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HOMES BRING THE OUTDOORS IN New ideas to make your home feel fresh Easy updates to enhance the light

NATURAL BEAUTY A split-level family house with a perfectly peaceful palette

13 Showrooms Nationwide 0808 178 3211 www.sofasandstuff.com Helmsley 3 seater sofa in Truro Cobalt, Hemsby scatters

May 2020 country 28 32 62 78

T O T H E M A N O R B O R N A desire to

give their children a rural upbringing led one couple to buy an idyllic Cambridgeshire house D E S I G N F O R L I F E Creative ideas enhance the character of this Cumbrian home N AT U R A L C H O I C E Beautiful original features and a picturesque location were among the many charms that attracted this family to their Dutch farmhouse RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

After failing to sell their Surrey home, this brave pair decided to carry out a daunting renovation project, with impressive results

COVER STORY

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A G R A N D P L A N Taking a decisive

approach to the redesign of a tired bungalow in Hampshire proved to be a big success M O D E R N H E R I TA G E A Georgian home in Essex has been given a contemporary update T R O P I C A L T W I S T The Cayman Islands provided a rich source of inspiration for the rustic-chic scheme in this Devon cottage F U L L C I R C L E This owner moved into a Welsh period house she first visited 35 years ago R E T U R N T O F O R M How a talented designer helped the occupants of this Cotswold cottage breathe new life into its dated interior

This plant-filled living area with views to the garden is an inviting place to relax (page 38).

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N E A R P E R F E C T I O N Finding a bigger home close to

their old one was the ideal solution for one London family B O L D M O V E S A dark, dramatic palette has given this West Yorkshire semi a dynamic interior full of contrasts R O O M T O G R O W This couple’s London terrace has evolved to meets the needs of their expanding family L I G H T F A N TA S T I C Bright colours and vibrant contemporary art allow a Milanese apartment to shine R E C I P E F O R S U C C E S S Decorative textiles and tiles have given this Brooklyn brownstone an eclectic flavour M A K I N G A N E N T R A N C E An impressive hallway and staircase in this Victorian villa in London persuaded the owner that it was the place for her A L A B O U R O F L O V E How a designer and illustrator used her flair for design to add a wonderfully bohemian touch to this 1930s semi in London P E R F E C T P A I R I N G A fusion of two different styles in this London maisonette has resulted in a striking home full of energy and character A L L I N G O O D T I M E Waiting to find the right antique pieces to suit this Victorian house’s classic proportions has paid off for this London couple

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B E S T O F B O T H W O R L D S A Cape Town property

with spectacular city and mountain views G O O D V I B R AT I O N S Natural tones and quirky finds combine for a relaxed, eclectic feel in this Devon retreat A R T I S T I N R E S I D E N C E A hillside home near Melbourne provided the perfect canvas for this imaginative owner’s vibrant decorating style C R E AT I V E S P I R I T This elegant Edwardian terrace in Cornwall is filled with beautiful botanical artwork

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S E C O N D T I M E L U C K Y For this fortunate owner,

the chance to buy a semi in a Manchester suburb, after missing out on a similar one, was a dream come true P E R I O D P I E C E Traditional meets mid-century modern in this timeless terrace in Warwickshire A V I S I O N I N W H I T E Pale tones create a serene feel in a Regency-style villa in Surrey

r e g u l a r f e at u r e s 127 138 139 146

G A R D E N O F F E R Flowering fuchsia trees G A R D E N O F F E R 72 plants for only £9.99 W H E R E T O B U Y Find stockists listed in this issue R O O M E N V Y The scheme that’s inspired us this month 2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 5

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HOMES EDITORIAL

WELCOME Choosing the cover image is usually a tricky job. There is always something enticing and standout about every home we feature, and narrowing it down to one picture is nigh on impossible. But this month’s cover shot leapt out at me immediately – it may be in Manchester but with its lush green foliage and sunshine-yellow sofa it could be a tropical paradise, and is exactly where I want to be right now. Have a look at the rest of Karen Jones Russell’s Victorian property on page 38 – her home is proof that you can make anywhere feel like summer if you try . Elsewhere in the issue, I’ve been really inspired by the pops of yellow that are shining through. From the aptly named Summer Thornton and her armchair on page 110 to Jack Canning’s dining set on page 85, it’s proof that this once difficult shade is becoming ever more liveable. I love seeing how homeowners are picking it for furniture and placing it as a pop of excitement against pale walls, or using it as a jolt of joy in an already-bright scheme. Colour of the year? You heard it here first. PIP McCORMAC, ACTING EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR SARAH SPITERI Acting Editorial Director Pip McCormac Executive Editor Kate French Acting Executive Editor Kate Burnett Group Creative Director Emma Williams Group Chief Sub Editor Jennifer Spaeth Commercial Editorial Operations Director Jane Akers Homes Content Team Editorial Director Rhoda Parry Commissioning/Interiors Editor Fiona Mace Travel and News Editor Patrick Hamilton Courtney Associate Art Hub Director Alison Walter Art Editors Melanie Brown and Paula Jardine Senior Designer Christina McQuillan Head of Subs Operations Maxine Clarke Hub Chief Sub Editor Carly Rigley Senior Sub Editors Marian McNamara and Karen Wiley

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MODERN CHARACTER A rustic-chic makeover has revived this historic listed house in Essex

F R E S H S TA R T Timeless blue and white creates a clean, classic look in this Devon home

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BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Natural materials and a calming palette ensure this breathtaking family home complements its city and mountain views FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM PHOTOGRAPHY ELSA YOUNG/BUREAUX

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LIVING AREA A vibrant painting and a pair of armchairs, which were bought at auction, bring pops of colour to this light-filled space. Artwork, Katharien de Villiers at Smith. Similar oval marble topped coffee table, from ÂŁ800, Rose & Grey

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LIVING AREA The large curved sofa and daybed, designed by Christine Joubert, were scaled to suit the space. Day Bed One, from £2,585, Another Country, is similar. Try Aiden armchair, from £399, M&S. Lowboy Box table, £265, Blue Island Home, has this look

d e c o r a t i n g t i p ‘I always advise buying art that you want to look at and live with – don’t buy just because you’ve been told that an artist is doing well’

S TA I R C A S E The richly toned timber handrail adds a tactile element to the glass balustrade. Okay artwork, Tiago Rodrigues at Smith DINING AREA An extra-long table is ideal for relaxed entertaining, while the pale wood sits well with the white-oiled oak floorboards. Bespoke dining table, James Mudge. CH24 Wishbone chairs, from £443 each, Skandium. Artwork, Katherine Bull at Smith

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home truths THE PROPERTY 1970s detached house L O C AT I O N Cape Town R O O M S Hallway, kitchendiner/living areas, TV room, playroom, scullery, cloakroom, boot room, five bedrooms (all en suite), two studies, separate flat P U R C H A S E D 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We rented a house nearby for a few months,’ says Candace.

KITCHEN The deep-green cabinetry ties in with the lush green vegetation seen through the picture window. For cabinetry with stained veneer doors, try Naked Kitchens. Compton glass pendant lights, from £90 each, Jim Lawrence, have a similar style. Cotton Berber cushion, £35, Design Vintage, would suit this scheme

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l a s t w o r d ‘It’s important to find a designer who really understands your vision and the style you want for your home’

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FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

MAX’S BEDROOM An extra-wide headboard in navy velvet adds to the room’s inviting feel. Sitting lamp, £100, Clever Little Monkey

he front of Candace and Will Marshall-Smith’s home offers spectacular views of Cape Town with the ocean beyond; at the back, the garden appears to segue with the base of Table Mountain. ‘We love the fact that the house is connected with both nature and the city,’ Candace says. The couple found this 1970s house in the suburb of Oranjezicht in 2013 . ‘It needed work, but we decided to live in it for three years before we undertook the redesign,’ says Candace. During that time, she was kept busy, not only with their children, Max, Tessa and Stella – now 12, nine and four – but also with launching their contemporary fine art gallery, Smith. Once it was up and running, Candace and Will turned their attention to the house,

appointing Starc Architects for the project. The couple were keen to open up the living spaces, and also to ‘flatten’ the house, ‘so it felt less imposing in its surroundings’. The architects’ solution was to extend the terrace and ‘wrap’ a horizontal steel around the front, helping to visually widen and shorten the house. Inside, they opened up the entire living area so that the kitchen and dining areas and two seating areas flow into one. Tactile oak and sapele lend warmth and texture to the streamlined spaces. For simple, elegant schemes to match the pared-back aesthetic, Candace called on interior designer Christine Joubert. Christine designed furniture in neutral fabrics, counterbalancing the muted tones with pops of colour: a pair of mid-century armchairs covered in mustard velvet, for

H A L LWAY This elegant bench, made by Candace’s father, suits the open, airy aesthetic of this space. Glo-Ball S pendant, from £345, Jasper Morrison for Flos at Twentytwentyone. Artwork, Claire Johnson at Smith MASTER BEDROOM Dark walls are a bold foil to strikingly simple paintings in this monochrome scheme. Helene rocking chair, £360, Pezula Interiors. Tulou coffee table, £165, Holloways of Ludlow, has this look. Artwork, Dale Lawrence at Smith

MASTER EN SUITE A smart timber screen separates the bathing area from the bedroom. The Picasso bath, £1,395, Lusso, would work here

instance, and cushions in mossy hues. Tactile jute rugs and woven baskets add to the relaxed feel. ‘My instinct would probably have been to use more colour, but I find the pale schemes incredibly calming,’ says Candace. The exception is the master bedroom, painted a dark anthracite grey. ‘We work with a consultant who practises the principles of feng shui,’ Candace says. ‘He suggested the bedroom should be dark, as it had a busy energy that needed to be calmed.’ To preserve the simplicity, Candace has made an effort not to keep adding to the decor. The art, however, is a movable feast. ‘I represent some wonderful South African artists and we love to display their work,’ she says. ‘We move things when we acquire a new piece or want to view a work in a different light. It keeps these spaces dynamic.’

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NEAR perfection Louise and Ed Harvey wanted a larger property without having to move far â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the answer was closer than they realised FEATURE KAREN JENSEN-JONES | PHOTOGRAPHY NICK SMITH

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home truths THE PROPERTY Victorian semi-detached L O C AT I O N Southwest London R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, TV room, kitchen-diner, family room, study, wine cellar, two cloakrooms, four bedrooms (all en suite), dressing room P U R C H A S E D 2018 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a Victorian terraced house in Fulham,’ says Louise.

espite various refurbishments and extensions over a 16-year period, Louise Harvey, her husband Ed and their two daughters, Olivia, 17, and Ella, 15, were finding that space was an issue in their Victorian terraced house. ‘We loved the property and the location, but it was beginning to feel too small for the four of us,’ says Louise. ‘Unfortunately, we couldn’t afford a bigger house in the area but we didn’t want to relocate, either.’ Nevertheless, Louise kept her eye on house sales and when a much cheaper, dilapidated semi came on the market in the same road, the couple snapped it up. ‘Working full-time, I knew I wouldn’t be able to project-manage the renovation myself, but a friend recommended Jo Cowen Architects who had innovative ideas for the house,’ explains Louise. ‘I’d also worked with designer Adrienne Chinn of Adrienne Chinn Design in our previous home and when she agreed to take on the interiors, I knew I was in very safe, creative hands.’ Over the next 16 months, the tired and crumbling semi was totally renovated from top to bottom and was

KITCHEN-DINER

The skylight invites natural light into the dining area. Walls in Stone IV flat emulsion, £50 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library. Kitchen units, price on application, 202 Design. Chagal chair, £1,542, Julian Chichester; upholstered in Mulberry Home

Dress Circle linen in Warm Grey, £93.50m, Jane Clayton. Cushion in Essential Velvet Coral, £79m, GP&J Baker. Stanley medium brass pendant lights, £439 each, Original BTC. Upton medium smoked swan-necked wall lights in Antique Brass, £228 each, Fritz Fryer

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DINING AREA

Upholstered chairs in a floral fabric add texture and contrast. Chair backs upholstered in Mulberry Home Floral Fantasy Woodsmoke, £165m, Jane Clayton

f a v o u r i t e r o o m ‘I love how light, open and spacious the kitchen-diner feels – there’s always something going on in here’ 18 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

transformed into a spacious and elegant family home. ‘The layout is what makes the house work for us because there’s room for everybody and every occasion,’ says Louise. ‘The colour scheme works beautifully, too,’ she continues. ‘Adrienne has put so much time and effort into it that you barely notice the change from one room to another – everything flows. I love the kitchen-diner and particularly the clever skylight over the dining table – for the additional light it allows in, it was definitely worth the extra cost and effort.’ In order to create a study for Louise and Ed as well as a family room, the couple decided to excavate the basement to provide the additional space. ‘There’s a wine cellar and another spare bedroom here, too,’ says Louise, ‘but it doesn’t feel at all squashed as the ceilings are a good height.’ On the ground floor, Louise’s love of striking wallpaper is evident, with one of the two cloakrooms adorned with de Gournay’s giant fish design. ‘Adrienne has created a jewellery box of colour and texture, combining the vibrant wallpaper with black tiles and a marble washbasin,’ enthuses

FAMILY ROOM

This space gets monopolised by the girls and their friends. Elis modular sofa, £8,321, The Sofa & Chair Company. Cushions designed by Adrienne Chinn Design and made by Sue Whimster Curtains, price on request

STUDY

The matching grey paintwork on the bookcase and window frames creates a suitably industrial feel. Bookcase designed by Jo Cowen, price on request, Jo Cowen Architects. Janeiro vintage desk, £540.50, Maisons du Monde

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MASTER BEDROOM

The wardrobe doors are a decorative feature in their own right. Curtains in Sibley Bronze fabric, £129m, GP&J Baker. Sophia clear table lamp, £380; gilt satin drum shade, £109, both Heathfield & Co

Louise. ‘It’s such a contrast to the rest of the ground floor and I love how such a practical space can also be funky.’ Upstairs however, is a restful interior where the bathrooms are plentiful and the bedrooms luxurious. ‘I wanted the bedrooms to be soft, calm and relaxing but with a good deal of storage for us all,’ says Louise. ‘I stole the idea for the dressing room from a friend after a visit to her house, but it was Adrienne who sourced everything from mirrors and lamps to bedside tables to complete the overall look. We worked well together because she knew from past experience what I like, such as the super-soft carpets and the Dupion silk feature wall. She’s really brought the house to life.’ It’s clear that all of the Harvey family are delighted with the decision to upsize their home but for Louise, the fact that the project was plain sailing is what’s made it all the more worthwhile. ‘I have friends who have project-managed themselves and years later they still have unfinished rooms and wires sticking out of the walls,’ she says. ‘I’m just so delighted that it’s finished and, best of all, that it’s been stress-free.’

MASTER EN SUITE

Brass fittings add elegance. Blind in de le Cuona Turtle Island Escape fabric, price on request, Sue Whimster

CLOAKROOM

Hand-painted silk wallpaper brings a jewel-like quality.

