Interiors: Focus on a magnificent view of the city

Mar 6 2008 by Debbie Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

Debbie Johnson meets the couple who enjoy watching the world go by from their apartment

DR ARUN GHOSH and his girlfriend, Sally Ellis, have a room with quite a view – of the whole city growing and changing before their very eyes.

The couple share a flat in the Focus Building, on Standish Street, which comes complete with both a balcony and a huge outdoor terrace.

Arun says: "It has been amazing. As well as all the awesome older buildings like the cathedrals, over the last three years we have seen so many projects come to fruition – like the Unity, the Eden Project and Hatton Garden, and it has been really exciting. This is such a beautiful city, especially when it is lit up at night, it makes it a joy to sit out here and watch the world go by."

The large terrace gives the apartment a unique sense of outdoor space not normally associated with city centre living. The couple not only have tables, chairs and a BBQ out there – but a Jacuzzi as well!

The weather hasn’t been kind to them for a little while, but they are looking forward to getting more use out of it as soon as the sun starts to shine on a more regular basis.

The other balcony is also used for Arun to grow various potted herbs.

He bought the flat three years ago off-plan, and Sally joined him later. The couple met when Arun was doing his medical training at Whiston Hospital, where Sally is an A&E ward sister.

He has since gone on to do his GP experience, and is setting up a private clinic in Rodney Street as well. Arun also has a particular interest in health education for young people, and does visits in to schools to tackle issues such as obesity and alcohol.

Listeners to City Talk will know him from his regular Thursday surgeries between 12 and 1, and he is also on the Pete Price Show every six weeks on a Monday night. This year, he is also a resident expert on the new Trinny and Susannah show, the Great British Body.

Arun says: "I am a qualified doctor, but I do enjoy the media work, and it is also a very good way of educating and informing people about health issues.

"The fact that I often work at Radio City Tower, or have to go down to London for filming, makes living here even better – we are right at the heart of the city, but not so much that we hear the Saturday night pub crawlers coming past!"

The apartment itself is decorated and furnished in an eclectic mix of modern convenience and Arun’s quirky tastes.

The horse-shoe shaped kitchen/living room, for example, features a modern chocolate brown sofa and stylish hardwood flooring – but is mixed with a burnt-orange leather recliner from the 70s which gives the room a retro feel.

The walls were initially white, but Arun has added wallpaper with a brown and beige rectangular design, which again adds character to the place.

The main bedroom is en-suite, decorated bright green, with dark wood furniture, and a carved Buddha head as well!

Arun says: "I like to mix the old and the new, and just because you have a modern apartment, that doesn’t mean everything has to be bland and sterile.

"The fact that this is quite big also means that it can carry some of the quirkier pieces – for example, there is a large hallway, where we have a huge winged library chair that we’ve had upholstered in Laura Ashley fabric."

The guest room is also home to Arun’s captain’s chair, an old- fashioned desk and lots of books.

The curtains, lighting and media equipment throughout the apartment are also controlled by one panel: "It’s great, you can close the curtains, dim the lights, and bring the movie projector down from the ceiling all with one small panel . . ."

As well as the comfort and convenience of their "hidden gem" of an apartment, Arun and Sally have one very special extra view – the Superlambanana just downstairs!