helm to continue the brand’s tradition of fine British craftsmanship.

Martin Moore designed and built this purpose-fitted dressing room in an extraordinary 14th Century building in Kent. Originally a Cloth Hall, it housed traders selling fabrics including wool, silk and leather. Today this important building has been restored in every detail, transformed into a home which occupies a series of unique spaces.

Although very familiar with period houses, creating a dressing room in a centuries-old roof with a sloping floor randomly angled walls and prominent beams was an exciting challenge for Martin Moore’s designer David Sant. However, as every piece of furniture is individually designed and made to order, it was a case of responding to each separate wall, providing organised space without compromising the room’s essential character.

Handbuilt in Martin Moore’s Yorkshire workshops, in American Walnut with nickel handles, the furniture is as solidly constructed as the house itself, with an authenticity which perfectly complements this exceptional building.

Tall break fronted cupboards occupy one entire wall, with shelves and drawers optimising space above and below the hanging rail. A separate set of shelves holds a fabulous collection of designer handbags. The impressive shoe collection has a cabinet all of its own, set beneath one of the most dramatically sloping walls. There are no doors on any of the cabinetry, both to conserve space and to ensure that everything can be seen. To help this, all of the units are backlit.

A dramatic island holds centre stage in the room. As with the tall cupboards, this is divided into ‘His and Hers’ sides. The top of the island has glass insets looking down into lit accessory bays, neatly sectioned to store and display watches, cufflinks, earrings and other small treasures. The roomy drawers below are leather-lined and compartmentalised to the owners’ specific requirements.

The result was a triumph for Martin Moore’s responsiveness and abilities. David Sant describes it as, “Calm and consistent, using a very eccentric space to create a completely organised, personalised and luxurious dressing room. It’s a wonderful luxury.”

Martin Moore Information

Martin Moore has showrooms nationwide
Tel: 0845 180 0015
Web: martinmoore.com