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Fishes silk wallcovering, £10,395, de Gournay

ELLA’S BEDROOM

The bubble chair combines fun with retro glamour. Eero Aarnio bubble chair, £829, Pash Classics. Napper double bed in velvet, £1,105, Loaf

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KITCHEN ‘This part of the room felt disconnected before we extended the worktop to bring the two spaces together,’ says Leanne. Bumble stools in smoked oak, £310 for two, Loaf. Flori glass pendant in brass is similar, £92 each, Rowen & Wren

BOLD MOVES

Having renovated several houses in neutral shades, Leanne Baud at last feels at home with a more dramatic palette FEATURE JANE CRITTENDEN | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH | STYLING MARISHA TAYLOR

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home truths T H E P R O P E R T Y 1930s semi-detached house L O C AT I O N Huddersfield, West Yorkshire R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen, orangery, four bedrooms (one en suite), cloakroom, bathroom P U R C H A S E D June 2016 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I renovated a two-up, two-down cottage nearby,’ says Leanne.

eanne Baud describes herself as a ‘serial renovator’ having renovated and moved five times in the past 10 years. This 1930s house is a departure from her usual taste for older properties, and although at first she felt unsure about the lack of period features in her new home, Leanne soon realised there were upsides. ‘In my previous cottage, and barn conversion before that, the rooms lacked light so I decorated using neutrals,’ she says. ‘Here, I’ve really enjoyed experimenting with dark, dramatic colours that are warm and comforting. Of all the houses I’ve lived in, this is the only one that really feels like home.’ Leanne, who works for the ambulance service, lives here with her husband, Ash, their daughter, Esmé, 1, and Leanne’s sons from a previous marriage, Oliver, 14, and Mason, 12. The move came about after Ash encountered some practical problems living in Leanne’s two-bedroom cottage. ‘Ash is 6ft 3in and struggled with the low beams and we also needed space to store all his bikes!’ says Leanne. ‘So although this house was rather bland inside, it had already been extended to the side and back and there was a double garage, which could solve the bike storage problem.’ R E I N S TAT I N G P E R I O D F E AT U R E S

Soon after moving in, Leanne, an avid follower of interiors, got started on the sitting room, opening up the fireplace and installing a woodburner, and reinstating the picture rail and coving, recording her progress on her Instagram account (@paint_paste_ prosecco). She’d already bought a charcoal grey velvet sofa and chair from Loaf and decorated the walls in Farrow & Ball’s Cornforth White. ‘I used this grey tone throughout the house as too many colours can make rooms look disjointed,’ she says. ‘As time went on, I became braver and decorated in darker shades of grey and blue with touches of pink, gold and copper in furnishings and accessories.’ The master bedroom was the first place to be decorated in a navy shade. ‘I often do a 13-hour night shift, so getting good-quality sleep is really important,’ she explains. ‘I was a bit nervous about the navy at first but it’s turned out very restful.’ The same shade also appears in the bathrooms and in the kitchen where Leanne surprised herself by KITCHEN Leanne had the desk custom-made to her design and constructed the shelf above with a waxed scaffold board and copper brackets. Desk, £799, Parker Howley. Weathered wood cut-out clock is similar, £125, Cox & Cox

SITTING ROOM The carpet was chosen once the room was finished. ‘The pattern has really warmed up the room,’ says Leanne Argyll Patriot carpet, £29.99sq m, Flooring4UK. Crumpet extra-large velvet sofa, £2,245; Crumpet velvet love seat, £1,545, both Loaf

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d e c o r at i n g t i p ‘I recommend Farrow & Ball’s Cornforth White as it looks cool and bright or warm and cosy, depending on the light’

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s t y l e t i p ‘Display shelf artwork with the biggest in the middle and work outwards and downwards in size’ choosing blue-black cupboards from a DIY shop. ‘I’d intended on having a light kitchen and painting the walls dark, but when I happened to see the door on the salesman’s desk, I knew it was right straight away,’ she says. ‘We made the kitchen look individual with copper handles and wire plate rack we sourced ourselves.’

MASTER BEDROOM ‘A dark blue wall and copper side table creates a restful mood,’ says Leanne. Walls in Hague Blue estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Orrico hammered copper bedside table, £130, Habitat

BESPOKE AND BARGAINS Leanne also mixed and matched furniture, buying investment pieces like the sofa and chair, and the bespoke vanity and kitchen desk yet Esmé’s 1930s wardrobe cost only £30. ‘Bespoke was a good option when I couldn’t find exactly what I needed,’ she says. ‘Upcycling furniture and keeping an eye on the sales meant we could stretch our budget the Crittall-style shower screen popped up in a Black Friday sale.’ The bathroom is one of Leanne’s projects where she adopted a similar shopping approach, splashing out on a mirrored wall and saving with an ex-showroom bath and basin. She went all out with the decoration, painting the walls and ceiling in charcoal. ‘By the time I started the project, I was willing to give anything a go!’ she says. ‘After all, it’s only paint, and very easy to change.’ Although Leanne and Ash still have projects to finish a loft conversion and a porch are planned this year they feel very settled here. ‘I’ve never lived anywhere for longer than two years before and I’ve never been attached to a house like I am to this one,’

says Leanne. ‘I’m pleased with the balance of colour – we’ve got brave rooms and calming spaces and I love how the house works for us all.’ MASON’S ROOM Dark walls and a brickeffect wallpaper strike the right balance in a teenager’s bedroom. Walls painted in Down Pipe estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Tanlay Red Brick wallpaper, £12 a roll, B&Q. The Zelie lampshade is similar, £35, Habitat EN SUITE Floor-to-ceiling metro tiles frame the shower with a marble cut-off for the shelf insert and patterned floor tiles for interest. Winchester Patchwork grey ceramic floor tiles, £37.25sq m, Wickes. Bespoke vanity, £450, Ashmore Spencer

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ESMÉ’S ROOM ‘Pale pink and vivid yellow are a surprisingly good combination and make Esmé’s room look bright and cheerful,’ says Leanne. Wardrobe in Yellowcake estate eggshell, £64 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Felt elephant head, £30, Trouva. Cotton ball lights, £29.95 for a string of 20, Cable & Cotton F A M I LY B AT H R O O M ‘Painting the walls and ceiling dark made this space feel bigger,’ says Leanne. Walls in Down Pipe estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Arezzo matt black grid hinged bath screen, £199.95, Victorian Plumbing

FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

home truths

T H E P R O P E R T Y Manor house built around 1770, with recent additions L O C AT I O N Cambridgeshire R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, ballroom, kitchen-diner/living area, cloakroom, utility room, boot room, five bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were in Switzerland before moving back to the UK,’ says Joli.

EXTERIOR

The beautiful 250-year-old house in the centre of a village ticked all the boxes for the family. Zinc planters, £64 set of two, Next Home, would work here

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TO THE MANOR BORN Keen to bring up their children in the country, Joli Wright and her husband Alex turned this period property into an idyllic rural home FEATURE VIVIENNE AYERS | PHOTOGRAPHY POLLY ELTES

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This flexible space, decorated with warm russet accents, is alternately used for playing, working and entertaining. Joli reupholstered the antique footstool in Kilim fabric, ÂŁ136m, Linwood. New Hampshire triple cupboard, ÂŁ795, The Dormy House, has this style

KITCHEN-DINER

A fresh white palette creates a light and airy space, with a dark wooden table and deep-grey chairs to delineate the dining zone. Cabinetry, price on request, Neptune. Henriksdal dining chairs, £70 each, Ikea. Blind in Mary linen in French Blue, £75m, Cabbages & Roses

hen Joli Wright and her husband Alex were planning to move back to the UK, they began their property search in the countryside. ‘I grew up on a farm in the Swiss mountains, just like Heidi,’ says Joli. ‘In the winter, we went to school by ski or sledge, and in summer we swam in the lakes. It was so idyllic, and Alex and I wanted a rural upbringing for our children, Oliver, Louis and Ophelia.’ Their house-hunting was focused near Cambridge, as Alex was taking over the family business in the city. ‘I looked online and spotted a potential home almost immediately,’ says Joli. ‘It was a manor house, right in the centre of a village. When I found the house, it smiled at me.’ On viewing the property, the couple’s first impressions were equally favourable. ‘It was beautiful and spacious, and the location was lovely, so it ticked all the boxes,’ says Joli. ‘It felt warm and welcoming, although the interior was rather dated. But because we were running a property and interiors company at the time, we had our own builders, so I was confident I could turn it into our dream home.’ Considerable work was required, however, and there were many hurdles to overcome. ‘Fortunately, the house wasn’t listed, because a fire 35 years earlier had destroyed a large part of it,’ says Joli. ‘But since it was located in a conservation area, planning permission was needed for some of the changes.’ Another challenge was managing the project long-distance. ‘It took eight months and I flew in

KITCHEN

The large white range cooker is the focal point of this scheme. 150 range cooker in White, £12,390, Everhot

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every three weeks to oversee things,’ says Joli. ‘Once we’d moved back to the UK, we stayed with Alex’s parent for six weeks until the work was finished.’ As well as gutting the house, renewing the wiring and plumbing and installing new bathrooms, the couple decided to reconfigure the layout. ‘We wanted to make it more practical,’ says Joli. ‘We reduced the number of bedrooms from seven to five to give ourselves more breathing space, and we also changed the use of some of the rooms. The hallway was originally a dining room, but we turned it back into a large and welcoming hallway. The kitchen had been a greenhouse with a central well, but we knocked it down and built a lovely kitchen-diner. It has a living area, too, so it’s now our main family space.’ As Joli is an interior designer by profession, she knew exactly how she wanted the interior to look. ‘Life is hectic, so we wanted a peaceful and calming palette for our home,’ she says. She combined neutral shades, elegant textiles and painted furniture with durable finishes to produce a relaxed classic scheme. ‘Practicality was at the top of our list,’ says Joli. ‘Nothing is too precious, and it’s an open house for children, grown-ups and dogs, too.’ And village life has more than lived up to expectations. ‘The children’s friends come and knock on the door and ask them to play,’ says Joli. ‘The previous owners handed us an amazing garden and we love spending time in it. This is absolutely our home and we’re very happy here.’

EN SUITE

The contemporary bath and classic chair make an elegant pairing. Picasso bath, from £1,295, Lusso, is similar. Try Sofia chair, £299, Dunelm

FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

MASTER BEDROOM

Mismatched but toning floral fabrics add layers of character. Coco double bed, £995, Loaf. Lillee lamp base, £63, Pooky, is a match

TERRACE

In summer, Joli sets the scene for relaxed alfresco entertaining. Cushions, from £40 each, Birdie Fortescue

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home truths T H E P R O P E R T Y Detached farmhouse dating from 1864 L O C AT I O N Cumbria R O O M S Sitting room, snug, library/dining room, kitchen/ breakfast room, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, design studio P U R C H A S E D 2007 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a period property in nearby Cartmel,’ says Nicola.

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DESIGN FOR LIFE

Nicola and Tony Hills’ combined talents transformed a beautiful old farmhouse into a forever home FEATURE JANET MCMEEKIN | PHOTOGRAPHY JEREMY PHILLIPS

K I TC H E N / B R E A K FA S T R O O M The couple extended this room to create a space for their growing family to gather. Fresh contemporary fabrics and a vibrant feature wall complement the period features, while a classic farmhouse table takes centre stage. Curtains in Wild and Free in Dormouse; blinds in Bird Hop in Dormouse;

both edged in Pretty Maids in Dusky Pink/Winter, all £54m, Vanessa Arbuthnott. Large Butler antiqued brass pendant light, £79.80, Jim Lawrence, would work here. Find similar farmhouse-style rush-seat bar stools at Etsy. Forecast Rockall glazed wall tiles, £1.02 each, Fired Earth, are a close match. Polka Dot large jug, £49.95, Emma Bridgewater

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SITTING ROOM Red soft furnishings and a welcoming woodburner give this space a cosy feel. Laura Ashley’s Gloucester sofa, £1,650, is similar. St David’s Cross throw, £169; cushions, £60 each, Melin Tregwynt would work well SNUG The original Rayburn is a reminder that this room was previously the kitchen. Footstool in Harris Tweed in Storm, £611; sofa in Dawn Chorus in Dusky Pink/Winter, piped in Harris Tweed in Storm, £2,270, all Vanessa Arbuthnott

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hen it comes to buying houses, first impressions count. This was certainly the case for Nicola and Tony Hills, who fell for a centuries-old farmhouse with its gnarled pitch pine front door, framed with roses and honeysuckle. ‘This was a terrific starting point for our viewing,’ says Nicola. ‘Then, stepping into the sitting room to be greeted by a huge inglenook fireplace, wooden beams and original flagstones, we were captivated.’ As Nicola and her architect husband, Tony, walked around the house, then

strolled outside to admire the gardens and magnificent rural views, the couple knew Pells Yeat Farm would be a keeper. The talented couple, who run awardwinning practice, Damson Consultancy, could see the house’s potential to be sympathetically extended as required. ‘During the viewing, we instantly hit it off with the lovely owners,’ says Nicola. ‘When they explained they were keen to spend one last Christmas in the farmhouse, we said we were happy to bide our time.’ A few months later, having sold their own home, Nicola and Tony, plus Molly,

now 23, Archie, 21, and Louie, 18, were on the move. ‘We were thrilled with our new house and gradually started putting our own stamp on it,’ says Nicola. Later that year, an opportunity suddenly arose to buy three extra acres of land, Nicola applied for a grant to create a new woodland, complete with paths leading back to the farmhouse. In 2011, after their daughter, Rosie, was born, the couple extended into an adjoining barn to create a roomy snug on the ground floor, as well as a new staircase that leads up to a stunning master bedroom and en suite. ‘When Tony and I discussed the bedroom 2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 3 5

25bh | c o u ntry d e c o r a t i n g t i p ‘Right from the outset, I wanted to give our farmhouse a modern-country feel by using colour, texture and pattern to inject depth, interest and warmth’

design, we agreed a boutique hotel feel would be perfect since, with our expanding family, the chances of impromptu weekends away were going to be rather slim,’ Nicola says. Three years later, with the arrival of Henry, now five, the pair extended again, this time into the original snug, to create a much larger kitchen. ‘We were struggling to fit everyone around the table,’ says Nicola. In 2017, when Nicola was expecting Teddy, now two, the pair embarked on the third phase of their farmhouse alterations, using the same trusted team of builders. In order to create a stylish design studio for 3 6 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

Damson Consultancy, Tony drew up plans to knock through to the original piggery. ‘What was quite a dark space is now an inspiring light-filled studio,’ says Nicola. ‘I love the combination of the old mullion windows, teamed with the new woodburning stove, high ceilings and beams.’ Throughout their home, Nicola, a garden designer, now studying interior design, has been mindful of connecting both house and garden. Working with the character and historic features of the farmhouse, she and Tony have linked the past to the present day. ‘When I was

thinking about schemes, I came across Vanessa Arbuthnott’s wallpaper, fabric and upholstery which resonated particularly well with the look I wanted to achieve,’ says Nicola. ‘I love her traditional designs in gorgeous fresh modern colours.’ Having achieved a contemporary country look throughout the house, Nicola and Tony couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. ‘It’s a fabulous home,’ says Nicola. ‘We feel so privileged to live here and be bringing our family up in such a very special place. With twins on the way this spring, it’s going to be an exciting year ahead.’

MASTER BEDROOM The striking sleigh bed stands out against a soothing soft-grey palette. Laura Ashley’s Broughton super king sleigh bed, £1,600, would work here NURSERY ‘I chose a relaxed scheme in neutral colours to help create a calming

FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

atmosphere in here,’ says Nicola. Wallpaper, Shibori in Light Pigeon, £56 a roll, Vanessa Arbuthnott MASTER EN SUITE Positioning the freestanding bath under the cross beams injects extra wow factor. BC Designs double-skinned acrylic boat, £1,480, Drench, looks similar to this one

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SECOND TIME LUCK Y FEATURE AND STYLING NAOMI JONES | PHOTOGRAPHY ROBERT SANDERSON

home truths T H E P R O P E R T Y Semidetached house, built in 1879 L O C AT I O N A suburb of Manchester R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner/living area, utility room, six bedrooms (one is used as a playroom), four bathrooms, three basement rooms P U R C H A S E D 2016 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in the city centre for nine years in a duplex apartment before moving to a Victorian house in the suburbs in 2011,’ says Karen.

