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Shopper’s Diary: The Last Word in English Artisanal Design at Berdoulat

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Shopper’s Diary: The Last Word in English Artisanal Design at Berdoulat

October 6, 2021

Patrick Williams grew up assisting his parents with the restoration of an 18th century farmhouse in southwest France, a project that extended for 20 years. His wife, Neri Kamcili, was raised in Istanbul in a family with their own “home-building antics.” The two now run Berdoulat, a design firm specializing in the revival and preservation of historic buildings. The couple are well situated for the task: they live in Bath, England, a World Heritage Cultural Site, where they are bringing up their two daughters amid sawdust and lime plaster.

Back in 2015, when the young family settled full time in Bath, they opened a B&B in a 1748 townhouse: see Berdoulat & Breakfast. They lived in these quarters and ran the business temporarily while working on an ambitious series of other projects. One of those, their own store, has recently opened after their exacting resuscitation of a linked trio of Georgian, Regency, and Victorian buildings that were once home to Bath’s answer to Fortum & Mason. A few months ago, we spotlighted Berdoulat’s conversion of a garage in the complex into an Artful Muse House with a Great-Looking Kitchen. Today, we’re taking a look at some of the new emporium’s most memorable offerings. Join us for a look.

Photography courtesy of Berdoulat.

the shop is located on a pedestrian street of independent shops called margaret 17
Above: The shop is located on a pedestrian street of independent shops called Margaret’s Buildings. It’s stocked with furniture and kitchenware as well as provisions and wine, and has an in-house cafe and bakery. “The vast majority of what we sell is designed by us and made within an hour’s drive from Bath by small-scale makers,” explains the Berdoulat website.

The Cook’s Table, shown here, is fabricated to order in various finishes in “any size you like (within reason).” It has an oiled oak top, drawers customized with dividers, and porcelain electrical sockets. Hanging on the wall behind it is the Berdoulat Glasses Dresser “inspired by the fretwork bases of George III dressers.”

the oak spice dresser, priced from £\1,550, is detailed with tuscan column 18
Above: The oak Spice Dresser, priced from £1,550, is detailed with Tuscan columns.
modeled after an \18th century original, the berdoulat egg rack, £90, has  19
Above: Modeled after an 18th century original, the Berdoulat Egg Rack, £90, has an oak top and turned walnut legs.
a collaboration between berdoulat and matt passmore of nearby willow pottery, t 20
Above: A collaboration between Berdoulat and Matt Passmore of nearby Willow Pottery, the French-inspired Cassaigne Collection Dairy Bowl, €120, comes in three sizes and glazes.
inspired by designs in grand country house kitchens, the vaisselle dresser is m 21
Above: Inspired by designs in grand country house kitchens, the Vaisselle Dresser is made of solid French oak with an overhead dish rack (also available separately) and zinc sink.
the zinc sink is pre patinated and will evolve with use; it&#8\2\17;s fitte 22
Above: The zinc sink is pre-patinated and will evolve with use; it’s fitted with a Barber Wilsons brass faucet. The ceramic Cutlery Basket, £55, is based on an antique cheese-making basket that Patrick and Neri have long kept sink side to dry utensils.
berdoulat&#8\2\17;s vegetable basket, £\140, is woven by judy simmonds 23
Above: Berdoulat’s Vegetable Basket, £140, is woven by Judy Simmonds in Devon from 120 willow rods. “The spiral form originates from a Périgord basket-making tradition,” Patrick explains. “Food from the field would be carried home in it, and en route, the basket dipped into the river; the open weave allows water to pass through and wash the vegetables, ready for use.”
the oak cutlery tray, £\1\25, is designed to be carried to the table. it&a 24
Above: The oak Cutlery Tray, £125, is designed to be carried to the table. It’s based on one made by Patrick’s father, and has “mitered corners joined with ‘bird mouth’ ebony wedges.”
berdoulat&#8\2\17;s lighting is by physicist turned craftsman marcus jacka  25
Above: Berdoulat’s lighting is by physicist-turned-craftsman Marcus Jacka of Non-Standard Studio in the North York Moors. This is the Botanic 2 Pendant which has a hand-turned wood shade available in natural or shou sugi ban (scorched) finishes
the oak silhouette dining chair, £\1,4\25 with arms, £\1,\200 without 26
Above: The oak Silhouette Dining Chair, £1,425 with arms, £1,200 without, has a customizable back splat: “Simply send us a side-on photograph of the subject, and we will make up a back with their profile…You could have a set of chairs with every member of the family round the table.”
hand dipped tapers. the white candles are sold by the dozen in marbleized boxes. 27
Above: Hand-dipped tapers. The white Candles are sold by the dozen in marbleized boxes.
farrow & ball approached patrick and neri about developing a paint color an 28
Above: Farrow & Ball approached Patrick and Neri about developing a paint color and Berdoulat Green, shown here on the door, is the result. It’s available only from Berdoulat. The Porcelain Double Gang Light Switch, £88, is part of a collection made in the Czech Republic by Katy Paty.

Go to Berdoulat’s About section to read about some of the makers they work with.

Here’s a look at one of Berdoulat’s early projects:

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