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Rural Retreat Restored Above You may have to fight for a place on this sunny sofa in the garden room
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Undeterred by the task ahead, and armed with a ‘black book’ of local specialists, one Devon family has created the perfect home
inding the perfect house in the country is no mean feat, and for the Keeling family locating a property where their three young children could enjoy a real country life was one of the essentials when they were planning their move to the Westcountry. After much searching and many
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weekend trips to Devon, in the spring of 2005 they finally found Heathfield Farm, located at the very base of Dartmoor near Denbury. The house had the space needed and the perfect rural location. It was a traditional stone farmhouse with handsome sash windows, but it needed a serious amount of restoration.
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Through the Keyhole
Below Heathfield Farm is elegantly proportioned and perfectly situated The laundry room One of the stone outbuildings is used to store (and sell) treasures found at auction
A lengthy list of major works was required, so Holly created a detailed schedule and by the following summer many of the structural changes had been carried out. This included the removal of a staircase from the kitchen and the creation of a garden room at the rear of the house. Holly’s work as an interior stylist
and professional declutterer stood her in good stead for optimising the property’s grand scale and making it a comfortable family home. With young children and a new business to maintain, she had to organise the restoration work and decoration around everyday family life. Holly supervised all the elements of the refurbishment in great detail; 173
Through the Keyhole
“We needed the kitchen to function well whilst retaining a classic comfortable feel, and the result combines both those elements” Above Practical limestone flooring, natural timber and country-style units create an attractive and functional kitchen Opposite top The reading room offers a sanctuary of calm in a busy house Opposite below The lounge reveals an eclectic mix of period antiques
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old wallpaper was stripped from every wall and ceiling, and floorboards were laid and sanded. A
the norm. Over time I have simply developed a love for good-quality furnishings and antiques.”
black slate floor was rescued from part of the house and sold on. “I love reusing pieces of furniture and reclaiming materials wherever possible. The slate wasn’t right for us but will be perfect for another property,” Holly said. Holly’s work in interiors meant she was able to legitimately spend hours at auctions and markets, and her eye for a bargain has ensured that Heathfield has benefited from many astute finds. “As a child I remember being taken around antiques shops and I always loved the ‘treasure trove’ feeling I would get,” she says. “Usually I would find some small item that stood out from
With her covetable little black book of furniture specialists, antique dealers and reclamation companies, Holly set about sourcing materials and furnishings for each room of the house. It was important to the Keelings to use local businesses and craftsmen during the restoration of the house that helped to create an interior that was in keeping with the property’s heritage. Limestone flooring was supplied by Devon Stone in Exmouth and used throughout the kitchen, back hall, utility room and old dairy. The kitchen was designed with the help of Barnes of Ashburton, a longestablished local firm of craftsmen
who build handmade kitchens in their Devon workshops. “Patrick Gunning at Barnes understood exactly what we wanted and interpreted our ideas perfectly. We needed the kitchen to function well whilst retaining a classic comfortable feel, and the result combines both these elements. The dark-green Aga was already in the house, the cupboards are painted in French Grey and the walls in Pointing, both by Farrow and Ball. The ‘functional’ space works around a handsome island unit which doubles up as a storage and socialising spot, while the ‘relaxing’ area by the Aga boasts a traditional family-size kitchen table and antique chairs. Extensive restoration work
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Through the Keyhole
“Over time I have simply developed a love for good-quality furnishings and antiques” Above Move from bedroom to bathroom via this luxurious en-suite dressing area Left Auction finds and heirlooms all have their place in the lounge Below A sumptuous antique walnut bed in one of the bedrooms Opposite top Laze and gaze... Opposite below A room fit for a little girl
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started on some of the farm’s outbuildings, while the housebuilding work continued throughout, everything gradually taking shape. The newly built garden room at the rear of the house, off the back hall, overlooks the family garden. It is light and airy, with the back wall consisting of three gigantic windows which allow natural light to flood in. This room is one of Holly’s favourites. “I like to paint, and this room brings the outside in, you really feel a part of the garden even on a cold winter’s day.” In the sitting room the original shutters were restored to their former glory and floorboards sanded and painted to give a pale lime-washed look. Throughout the sitting room Holly has successfully combined fabric textures and patterns, giving the room a calm
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and relaxing feel, with a distinctly glamorous edge. All the bedrooms are furnished with antique beds. The master bedroom is particularly elegant, with an art nouveau bedhead and neutral-coloured linen drapes. The children’s rooms have a softer, more country, feel. Daughter Charlotte’s room is unashamedly girlie and is decorated in fabulous floral print wallpaper from GP and J Baker, and one of Holly’s market finds – an old nursing chair – takes pride of place near the fireplace. The boys’ rooms have solid wooden beds (found in Newton Abbot) and the brightly coloured rugs and pictures provide the necessary cheerfulness in a child’s room. Now the building work is over, the garden and grounds are now coming into their own, with areas landscaped and replanted, and the younger plants and trees are slowly establishing themselves amongst existing planting. Now the work on Heathfield Farm has finally come to an end, Holly is concentrating on enjoying family life in the country, and the success she’s had with the restoration has led her to take on more decoration and interior-styling
The success Holly’s had with the restoration has led her to take on more decoration and interior-styling projects
Holly Keeling offers a decluttering and styling service to help you make the most of your home. Contact her on
(01803 814107
PHOTOS: ANNA THOMPSON
projects. “I have been asked to apply my ‘interiors’ eye to some more properties in the area, which is fantastic. I’m currently sourcing furniture for a few private clients and decluttering and styling homes for people. I feel so lucky that I can continue putting my skills into practice, but one thing is certain – I’m very happy that our house is finished and the builders have gone SHARON KILBY home!”
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