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After missing out on her dream home, Karen Jones Russell didn’t waste any time securing an identical place

LIVING AREA

The cool north-facing room enjoys diffused light all day long. HK Living retro ochre sofa, from £1,480, Woo Design. Afaw Berber-style rug, from £90, La Redoute. Rattan hanging chair, £229, Folk Interiors. Olympia hair pin table, £69, Cult Furniture, is similar

GARDEN

Karen has created an inviting outdoor area. Grey wicker chairs, £109.93 each, Nobis Restaurant Furniture, are similar. Cozy Living Copenhagen linen cushions, £42 each, Folk Interiors

SITTING ROOM

Luscious plants and an olive tree bring this space to life. Try the Max Chesterfield, £899, SLF24. House Doctor Molecular ceiling light, £195, Nordic Nest

25bh | tow n Favourite room â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We love how the living area flows into the garden. It feels calm and grown-up enough for us to enjoy when the kids are in bedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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SITTING ROOM

Karen enjoys snatched moments reading in this relaxed, plant-filled corner. Bethesda armchair and matching footstool, £244.99, Wayfair, recreates this look. Berea glass and black metal side table, £88, Maisons du Monde, is similar

KITCHEN

With simple white units, this area feels fresh and light. German kitchen, from £12,000, Illya Kitchens. House Doctor illustrations with frames, £57 each, Folk Interiors

DINING AREA

An oversized pendant above the table defines the space. Normann Copenhagen bell pendant, from £240, Made in Design. Radius extending dining table, £1,200, Habitat. Malu Kubu wicker chairs, £299 for two, La Redoute

here’s a photo that pops up on my Facebook Memories every year,’ says Karen Jones Russell. ‘It’s the hallway of an amazing location house that I saw 10 years ago. I had simply written, “I wish this was my house”. Fast forward a decade and my hallway is uncannily similar…’ Karen, a fashion director, stylist and co-owner of creative agency representedby. me, and her partner, Samuel Moore, thought they’d found their dream home back in 2014. ‘The property was twice the size of our house plus, it was on a lovely street only a stone’s throw away from where we lived,’ says Karen. ‘And thanks to its

generous proportions and rear extension, it offered the potential for us to hire it out as a location for film and photography shoots.’ Unfortunately, Karen and Samuel were outbid; but amazingly, two years later, the same agent called to say that the adjoining house had become available. ‘He explained that it had been extended to mirror the house next door, so I told him to consider it sold,’ says Karen.‘I was six months pregnant with our second child so I was determined not to miss out again, even if we had to stretch our finances to their limits!’ A couple of months later, the couple moved in with their then five-year-old daughter, Coco, little over a week before her

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COCO’S BEDROOM

This room is feminine without being too girlie. Liewood Enzo canopy, £96; Lab Boutique duvet and pillow set, from £95, all Folk Interiors. Similar Birch wallpaper, £10.99 a roll, Wayfair

BODHI’S BEDROOM

A stylised painted mountain is echoed in the geometric rug. Maroko rug, £65.90, Tapiso. Play mat by Noe & Zoe, £59, Millymog. Play Pouch toy bag, £27, amazon.co.uk

MASTER BEDROOM

brother Bodhi arrived. Knowing that she would have very little time once the baby was born, Karen couldn’t resist getting to work with a paintbrush. Along with Samuel, she stripped and whitewashed the entire house. With a blank canvas to work with, Karen was able to think more clearly. She gradually went through the house, choosing colours from a palette of off-whites and soft greys to form the perfect backdrop for her interior style, which she describes as ‘Scandi mid-century meets Californian boho, with a touch of sentimental thrift!’ During the renovation, Karen and Samuel discovered some unexpected ‘hidden’ jobs that needed to be done, in 4 2 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

particular the wiring, the drains, and the windows. ‘We love the finish on our Ventrolla-refurbished sash windows; it was an unfortunate expense we could have done without, but you are always going to have these surprises with old houses!’ says Karen. Having dealt with the quirks of the house over the last four years, the couple have no doubts that moving here was the right decision. ‘It is giving us all we ever wanted – space for the children to grow and a way for me to have a better work-life balance,’ says Karen. ‘I even get to combine work and home if I can book this as the location for one of my fashion shoots – then I definitely have the best of both worlds!’ FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

TO BOOK THE HOUSE FOR A LOCATION SHOOT, VISIT CHORLTONHOUSE. CO.UK OR FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM @CHORLTONHOUSE

Natural textures and colourful bed linen create an eye-catching scheme. Slowdown Studio bed throw, from £245, WA Green. Broste Copenhagen quilted cushions, £69 each, Folk Interiors. Custom star print, £85, The Night Sky

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The Art of Window Styling

V I E W T O H A L LWAY The beautiful smoked oak parquet runs through the hallway, the sitting room and the dining space. Fendi engineered oak herringbone flooring, Â£102sq m, Havwoods

Room to grow

For the past 25 years, Debbie Hawkes and her husband Nick have carefully reshaped and reworked their home to keep pace with their growing family FEATURE MARISHA TAYLOR | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH

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home truths THE PROPERTY Mid-terrace built in 1885 L O C AT I O N London R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen-diner, family room, utility room, five bedrooms, two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 1995 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a small Edwardian terrace nearby,’ says Debbie.

DINING ROOM ‘We like to use this room as a showcase for displaying objects, flowers, decorations or whatever we feel like showing off!’ says Debbie. Calligaris Duca table, £2,474, Stocktons. Vitra DSR chairs, £255 each, The Conran Shop. Large Victorian ballet school mirror, £3,500, M Goldstein

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SITTING ROOM ‘We gravitate towards mid-century design classics, mixed with contemporary and vintage pieces for an eclectic, layered look,’ says Debbie. Barcelona Relax chair (below), £5,556; Elsa sofa, £6,020, both The Conran Shop. Base floor lamp, £925, Tom Dixon

KITCHEN-DINER Industrial and luxury come together harmoniously in this redesigned space. Urbo kitchen with splashback in Linen Finish Nero Assoluto stone, price on request, Roundhouse

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ver the course of 25 years, Debbie Hawkes and her husband Nick have seen their home near Clapham Common evolve as their family has grown. The house they bought as a young couple has been continually remodelled to suit their needs as they raised Poppy, 22, Kitty, 20, and Archie, 13. ‘When we bought the property,’ recalls Debbie, ‘we both worked in marketing and were enjoying our life as a young couple in London. We had no idea at the time that the area was known locally as “Nappy Valley”. Without realising it, we had found the ideal location when it came to starting our own family a few years later.’

Scope to expand The property had been well maintained but was dated, with avocado bathrooms and an outside loo. However, the couple could instantly see the potential with scope to extend out and up, and the added bonus of a cellar and a good-sized garden. ‘We decorated from top to bottom and have redecorated countless times since,’ says Debbie. ‘Our home has simply expanded with our growing family and suited our needs at every stage.’ Over time the couple have extended into the side return, done a loft conversion, changed the kitchen four times, and two years ago they embarked on their most ambitious project to date – a basement dig and a complete reworking of the ground floor. ‘Nick and I were very specific about what we wanted to create,’ says Debbie. ‘We had lots of involvement in the project from the start, liaising with

our wonderful architect, Henrietta Hayward, our builders, PVA Developments and the kitchen designers at Roundhouse. ‘We stayed in the house for the whole process much to the dismay of the builders. Everything went into storage, and we spent 10 months being continually moved around, with an everreducing kitchen until we were left with only a microwave and kettle on the floor of a bedroom.’

MASTER BEDROOM A painting that Debbie and Nick found in a gallery in Norfolk inspired the colour scheme. Sophie bed, £3,900, Love Your Home. Bedside lamp, £135, Original BTC. Vitra Corniche shelves, from £47 each, The Conran Shop

Modern living

The basement renovation has had the biggest impact, giving the family a large living/TV area, a utility room and a cloakroom. On the ground floor the dining room now sits next to the sitting room, with the two spaces flowing effortlessly thanks to beautiful steelframed doors. The sleek, modern feel continues through into the kitchen. ‘We wanted it to have an industrial aesthetic, with luxurious but functional finishes,’ says Debbie. Being involved in this project and watching her designs for the house come to fruition over the years has been the catalyst for Debbie to start her own interior design practice, Studio Ogee, with friend and business partner Nicoline Sandwith. ‘It’s wonderful to now be able to bring my passion for interiors to other people’s homes,’ says Debbie. It hasn’t stopped on the home front either, with Debbie and Nick continually tweaking the decor. ‘London is a great source of influence and we still feel lucky living here, enjoying everything it has to offer,’ says Debbie. ‘Our home reflect us – it tells the story of our family life over 25 happy years.’

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B AT H R O O M The orange stool adds a fun splash of colour to this chic space. Offcut stool, £250, Tom Dixon. Pebble Beach floor tiles, £50 each, Fired Earth

LIGHT FANTASTIC Elena Corner’s bright apartment, in a historic palace, has been brought to life with vibrant colours, fabrics and art, all inspired by her love of Venice FEATURE KAREN JENSEN-JONES | PHOTOGRAPHY MARIA TERESA FURNARI/LIVING INSIDE

SITTING ROOM Fine antiques sit effortlessly alongside contemporary pieces in Elena’s eclectic living space. Charles sofa, price on request, B&B Italia. For a similar 1950s chandelier, try Decaso. Turkish rug, from £1,000, Rug Store, has this look

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c it y | 25bh DINING ROOM Colour is everywhere, even in the small detail of the Venetian glassware in the antique display cabinet (below). Tense Diamond glossy red table, price on request, MDF Italia. Louis XVI display cabinet, £3,950, Pamono

home truths THE PROPERTY Apartment in an 18th-century palace L O C AT I O N Milan P U R C H A S E D 2005 R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, two bathrooms PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I lived at my family’s 18th-century palace in Padova,’ says Elena.

he unique home of fashion designer Elena Corner is surrounded by colour. Growing up, she was inspired by her family’s knitwear factory in nearby Venice and she has always had a strong passion for colour, texture and art. ‘Light is the most important thing to create colours for me,’ explains Elena. ‘I live and think a colourful life, so my home is a true reflection of myself.’ The apartment, in a beautiful historic 18th-century palace in central Milan, where Elena lives with her 14-year-old son, Pietro, has a simple layout and was bought by Elena specifically for the wonderful light. ‘I chose the apartment for its continuous sun exposure,’ she explains. ‘I work at home so I need to feel inspired and it’s in the dining room, surrounded by colour, where I usually design,’ she reveals. Every corner of the apartment has its own identity, from the dusty pastels of the sitting room to the warmth of the ruby table in the dining room. ‘The sitting room has all the shades of the Venetian lagoon and takes me back to my childhood, while the dining room is dominated by the light mint walls,’ explains Elena. ‘My bedroom is turquoise and aquamarine to remind me of Sardinia and these colours are very relaxing.’ Everything in the apartment is personally chosen by Elena, which is 2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 4 9

25bh | c it y KITCHEN Elena gave her simply curated kitchen a dramatic twist by displaying her exquisite 18th-century French plates. For similar stainless steel kitchen units, from £337 for a base unit, try Cavendish Equipment

MASTER BEDROOM Another room full of small details where a female figure by one of Elena’s favourite artists hangs above the unfussy bed. Female figure painting by Silvia Patrono, price on request, Celeste. Try Antiques Atlas for a similar Venetian mirror in gold leaf

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favo u r i t e r o o m ‘I love every space in my apartment but the light in the dining room where I work is so fantastic and it’s where I spend most of my time’

why her home feels so unique. Antique furniture and contemporary design are contrasting combinations that Elena is drawn to. ‘Mixing antiques alongside 1950s design and contemporary styles makes my home more interesting and thoughtful,’ she says. ‘I especially enjoy making pieces work together if they’re considered unlikely partners.’ Elena has gathered many things over the years from family homes, her extensive travels and from flea markets. ‘I like to buy at Porte de Vanves in Paris, which is an excellent market for small objects, and the Navigli market in Milan where you can find interesting vases,’ she says. ‘And of course, I have always collected art.’ Elena’s love of art in the female form includes paintings, statues and photographs and they are evident in every room in her spacious apartment. ‘I have the most incredible females in my life and I am drawn to images of the female form as they radiate such energy,’ she explains. ‘I call them my guardian angels and you will find them everywhere in my home.’ As well as art, Elena’s inspiration comes from her family and her love of Venice. ‘My ancestors were merchants of fabrics and I have inherited a passion for beautiful pattern and texture,’ she reveals. ‘I renovate sofas and armchairs and make pillows from the many beautiful fabrics I cannot resist buying.’ This unique and unusual home is a beautiful reflection of Elena’s heritage and is testament to her creative talent. ‘I am Venetian through and through and I love everything from the vintage glasses of Venini to the grand paintings of Venice. I adore the colours and craftsmanship and even though I enjoy living in Milan, I will always bring a little bit of the Veneto with me.’ FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

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BEDROOMS

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Recipe for SUCCESS

This Brooklyn house had all the ingredients that food writer Julia Sherman and her husband Adam were looking for FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL | PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL DE PASQUALE AND MARTINA MAFFINI/LIVING INSIDE

GARDEN

This secluded space at the back of the house comes into its own in summer. Yellow chair (on balcony), £54 a pair, Maisons du Monde

DINING AREA

‘I painted the walls pale grey for a calming effect,’ says Julia. Walls in Beachcomb Grey diamond matt, £42.84 for 2.5ltr, Dulux. The Jerry stool, £335, Finnish Design Shop, would suit this scheme

home truths THE PROPERTY Brownstone terrace built in 1890 L O C AT I O N New York R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, dining area, kitchen, cloakroom, two bedrooms, bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2011 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we rented an apartment elsewhere in New York,’ says Julia.

