Real Home: artist Maria Keki

Artist and art teacher Maria Keki’s home is part of the York Open Studios trail. Sharon Dale had a preview. Pictures by Gary Longbottom.

Maria Keki and her husband Michael Walton are the perfect couple when it comes transforming ordinary houses into beautiful homes. She is an artist and he is a cabinetmaker and their combined skills have helped them tackle everything from major renovations to extensions and stylish updates.

Their latest property is on a cul-de-sac of sturdy red brick homes in the Clifton area of York, which were built in 1929 by the Joseph Rowntree Trust. They bought it four years ago and didn’t have far to flit, as they already lived on the street.

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“We bought it to downsize slightly. We love the location. It’s tucked away in a conservation area and there’s a really nice walk into the city centre from here,” says Maria.

The kitchen cabinets were made by Michael and are painted in Valspar's "Evening Coat".The kitchen cabinets were made by Michael and are painted in Valspar's "Evening Coat".
The kitchen cabinets were made by Michael and are painted in Valspar's "Evening Coat".

“The house had been a rental property so it needed some work, which we didn’t mind because Michael loves doing renovations.”

The biggest changes have been converting the attic into a bedroom and bathroom, turning an adjoining shed into a cloakroom and utility room and combining a sitting room and a kitchen into one large, light-filled living kitchen, which has also been extended out into the back garden.

Michael, who studied sculpture before becoming a cabinetmaker, designed the timber-clad extension, which has glazed doors leading onto the garden.

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He also made the bespoke kitchen cabinets and the chopping boards. The latter have been strategically placed to hide the plug sockets.

Maria Keki in the newly-created loft bedroom with her dog, Alfred. The paintng on the left is one of the first she did at university.Maria Keki in the newly-created loft bedroom with her dog, Alfred. The paintng on the left is one of the first she did at university.
Maria Keki in the newly-created loft bedroom with her dog, Alfred. The paintng on the left is one of the first she did at university.

“I’ve got a thing about sockets and switches standing out and electrical gadgets being on display in a kitchen,” says Maria, who sourced paintable light switches from socketsandswitches.com. The switches are now indistinguishable from the wall.

The family dining table, bought from Habitat 20 years ago, is still going strong and the chairs are from the car boot sale at York racecourse, which runs most Saturdays between April and October.

There’s also a comfy sofa overlooking the garden and a wall of shelves and storage cupboards made by Michael.

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The multi-functional room is full of artworks, including some of Maria’s own.

Alfred the dog by the sofa in the living kitchen and above is a painting by Ellie MacGarry.Alfred the dog by the sofa in the living kitchen and above is a painting by Ellie MacGarry.
Alfred the dog by the sofa in the living kitchen and above is a painting by Ellie MacGarry.

She studied Fine Art in Manchester and enjoys her career as an artist and a teacher of art, craft and design.

Maria now teaches part-time so she can devote more hours to her own paintings, which are colourful abstracts described as “exploring spatial relationships, abstraction and the physicality of media”. Her work is inspired by her observations and memories of places and landscape.

Visitors to this year’s York Open Studios will have a chance to see it as Maria is turning her home into a temporary gallery for the free event.

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“It’s a proper community event and it would be great to see lots of children and art students coming along too,” she says.

The sitting room with a new 1920's style fireplace made by Michael, who also made the bookcases.The sitting room with a new 1920's style fireplace made by Michael, who also made the bookcases.
The sitting room with a new 1920's style fireplace made by Michael, who also made the bookcases.

Open Studios runs over two weekends, April 6 and 7, and April 13 and 14, and will see 149 artists and makers open their work spaces to the public.

Maria’s neighbour, weaver and textile artist Jacqueline James, and fellow painter Frances Brock will also be showing their work in her house.

“I love painting but I don’t want to do it full-time. I really enjoy teaching and working with young people and I am passionate about trying to support young artists,” says Maria.

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The evidence of this is clear. The striking scarlet and black painting above the sofa in the kitchen is by Ellie MacGarry.

“It’s one of my favourite paintings. Ellie studied art at Leeds University and has just finished a Masters degree at the Slade. I think her work is absolutely brilliant,” says Maria, who also has prints by York printmaker and illustrator Angus Vasili and paintings by Cathy Cullis.

A new favourite maker is Leeds-based ceramicist Poppy Davies, who trades as www.clodstudio.co.uk. A collection of her functional bowls, plates and cups are on the kitchen work top, where they can be admired.

Maria's paintings on the stairway wall.Maria's paintings on the stairway wall.
Maria's paintings on the stairway wall.

Along with work by fellow artists and makers, fresh flowers and plants are another key feature in the house.

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“Michael loves plants and I’m obsessed with flowers. I buy fresh flowers every week and they make me very happy,” says Maria, who has painted most of the property white except for the kitchen area, which is in Valspar’s Evening Coat, a dark grey.

“From my point of view, a white backdrop is good for displaying art so dark grey is a big departure but it’s growing on me,” she says.

The renovation project also involved reinstating original period features, including fireplaces, and adding character with more bargain buys from the York car boot sale.

One of the couple’s favourite purchases was a small desk that cost just over £120. It is said to have belonged to the artist Lucian Freud and there is evidence to back the claim that it came from Freud’s London home.

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“We love it and I suppose it’s appropriate that it’s ended up here with us,” says Maria, who has placed one of her collagraph prints above it.

Maria Keki is taking part in this year’s York Open Studios, which runs from 10am to 5pm, on April 5-7 and 13-14. It is a free event and allows visitors to look behind the studio doors of a range of artists, craftspeople and designers across the city. You can plan a route and see the venues with the help of the free event guide which is available online via www.yorkopenstudios.co.uk

Follow Maria on instagram at mbb.keki

Michael Walton, cabinetmaker, www.cupboardmaker.net