Their Chelsea pad

Press, 22 June 1979, Page 13

Their Chelsea pad

From

KEN COATES

in London

Number 43 Chelsea Square is a top address to go with the top job in New Zealand’s diplomatic service, and the interior has a brand, spanking new look.

The High Commissioner until July, Sir Douglas Carter, and Lady Carter, shown here relaxing in the refurbished lounge, recently moved into the spacious home which overlooks the leafy, peaceful square from Frbgnal Lane, West Hampstead. Sir Douglas describes the new residency as very pleasant. Flanked by homes of the well-to-do, including a millionaire businessman and a retired admiral, it has been completely re-

novated, with interior structural alterations, at a cost of $300,000.

The huge lounge would occupy a floor area equal to, and probably greater than that of many London families’ homes.

The new High Commissioner, Mr L. W. Gandar, will probably move in dur-

ing the first week in July. He should not be disappointed. Luxurious New Zealandmade carpet, turquoise and antique white in the bedrooms, has been laid throughout. The kitchen is a housewife’s dream, or

penance, depending on her point of view, although in this case it will be mostly the domain of staff.

Lady Carter has had a major hand in the interior decorating. If the Gandars bring no family with them, visiting Cabinet members from New Zealand could easily be put

up at Chelsea Square, thus avoiding astronomical London hotel bills. There are four bedrooms, each with its own separate bathroom upstairs, in addition to a huge master bedroom with a dressing-room off it.

The architect In charge of the alteration project, Mr Ken Feakes, says the house, built in 1934 by a hanking family, is pseudo Georgian. The main problem, he said was to transform the dreary and dark Interior. This involved extending the staircase another floor, and adding a large sky-light. “The result is quite satisfactory for a project that had to be kept to a budget,” he said. There is no large garden surrounding the house and it is Lady Carter’s one regret that she will not be staying to develop a garden on the roof — ideally suited to such a project.