KITCHEN

The library ladder is attractive and practical. Rolling ladder, £375, Ladderstore, is similar. For Moroccan ceramic wall tiles, try Otto Tiles & Design

property with character, in the part of New York where most of their friends lived: this 1890s Brooklyn brownstone fulfilled both criteria for Julia Sherman and her husband, Adam Katz. But it took a leap of the imagination to visualise how the derelict house could be transformed. ‘The fact that it was a wreck partly worked in our favour,’ says Julie. ‘It had been neglected in such a big way that all its original features remained.’ As well as renovating, the couple reconfigured the layout, placing the bedrooms at garden level and the sitting room above, with the top two floors rented out. The kitchen demanded the most attention, not only as the hub of the home, but because it is where Julia develops recipes for her blogsite @saladforpresident. The practical aspects came first: Carrara marble worktops, a large island and a hanging rack above it for pots and pans. The fitted units are bespoke, but they presented their own problem. ‘The ceilings here are so high that I couldn’t reach the upper cabinets without clambering on the worktops,’ Julie says. ‘So we found and restored an old library ladder, which proved the perfect solution.’ Next came the decor. ‘I love colour, but Adam prefers minimalist schemes, so I chose the well-established pairing of yellow and blue,’ says Julia. This is particularly striking on one of her favourite features, the arched splashback. ‘The 2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 5 3

SITTING ROOM

The floor-to-ceiling windows and intricate cornicing are original features that drew Julia and Adam to this house. The Karson three-seater sofa, £599, Made, is a match. For Aztec throws, £60.50, try CafePress

BATHROOM

Textured tiles and lots of greenery bring this monochrome scheme to life. Butler & Rose Victoria shower head, £79.98, Drench, is a similar style

Moroccan mosaic tiles we wanted to use here were crazy expensive,’ she says. ‘Believe it or not, it was cheaper to buy plain tiles and have them hand painted.’ The calm, considered feel of the house belies the fact that, according to Julia, ‘the decorating was not a streamlined process, but more a case of figuring it out as we went along. So many of our items were recycled and bought from salvage yards or on the internet – everything from appliances to doorknobs.’ Hand-me-downs here and there also add personality, among them the ornate chandelier in the sitting room, which belonged to Julia’s mother. The couple love the space in their bedroom but admit that it turned out larger than intended. ‘We’d prefer to have divided up the room, but the central position of fireplace prevented us from putting in a wall,’ says Julia. Indeed the fireplaces throughout are among their favourite original features. Perhaps the area that best sums up the sociability of this house is the garden with its dining and chill-out areas. ‘It reflects our neighbourhood – small and intimate, quiet yet urban,’ says Julia. The couple, who now have a one-year-old daughter, Red, feel justifiably proud of their home. ‘It was created with whatever came into my world, whatever “spoke” to me,’ says Julia, ‘and maybe that relaxed approach is why it’s such a welcoming place.’ 5 4 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

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A dark wooden bed was chosen to match the original flooring. Try the Malabar Contemporary bed in walnut, £1,655 for a double, Natural Bed Company. Hanging mirror, £3,462, Anna Karlin

d e s i g n a d v i c e ‘Take pleasure in collecting furniture and creating a decor that’s meaningful to you – a house should tell a million stories’ BEDROOM

The foldaway bed is the perfect solution for this multipurpose room. For similar beds, price on request, try Wallbed. For Afghan wedding blankets like this, from £200, try Etsy

FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

GOOD

vibrations

home truths THE PROPERTY Detached house built in the 1920s L O C AT I O N Torquay, Devon R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner, four bedrooms, two bathrooms B O U G H T I N 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We rented a modern flat just down the road,’ says Antonia.

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Despite their initial reservations, Antonia and Sam Kiddy have turned a 1970s relic into a relaxed family home they love FEATURE MARISHA TAYLOR | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH

c oa s ta l | 25bh DINING AREA

Bohemian style filters through the sun-kissed tones, rattan pieces and the wall-mounted surfboard. Sinnerlig pendant lamp, £40, Ikea. Ash bistro chairs, £155 each, Graham and Green

KITCHEN-DINER

A kitchen island replaced the original wall and divides the two open spaces. For similar pendants, try the Brooklyn flat pendant light in Brass, £69 each, Industville

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25bh | c oa s ta l 1 DINING AREA ‘We inherited the piano from a friend, which I painted pink to make it into a feature,’ says Antonia. ‘It’s completely out of tune and acts as more of a giant plant stand but we love it.’ Piano painted in Rust-Oleum Coral chalk paint, £15 for 750ml, Homebase. Small porthole mirror, £59, Graham and Green, has this look 2 & 3 KITCHEN Open shelving and mixed patterns and textures make for a stunning scheme. Tewkesbury kitchen units, price on request, Howdens. Astini Belfast ceramic sink and Colonial tap, £199, amazon.co.uk. Retazo Mexican tiles, £36 for a set of 36, Caoba

4 SITTING ROOM Antonia mixes second-hand pre-loved furniture with new pieces to add character. Scott four-seater in Gold velvet, £1,799, Made. Karma raw-edge cushion in Black, £138, F&P Interiors

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t wasn’t exactly love at first sight when Antonia Kiddy and her husband Sam first visited their 1920s home in Torquay. ‘When we first viewed this property, it resembled a 1970s sitcom,’ recalls Antonia, owner of children’s brand, Wolf & Bear Kids. ‘The walls were covered in flocked, shiny peach wallpaper, there was a sea of pink shagpile carpet, Artex covered every ceiling and there were sinks in every room.’ The kitchen was also small, dark and cut off from the rest of the house, and it took the couple a fair amount of vision to see beyond the horror. ‘On the plus side, the property was in a great location, close to

the sea and directly opposite Sam’s wholesale fishing business,’ says Antonia. So, looking beyond the decor and with a deep breath, the couple decided to take the plunge. ‘It was daunting when we picked up the keys from the estate agents. We had a big project on our hands and every room needed tackling,’ says Antonia. The couple were lucky to have help from Antonia’s uncle Paul who runs his own building business, Paul Forbes Construction, and her mother, Lisa, who helped peel off flocked wallpaper and rip up carpet. ‘A highlight was discovering beautiful floorboards under the carpet, which were sanded and stained. The

SITTING ROOM

‘I find a white room gives you much more colour freedom and I love how the space feels with lots of plants and natural wood,’ says Antonia. Afaw XXL Berber-style rug, £399, La Redoute. Try the Chopwell coffee table in Walnut, £165, Funky Chunky Furniture, for a similar look

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MASTER BEDROOM

‘We found this hammock on our honeymoon in Nicaragua. I love collecting things from our travels – they tell our story,’ says Antonia. The Thana hammock, £29, Sklum, has a similar look. Chillan cushion cover, £14, La Redoute, is a close match

Favourite Item ‘The hammock in our bedroom – the boys love to mess around in it and it fills me with joy’

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1 & 2 BATHROOM In contrast to the rest of the house, Antonia has made a bold statement in here. Walls in Black Blue estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Pray for Surf print, from £4.49, Etsy. Retro black feature floor tiles, £23.78sq m, Tiles Direct

1 2 natural wood became the basis of the look for the rest of house,’ says Antonia. Knocking through from the kitchen into the dining room was the next project. ‘We often have friends and family round and as the kitchen is the place people naturally gravitate to, it made sense to open up the spaces,’ says Antonia. ‘I was pregnant with Solomon, now six, by this time and it was pretty chaotic living through the work, but the knock-through really did make the world of difference.’ Antonia and Sam refitted the kitchen with simple white units but brought colour and quirkiness into the space with Mexican tiles. ‘We have a big table in the

dining area with bar stools at the island,’ says Antonia. ‘It’s a multifunctional space that we can all enjoy, and it feels like it has always been part of the house.’ Life with Solomon and his younger brother Atlas, now four, is very busy, and Antonia feels it’s more important than ever to have fun with her home. So unsurprisingly her bohemian style has permeated throughout the house. ‘We travel a lot and Sam is surfing mad, so these influences can be seen throughout,’ she says. ‘It’s a very relaxed and lived-in home, filled with all the things we enjoy. It might not have been love at first sight but we couldn’t be happier with it now.’

3 BOYS’ BEDROOM Mixing styles and patterns has made a colourful and characterful space. Mydal bunk bed, £115, Ikea, is similar. Jerrold shag black/white rug, £51.99, Wayfair, is a close match

4 MASTER BEDROOM Antonia has created a relaxed style with a soft colour palette and natural textures. Kline side table, £51, World Menagerie at Wayfair, is similar. Lunar stripe linen kingsize duvet cover, £170; Lunar stripe linen pillowcases, £36 for two, both Piglet in Bed 5 MASTER BEDROOM A simple bench made from reclaimed wood has been built into the alcove. With big geometric cushions, it’s the perfect spot to sit and reflect. Bespoke bench, made from plywood. Johanne cushion covers, £10 each, Ikea

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home truths THE PROPERTY Farmhouse built in 1840 L O C AT I O N The Netherlands R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, snug, dining room, kitchen-diner, studio, cloakroom, three bedrooms, bathroom P U R C H A S E D 1983 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We had a semi-detached house further north,’ says Wil.

NATURAL CHOICE

Wil and Bertus Aldershof discovered a 19th-century farm in the Dutch countryside with so much charm it sold itself FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL | STYLING MONIQUE VAN DER PAUW PHOTOGRAPHY TON BOUWER/COCOFEATURES.COM

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STUDIO Artist Wil has filled her home with pieces of her work. The couple also offer B&B at the farmhouse; visit smidse-voorstonden.nl for details. The Mabef M10 studio easel is similar, £139.95, Cass Art. The Artisan stool, £142, CFS, has a similar look

SITTING ROOM The sofa has been positioned to make the most of the views across the meadow. Try the Milano sofa, £1,099, Oak Furniture Superstore. Eames DAR armchair, £355, The Conran Shop. Dunelm has large paper pendants, £3 each. Flos Archimoon K desk lamp, £388, Harrogate Interiors

2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 6 3

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H A L LWAY ‘I never sell my paintings, I prefer to give them as presents,’ says Wil. Walls painted in St Giles Blue and Wevet modern emulsion, both £49.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

KITCHEN-DINER A large shelving unit filled with china contrasts with the bright-green wall behind it in the breakfast area. Wall in Arlington Green, £71 for 3.79ltr, Benjamin Moore. Try enamel pendant, £199, Vintage Electrical. Eames DAR armchairs, £355 each, The Conran Shop

6 4 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

DINING ROOM ‘Combining old and new furniture creates interesting results,’ says Wil. Try the extendable dining table, £460, Mikado Living at Wayfair. Tolix chair, £211, Made in Design. DKR wire chair, £318, The Conran Shop. Zettel’s 5 suspension lamp, £756, Ambiente Direct

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MASTER BEDROOM Vivid shades of blue and green continue in this space, creating rich character. Ultra Blue absolute matt emulsion, £51.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene, would work here. Tribeca Staple wall light, £180, Søren Rose Studio for Menu at Nest

or Wil and Bertus Aldershof being relocated for work to a different part of the Netherlands was a major move, but an exciting one. For a year they lived in rental accommodation, biding their time and waiting for their ideal property to reveal itself until, suddenly, they heard that a 200-year-old farmhouse within a beautiful nature reserve had just come up for sale. ‘We went ahead and bought it knowing there would be modifications to make, such as improving the staircase leading to the first floor, creating a bedroom for our son Ardan, aged seven at the time, and also installing a wood burner in the sitting room,’ says Wil. TRUE COLOURS

The surroundings proved ideal for them – being near a forest meant that the family were able to enjoy long country walks with their dogs – but it would take a while for the interior of the house to give them as much pleasure. ‘Inside, it was quite dark and all the woodwork was painted in a deep red,’ says Wil. ‘We agreed there was only one thing to do – we painted the whole space white and the effect was amazing. We felt like we had revealed the house’s soul.’ Creating the proverbial blank canvas meant they could then start slowly reintroducing colour. ‘When decorating, I think about contrast, which is important for creating a surprising and personal interior,’ says Wil. ‘I love contrasts,

6 6 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

as they emphasise the relative strength of each element.’ From its all-white beginnings, the interior is now anything but monotone. ‘I often use green and blue together as it creates a strong look and adds personality to a room,’ says Wil. ORIGINAL INSIGHT

When it came to finding inspiration for the colour scheme, Wil gleaned ideas from many sources – interiors magazines, design fairs and the homes of friends. ‘Most importantly, though, we always listened to the house itself,’ she says. ‘It has many beautiful original features like old beams, niches and windows – these all help dictate how we present the interior.’ The pair were especially keen to preserve the original character of the building by retaining its traditional features, notably the wooden cladding, beams and doors as well as the original clay tiles in the hallway. ‘It’s a wonderful place to live – the rooms are big enough while still being cosy,’ says Wil, who is an artist. ‘And it is versatile – when we have gatherings, my studio easily transforms into a large entertaining space.’ The Aldershofs say their friends love the transformation, too. ‘We often hear that this place has an almost Zen feeling,’ says Wil. But she doesn’t claim the credit. ‘My great luck is that Bertus has always given me a free hand in decorating the place. He always says that he fell in love with me because of my good taste,’ she says, with tongue firmly in cheek. ‘Needless to say, I remind him of this when necessary!’ FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

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ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Simple furnishings, white walls and colourful artwork give Emma Cleine’s coastal home its unique identity FEATURE JULIET BENNING | PHOTOGRAPHY ARMELLE HABIB/LIVING INSIDE

SITTING ROOM

Emma’s own indigo textiles and artwork add a rich and vibrant touch. Oliver Sheesham coffee table, £449, Tikamoon would work here. Husk armchair, £2,720, B&B Italia at Innes

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KITCHEN

The table suits the long rectangular shape of this space and is the focal point of Emma’s art workshops. Albion pendant light in enamel, £85, Garden Trading, is similar

DINING AREA

Leather upholstered banquette seating provides a cosy corner for meals. Find similar Bauhaus design chairs on 1st dibs. Oakley smoked oak table, £400, Perch & Parrow is a good match. Sinnerlig pendant, £40, Ikea

home truths THE PROPERTY Detached 1940s coastal property L O C AT I O N Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne, Australia R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen, playroom, five bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2010 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in much smaller house in the same area,’ says Emma.

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KITCHEN

White walls and pale wood give a clean, breezy feel that fits the seaside location, allowing the stunning view over the bay to take precedence. Industrial-style chairs made by Mark; find similar on Scaramanga. For an extra-long kitchen table try Perch & Parrow’s extending oak dining table, £620

hen a friend told Emma Cleine about the 1940s coastal property for sale on a hill in Mornington Peninsula she suspected it could be the perfect location from which to diversify and grow her art practice. ‘The house has a view of the beach and a lighthouse,’ she enthuses. Having lived in the region all her life, the short-distance move for Emma, her carpenter husband Mark, and their two

boys, Lenny, 9, and Beau, 5, was relatively undisruptive. The plan was to renovate and expand their new home for Emma to use for her professional practice as a printmaker and artist. ‘Her business, Lumiere Art & Co, produces artworks and accessories with stockists all over Australia. ‘I’ve always been keen to share my knowledge, so I wanted to offer workshops from my home,’ she says. But before going ahead with the business plan, the couple spent two years renovating

the property. ‘It was a simple house with a large kitchen and dining area but had pokey rooms,’ Emma explains. We added the master bedroom and sitting room as well as renovating the kitchen and bathrooms. The pair found a local architect who understood the coastal location, as well as the materials to suit its period feel. ‘It’s one of the oldest houses in the area,’ Emma says. The kitchen, with its antique table stretching the length of the space, is central 2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 7 1

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Exuberant colours in the artwork and furnishings create vibrant and upbeat spaces. Pink throw, from A$299, Lumiere Art & Co. Shaggy rug in Gobi Beige, £320, Benuta, looks similar

Black fittings make a striking statement. Arezzo matt black wall-mounted mixer tap, £170, Victorian Plumbing

MASTER BEDROOM

A wall-hung leather headboard dresses up a simple bed base. Try Etsy for similar headboards. Tray coffee table, £139, Made in Design, would work here

l e s s o n l e a r n t ‘It’s good to take things slowly and live in your home first so you can understand the way the seasons affect the light’

to the artistic activities of the house. It’s here that Emma teaches her workshops and where students can enjoy the splendid view. ‘We don’t often eat around the long table, but we do use it for food preparation,’ she explains. Instead, the family gather at the round table in the cosy window nook. ‘It’s the most beautiful place to sit any time of day and having a round table makes it feel very inclusive,’ says Emma. The new sitting room is below the main house and accessed 7 2 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

down some steps. ‘This gives it a cosy feel with the exposed rafters bringing a lovely sense of spaciousness,’ she says. Taking inspiration from the landscape, Emma loves being able to watch the changing weather from her hilltop vantage point and the interior is always shifting in its identity. ‘I work in a seasonal way but I never pay attention to trends,’ she says. Much of the furniture and fittings in the house have been made by Mark. ‘His

furniture is simple without decoration. It has an industrial aesthetic and is built to last,’ Emma says. His contributions include the retro-looking kitchen chairs, steel pendant lights and side tables. Alongside these, Emma’s carefully curated palette of turquoise, pink and indigo blue bring a joyful vibrancy in contrast to functional simple furnishings. Ever changing, like the coastal landscape outside, this house is a marvel of colour and artistic expression. FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

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BACK TO BLACK

Expect the unexpected at Big Bathroom Shop, where a passion for dark drama is bringing striking fittings and deeply desirable accessories into sharp focus

ive in and enjoy the untold treasures of a black-themed bathroom. Used on taps and fixtures or in dramatic bold swathes on floors and walls, this colour is sophisticated, grown-up, even moody. When teamed with pristine white or cream ceramics it has all the polish and brilliance of the art-deco era. And the merest touches will introduce definition to a scheme. Click on Big Bathroom Shop’s Black collection to search for inspirational ideas and exceptional fittings.

