Peace and serenity in the city centre

Aug 23 2007 by Debbie Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

Debbie Johnson peeks inside an oasis of calm

MIKE and Michelle Chandler quite literally watched their apartment appear before their eyes. The couple bought the one-bedroomed flat in the Saunders Building six years ago, before it was even constructed.

“It was just a building site at the time we signed up,” says Mike, 33, “and we were living in Fazakerley Street in the city at the time. We would go and see it taking shape, we couldn’t wait to get in! Then, before it was finished off, we got the chance to put on hard hats and go and look round.”

They decided on the Saunders Building, on Duke Street, as it suited them both to be near work, in the city centre. They also loved its sense of peace and quiet.

Michelle says: “Even though you are close to the action, our flat overlooks the communal courtyard and it’s really quiet. Our balcony faces the sunny side, so you can sunbathe in your own lounge – it’s so quiet you could be anywhere!”

Michelle works in sales and marketing, and Mike works for printing firm Prinovis, who produce materials like the Ikea catalogue and OK! magazine.

Mike has put his creative side to good use in their apartment, adding several interior design touches that make it stand out from a lot of city abodes.

The large living area has a glossy wooden floor and cream walls, making the whole room light and airy. The sense of brightness and space is added to by the balcony.

The furnishings are large cream sofas, with scatter cushions on reds, beiges and blues. Picking up on those colours is an extra touch that Mike has added – painted vertical stripes on the corner walls on tones of red, brown and blue.

There is also a large framed photo of their wedding – held at Sefton Park Palm House, in 2003 – and a table football set.

Michelle says: “I was actually given it for a birthday present one year. To be honest we don’t use it much but people assume we do and we’re really good at it – they refuse to play with us when they come round, in case they get hustled!”

The open-plan kitchen is painted pale blue, and comes with chrome appliances, including a Smeg fridge freezer. The bathroom is white and blue, with a huge panoramic photo view of the mountains in France where Mike spent several months snowboarding. The bedroom again sees Mike’s personal touches – he made the bed’s headboard, from velvet and foam, in shades of gold and brown.

Mike says: “To maximise the space, we have a bed that folds up and away, so when you are not sleeping, you can use the space. It folds up, and we have a brown suedette blind that pulls down to cover it over, so it looks really nice.”

The windows also have chocolate brown suedette blinds, and the walls are plain apart from one section which has vertical stripes.

The couple have, however, reluctantly decided to put the apartment on the market.

Michelle says: “We only intended to stay here for two years but we enjoyed it and stayed for six!

“But now Mike’s work is in Speke, and we’ve got to the stage where we need more room – you gather a lot of stuff as you go through life, especially when your husband is into things like snowboarding and power-kiting! We have outgrown the place and are looking for somewhere with a garden and a bit more space.”

* THE apartment – 1, Saunders Building – is for sale with the Allerton branch of the Halifax.