Kitchen of the Week: A Noir Canteen in a Repurposed WWII Control Tower
Five thousand square feet of brutalism,” is how Justin Hooper and Charlotte Seddon lovingly describe their new home. The couple—he’s a creative director at an ad agency, she’s a floral designer, and they have two children—had previously lived in a West London semi-attached Victorian. But they’re both midcentury modernists and they shared an extreme rehabbers’ dream of finding an industrial fixer-upper, “the more dilapidated, the better.”
They set their sights on the Scottish Highlands, where they have family, and drew a circle on the map around the Inverness Airport, which would enable them to be long-distance commuters. Spotted by Charlotte on UK real estate site RightMove, the HMS Owl, a World War II air squadron control tower, fit the bill: it had been left derelict for decades and Justin and Charlotte took on its restoration—and much of the labor—as a passion project: “The most important thing for us was to preserve the raw, bruised, but not broken feel of the building,” Justin tells us. Having had a Plain English kitchen back in London, they turned to the company’s off-the-rack line, British Standard, to create a canteen for their kitchen-less quarters. Take a look at the charmingly spooky results.
Justin and Charlotte painted the four-story tower matte black and sunk half of their renovation budget into reintroducing Crittall windows: During the war, the company had supplied its steel-framed designs to British military buildings, including the HMS Owl. Get the low-down on steel factory-style windows in Remodeling 101. Photograph by Peter Moore, Geograph
“Intrigued by the curiosity of the Owl and its severe structure, we were keen to design a kitchen that was in keeping with the spirit of the wartime control tower,” report the British Standard crew. That’s a classic Aga Cast-Iron Cooker in the center of the action. The bridge faucet is a Lefroy Brooks.
The kitchen is fitted with British Standard poplar-faced cupboards in Farrow & Ball’s Off-Black, offset by wood counters of 30-mm-thick (1.18-inch) iroko finished with teak oil.
The family is now living in the HMS Owl and they offer a room in the restored air control tower on Airbnb; follow @hmsowl. As for Justin, he now spends a few days a week working in London and points beyond: “We are pioneering the future, living in the wilderness and working in media.” Photograph by Charlotte Seddon.”
Fake Crash?
Pilot Owen Leipelt filmed as his friend’s plane hit the water off Half Moon BayHe alerted air traffic control and kept circling above the crash scene on Tuesday
In the water below, the pilot of the downed plane, David Lesh, was also filming
He captured the moment his plane sank before filming his rescue from the water
Both Lesh and his female passenger were rescued unharmed by the coast guard
Pictures show the plane sinking and the two survivors as the helicopter arrives
The two survivors even seem in good spirits, laughing and joking in the water….
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The friends had left from Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose and were in the air together to take pictures of Lesh’s new aircraft when it lost power
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the accident, a spokesman confirmed Pilot Owen Leipelt filmed as the engine on his friend’s new Beechcraft Bonanza light aircraft failed and the plane hit the water off Half Moon Bay. Leipelt alerted air traffic control to the incident as he kept circling above the crash scene on Tuesday.
In the water below, pilot of the downed aircraft, David Lesh, 34, was also filming on his waterproof phone as he and his only passenger, who has not been identified, found themselves treading water for 40 minutes before being rescued. They were unharmed. ‘I was probably 3,400 feet, did everything I could. I couldn’t get the motor running and put it into the Pacific. ‘We skipped along the water for a few hundred feet and the impact was very minimal, it was not hard at all and we immediately opened the door and got out onto the wing. ‘We took a quick inventory of what was in the plane. I grabbed my cell phone and the keys to the car. ‘I knew we had about 20 or 30 seconds before it sunk.’The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the accident, a spokesman confirmed to the DailyMail.com.
A spokesman for the FAA said: ‘The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB is the lead agency and it typically takes the NTSB a year or more to determine a probable cause of an accident.’ Lesh said he believes bad gasoline “caused the plane to malfunction.”Surprise! The Rock is a married man — he finally worked up the courage to say “I do” to his longtime girlfriend, and it went down in his home state of Hawaii.
Dwayne Johnson and Lauren Hashian tied the knot Sunday after more than a decade of dating, and they both wore white — a beautiful full-length gown and veil for her … and a button-down with white pants for him to really rock the island vibes.