MAKE IT MODERN

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A contemporary bathroom or cloakroom focuses on clean lines and minimal shapes. At Big Bathroom Shop, the sleek Milano Barq walk-in shower enclosure has a black grid pattern, encapsulating the industrial trend. Team it with the urban Milano Nero circular overhead shower, a pencil-slim hand shower and a discreet black thermostatic valve, then keep the modernist theme on track with a chic countertop basin and a statement wall-mounted mixer tap. U P DAT E A C L A S S I C

Bring black into a traditional scheme to give it a contemporary edge. For the ultimate luxurious soak, choose the Milano Nero freestanding slipper bath. And in a new take on classic pillar taps, the Milano Elizabeth range comes with black lever handles and a co-ordinating chrome and black exposed shower valve is available. To complete your room, Big Bathroom Shop stocks everything from heated towel rails to black robe hooks and even black flush plates for the loo.

Milano Barq shower enclosure, from £354.99; Milano Nero thermostatic shower, £389.99, both Big Bathroom Shop

Milano Irwell basin, £41.99; Milano Nero tap, £144.99; Milano Nero basin bottle trap, £39.99, all Big Bathroom Shop

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FIND OUT MORE… Visit bigbathroomshop.co.uk for inspiration or call 0345 122 7569. Instagram @big_bathroom_shop 2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 7 3

Creative spirit This elegant, inviting period townhouse is a showcase and studio for Sarah Jane Humphrey’s delicate botanical artwork FEATURE KATHERINE SORRELL | PHOTOGRAPHY ANYA RICE/GAP INTERIORS

home truths DINING ROOM Botanical illustrations by Sarah Jane are a defining feature of this relaxing scheme. Illustrations and prints, Sarah Jane Humphrey. Similar wooden frames, Ontario frames in White, from £15 each, Habitat

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THE PROPERTY Mid-terraced Edwardian house L O C AT I O N Cornwall R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, living room, dining room, kitchen-diner, five bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom, studio P U R C H A S E D 2008 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a four-bedroom house in Falmouth,’ says Sarah Jane.

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SITTING ROOM Period features here are complemented by carefully chosen contemporary pieces. Antique Gold Sunburst mirror, £190, The Forest & Co, is a match. Savoy Silver rectangular block coffee table, £1,355, Lee Longlands, has this style

arah Jane Humphrey’s botanical illustrations have been described as Victorian stylisation with a 21stcentury aesthetic. The same could almost be said of her grand Edwardian house, a few streets from the beaches of Falmouth, where she lives with children, Harvey, Isla and Freddie, and partner, Jon. Sarah Jane bought the house almost 12 years ago, moving across town from a similar property with a much smaller garden. She wanted more space and the previous owner, who was downsizing, fell in love with her

house – so they swapped. ‘This house felt so airy and spacious, and the original room proportions were intact,’ says Sarah Jane. ‘It was very plain, and I could see it had buckets of potential, though I distinctly remember walking in for the first time and thinking it would be one awfully big project!’ And she was right. Over the years, Sarah Jane has taken more or less every room back to its bare bones, removing blown plaster from walls and lath-and-plaster ceilings, and replacing mantelpieces with ones in locally cut stone. One of her first steps was

KITCHEN Cream cabinetry and a slate-look floor create a modern-country feel. Walls in Skimming Stone estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. For similar gloss units, try Wickes

to rip out the kitchen and renovate with cream gloss cabinets and a slate-effect floor. A Rayburn was also installed in place of an old Cornish range that was beyond repair. A wall between the bathroom and another small room was knocked down to create a family bathroom with a walk-in shower and roll-top bath. And on the first floor, the master bedroom was reconfigured to create enough space to add an en-suite shower room and built-in wardrobes. ‘As with all period properties, there have been some frustrating times,’ says

STUDIO Plenty of natural wood brings warmth to Sarah Jane’s artist’s space. Bekvam stool, £20, Ikea, is a match

25bh | c oa s ta l MASTER BEDROOM Soft textures create a tranquil ambience in this bright space. Antoinette bed, from £1,095, Loaf, has a similar look

Sarah Jane. ‘Probably the worst was fixing a leak on the landing only to find that a structural joist was rotten which, in turn, had rotted the window frame and another beam in the cloakroom below. That turned into a very expensive project.’ When it came to choosing paint colours, Sarah Jane opted to reflect the location with shades of the sky and sea. ‘I bought tester pots and tried them on several walls before taking the plunge,’ she says. ‘It’s amazing how one colour can vary in different lights. I also like natural textures, so I’ve got lots of

seagrass and wool, wood and granite. Some of my shelves have even been hand-crafted using driftwood from the local beach.’ Sarah Jane’s recipe for mixing old with new and handmade ensures a very relaxed feel. ‘I’ve bought lots of furnishings from house clearances and upcycled them,’ she says. ‘The sideboard in my studio is an original G Plan that I sanded and painted. In each bedroom there’s a chair that I’ve reupholstered, and I’ve made the Roman blinds. I source many bits and pieces in France, when I go to visit my parents, and

B AT H R O O M A cosy chair by the fire adds extra comfort. Sea holly print, £85, Sarah Jane Humphrey

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the house is also decorated with my own artwork and cushions, most of which have been inspired by coastal botanicals.’ This all adds up to a home and location that the whole family loves. In summer, when not lounging in the garden, they enjoy sailing, paddle-boarding and sea swimming; in winter, they love coming back from a coastal walk and lighting the fire in the sitting room. ‘Jon and I happily indulge in a dip in the sea all year round,’ says Sarah Jane. ‘And the house always feels so warm and cosy, even when storms are blowing in.’

I S L A’ S R O O M Voile and ditsy floral fabrics bring fairytale charm. Hemnes day bed, £240, Ikea. Liberty Print quilt in Betsy in Pink, from £78, Poppy and Honesty

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Rising to the CHALLENGE

Unable to sell his old family home, Rupert Davies and his wife Sophie made the brave decision to take on the dilapidated country houseâ&#x20AC;¦ with impressive results FEATURE MAGGIE COLVIN | PHOTOGRAPHY ROBERT SANDERSON

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DINING ROOM

A grand mahogany dining table and elegant Regency chairs are standout features in this bright and airy room. The Petworth extendable dining table in French Walnut, £2,595, Oka, would suit this scheme. Find mahogany sabre-leg dining chairs at LoveAntiques.com. Versailles mirror, £495, Oka

home truths

P R O P E R T Y Former hunting lodge dating back to the 1400s L O C AT I O N Surrey R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen-diner, snug, six bedrooms, four bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a small threebedroom cottage near the south coast,’ says Sophie.

S 1 2

et in 60 acres of lush meadows and approached by a long winding drive, Rupert Davies’ family home seems perfect in every way. But for Rupert and his wife Sophie it was a white elephant. ‘After Rupert’s parents died, we tried to sell the house and failed,’ explains Sophie. ‘Except for the kitchen, hardly anything had been touched for 50 years. The plumbing was antique. Mice, moths and woodworm had munched their way through most of the surfaces and the heating was non-existent.’ The couple decided to move into the house in an attempt to sort it out. ‘It was winter and it felt so cold that the children, Will, then seven, and Lottie, five, had to put on their coats under the covers before getting out of bed,’ remembers Sophie. Despite the discomfort and long list of urgent repairs, within a month of being in the house they surprised themselves with their emotional U-turn. ‘Rupert had spent his childhood here and always loved the surrounding woodland,’ says Sophie. ‘For him it was coming home, and I began to see its huge potential, so we put our cottage on the market and bought the house off Rupert’s siblings.’ Among its many lovely features were a Downton Abbey-style sweeping staircase, two first-floor balconies overlooking unspoilt rural views and French doors that opened onto the garden. The flooring was one of the first things to be tackled. The moth-eaten

DECOR ATING ADVICE ‘Don’t give yourself too many paint colours to choose from. I had

SITTING ROOM

Although Sophie prefers a soft palette, some bright colours have wooed her, including the orange cushions, which she fell in love with. Green sofa recovered in Omega velvet Lagoon, £95m, Linwood. Ophelia orange cushions (on left), £80 each; similar Pompidou coffee table, £535; Sheki rug, £1,295, all Oka. Empire lampshades, £69 each, Pooky. The wooden antique horses on the mantelpiece were a gift from Rupert’s granny

KITCHENDINER

A bench seat is nestled in the corner and is painted the same shade as the kitchen units for a coordinated look. Talia dining chairs, £95 each, Habitat, are similar 3 KITCHEN The original units were repainted and white quartz replaced black marble to give the room a light feel. Radianz quartz worktop in Lucern, prices to order, Surrey Marble & Granite

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red carpet, which covered most rooms, came under scrutiny. ‘Rupert liked its faded grandeur, but I really thought it had to go,’ says Sophie. ‘Rupert came home one day to find the drive strewn with old red carpet. Luckily, the Caledonian pine floorboards underneath were stunning, so Rupert was appeased.’ The initial process of stripping the house, repairing and modernising took three years. ‘Apart from new wiring and plumbing, practically every single surface required replacing,’ says Sophie. ‘I got to a point when I realised I had stripped the house back to sterility but could not work out how to make it feel homely again.’ It was then that Sophie called her friend Sally Roles, who used to work in interior design. ‘Sally gave me a roomby-room list of ideas, what colours to use and what to buy, even down to the lamps and accessories – and I shopped strictly to her plan,’ says Sophie. As a garden designer, Sophie has enjoyed putting her plans together for the outside. ‘I started by taking out the cement hill at the back of the house, which was seriously ugly, and now I’m simplifying the borders and designing a pond,’ she says. The garden and surrounding acres are all enjoyed by Douglas the Labrador, Boris the pug and Isic the Icelandic pony. And with all the hard work now behind them, the owners, like their animals, are clearly enjoying life to the full in this beautifully restored home.

4 5

far too many, got so confused and finally decided my first choice was the right one. It usually is’ 4 BEDROOM Tucked below the eaves, the cosy spare room is lined with wood panels. Hemnes bedside tables, £50 each, Ikea. Babur striped blue lampshades, £95 each, Oka. Blue wool throws, £75 each, John Lewis & Partners 5 MASTER BEDROOM

Soft pastel shades with accents of pink create a tranquil scheme. Headboard upholstered in

Arley linen Spearmint, £85m, Sanderson. Tournemire table lamp base, £90, Oka. Pink silk ikat shade, £180, Rosanna Lonsdale

6 BATHROOM The mahogany chest of drawers makes a perfect vanity unit, while the geometric floor tiles add instant drama against the white walls. Patisserie Sucre floor tiles, £45sq m, Fired Earth. Basin, £75, CP Hart. Ridged glass lidded storage jars, from £8, Laura Ashley, are similar

FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 8 1

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A GR AND PLAN When interior designer Jack Canning decided to renovate a dated 1960s bungalow, he knew exactly how he wanted it to look – inside and out FEATURE JANE BOWLES | PHOTOGRAPHY MALCOLM MENZIES/LIVING INSIDE

GARDEN The wooden flooring flows seamlessly into the decking outside. ‘Luckily, my parents were both extremely talented landscape architects before they retired,’ Jack says. ‘So we worked closely together to ensure that the garden feels like an extension of the interior.’

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KITCHEN-DINER Deep blue and citrus yellow work well together in this open-plan kitchen and dining area. Kitchen island in Hague Blue estate eggshell, £64 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Try the Hampstead bar stools, £140 each, Garden Trading. White washed oak wood flooring, from £60sq m, Wood and Beyond. Vitra DSW Eames Mustard side chairs, £375 each, Nest, have this look

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c o u ntry | 25bh LIVING AREA ‘This is a wonderful multifunctional space,’ says Jack. ‘It’s great for entertaining as well as cosy nights in by the fire.’ Bespoke statuary marble dining table, Lanka Marine. Try Parquet console table, £786, Turnbull & Thomas, for a similar look. Upton marble table lamp, £79, Cult Furniture. Ludwig Ink armchair, £679, Swoon, would also work here

home truths THE PROPERTY Detached 1960s bungalow L O C AT I O N New Forest, Hampshire ROOMS Hallway, kitchen-diner/ living area, study, four bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I was renting a small studio flat in the same area,’ says Jack.

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LIVING AREA ‘The cofee table was made using the original dining table that broke in transit,’ says Jack. For a similar sofa, try Aissa corner sofa, from £2,275, Sofa.com. Arabesque blue and white rug, £269, The Rug Seller

f a v o u r i t e f e a t u r e ‘The sense of space produced by the natural light that pours into the rooms from different angles through the various types of glazing’

EN SUITE ‘This bathroom vanity unit is made from an upcycled Ercol cupboard,’ says Jack. Try Calder exposed shower valve, £1,125, The Cast Iron Bathroom Company

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hey say every cloud has a silver lining and this was certainly the case for Jack Canning in 2014, when his plans to buy a house went awry. ‘I was renting a studio at the time and wanted to stay in the area, but needed more space,’ he says. ‘I’d made an offer on a semi-detached house but it fell through.’ Jack kept a keen eye out for new properties and it wasn’t long before his present home, a 1960s bungalow, caught his attention. ‘I saw so much potential as it had a great location and a much larger plot than the house I’d missed out on,’ he says. Having sealed the deal, Jack, who’s an interior designer, set about planning the renovation. ‘The house was essentially liveable, but had been built quite poorly,’ he says. ‘I asked a few architects to come up with a design for a first floor with four double bedrooms – which is what I wanted – but when none of

them could manage it, I decided to do the job myself,’ he says. Having worked out a set of CAD drawings, Jack commissioned a structural engineer to produce plans to comply with building regulations. ‘The final design was then modified by repositioning the main bathroom to the other side of the house, to allow space for a much larger en suite,’ he says. ‘Only one wall remained almost untouched, so it was effectively a total rebuild.’ Creating the design was not the only challenge that Jack faced. ‘The planners are very strict in the New Forest, so I was very limited as to what I was able to do to the front of the house,’ he says. Despite working full-time, Jack decided to manage the project himself and engaged a local firm, Quay Point Construction, to undertake the building work. With the structural works in hand, Jack turned his creative

eye to designing the new interior. ‘I spend my working life designing luxury yachts and I was inspired by some of the beautiful work our firm had carried out,’ he says. ‘I wanted to create the feel of fresh and honest barefoot beach living with a luxurious feel.’ The classic Shaker-style kitchen was given a contemporary edge by adding a dark blue painted island and pops of colour with yellow Eames dining chairs. For furniture, Jack opted for an eclectic mix of upcycled family heirlooms, juxtaposed with custom-designed pieces and punchy dark blue accents. With the project complete, Jack is able to enjoy the results of his hard work. ‘I love the satisfaction of coming home to a house that works exactly as intended, that fills me with joy each time I return,’ he says. ‘It feels spacious yet also offers intimate spaces. Every day is an absolute pleasure to live here.’

