© Peter_Landers_Photography
SITUATED in the North of Guernsey, Puddleduck is a testament to innovative green design and architectural transformation. Conceived by the award winning DLM Architects, this striking two-storey home sets a benchmark in sustainable living.
What was once a dilapidated and damp 1950s bungalow has been reimagined into a low carbon, visually captivating residence, overcoming a number of inherent challenges, including poor insulation and an inefficient layout. The project has turned an outdated structure into a modern, open-plan family home with high-end finishes and four spacious bedrooms, seamlessly blending style, comfort, and sustainability.
From the moment lead architect Simon Cottell and the DLM project team set eyes on Puddleduck, they knew it was a chance to break new ground. Inspired by the home’s Channel Islands setting and coastal backdrop, they set out to develop a dwelling with a clean, minimalist aesthetic blending elegance and simplicity.
James Latham, a leading UK independent distributor of timber, panels and decorative surfaces, played a pivotal role to help bring this vision to life, supplying Decospan’s luxurious Shinnoki veneer for the second-floor extensions fitted-furniture and feature walls.
© Peter_Landers_Photography
A majestic materials makeover
The selection of Shinnoki is a great example of where a highly prescriptive design brief dictates the selection of the material, and arose when DLM started to consider the project fixtures, fittings and features. In line with the brief, the team knew they had to specify products which were not only stylish and sustainable, but strong enough to withstand every spill, scratch and knock of continuous occupancy.
They also wanted to use lighter hued materials that reflected the client’s preferred palate of subtle white, cream and grey punctuated by elements of varnished timber and calacatta marble.
Step-by-step, premium materials were selected for interior finishes across the length and breadth of the property. However, when it came to choosing the timber for the fitted furniture and statement walls, DLM realised it needed a product which balanced form and function. In a busy family home, solid timber would quickly stain, scuff or dent, losing its visual appeal. Furthermore, with floor to ceiling windows, letting in considerable amounts of sunlight, there was a risk of bleaching, detracting from the intended look and feel.
© Peter_Landers_Photography
Asking the experts
To find the perfect solution they consulted longtime contracting partner Jame Allez Carpentry & Construction, which approached distributor James Latham for support. The latter’s experienced specification team was impressed with the project’s unusual, forward thinking yet highly prescriptive brief. Seeing it as a welcome challenge, it suggested an engineered timber solution compiled a shortlist of which a clear winner quickly emerged: Shinnoki
Shinnoki has become a go-to for luxury fitted furniture, cabinetry and wall finishing, a perfectly fitted the meticulous brief. Manufactured by Decospan, one of the world’s most innovative brands of high-quality interior décors, it uses real wood veneers with the tactility of the surface maintaining the feel of solid timber to the touch. This authenticity, the robust MDF core and its low-waste production stood out for DLM, balancing the holy grail of style, strength and sustainability they were looking for.
The variety of lighter-shaded boards was also a key selling point, with the architects selecting understated, yet visually compelling Milk Oak and Bondi Oak boards. Used across the upstairs area, its use helped the architects achieve the desired ‘spare and fair’ atmosphere. Not only did the Shinnoki complement the space’s minimalist look, it also helped the finished interiors achieve a soothing and tranquil atmosphere, perfect for rest, relaxation and family life.
This small, yet significant, contribution helped DLM neatly meet the design brief’s core specification criteria by delivering stylish, sustainable and hard-wearing finishes which surpassed client expectations.
According to project lead, DLM’s Simon Cottell, “We chose Shinnoki as it’s not only very attractive, particularly the long grain of the veneer, it’s really easy to work with to book match to achieve visual consistency. Furthermore, its tactility, some might say irresistible to touch, combined with its impressive durability meant it delivered a realistic solid timber look with added resilience.
“It’s made a big contribution in bringing our vision to life and acts as a unifying force, bringing all Puddleduck’s interior elements and features together. We’re really grateful to James Latham and Jame Allez Carpentry & Construction, whose expertise and advice directly contributed to making Puddleduck’s interiors so visually striking.”
See page 34-35 of our June/July 2025 issue on our Back Issues page.