The Rock shared the big news Monday morning, writing on IG, “We do. Hawaii. Pōmaikaʻi (blessed).” He also shared a pic of himself dipping Lauren into a romantic kiss with an ocean backdrop.
His acting partner, Kevin Hart, was one of the first to congratulate him on wifing up Lauren.
The couple’s been together since 2007, and they have 2 daughters together — 3-year-old Jasmine and 1-year-old Tiana. Johnson also has an 18-year-old daughter from a previous marriage.
As for the timing of the wedding, it comes just weeks after The Rock announced he “quietly retired” from wrestling.
An amazing thermal video of Boeing 757 landing at Gatwick Airport has been taken by the UK National Police Air Service.
The thermal imaging video shows up all the “hot” spots in white and you can clearly see the engine exhaust and then on landing the wheels and brakes “light up.”
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Loungtastic’s Vids On YouTube! 🛬Teacher Punished For Giving Oral Sex To Students
If this woman, Jill Meldrum-Jones, looks to you like she’s feeling terrified, that could well be the case. She admitted to doing something completely wrong and inexusable on an airplane (and other places), lost her teaching career and faces jail time because of what she did.
You would think a married teaching assistant and mother of two living and working in England would enjoy a chance to chaperone and be part of a four-day school trip to South Africa just for the break, wouldn’t you?
Wouldn’t you expect that a 37-year-old teaching assistant, who is also a wife and mother, would teach the kids about South Africa since that’s where the class was going?
But instead, Meldrum-Jones went where she shouldn’t have ever gone at all…
On the airplane full of students, Jill Meldrum-Jones sexually molested a 15-year-old student of hers by masturbating him and giving him oral sex during the flight home to England from South Africa. She actually admitted to doing those two acts three times each during the 10 hour flight “under the cover of darkness.”
Even worse, this wasn’t the first time Meldrum-Jones had performed sex acts on this child. She told the court there were several other occasions she engaged in sexual acts with this student during this school trip. The teaching assistant admitted that the first time she performed a sex act on the child was on a mini-bus on the way back from a day-long excursion. In addition to the charges of child molestation, Meldrum-Jones pled guilty to two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity which involved him performing oral sex on her.
After the South Africa school trip, rumors about something going on with the teaching assistant and student were circulating and the two were often seen going for walks together. The school can’t be named to protect the child. Under questioning by authorities, Meldrum-Jones admitted what she’d done before pleading guilty in court.
Jill Meldrum-Jones was given a jail sentence of two years, eight months.
She has been added to the sex-offender registry list.
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$2,250,000 : 200 Driftwood Ln, Largo, FL 33770
Current Status: Active!
3 bed
3.5 bath
3,879 sqft
.24 sqft lot
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Experience waterfront living at its finest in this two-story home located on the open water of the Intracoastal Waterway in Harbor Bluffs. Boasting over 3800 sq ft of living space, this home offers spacious rooms and breathtaking water views. Enjoy the Florida lifestyle to the fullest with a location that is great for boating, fishing, and water activities.
Relax by your sparkling pool and spa or entertain guests in your screened in outdoor living space. Your backyard will provide a great place to watch the beautiful sunsets that our area is famous for. Inside, this home youll find a galley style kitchen with wood cabinets and granite countertops and ample storage space. The spacious living room with a cozy fireplace is perfect for entertaining or relaxing after a long day. This 3 bedroom and 3.5 bathroom home offers 2 additional multi-use spaces allowing plenty of room for a growing family or guests. The 2nd floor master suite features, vaulted ceilings, a large balcony overlooking the waterway, a spacious bathroom, and a two large, walk-in closets.
The existing layout with 3 bedrooms can be modified to create an additional bedroom or two without adding to the existing footprint of the home. This home also features a 2-car garage, pavered circular driveway, newer windows and electric hurricane shutters for added convenience and security. Located in the highly desirable Largo community of Harbor Bluffs, this home is just minutes from beaches, shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of paradise on the Intracoastal Waterway. Schedule your showing today!
$739,000 : 60 Bay Woods Dr, Safety Harbor, FL, 34695
Current Status: Active!