MASTER BEDROOM The midnight blue velvet buttoned headboard was custom-made to Jack’s design. Hugger navy blue headboard, £845, Loaf, would create the same look. Round brass side table, £135, Cult Furniture, is similar. Interior design by Jack Canning (Instagram @jackcanningdesign)

FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

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home truths THE PROPERTY Terraced house, built in 1838 L O C AT I O N Leamington Spa R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, library, utility room, cloakroom, two basement rooms, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, coach house used as a workspace and garage P U R C H A S E D 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We rented a three-bedroom house nearby,’ says Ben.

SITTING ROOM The couple chose simple colours and furnishings that complement the original cornicing, marble fireplace and pine floorboards. PK61 coffee table with slate top, £3,107; PK22 chair, from £3,026, both Poul Kjærholm for Fritz Hansen, Twentytwentyone. Try On Reflection Mirrors for a 19th-century French mirror

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Period piece The fine historical features of Ben and Alexandra Payneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home serve as an elegant foil to their collection of mid-century furniture FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM | PHOTOGRAPHY MALCOLM MENZIES/LIVING INSIDE

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B KITCHEN A period-style divider makes this a flexible open-plan space. Teak and rosewood stool by Erik Buch for OD Møbler, £1,695, Pamono. Pottery vessels by Vincent Van Duysen for When Objects Work, from £172 each, Haus LIBRARY Bookshelves made by Ben were painted in the same grey as the walls for a cocooning feel. Walls in Night Jewels 3 matt emulsion, £29.16 for 2.5ltr, Dulux. Try 1stdibs for an AX lounge chair by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen

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efore they moved to Leamington Spa, Ben and Alexandra Payne lived in London’s Maida Vale, where they were surrounded by properties similar in style to the Regency townhouse they now own. ‘We had a tiny second floor flat at the time, but we would walk past those houses and say to ourselves that it would be wonderful to live in a building like that one day,’ recalls Ben. After they moved to the spa town in 2008, the couple rented for five years, but kept a close eye on the housing market. ‘Nothing we viewed was quite right until our agent suggested this house,’ says Ben. ‘It sits in a Grade II-listed terrace that is set back from the road, so it looked deceptively small. But when we walked in the door, we discovered that everything is scaled up – the rooms are huge with vast windows and three-and-a-half-metre-high ceilings.’ The property had belonged to the same family since the 1980s and their approach to decorating was something of an ode to that era. ‘There were heavy floral wallpapers, thick carpets and elaborate drapes and swags,’ remembers Ben. ‘There was a sense that the owners had wanted to keep the world out – whereas we wanted to invite it in.’ Even before the couple had been given the keys to the house, the amenable vendor had allowed Ben to draw up floor plans and gain listed building consent to open up the ground floor and kitchen into a double aspect space, adding elegant room dividers that were sensitive to the period of the house. Over just 18 weeks, the couple renovated all five stories of the building, undertaking a lot of the work themselves. Layers of wallpaper and carpet were removed, while the heavy curtains were taken down to reveal rooms that were flooded with light. The house was rewired and replumbed and they redecorated throughout, using white for the kitchen and dining

tow n | 25bh DINING ROOM The chairs, which were bought at an auction, originally came from the restaurant of Copenhagen’s Designmuseum Danmark. Twentytwentyone sells the PP701 chairs by Hans Wegner for PP Møbler, from £1,151 each. Super-Elliptical table by Piet Hein, Bruno Mathsson and Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, from £1,738, Aram Store

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25bh | tow n BEDROOM The colours of the birch lounge chair chime with the indigo blue textiles and the wood flooring. Find the 406 chair by Alvar Aalto in Black/ Blue webbing, £1,386, Finnish Design Shop

GARDEN Ben made the dining furniture using simple oak planks supported by custom steel frames he had fabricated.

design advice ‘When restoring a historic house like this, try not to mess with it too much – and simply celebrate the period features’

B AT H R O O M Large dark grey tiles have been used on the walls and floor for a clean, streamlined look. Try the Doblo Matt Grey porcelain tiles, £23.99sq m, Tile Mountain MASTER BEDROOM A leather panel salvaged from an office serves as a headboard, while the neat wall-hung dressing table is a mid-century Danish piece. For a vintage paper cord stool by Niels Møller, try 1stdibs. Tolomeo wall light, from £177, Holloways of Ludlow

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space as well as the hallway, and varying tones of grey for the first floor reception spaces and the bedrooms on the two floors above. ‘The rooms are so bright that they can actually take quite strong shades of grey, which we find very calming,’ says Ben. The couple, who now have two young daughters, Freyja and Nova, both work as designers in the automotive industry and they share a keen passion for mid-20th century Scandinavian design. ‘I’ve always loved this era and Alexandra is Swedish so she also has a strong link to it,’ says Ben, who together with his wife has built up an enviable collection of original production pieces. ‘We started about 18 years ago and we have bought a lot from the Danish auction houses Lauritz and Bruun Rasmussen.’ Set against the grandeur of their home, these pared-back classics can be appreciated in their full glory. ‘The joy of them is that they are timeless, which means that they will fit in anywhere,’ says Ben. ‘We actually owned pretty much all of our furniture before we moved into the house. The only piece we had to buy was a new table to suit the much bigger dining space.’ Ben has also turned his hand to creating pieces for the house, from the large abstract artwork for the sitting room to the shelves in the library. He even made the outdoor dining table and benches, which sit in the inviting walled garden. ‘I enjoy making things, I find it very relaxing,’ he explains. ‘We still have the option of working on the two rooms in the basement to turn them into living areas. But for the moment, we have more than enough space to enjoy.’ FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

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FRESH HORIZONS

Artist Jeff Muhs’ modern abstract style shines through in his oil paintings and concrete sculptures, available at Runway Gallery

aving grown up surrounded by natural beauty in the Hamptons, New York, Runway Gallery artist Jeff Muhs has always been passionate about nature. ‘My father was a hunting and fishing guide, so I was out on the water with him as a young child from sunrise to sunset,’ he says. An aptitude for oil painting led him to study at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, but the inspiration to be found in his home town proved too much to stay away and he moved back soon after completing his course. Today, his style combines abstract lines and bright colours – a bold look that’s seen commissions from celebrity fans, including Ryan Phillippe and Miley Cyrus. From his self-built studio, he works primarily with oil on canvas, but also experiments with concrete to create striking sculptures.

FEATURE TARA KING PHOTOGRAPH (TOP) LIZZIE ORME/TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM ARTWORK CAPSHEAF (TOP), BUTTERFLY COUNT

DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE...

Some people say my paintings look like stone or marble. To me, each piece is a landscape painting, nature’s beauty distilled and rearranged into its most basic forms: light, colour and space. I think of it as a reflection in a puddle – there are beautiful things within nature that you might not notice until someone points them out to you and that’s what I’m trying to do through my paintings.

brushes to easels. I spend time visualising and planning the work, winding myself up like a spring until the tension is released and the actual creating begins. It can take anything from 20 minutes to a month for me to make a painting.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR SCULPTURES – WHY CONCRETE?

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO DISPLAY ARTWORK IN YOUR OWN HOME?

Oil on canvas is my main medium, but I’ve always been a sculptor. I learnt the art of wood sculpting as a child from my father, but it wasn’t until I built my first house that I discovered concrete as a medium. I became fascinated by it and have been experimenting ever since. Unlike my paintings, my sculptures are driven by process and form; I love discovering new ways to make interesting shapes. SHARE YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS...

It begins with procrastination! I start by making new tools to work with, from

Nothing defines a style and enriches your home environment like art. I think that large, visually dynamic works benefit from being isolated in their own space, but for me there’s definitely something beautiful about the poetry of grouping together seemingly non-related works. WHAT ABOUT FRAMES?

I personally design the frames I use for my paintings, but they don’t always need one – oil paint is a very hard-wearing medium and an unframed finish often suits a contemporary space.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE BUYING ART?

I consider art as an investment in your quality of life. Few things exist solely for the pleasure of experiencing them, so seek out pieces that resonate with you. To buy stylish and contemporary artwork for your home by Jeff Muhs and other leading artists, visit runway-gallery.com

COMING NEXT MONTH… North London-based artist Sandro Hyams specialises in fashion, beauty and portrait photography. Over 30 years, his dramatic works have attracted high-end clients and A-list celebrities, including Eric Clapton and Iggy Pop. 2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 95

KITCHEN A simple white kitchen is given added zing with a pink splashback and unique hand-painted island. For a similar lampshade, try the Woven rattan shade, £150, Cox & Cox. Island, painted by local artist Lucy Tiffney

MODERN HERITAGE A former artist’s 200-year-old home in need of complete renovation was the perfect find for stylist Ciara Elliott FEATURE ALANNA HARTY | PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH

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home truths THE PROPERTY Georgian country house L O C AT I O N Essex R O O M S Sitting room, kitchendiner, cloakroom, utility room, five bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom, one-bedroom annexe P U R C H A S E D 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We moved out from London and lived in a rented house around the corner for four years,’ says Ciara.

DINING AREA The kitchen table can extend to seat 12 people and is ideal for big family Sunday lunches and celebrations. Ekedalen extendable table, from £179, Ikea. Whistler dining chairs in Khaki, £99 each, John Lewis & Partners. Triple arm brass chandelier, from £182, Spark & Bell

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G A L L E R Y WA L L This mid-century sideboard and glass cabinet make the perfect spot for both storage and display. Kir marble side table, £149, Swoon. Artwork from Disko Kids, ToodleAndPip and Max Made Me Do It

SITTING ROOM Colourful bookshelves and layered cushions add to the vibrant look. Achilles sofa in Oyster White, from £1,395, Loaf. Selection of cushions from The Curious Department, Plum Chutney and Abigail Ahern/EDITION at Debenhams

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hen we bought our house, it hadn’t been touched for about 40 years,’ says interiors journalist and stylist Ciara Elliott. ‘A Royal Academy artist and his wife had lived here for all their married lives, and while they had maintained it to a certain degree, they had really spent nothing, so the windows were all rotting and there was rising damp, dry rot and peeling wallpaper.’ Despite all of the work they knew they would have to do, Ciara and her husband Ben were very much drawn to the property’s unique history and extensive garden that was landscaped in the French style. ‘There was a side gate that took us to the lily pond with a beautiful overhanging magnolia tree – we were absolutely enchanted,’ says Ciara. On the practical side, the house was in a very good town location and catchment area for excellent primary and secondary schools for their daughters, Astrid and Edie, aged 11 and nine. It’s also conveniently situated beside a mainline rail link into London, so both Ciara and Ben can commute without much hassle. However, the property needed the full works in order to make it liveable, and due to the costs involved it had to be done in two phases. The first phase was gutting the house and dealing with damp and insulation, as well as putting in a family bathroom and replastering and painting throughout. The second phase was achieved two years later, after the family had sold off some of their garden to pay for it. ‘Costs were just spiralling,’ says Ciara. ‘And even though we had

d e c o r a t i n g t i p ‘If you love colour, start with a neutral so you can layer up with accessories and paintwork afterwards’ done so much, we still hadn’t managed to extend to have a decent kitchen or build the annexe for Ben’s mum.’ The family then moved out, renting an Airbnb around the corner, while the builders came back to put in the double-height extension to the rear and side of the house, as well as two new kitchens and two new bathrooms. With so much basic building work to do, Ciara says they didn’t have much left in the budget for furniture. ‘All of those unseen extras, including boarding out the new attic, insulating the basement and putting in stud walls, meant we had to break into the fund we’d put aside for the interiors.’ As Ciara’s work involves being surrounded by the changing trends in interior design, she says one of the biggest challenges was trying to pick a theme and stay with it. ‘In the end I’ve given up,’ she laughs. ‘I have too much choice and I change my style all the time! I am, however, always drawn to beautiful shapes and artwork. I love colour and embellishment and pictures everywhere, so as long as I can rearrange the shelves and furniture, I’m happy. I also believe in paying a price for original furniture and artwork, and I’d rather hold out for a big statement piece than fill the house just for the sake of it.’

c o u ntry | 25bh BEDROOM Decorated in rich and playful hues, the spare bedroom feels warm and welcoming. Lazy Linen bundle bed linen, from £40 for two pillowcases, Loaf. Geometric cushions, from £15 each, Habitat

MASTER BEDROOM Dark green walls make a great canvas for artwork. The skirting is painted in the same colour to accentuate a feeling of height. Walls in Borough Market marble matt emulsion, £51 for 2.5ltr, Mylands

M A I N B AT H R O O M A traditional roll-top bath and double basins with gold fittings juxtapose the urban look of the floor-to-ceiling metro tiles. Towel ladder, £110, Garden Trading (painted by Ciara). Berber-style bath mat, £28, Homeplace

ASTRID’S BEDROOM ‘I painted the wall in dark blue, adding the starry stickers afterwards,’ says Ciara. Starry night decals, £22 for a set of four sheets, Happy Decs. Pineapple wash basket, £85, Next Home. Cactus light, £10, Asda, is similar

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MAKING AN ENTRANCE

Hannah Evans was wooed by the magnificent staircase in her London house, which reminded her of the home she left in the American South FEATURE ANTHEA GERRIE | PHOTOGRAPHY RICHARD GOODING

H A L LWAY Just beyond the sweeping staircase, Hannah has created a delightful and welcoming display of ceramic flowers on the wall. Ceramic flowers, from Â£16.80 each, Chive

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home truths THE PROPERTY Semi-detached Victorian villa L O C AT I O N West London R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, three bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms, cloakroom M O V E D I N 2018 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving, I lived in a flat in a mansion block,’ Hannah says.

hile some househunters no doubt baulked at this property’s tiny kitchen, Hannah Evans – a film-maker with a penchant for the theatrical – was hooked by its grand staircase. ‘I just wanted to run up and down it – and I loved the large hallway. Yet I’m well aware you can’t live in a hall!’ she says. Hannah was missing the spacious foyers common in the American South, where she lived in a house more than five times the size of the west London Victorian villa she moved into in 2018. ‘I wasn’t worried about having less space, as I spent most of my time in one room of that huge house,’ she says.

