Could You Live in One Folgate Street?
There's a new book character in town ... and it's a minimalist house. Are you its next tenant?
Have you heard about the latest new thriller everyone’s raving about? Of course it’s already been optioned for a major Hollywood movie, and of course it has ‘girl’ in the title. But what’s any of this got to do with houses, you might ask? Well, one of the main ‘characters’ in The Girl Before by JP Delaney is not a human, but a house.
No appliances to be seen
Hello, is anybody there? One Folgate Street’s architect, Edward Monkford, designed the kitchen so that nothing is left out or visible at any time. In fact you can’t even tell his kitchen is a kitchen, according to one character, such is the sleek, streamlined nature of it. Appliances are all concealed, and the sink is a mere hint of a depression in the stone slab benchtop. In a similar way, this striking kitchen, clean as a whistle, lets nothing get in the way of its clean lines.
Hello, is anybody there? One Folgate Street’s architect, Edward Monkford, designed the kitchen so that nothing is left out or visible at any time. In fact you can’t even tell his kitchen is a kitchen, according to one character, such is the sleek, streamlined nature of it. Appliances are all concealed, and the sink is a mere hint of a depression in the stone slab benchtop. In a similar way, this striking kitchen, clean as a whistle, lets nothing get in the way of its clean lines.
“Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.”
This is the first of many questions on the application form for One Folgate Street in the The Girl Before. The characters can scarcely believe all the conditions, but such is the striking beauty of the home, they’re willing to agree to anything, even: ‘No lights other than those already here. No washing lines. No wastepaper baskets. No coasters or placemats. No cushions, no knick-knacks, no flat-pack furniture.’ (This last rule is upsetting to one character in particular.)
How to pull off a minimalist look that works
This is the first of many questions on the application form for One Folgate Street in the The Girl Before. The characters can scarcely believe all the conditions, but such is the striking beauty of the home, they’re willing to agree to anything, even: ‘No lights other than those already here. No washing lines. No wastepaper baskets. No coasters or placemats. No cushions, no knick-knacks, no flat-pack furniture.’ (This last rule is upsetting to one character in particular.)
How to pull off a minimalist look that works
No doors or sockets
When one of the characters in the novel inspects the property at One Folgate Street, she is rendered speechless – the walls and floors are all made of the same pale stone, and she can see only a stone dining table, with cool designer chairs and a long and low pale sofa.
“But there’s nothing else for the eye to catch on to,” she says. “No doors, no cupboards, no pictures, no window frames, no electric sockets that I can see, no light fittings … or even light switches. And although it doesn’t feel abandoned or unlived in, there’s absolutely no clutter.”
So without any of these functional effects, how does One Folgate Street, well, function? It’s a smart home, with lights and music, windows and temperature control, all operable from a smart phone. Something that the characters of this thriller are initially impressed with, and then become a little freaked out by…
When one of the characters in the novel inspects the property at One Folgate Street, she is rendered speechless – the walls and floors are all made of the same pale stone, and she can see only a stone dining table, with cool designer chairs and a long and low pale sofa.
“But there’s nothing else for the eye to catch on to,” she says. “No doors, no cupboards, no pictures, no window frames, no electric sockets that I can see, no light fittings … or even light switches. And although it doesn’t feel abandoned or unlived in, there’s absolutely no clutter.”
So without any of these functional effects, how does One Folgate Street, well, function? It’s a smart home, with lights and music, windows and temperature control, all operable from a smart phone. Something that the characters of this thriller are initially impressed with, and then become a little freaked out by…
It’s not just about aesthetics; the perfectionist architect in the novel feels that living in this almost monastic way can transform people’s lifestyles, and one of the characters even says: “Among so much good taste, the house somehow makes me walk more elegantly, stand in a more considered way, place myself within each vista for maximum effect…”
Take this minimalist hallway – could you live like this? You’re never going to trip on anything, but there must be a deep cupboard or mudroom somewhere to contain all the bags, keys, skateboards, coats and shoes, surely?
Take this minimalist hallway – could you live like this? You’re never going to trip on anything, but there must be a deep cupboard or mudroom somewhere to contain all the bags, keys, skateboards, coats and shoes, surely?
Only the best
Many minimalists (well before we ever heard of Marie Kondo) claim that minimalism is somehow superior. Some claim that the concept of ‘living with less’ is greener, because that means buying less. But is clearing out and having a low turnover always better? Certainly buying once and buying well makes environmental sense. And the architect at One Folgate Street buys only the best of everything.
Things we can learn from minimalists
Many minimalists (well before we ever heard of Marie Kondo) claim that minimalism is somehow superior. Some claim that the concept of ‘living with less’ is greener, because that means buying less. But is clearing out and having a low turnover always better? Certainly buying once and buying well makes environmental sense. And the architect at One Folgate Street buys only the best of everything.
Things we can learn from minimalists
In The Girl Before one character explains the positive effect the minimalist house has on her: “I was already familiar with that saying by Mies van der Rohe, Less is more, but I hadn’t appreciated how sensual less could be, how rich and voluptuous… The few pieces of furniture are design classics… And the house comes with a number of carefully curated but luxurious lesser props… Every touch is a small surprise, a quiet appreciation of quality.”
No rugs allowed
At first this character, Jane, is wary of the lack of furnishings: “It occurs to me that the whole place just needs some colour, some softness. A few rugs, some humanising touches, and it would be really beautiful, like something out of a style magazine,” she says. But of course that’s not to be at One Folgate Street, because as the real estate agent tells her, rugs, carpets, pictures, pot plants, ornaments, even curtains are strictly not allowed!
“How do you keep the light out if you can’t have curtains?” she says. But that’s not an issue, because at One Folgate Street the windows are photo-sensitive, meaning they go dark when the sky does.
At first this character, Jane, is wary of the lack of furnishings: “It occurs to me that the whole place just needs some colour, some softness. A few rugs, some humanising touches, and it would be really beautiful, like something out of a style magazine,” she says. But of course that’s not to be at One Folgate Street, because as the real estate agent tells her, rugs, carpets, pictures, pot plants, ornaments, even curtains are strictly not allowed!
“How do you keep the light out if you can’t have curtains?” she says. But that’s not an issue, because at One Folgate Street the windows are photo-sensitive, meaning they go dark when the sky does.
Toiletries are banned
Minimalists argue that it makes sense for the area where you cleanse yourself to be clear and clean. And that a decluttered bathroom is a more relaxing space. The architect of One Folgate Street insists that no toiletries are to be left out in the bathroom at any time.
Browse more bathroom photos
Minimalists argue that it makes sense for the area where you cleanse yourself to be clear and clean. And that a decluttered bathroom is a more relaxing space. The architect of One Folgate Street insists that no toiletries are to be left out in the bathroom at any time.
Browse more bathroom photos
No plants here
As pretty as this picture is, the tenants at One Folgate Street would never be allowed to have a potted plant at their bedside, so strict are the rules of its militantly minimalist owner.
The Girl Before, RRP $32.99, is published by Hachette Books Australia.
Tell us
Would you live in One Folgate Street? Let us know in the Comments.
More
Read more lifestyle stories
As pretty as this picture is, the tenants at One Folgate Street would never be allowed to have a potted plant at their bedside, so strict are the rules of its militantly minimalist owner.
The Girl Before, RRP $32.99, is published by Hachette Books Australia.
Tell us
Would you live in One Folgate Street? Let us know in the Comments.
More
Read more lifestyle stories
Could you live in such a house? And is there really something better about having less? We take a look at One Folgate Street’s stipulations, reflected in some similarly minimalist homes.