4 bed
2 bath
2,373 sqft
.3 sqft lot
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LUXURY AWAITS! NEW PRICE!!!! Subsidence repaired with Lifetime Warranty! Over $180, 000 in IMPROVEMENTS! TURNKEY and UPGRADED TOP TO BOTTOM! SAFETY HARBOR RESIDENCE in INCREDIBLE LOCATION 2 miles away from Quaint Downtown and within 1 mile from Philippe Park and the Gulf of Mexico! Located on a VERY QUIET STREET with an oversized lot and no direct backyard neighbors. PLEASE BE SURE to watch the Custom Video! As you enter, you will be greeted by NEW Luxury WOODPLANK Vinyl Flooring present in all common areas and all 4 bedrooms.
This floorplan is OPEN in all MAIN LIVING AREAS with a complete REDESIGN of the COMMON AREAS LAYOUT and the NEW GOURMET KITCHEN. Truly a CHEF’s DELIGHT it leaves nothing to be desired including LIGHT Quartz Counters, HUGE Island with large FARMHOUSE SINK, an abundance of built in storage, 42″ SOLID WOOD CABINETS, STYLISH Door Handles and Tile backsplash as well as a fancy LUXURY Stainless steel appliances package.
One of my favorite features here is the ENORMOUS WALK IN PANTRY that was added behind the kitchen as well as the bar area with built in wine-cooler ($45, 000 in 2022). Truly the heart of the home the kitchen opens up to the DINING ROOM and fabulous OVERSIZED FAMILY room which showcases a SPECTACULAR STACKED STONE FIREPLACE. THIS area is made for entertaining your guests as they gather around the fireplace to watch a game or socialize at the spacious island. From here you can directly access the covered patio or spend time relaxing on one of 2 decks that were JUST REFINISHED and STAINED.
The bedrooms are split for privacy with the Owners Retreat to the left side of the house and 3 more bedrooms and laundry room located on the other side. The Owners Retreat has a large WALK-IN CLOSET and is adjacent to the FABULOUS MASTER BATHROOM for a TRULY SPA LIKE experience. As you might expect, everything has been done here in style as well. Designers just finished installing NEW TILE, Quartz counters, flooring, lighting, faucets, mirror and a new toilet. The large walk in shower has also been redone completely including gorgeous PEBBLE TILE FLOORING and WALL TILE.
Similar updates are present in the 2nd Bathroom. Watch birds from one of the decks outside or throw a football in the large and private backyard! It is fenced in the back! Additional VALUE-ADDING UPGRADES include: NEW ROOF w/ transferable warranty ($20, 000 in 2022); NEW AC; NEW ELECTRIC PANEL; NEW PAINT INSIDE and OUT; NEW LIGHTING and NEW FANS just about everywhere; ALL INTERIOR DOORS REPLACED (2022) and the LANDSCAPING has been updated. Safety Harbor, consistently rated as one of the best places to live in Florida, is known for its Small Town feel offering a plethora of entertainment options including Arts and Craft markets, breweries and more.
If you want all this but don’t want to miss out on a luxurious lifestyle look no further! Welcome Home! Make an offer today. This home will not last!
$2,999,990 : 4567 Harbor Hills Dr, Largo, FL 33770
Current Status: Active!
4 bed
3.5 bath
3,744 sqft
8,864 sqft lot
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Positioned at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac on EXCEPTIONAL BOATING WATER, this luxurious coastal estate delivers stunning open water views of the intracostal waterway and Belleair Bridge.
Lush, tropical landscaping welcomes you to a stunning home which has been fully renovated with custom finishes throughout the grand open spaces. The soaring entry foyer opens to a great room with two stories of windows providing panoramic views of the sweeping waterfront.
The professional chef’s kitchen must be seen to appreciate its grandeur. It features Bianco Cielo quartz countertops, a 9-foot island with seating for four, a Thermador Dual Fuel 48″ Pro-Grand Chef’s Range, a 42″ Sub Zero Refrigerator, and top of the line KitchenAid Appliances which includes a premium dual zone wine and beverage fridge, under counter ice maker, convection microwave drawer, warming drawer and triple motor Vent-A-Hood.