SPACE CRAFTING

However, creative thinking was required to maximise the living and dining areas for entertaining. Somewhat surprisingly, Hannah opted for large-scale furniture, which covered most of the floor space in the sitting room. ‘It actually made the room look bigger,’ she says. ‘I also went for two sofas, when most people might have gone for one, but my starting point was the ottoman, which I covered in a fabric I’d always wanted to use.’ Working from this centrepiece out, Hannah echoed the fabric’s motif in a grasscloth wallcovering, which also visually enlarged the room. Another

SITTING ROOM A toning palette of yellows and blues with generous use of neutrals keeps this bold mix of patterns easy on the eye, while a repeated motif on the ottoman and

wallcovering brings further cohesion to the scheme. Ottoman covered in Susani linen, £292m, Robert Kime. Sofa, £5,088 plus fabric, George Smith. Armchairs, made to order, Hannah

Wassef Interiors. Monsoon Raffia wallcovering, price on request, Kit Kemp at Christopher Farr Cloth. Haas accent mirror, £162.99, Wayfair, is similar. Kilim, price on request, Jonathan Adler

25bh | c it y design advice ‘When it comes to layering patterns and colours, don’t worry too much about things matching. If your eye likes it, that’s enough’ trick was to place arched mirrors, which mimic the shape of the window, on the wall facing the courtyard to make the most of the natural light streaming in. The multilayered look that Hannah favours is a reflection of her upbringing in Cairo. ‘I lived there until I was seven and remember my mother layering tons of pattern and colour in our home,’ she says. ‘It was like a souk where everything is laid outside together. I think I’ve retained a lot of that look in my taste.’ COLOUR FOCUS

DINING ROOM The set of art prints was the starting point of this scheme. Prints, from £48.38 each, Paige Gemmel. Chairs covered in Kate Stripe fabric, £118m, Warner Textile Archive at

Claremont. Large hemp rug in Charcoal Dimity Stripe, £275, Susie Watson Designs MASTER BEDROOM French doors enhance the sense of space in this compact

room, with a statement bed as its centrepiece. Headboard in Bradbourne fabric, £169m, GP&J Baker. Cushions (middle row) in Killi linen in Blue, £159.54m, Penny Morrison

In the dining room, a set of nine enchanting prints by American artist Paige Gemmel inspired the decor. ‘They are all different, but to my eye they work together. They contain stripes, like the fabric on the dining chairs and rug, and the spots you see on the vases.’ While no room in the house is less than colourful, Hannah aimed for a sense of calm in the bedrooms, with cool hued walls. ‘In my room, on the first floor, there was barely space for more than my super-king bed, but the generous French windows leading onto the balcony helped,’ says Hannah. She spent a lot of time searching for bedside tables tiny enough to tuck into the space between the bed and the door to the en-suite bathroom, eventually importing a pair from France. The sense of space was enhanced in the second-floor guest room via a daybed with a headboard along its width. This less-used space is a riot of colour. ‘I felt I could go for oranges, pinks and blues as this room is flooded with natural light.’ Hannah’s first experience of decorating a house turned out to be quite an eye-opener. ‘What I learnt most is that my visual skills as a filmmaker were so transferable,’ she says. ‘Although I’m writing a new film, I’m delighted to have discovered I can also bring something new to the table when it comes to interior design.’ FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

FREE £150 AXA ActivePlus voucher* when you join our award‑winning Personal Health plan.

Call 0800 5870 950 for more details axappphealthcare.co.uk/beautifulhomes *The £150 AXA ActivePlus voucher is for new customers only. Full terms and conditions at axappphealthcare.co.uk/beautifulhomes. TI Media is an introducer appointed representative of AXA PPP healthcare Limited which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The Personal Health plan is underwritten by AXA PPP healthcare Limited. Registered in England and Wales number 3148119. Registered office: AXA PPP healthcare, 5 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1AD. Write to us at: AXA PPP healthcare, Phillips House, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2PL. Lines are open 9am to 7pm weekdays. We may record and/or monitor calls for quality assurance, training and as a record of our conversation. AXA ActivePlus is not regulated by either the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority. PB73328/10.19

25bh | c o u ntry SITTING ROOM A tonal palette provides the perfect backdrop for treasured collectables. Originals sofa, from £1,600, Ercol. For a similar Berberstyle rug, try City Cows. Vintage bird prints, from £4.50 each, Print Arcade, would work here

TROPICAL TWIST Gemma Critchley has drawn inspiration from her roots in the Cayman Islands to create something unexpected in her idyllic Devon home FEATURE NATALIE MILLAR-PARTRIDGE | PHOTOGRAPHY EMMA LEWIS

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DINING AREA Bifold doors open onto the private walled courtyard. Find artwork by John Harris at Alison Eldred

home truths THE PROPERTY Semi-detached original estate bakehouse built in the 1800s L O C AT I O N Devon R O O M S Sitting room/dining room, kitchen, utility room, office, two bedrooms, bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in the gatehouse of an old estate in Somerset,’ says Gemma.

DINING AREA Filled with natural light, this informal entertaining space is a favourite place for American cocker spaniel Dayna to relax. Oregan table, from £995, Habitat. For similar benches, try English Salvage

KITCHEN Bronze sculptures add a whimsical note to the functional island. Units, £5,000, Häcker. Walls in Setting Plaster estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

aving grown up in the West Indies, jewellery designer Gemma Critchley remains fascinated with the ocean and the ever-changing patterns and colours of nature. ‘Our cottage is full of nostalgia – in corals and palms, raffia hats and tropicalbird lithographs,’ says Gemma. ‘The colour palettes I gravitate towards certainly evoke the tropics’ warmth, style and vibrancy.’ The 19th-century property sits in the heart of a Devon village, and Gemma and her husband, Rich, who runs a product design consultancy, loved it immediately. ‘This was once the bakehouse of a large estate. It 10 6 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

was converted into a separate dwelling in the 1960s, creating courtyards and passageways that sparked our imaginations for inside-outside living,’ says Gemma. The house itself was full of surprises, from the dramatic eucalyptus tree in the walled courtyard garden to the high vaulted ceilings and mezzanine master bedroom inside. ‘We knew we had found a project that would be both unique and inspiring,’ she says. As the property is in a conservation area, the couple have been mindful to strike a balance between rustic authenticity and clean-lined modernity. The building

work included reconfiguring the kitchen and increasing the living space by extending into the courtyard. ‘We wanted an area for entertaining that also had a gallery vibe so we could use it for presenting our work.’ In order to achieve maximum natural light here, the couple installed a large roof lantern and bifold doors that bring a sense of the outside in. ‘We adore plants and the shadows that they cast, and wanted to create the feel of a secret garden,’ says Gemma. ‘We knocked down some of the old wall to allow the space to be opened up.’ When it came to the kitchen, a carefully considered mix of natural materials has FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

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design tip ‘Try not to be too led by decorating trends. It’s good to start with a limited colour palette – and always mix materials and textures’ brought the small yet practical space to life. The central island was a priority. ‘I love entertaining and have a passion for cooking, so it was important for the space to work as a functional kitchen,’ she says. ‘I am also an avid collector, so needed to balance modern and rustic with our treasures on display.’ The most recent project has been the extension of the small bathroom into

the side courtyard. ‘We wanted this to be a tranquil area with changeable lighting and LED alcove features,’ says Gemma. We used natural materials, dividing the space to create an eye-catching archway, and positioned the bath under a roof light so we can stargaze at night.’ As the founders of creative businesses, Gemma and Rich approach the design

of their personal space with the same attention to detail and imaginative vision. ‘Craftsmanship is fundamental in both our home environment and working life,’ says Gemma. ‘We are collectors and we love finding unique pieces. It’s key to collect things that hold meaning, from beautiful artwork to shells and interesting fabrics, which all tell a story.’

B AT H R O O M Foliage plants and natural woven textures create the feel of a tropical retreat. Picasso bath, from £1,295, Lusso. Utulivu large natural woven basket, £59, The Basket Room, has a similar look

MASTER BEDROOM The serene mood continues in this mezzanine space. Bedside chests, £50 each, Ikea. Velour Pom-Edge cushion in Blush, £12, Next, would work well

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A LABOUR OF LOVE

Using her creative touch, Summer Thornton brought a contemporary bohemian feel to her 1930s house FEATURE SARAH WARD | PHOTOGRAPHY | JAMES FRENCH | STYLING MARISHA TAYLOR

home truths THE PROPERTY A two-bedroomed, 1930s semi L O C AT I O N Southeast London R O O M S Sitting room, dining room, kitchen, study, dressing room, two bedrooms, bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a two-bedroom flat in Tooting,’ says Summer. SITTING ROOM White walls are warmed up by texture from the logs, a woollen Berber rug, a rattan chair and houseplants. Berber-style rug, £1,809, La Redoute. For a similar rattan chair, try Next Home

KITCHEN This contemporary space is the heart of the home. ‘Wooden stools and quirky accessories stop it looking clinical,’ says Summer. Loko stool, £140, Nkuku. Kitchen units and appliances, £15,000, Wren

esigner and illustrator Summer Thornton and her partner Neal Williams were viewing houses in Norfolk, near Summer’s parents, when they got a call about a property in London. ‘It was a house we’d been interested in that had gone under offer to another buyer,’ says Summer. ‘That sale fell through, so we rushed to see it. We made an offer after only one viewing as we thought we could move to Norfolk in the future.’ The property had been well looked after, so

the couple and their son, Hudson, now nine, were able to take their time before beginning renovations. ‘We were lucky that the house was perfectly liveable in,’ says Summer. ‘The former owners had decorated everywhere, it just wasn’t to our taste. There were chandeliers and cream carpets throughout, and lots of wallpaper.’ Over the next two years, Summer and Neal laid new flooring and stripped wallpaper. ‘The carpets were the first things to go,’ says Summer. ‘We are quite outdoorsy, so our house can’t be too

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LESSON LEARNT ‘I found out how important budgeting was – where to spend and where to save’ DINING ROOM A bright armchair and citrus lamp pop against dark walls at this end of the space. Esme sideboard, £399; Rubens chair, £399, both Made. Walls in Hague Blue estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

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DINING ROOM The mid-century style of the table and chairs suit both the period of the house and the Scandiinspired design. The DSW dining table, £149; and chairs, £49 each, Cult Furniture, are a good match

precious. We went for Scandi-style whitewashed boards, cosied up with rugs. I wanted to freshen everywhere up, and start again,’ she says, ‘so we began with brilliant white for the walls as a blank canvas. We then introduced colour slowly, going for different shades of grey.’ The house quickly went up in value, and the couple were able to remortgage to fund building work to extend their small, galley kitchen and create a larger space with bifold doors leading out onto the garden. Mindful of

budget, Summer also had to decide where to splurge, and where to save. ‘The bifold doors were a big expense. I bought all my light switches from Dowsing and Reynolds, because I think it’s worth paying attention to those details. But other things, I’d try and find more cheaply. The beaded chandelier in our bedroom was from Marks and Spencer, hundreds of pounds cheaper than one I’d seen in a magazine.’ ‘I really enjoyed the whole process,’ says Summer, who posted a record of the changes

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25bh | c it y F A M I LY B AT H R O O M An angular mirror works well in this geometric scheme. Hexagonal mirror, £175, Fern & Grey. Metro tiles, £24.95sq m, Walls and Floors

HUDSON’S ROOM ‘I found this wallpaper in the US,’ says Summer. Lucky Star wallpaper, $360 a roll, Sissy & Marley. Oliver bed, £350, Feather & Black

F A M I LY B AT H R O O M Contrasting pattern and texture add interest here. Boat bath, £1,480, BC Designs. Patterned tiles, £29.95sq m, Walls and Floors

DRESSING ROOM Summer found the armoire in a local antiques shop. Find similar armoires, from £1,185, at The French Bedroom Company. Hovet mirror, £90, Ikea

FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

MASTER BEDROOM ‘I had a shelf made to display artwork. It means I can vary the pictures to co-ordinate with different bedding.’ The Clara wooden beaded chandelier, £150, Matalan, is similar to this one

on Instagram at @summer_thornton. ‘It was such a relief to start the building work as I was so fed up with our tiny kitchen.’ Once the structural work was underway, Summer spent time choosing accessories. ‘I think it’s the attention to detail that pulls a look together. I did a moodboard for every room in the house, recreating it on my computer so I could really visualise what the room would look like.’ Summer’s love of clean, Scandinavian design shines through, but is offset throughout the

property by bohemian touches and quirky accessories. ‘I feel like I’ve managed to merge a few different styles,’ she says. ‘A bit Scandi, a bit boho, and I also like a bit of dark thrown in. I couldn’t live in a house where everything’s white – colour definitely makes me happy.’ Now the major renovations are finished, Summer is moving on to her next project. ‘I can’t stop!’ she says. ‘My mission is to take every part of my house, every nook and cranny, and make it as lovely as possible.’

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FULL circle

When her life changed direction, Yvonne Jones never imagined she would be happily living in a house she first saw 35 years ago FEATURE PENNY BOTTING PHOTOGRAPHY ROBERT SANDERSON

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home truths DINING ROOM Yvonne added double doors to look out onto her pride and joy – the beautiful garden. Labadie chandelier, Vaughan

THE PROPERTY Victorian detached home L O C AT I O N Welsh valleys R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, snug, study, utility room, cloakroom, three bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom, dressing room, garden studio M O V E D I N 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I moved here from a 17th-century farmhouse in Wales,’ says Yvonne.

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early four decades ago, Yvonne Jones’ dream was to return to her native Wales to set up a business as an interior designer, get married and have a family. ‘After I qualified from the Royal College of Art, I lived in London where I specialised in fabric design,’ she says. ‘It was great, but after a while I decided it was time to head home to live on a farm and have lots of kids.’ Most of Yvonne’s dreams came true – she moved back to Wales, lived on a farm, became a successful interior designer and did indeed get married and have a child. But 18 years later, when her son Nathan left for university, she was facing a difficult divorce and an uncertain future. ‘At the time, it didn’t feel as though I was having much luck, but life can be like that sometimes so I thought that I just had to get on with it,’ she says. TURNING POINT

Then, everything changed. ‘When I first moved back to Wales, my friend Glenys had asked my decorating advice on a house that she’d bought with her husband Robert. After she sadly died a few years ago, Robert asked me to help him with his holiday home in Italy.’ As a result of that collaboration, a relationship blossomed and Yvonne sold her farm and moved in with Robert, into the very house she’d helped decorate 35 years ago. The property is Victorian, and was originally built for a doctor, so part of it was an extension to accommodate his surgery. Yvonne suggested Glenys opened up the upstairs by knocking down a few walls to create a larger landing, and similarly downstairs to create a more spacious hallway. PERSONAL TOUCH

When Yvonne moved in three decades later, there wasn’t much to do other than a few cosmetic changes. Yvonne describes her style as eclectic. ‘I love to mix old and new and collect Welsh oak furniture and antiques. I’m a huge fan of upcycling furniture by painting or reupholstering pieces with modern fabrics. I believe in choosing things that won’t date quickly – longevity is key.’ Colour is also integral to Yvonne. ‘It’s a vital ingredient in creating atmosphere,’ she says. The result is a stunning home with a seamless blend of old and new, peppered with vibrant hues. ‘If someone had told me 35 years ago that I would be living here with a lovely man, with my studio at the bottom of a beautiful garden, I would have said they were mad!’

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SITTING ROOM

The artwork above the fireplace was originally a headboard that Yvonne bought in a Parisian flea market. Chambord chandelier, ÂŁ2,205, Vaughan. Rug in Morning Frost sisal, from ÂŁ113sq m, Crucial Trading

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1 1 KITCHEN The splashback was made from a mirror. Units in Taupe eggshell, £68 for 2.5ltr, Zoffany 2 HALLWAY Marble patterned fabric has a luxury look. Bespoke upholstered console and seat, both Chameleon Interiors

3 GARDEN ‘The gazebo is the perfect place to take clients for meetings,’ says Yvonne. 4 BEDROOM Pretty florals add a delicate note. Headboard in Lilas, £78m, Manuel Canovas 5 BATHROOM Touches of black lend glamour. Metropole basin, from £350, Lefroy Brooks 6 BEDROOM Toile de Jouy is a classic pattern. Try Little Greene’s Stag toile wallpaper, £87 a roll

118 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

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25bh | tow n

A VISION IN Thoughtful alterations and a serene palette have restored Chris and Laura Dobbsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; villa to the grand home it once was FEATURE MELANIE WHITEHOUSE | PHOTOGRAPHY PATRICK WILLIAMSON

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home truths THE PROPERTY Regency-style house built 1850 L O C AT I O N Surrey R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, family room, kitchen-diner, orangery, utility room, study, cloakroom, four bedrooms (all en suite), self-contained flat P U R C H A S E D 2005 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were living in Germany in an old house near Frankfurt,’ says Laura.

