The view from the top

Feb 1 2007 by Debbie Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

Debbie Johnson meets the high-living city couple who have Liver Birds for neighbours

The decor is stylish, with animal prints playing off against the tasteful plain black sofas and interesting conversation pieces such as free-standing silver candlesticks and coffee table books. The couple's interest in and support of contemporary original art, much of it from Liverpool, is obvious as well. A Bang and Olufsen sound system is piped through the apartment.
 
The couple chose the decor together, with only one minor disagreement - Bernard's trophy cabinet. He was a former rower at international level and also a keen rugby player for New Brighton, and his many mementoes are on display in a glass cabinet. "They weren't supposed to come," says Lauretta, "but he found them and they somehow made it!"
 
Stairs lead up to a galleried balcony and the bedrooms, as well as "the boy's room" (shower room) and "the girl's room" (en-suite bathroom).

The master bedroom is plush, lush but also sumptuously comfortable, with deep blue carpet and cream linens and sofa. The bedroom comes with a walk-in wardrobe ("Nine tenths of this stuff is Lauretta's . . . ) and the en-suite "girl's room".

Lauretta definitely got the best deal on the bathroom front - although the shower room is luxurious, the bathroom has the feel of a space that was made for relaxation and first-class pampering.
 
The second bedroom has a patio window leading out on to the upper decking, which you can walk round to face the front of the building and the river.

On the lower level, outside decking provides the perfect party space for summer barbecues or sipping mulled wine in the winter, looking out over the splendours of the river.