Maria Speake is a pioneer in the U.K. ~ bringing an educated, artistic, and inspiring eye of a great architect to all of her projects. I did a major remodel of a Grade II listed 1926 house in Hampstead Garden Suburb in the mid-eighties. I couldn't GIVE AWAY the Oregon Pine floorboards, porcelain fittings, or handmade brick from a falling-down garden wall. Never mind selling it on to recycling or salvage yards. The common response was... "too expensive to transport, a hassle to pull out of the building, or we already have too much in that category." As an American, I was shocked that the state of play in London was seemingly no better than in Seattle. I had lived through the MCM era [which has much to recommend itself] but the tsunami of Formica, exposed plywood, concrete breeze block, plastic, and shag carpeting [the type that required a wooden rake to keep looking good!] flowing into the homes of post-war America meant that Grandma's perfectly functional & fabulous Hoosier cabinet was yanked out of the kitchen and thrown on the scrapheap. What a difference one generation of homeowners makes in the grand scheme. Maria and Adam are pioneers who should not be taken for granted... what a contribution they have made to the buildings in England and beyond --from starter homes to grand edifices -- Thank you!
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