The breakfast bar features genuine ship’s lighting from abroad and the custom dining booth has unique, coastal pendant lights. On the main level you will also find a home theater with top of the line A/V equipment, acoustic engineering and a 4K Projector with its own mini split AC. The sweeping staircase will take you up to four bedrooms, two of which share a large, Jack and Jill bathroom. The master retreat has a catwalk leading to its double door entry. As you enter, you are taken back by the breathtaking, extensive open water, 3rd story elevated views.
The master bath is spacious as is the walk in closet. Out back the remarkable finishes continue. Sliders in the kitchen lead to a cozy covered patio. Another set of sliders from the family room also lead out. A door from the pool bath steps down to the pavered pool deck. The PebbleTech salt water pool is heated and cooled and with a new Therm-A-Cool unit and energy efficient variable speed pump. To the right of the pool deck is a newly installed 5-hole chipping and putting green. To the left is a “Pet Platinum”, pet and kid friendly dog run.
Your impressive dock setup is a boater’s dream on DEEP WATER! It features premium, “Wear Deck”. Two boat lifts, 24k and 7k, provide space for two 50 ft+ boats. Water has been run to each lift, and there is dedicated 50 amp shore power. At almost 700 sf, the dock is also perfect for entertaining with plenty of room for dining and sunning in the chaise lounges. Dock lighting and speakers complete the 3 levels of outdoor acoustics. Once you push off from your dock, you can be to the Gulf of Mexico in just 5 minutes. All this and you are just minutes from award-winning beaches. This summer, enjoy gorgeous sunsets from your new waterfront oasis.
Current Status: Active!
3 bed
2 bath
1,800 sqft
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This Beautiful Peaceful Home is Updated & Upgraded with Style and No Expense Spared. At Country Club There Are Only 11 Three BR Penthouse Corner Condos and This is One of the FINEST. Private & peaceful, 270 degree views of air, space & light – windows in 6 rooms on 3 sides.
A quality cool corner penthouse with views of sunrise skies, fairway, fountains & lake water, Wonderful wildlife in a tranquil natural environment & beautiful park-like setting. Heated pool & spa with renovated, repainted and replanted resort style clubhouse. Great design, workmanship, construction, maintenance & management. All concrete construction – strong & solid, safe & sound, high & dry. Value & high quality, inside & out, move-in ready.
$40, 000 plus spent by Sellers on quality improvements since 2020, see work list attached. Including new luxury vinyl plank flooring with underlayment throughout and #3501 was totally re-painted. The private screened balcony (150 sq ft) is cool after sun from 10 am and overlooks lake, fountains, the 10th tee and fairway. The lanai is accessed from MBR and from 25’x18′ living/great room. Beautiful kitchen with attractive wood cabinetry, granite countertops and breakfast bar. Main bedroom suite has his & her walk-in closets, twin vanities, and separate large walk-in shower.
Over-sized laundry room & over-sized under-building garage G15 (accessed by elevator or nearby stairwell). Low cost country club lifestyle. golf club without membership fees, bar & snack bar open daily to all residents. Close to restaurants, entertainment & shopping at new Seminole City Center or Largo Mall & ER-medical nearby. Just 15 mins, 6 miles to the Gulf Beaches, 20-30 mins to St Pete, Tampa, Clearwater & airports.
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Property details
Property overview
Amazing Active Florida Properties!
Sited along a 1.5 acre parcel fronting the wide expanse of a Western waterfront allowing multiple vessel dockage, profound sunsets, multiple plaza level terraces and loggia balconies, the setting couldn’t be more picturesque. The approach of the floor plan remains timeless- A grand entry, a two story great room, a masterful dining arena, an exquisite kitchen w/bespoke cabinetry, a throng of en suite bedrooms and a million dollar movie theatre beckon. Upstairs a primary suite composed of the most luxuriant layering one could hope for, whilst a separate wing of bedrooms with a private entrance await. A separate, dedicated guest home adjacent offers in-law, extended family usage or work from home headquarters. Multiple garages service a fleet of automobiles while a circular drive commands a car park capable of housing a major event. A rare departure from the ordinary, don’t you think? And, yet mere seconds from the Bluffs.
8 bed
6.5 bath
10,122 sqft
1.55 acre lot
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