This guest blog special article has been written by our Marketing Manager at our sister company Oyster Mayfair Ltd. The ideas discussed here are based on his knowledge and previous experience as a director of a London based antique restoration and furniture design business which worked in Royal Residences and embassies and whose clientele included interior designers and celebrities.
Ideas for Antique Style Lift Cabins:
Bespoke Luxury Design – Modern Luxury Lifts with Antique / Period Style Lift Cabin Finishes and Fixtures:
Chandeliers – The style and size of any chandelier may well be restricted by the height of the ceiling within a lift cabin, however depending on the model of lift selected, taller custom-made lift cabins are possible where there is sufficient room available at the top of the lift shaft to accommodate a taller cabin when the lift is parked on the top floor level. Another possibility where the height within the lift cabin is limited is to select a suitable chandelier that has a shallower profile rather than a long pendant style drop chandelier.
Ceiling Mouldings – For the area where the top of the lift cabin walls meet/ abut the lift cabin ceiling perhaps consider the addition of a ceiling moulding in plaster or resin. Another alternative could be an intricate designed moulding finished in gold leaf. Mouldings can be custom made to the correct proportions to match existing mouldings in other parts of the property.
Skirting Boards – Another possibility to consider is the option of skirting boards at floor level at the base of the lift cabin walls (excluding door openings). An important safety feature is to remember that the skirting board must not obstruct any low level air vents, a possible solution might be to cut out a fret work style ventilation pattern in the skirting board or to counter sink decorative metal grills into the skirting board. Calculations will also need to be done to confirm that the correct volume of air flow is still being maintained within the lift cabin – it might be the case that the antique style grills might have to be slightly larger in order to maintain sufficient air flow. The lift cabin skirting boards could be made to match the existing profile of skirting boards in the hall, room or landing adjacent to the lift cabin.
Pictured above are low level air vents in a modern lift cabin and a possible type of antique metal grill for fitting in a skirting board.
Flooring – Matching parquet, marble or timber flooring finishes can enhance the antique/ period look of a lift cabin.
Wall Mirrors – Mirrors within a lift cabin are usually situated on the rear wall of the lift car (assuming the lift car does not have a through cabin 180 degrees 2 door entry/ exit layout).
Oil Paintings, Water Colours, Antique Prints and Maps – Artwork could be displayed on the lift cabin walls (if safely secured), the choice is only limited by the client’s imagination (or perhaps budget). The chosen artworks will need to be visually compatible with the actual finish and material of the lift cabin walls on which they are being displayed. Conversely the choice of the finish of the lift cabin wall could be dictated by the artwork.
Special Lift Projects International Ltd and OysterMayfair.London supply and install all types of lifts that include very modern contemporary designs – or antique/ period styles as discussed in this article.