The owner of Renaissance London, one of the UK’s leaders in antique fireplaces, tells Busola Evans about his longevity in the business and shares his advice on making the most discerning choice for one’s home
If there was ever a person appointed to reign supreme over the world of fireplaces, that king would surely be Owen Pacey. With his experience in antiques and restoration spanning more than 30 years, what he doesn’t know about the subject doesn’t warrant much attention. Step into his showroom, Renaissance London, a handsome converted pub in the bosom of London’s Shoreditch, and you enter a teeming treasure trove of architectural salvage. It’s a feast for the eyes which possesses a feel for the unexpected, with everything from striking Murano chandeliers sourced directly from Italy, to a 70s mirror acquired from a discotheque in Cyprus, and a handcrafted statue of Apollo.
But it is fireplaces on which the reputation of Owen and his business is built and he offers an exceptional selection. He specialises in Victorian and Georgian marble pieces alongside Italian and French stone and his passion, even after decades in the industry, is clearly undimmed.
‘They are such a fantastic focal point for any room,’ says Owen gesturing to a pair of 16th century stone fireplaces he acquired from an Italian monastery. ‘What is really important to me is bringing something back to life again. It’s about preserving history and a sense of craftsmanship.’
The preservation of history in modern homes is a big aspect which drives Owen Pacey's fireplace restoration work
He sources fireplaces from a variety of places including auctions, historical homes and enviable, strictly-black-book contacts he has built up across Europe over the years. While restoring fireplaces is an important part of what he does, he is also able to create exquisite handmade reproductions to match historical pieces.
‘’We source the very best marble we can to replicate those that were used all those years ago and take high-definition photographs and use moulds so we can get every little detail right,’ he explains.’Then we go through an ageing process which takes about a week so i can get a look close to one that has had hundreds of years worth of wear.’
Owen’s client list is impressive. He has supplied pieces for English Heritage properties, Soho House and worked on projects with distinguished interior designers like Rose Uniacke. Meanwhile his celebrity following includes Mick Jagger, Kate Winslet, Jeremy Irons and the late George Michael (‘he was a lovely, lovely man’). But he offers them no more airs and graces than he would do the average customer, as Madonna found out. ‘Her people got in touch and said she wanted to come in and have a look around, which was fine by me,’ Owen reveals. ‘Then they made it clear I had to give them the keys to the place so she could look around after hours without being disturbed by anyone, including me. So it was a no.’
While Owen has always had a particular soft spot for ornate Georgian fireplaces, he likes to keep a key eye on changing trends. ‘We have seen the rise in popularity of coloured marbles particularly reds, greens and purples over the last few years. They really make a statement in a room and provide a focal point for a colour scheme. Rosa red marble was used particularly in Paris in hotel lobbies with Louis XV fireplaces,’ he says. The more understated are going for a Bolection style which uses simple, clean lines to enhance the fireplace. ’There is a lot of demand for these at the moment because they work in most homes.’
‘We have seen the rise in popularity of coloured marbles particularly reds, greens and purples,' says Owen.
Owen’s career in restoration was never intentional. As a young man in the eighties – he left school at 16 – he got a job stripping pine doors and was surprised at the satisfaction he felt from the results.’We had a big water tank filled with caustic soda and we simply pushed the doors into it. You wouldn’t get away with that today - it was a health and safety nightmare. I actually fell in the tank once and had to be hosed down pretty sharpish. But the doors looked great after a wax and we were able to charge much more for them, especially once we started restoring them as well.’
This led to the stripping of cast iron fireplaces which he sold on for a healthy profit and then came an increasing number of requests for handmade replicas that were virtually indistinguishable from the period originals.
He moved to his current premises in 1995 after spotting it from Moorfields Eye Hospital, where he was receiving treatment after being caught up in a brawl. Shoreditch was years away from gentrification and his decision to base himself there certainly raised eyebrows. ‘The area was in the middle of nowhere and full of drug addicts,’ he says. ‘But I knew it would be a good place to expand the business and I had to go with my gut.’ The property was initially rented to him but Owen managed to persuade the landlord to sell the building to him a few years later. ‘I was very lucky I bought it when I did,’ he admits. ‘One of the reasons I have been able to survive as long as I have is because I haven’t been at the mercy of rising rents.’ Working alongside him is his partner Rachel, showroom manager Anna, his full-time permanent restorer Nero, and Maggie, his adorable labradoodle who watches intently as Owen talks.
Renaissance London is also a specialist in vintage lighting and Murano chandeliers
Owen’s biggest advice for buying fireplaces is doing research and sticking to the period of the house. ‘ This ensures that the styles align and the fireplace will look like it’s always been there. The ground floor of Victorian properties always used to have a marble or slate fireplace and later on in the Edwardian era, slate became much more popular. But my go-to material would always be marble, however, as it is generally very durable. ‘If you’re thinking of inserting something functional and/or decorative inside your fireplace, I generally like to stick to original cast iron inserts or a freestanding basket.’
Owen Pacey, founder of vintage and antiques emporium Renaissance London
Installing a new fireplace is, of course, an investment that can run into thousands but Owen stresses that it is a worthwhile one and if you were to move home, it is possible to take it with you. ‘ A lot of people don’t realise you can,‘ says Owen. ’But I would never attempt to do this if you’re not an expert. It is difficult to know where the pins are situated and this can lead to breakages if excessive force is used. My advice would always be to employ an expert.’ And when it comes to sizing, always choose it according to the scale of the room. ‘It is important to never take the mantle to the end of the chimney breast,’ he says. Always bring it in by a few centimetres each side and don’t be scared to go slightly larger than you may have originally thought. I would always recommend bringing in a fireplace fitter to measure the space for you to avoid any mistakes.’
As for the future, Owen is keen to continue to raise awareness of restoration and sustainability, subjects close to his heart long before they became interiors buzzwords.‘There is no better feeling than bringing pieces to their former glory. I’ll never get tired of it.’