Two into one does work

Aug 25 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

Jane Gallagher meets the woman who decided to extend into the property next door, rather than move from the home she loved

WHEN you want a bigger apartment but don’t want to move, what do you do? Lesley Marshall had the answer when she bought the home next door and simply knocked through.

“I loved my apartment but it just wasn’t big enough for my piano and dining table. I thought about moving but then the apartment next door came up for sale and I decided to buy it,” says Lesley, who is the personal assistant to the managing director at Radio City.

Lesley’s home is situated on the site of a former independent school in Birkdale.

Once a grand family home before it was a school, the building has been restored to its former glory.

The main building itself is an immaculately-restored red brick building with elegant pillars either side of the large blue door which enters into an intricate mosaic floor.

And the communal entrance provides an array of interesting features for the neighbours to share including a sweeping staircase up to the first floor and beautiful original hand-painted stained glass window. The first-floor landing provides a gallery which looks down on the staircase and entrance hall and it is where the residents shared a New Year’s Eve party earlier this year.

While Lesley has the choice of two main doors to enter her apartment, we opt for the door which takes us into the double-length main reception room.

“I wanted a large dining table and room for my baby grand piano, but, before I bought the second apartment, I didn’t have enough space.

“When I did knock through, I intended to put glass doors between the two but when I opened it up, I just loved the light and sense of sheer space I decided to keep it open like this,” she adds.

“The great thing about having this apartment is that all the rooms look out at the back which has views of the shore. It changes every day. Some days it is calm and other days it can be rough. It is lovely looking out from the comfort of bed or the sofa,” she adds.

A keen pianist, Lesley acquired the piano from an aunt, but adds it arrived into the apartment with great difficulty.

As befitting a traditional Victorian building, the high ceilings and sheer sense of space lend themselves to classical colours and Lesley has opted for a gold and green colour scheme in the main room.

The dining table is a dark polished wood which matches a bespoke corner work area and book case which was built and installed by a local joiner.

“I saw a picture in a magazine and just asked local craftsmen if he could do it and I am very pleased with the results,” she adds.

The apartment now provides three large bedrooms.

At the far end is a guest room which is decorated in a blue and white colour scheme, evoking the beach feel of the shore-side apartment.

The master bedroom is located at the far end. In it, a large gold bed frame looks out over the sea, while favourite photographs and paintings adorn the walls.

The main feature of the room is a stunning painting on silk which was made especially for Lesley.

The collage of small paintings features important aspects of Lesley’s life, including her work on the radio station, the piano, the seaside, her favourite flowers and her nickname, “Molly”.

“No-one calls me Lesley at work,” she laughs.

Although the apartment close to Southport town centre means a long drive into work for Lesley, it is the contrasting aspects of her life which appeals.

“I love the busyness of the radio station and we are just about to launch a new radio station next year, City Talk, so it is very busy. But here it is so peaceful and calm.”

Yet, despite creating the perfect home, Lesley is ready to move again.

“I have loved it here but I am ready to move on now and have decided to put the apartment up for sale. It really is a unique apartment and there aren’t many that offer such sheer size and space as this.”

TO FIND out more about Lesley’s apartment, contact estate agents, Anthony James. Tel: 01704 543434 for further details