A feeling of luxury at iconic building

Nov 15 2007 by Debbie Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

Debbie Johnson visits the apartment of a man who prefers the modern touch

THE contemporary styling and eye-catching architecture of the Unity Building, in Liverpool, have made it one of the most iconic of the city’s new designs.

And for Richard Davison-White, the inside is just as good as the outside. So good, in fact, that it took him “all of three seconds” to say yes to his one-bedroomed first-floor apartment.

Richard, 35, has been living in the Unity for the last nine months, and is clearly thrilled to be there.

He says: “I had always liked the look of the building – the fact that it was so modern, and the juxtaposition of that and all of the traditional buildings in the area.

“I heard that one was becoming available and came to look. I walked in and it took me about three seconds to decide.”

Walking in to the Unity Building is in itself quite an experience. The lobby comes with 24-hour concierge staff and huge plasma screen TVs; carrying with it a sense of security and exclusivity that really makes you feel like you are somewhere special.

That is part of the appeal for Richard: “You know there is always someone around, and it’s really secure. That and the location are two really big plus points.”

Richard works as creative director at award-winning marketing and communications business Kenyon Fraser. Their offices are in Rodney Street, which means that he can walk to and from work every day.

He says: “We have been really busy recently, so I’ve been spending a lot of time at work. Being able to just walk home at the end of the day is a big advantage for me. Living in the city centre means everything is on your doorstep.”

Richard enjoys getting out and about, enjoying all that the city has to offer; visiting the Albert Dock and the Tate Gallery, and socialising at venues like Korova and Print with his girlfriend.

When he is at home, Richard enjoys the contemporary, uncluttered feel of his apartment.

The walls throughout are painted in white and neutral tones, and there is a solid oak wooden floor.

He says: “There is just a feeling of luxury to the place. Everything is finished to a really high standard. I know it sounds odd but I really like the doors – they are solid oak and really lovely.”

The living area has two brown leather couches, a large TV and Richard’s Mac – essential for working at home.

The room is bright and well lit, both with natural light and spotlighting. One of the main features of the room is the floor-to-ceiling doors leading out to the balcony.

Richard says: “The balcony is pretty big; you can sit out there and watch the world go by. It’s nice to have an element of outdoor space.”

The lounge leads into an open-plan kitchen area with high-gloss white units and integrated appliances.

The bedroom is a large double room, with huge fitted wardrobes. Again, the colour scheme is neutral, with cream bed linens and an orange throw to add a splash of colour. The bathroom has mushroom grey tiles, bath, shower and a floating sink with recessed shelving and halogen spotlights.

Richard moved here from Buckinghamshire several years ago. He has previously lived in older properties, and says one of the reasons he loves this one so much is because of its superior quality.

He says: “I like things to be uncluttered and minimalist. Older character properties are lovely if you have the time or inclination to get into the whole thing and enjoy looking after them. But this is done to perfection, I don’t have to worry about anything, and that really suits my lifestyle at the moment.”

DO YOU have an apartment that you are proud of? Would you like to see it featured in the pages of Style City? If so, then contact us and we will come around. Simply drop Debbie a line at debbiemjohnson @hotmail.com