SITTING ROOM

A statement light fitting adds drama to this space. Try Hartfield sofa, from £1,306, Arlo & Jacob. Laura Ashley Oversize lantern, £70, is similar

ORANGERY

Modern, antique and bespoke pieces combine beautifully here. Tracery rug, from £3,572, Kelly Wearstler at The Rug Company

2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 121

25bh | tow n KITCHEN-DINER

Classic cream Shaker-style cabinetry is complemented by generous linen curtains with a muted leaf pattern. Curtains in Tea Leaf, printed to order by Kit Kemp for Christopher Farr. Old School electric cylinder pendant, from £130, Holloways of Ludlow

STAIRWAY

Modern art and an original painted panel bring drama to the graceful staircase. For a good selection of art prints, try FY!

12 2 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

ith their older daughters grown up and moving out of the family home, Chris and Laura Dobbs decided the time was ripe for a much-needed update of their three-storey Regency-style home. With its floor-to-ceiling windows and light-filled rooms, the property was already architecturally stunning. ‘We had structural work done when we first moved in and that was quite a major project,’ says Laura. But now the decor needed renovating to suit the next stage of their lives. The Dobbs called in Chelsea-based interior designer Juliette Byrne, who has a reputation for blending the classic with the contemporary. Top of the list was to ensure the property kept its family feel but reflected the Dobbs’ love of entertaining. This meant opening up spaces on the ground floor to make it a more suitable area for guests and parties. The brief included redecoration of the rest of the property as well as adding an extra dining area to the kitchen. Juliette needed to work with the existing structure of the house and retain the period feel, but to enhance what was already there by using clever solutions that blended with the period features, such as adding panelling in the sitting room. ‘These details created a warmer feel to the room,’ explains Juliette. ‘We also added antique mirrors either side of the fireplace to reflect the garden outside into the room.’ In the hallway and on the landing are striking painted

MASTER BEDROOM

Texture and subtle pattern enhance the neutral tones of this tranquil space. Slowcoach armchair, £795, Loaf, is similar. Wayfair Berwick throw, £70, is a good match

wall panels, original to the house. ‘We thought about removing them but felt it would be a shame as they are a very good way of combining the old and new,’ says Laura. The walls throughout the house were painted a soft shade of white which brings continuity and enhances the high ceilings, ornate cornicing and ceiling roses. New curtains were added throughout, in neutral shades with muted patterns on slubby linens. This choice is reflected in the soft furnishings, in taupes, creams and white. Tactile sheepskin throws, squidgy cushions and accessories add cosiness and warmth – key in a space dominated by white. Statement light fittings bring interest, with floor and desk lamps in sculptural shapes continuing the idea of lighting as art. ‘We also added artwork and decorative lighting to the hallway and other areas of the house, re-carpeted throughout and commissioned rugs and bespoke furniture,’ says Juliette. The project took a total of six months and involved a range of specialist tradesmen, including stonemasons, joiners and even an artwork company that brought in pictures to complement the new look of the house. The result of the extensive renovation was a fresher, more contemporary feel that enhances the period features. The villa is now a calm, peaceful retreat from the world outside, with plenty of space at last for entertaining. ‘It’s exactly what we wanted,’ says Laura. ‘And we’re not moving – ever!’ FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

BATHROOM

Sophisticated floor-to-ceiling marble is boosted with statement lighting. Ikea’s Grimsas pendant, £75, would work here. Find Breccia Sarda marble tiles from £102sq m, Indigenous

2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 12 3

SITTING ROOM

Bespoke shelves frame the fireplace and provide the perfect showcase for mementoes, while patterned fabrics add texture and interest. Valentin footstool, from ÂŁ510, Sofa.com. Vintage hemp rope chandelier, ÂŁ125.10, Babylone at KosiLight

PERFECT PAIRING

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home truths THE PROPERTY Two-storey Victorian maisonette L O C AT I O N Southwest London R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, bedroom, bathroom, roof terrace P U R C H A S E D 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I lived in Clapham and Alex was in Fulham,’ says Natalie.

Alex and Natalie Roberts fused their styles to create a home full of colour and character FEATURE EMMA J PAGE | PHOTOGRAPHY CHARLIE BETTINSON

2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 12 5

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Blue linen blinds and brass accents in handles and lighting lift this neutral scheme. Cabinetry, price on request, Wren Kitchens. Lovell glass pendant lights in antiqued brass, £144 each, Jim Lawrence

FAVOURITE ITEM ‘Our dining table, which

Alex bought in India, means so much to us. We’ve had so many fun get-togethers around it’ BATHROOM Floor-to-ceiling herringbone tiles make for a smart, cohesive look. Equipe Country Ash blue wall tiles, £37sq m, Tiles Direct

BEDROOM

Rich blue brickwork creates a cosseting feel. Brickwork in Hague Blue estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Elmy king-size bed, £450, Habitat

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reating an artful fusion of two different styles is rarely easy, but that was the challenge Alex and Natalie Roberts faced when they bought their first property together. ‘We both have a strong sense of what we like,’ says Natalie. ‘Alex gravitates towards antique pieces and darker woods, while I favour a lighter, more modern look.’ However, as their Victorian maisonette with its elegant mix of old and new testifies, the couple have created a harmonious balance, characterised by plenty of texture, pattern and pops of colour against a soft-hued background. The first step was to find a suitable property. ‘When we viewed this two-storey maisonette, it felt a little run-down, but we just loved its lofty proportions,’ says Natalie. The couple turned to Katie Goring of interior design practice Studio Goring for help. ‘We asked Katie because we liked the work she’d done for our friends,’ Natalie says. Katie helped them reconsider the layout of the entire property. The original main bedroom was turned into a study; the bathroom, initially accessed only through the kitchen, was knocked through to make space for a kitchendiner, and repositioned to allow for easy access. And to make the most of the space in the eaves, which became the couple’s bedroom, lots of bespoke built-in storage was added. ‘I assumed that interior design was largely about styling,’ says Natalie, ‘but this project allowed us to

focus on what we wanted from our home and how best to maximise space.’ As a result, the larger kitchen-diner works brilliantly as the couple love to cook and entertain. The copious storage acts as a backdrop to Alex’s treasured dining table, with inset tiles that were once part of an Indian church. In the sitting room, built-in bookshelves help to anchor the space. ‘We decided against having a TV in this room, in favour of a place where we can read or entertain,’ says Natalie. ‘The window seat has slim pull-out shelves, perfect for resting a coffee cup or wine glass on.’ The bedroom was the biggest challenge. ‘The key was to design streamlined storage, which includes a bookcase concealing a door to the eaves,’ says Katie. Splashes of colour, such as the navy blue brickwork in the bedroom, create a jewel-box effect, perfect for showcasing the couple’s treasures, including pieces bought by Alex during stints abroad. A green linen press creates a focal point in the sitting room and is framed by two dining chairs from India. Organic textures, such as sisal, enhance the antique pieces and the streamlined joinery. ‘We’ve created a style that is about the two of us,’ says Natalie. The couple have cemented this happy merger by getting married, two years after moving in together. ‘I was never too bothered about interiors before,’ says Natalie, ‘but I realise that coming home to a place you love makes you happy.’

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ALL IN GOOD TIME Sculptor Kim Thornton was prepared to wait when it came to the sensitive renovation of her Victorian house FEATURE JO LEEVERS | PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH

SITTING ROOM This classically styled space leads out to a sun terrace, perfect for alfresco entertaining. William IV rosewood sofa, similar from £2,500, William James Antiques & Interiors. Nahavan rug, £1,250, The Rug Shop of Tunbridge Wells, is a match

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SITTING ROOM Original shuttered windows frame an antique chaise longue, bought at an auction house. Victorian chaises, from around £1,500, are available at Loveantiques.com. Skull 1 sculpture, price on request, Kim J Thornton

KITCHEN Bespoke units blend in with the architecture of the house. Kitchen, price on request, Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design. Bar stools, £129 each, Says Who for John Lewis & Partners

hen Kim Thornton moved to this London house, her family’s furniture style was more Ikea than antiques. Gradually, this changed as she and her husband tuned into the property’s elegant architecture. Kim lives here with her husband Jon, who works in TV, and their children Nina, 21, and Sam, 16. Kim also works as a TV producer, combining this with a career as a sculptor, and her fascination with forms, materials and stories also fed into the process of bringing this home back to life. Traces of the house’s original character were everywhere, from the curved shapes of old plastered-over gas pipes to delicately etched stained-glass windows. ‘You could really feel the history of the house, but it was crying out for a different kind of furniture,’ remembers Kim. ‘We took our time, partly because we wanted to find the right antiques and partly because if you rush in, you’re more likely to make mistakes. We let the house lead us,’ she says. The couple also wanted to introduce some more modern elements, including a streamlined kitchen in the new basement extension, where Kim chose minimalist cabinetry that allows the rest of the space to shine through. ‘It’s the harder route to try and strike a balance between old and new, but it adds a further layer to a house’s history,’ she says. As for the extension itself, Kim wanted to make a nod to history without it being a pastiche. The couple included 2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 129

25bh | c it y DINING AREA A simple ‘below stairs’ style of mantelpiece was made bespoke for the space. Vintage table, similar from £200, Crystal Palace Antiques & Modern. Similar larder cabinet, £300, Vinterior. Richardson pendant light, £115, Jim Lawrence

home truths

THE PROPERTY Early Victorian house L O C AT I O N London R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, cloakroom, four bedrooms, shower room, bathroom, dressing room P U R C H A S E D 2011 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a smaller house nearby,’ says Kim.

MASTER BEDROOM Original tongue-and-groove panelling adds character to this sleep zone. Bed, from £672, Alphabeds. Find an antique floor lamp, from £750, at Brownrigg Interiors & Decorative Antiques

B AT H R O O M Muted shades and a limed mirror evoke a soothing Scandinavian mood. The carved wooden mirror, £185, Silk Road Gallery, is a good option. Walls in Hardwick White estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

BEDROOM The vintage rocking chair suits the house’s effortless elegance. For a similar rocking chair for around £540, try Vinterior

subtle details, such as authentic windows and hand-finished plastering around the windows, doorways and chimney breast. ‘The openings have a slightly rounded finish, rather than a hard, crisp edge, which feels more organic and echoes other plastered curves in the house,’ says Kim. During the renovation, Kim visited lots of Georgian and Regency houses for research purposes. ‘Although our house was built slightly later, possibly around 1845, its style is more in keeping with the previous period,’ she explains. The generous arch above the front door, fireplaces and plaster mouldings prove her point. Another handsome original detail is the red glass in the glazed doors in the sitting room, which once led out to a Victorian conservatory. ‘The conservatory itself was damaged by a bomb blast during World War Two, so it’s amazing that these decorative panes survived,’ says Kim. Delving into the past comes naturally to Kim. ‘I studied history for my first degree and I have a great love of the past,’ she says. Even Kim’s sculptures of birds and animals have a link with the past, as they were initially inspired by the Victorian fascination with taxidermy. ‘I never use moulds so each sculpture takes a long time. It’s a painstaking process of adding layers of plaster,’ she explains. Conversely, revealing the character of this beautiful house has been a combination of peeling back some layers, while adding others. ‘It’s still a work in progress and probably always will be,’ she admits. 2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 13 1

Return to form

Emma Rae and her husband Andrew gave a dated Cotswold cottage a new lease of life with the expert help of their interior designer FEATURE VIVIENNE AYERS | PHOTOGRAPHY POLLY ELTES

13 2 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

c o u ntry | 25bh GARDEN Wisteria, roses and frothy nepeta grow on the sunny terrace.

home truths T H E P R O P E R T Y 1920s cottage, with recent additions L O C AT I O N The Cotswolds R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, snug, kitchen-diner/living area, boot room, utility room, cloakroom, four bedrooms (three en suite) P U R C H A S E D 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were living in London before moving here,’ says Emma.

SITTING ROOM Classic country shades with brighter accents epitomise the look Emma wanted to create. Valentin footstool, from £280, Sofa.com. Try Origami, £54m, Vanessa Arbuthnott, for a similar upholstery fabric

EXTERIOR Emma and Milly, the Norfolk terrier

2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 13 3

DINING AREA Antique chairs work beautifully with the new table. Bespoke dining table, price on request, Marshbeck Interiors. Dante Grande pendant light, ÂŁ225, John Lewis & Partners. The antique chairs were bought at Harmony Antiques

13 4 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

c o u ntry | 25bh

mma Rae and her husband Andrew were living in London when they began to think of moving to the countryside. ‘We were keen to move somewhere less hectic,’ says Emma. ‘Andrew introduced me to the Cotswolds and I loved the sense of peace and tranquillity, far away from the city. It’s a different way of life.’ When Emma and Andrew began searching for a property, they both agreed on the kind of home they wanted. ‘We were looking for somewhere in a quiet village location, with good country views,’ says Emma. ‘We needed a dog-friendly house large enough for our four grown-up children – Oli, Megan, Sam and Sophie – to come and stay, within walking distance of the local pub.’ Happily, the couple didn’t have too long to wait before a suitable property came onto the market. ‘A local agent

told us about a house that hadn’t yet been listed,’ says Emma. ‘We saw a photo of the front of the property and the lovely views at the back. That was enough to entice us to go and see it.’ Emma and Andrew both liked the house, but agreed that it needed total renovation. ‘It was beautiful inside, but tired,’ says Emma. ‘We were keen to find a house with character that we could put our own stamp on, so in a way, it was perfect.’ The couple still had busy jobs in London, so they enlisted the help of interior designer Rebecca Hughes to assist them with the project. ‘Rebecca had worked on a previous home of ours, so we got her on board as soon as we’d made an offer,’ says Emma. Once the sale had been completed, work began in earnest and the house was virtually gutted. ‘It was rewired, replumbed and completely replastered in places,’ says Emma. ‘We were

KITCHEN Classic Shaker-style cabinetry is combined with warm vintage touches. The bespoke units were hand-built and painted in French Grey intelligent eggshell, £66 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Vintage pendant lights, around £260 each, Felix Lighting. Try Tractor high wooden stool, £195, Loaf. Walls in SC292, £48 for 2.5ltr, Papers and Paints. Mirrored splashback tiles, price on request, Rupert Bevan LIVING AREA The calm neutral palette continues in this relaxed corner. Sofia linen armchair, £299, Dunelm. Ornate leaf wall mirror, £495, John Lewis & Partners. Walls in Elephant’s Breath estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Try Bluebell two-seater sofa, £1,250, Sofa.com

2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 13 5

25bh | c o u ntry keen to retain its sense of period character, so we added wooden beams to enhance the rustic feel.’ The flooring was replaced throughout with the exception of the hallway, and underfloor heating was also installed, along with three new en suite bathrooms. ‘We were keen to recycle fixtures and fittings wherever possible,’ says Emma. ‘I wanted to keep the Aga in the kitchen, so Rebecca designed the new layout around it. Although we installed new Shaker-style units and a kitchen island, we did keep the original wooden island worktop.’ Rebecca’s brief was to design a modern country look for the interior. She and Emma worked together to source accessories for the interior, which had to go into storage while the building work was going on. ‘We’ve mixed old and new, incorporating modern artwork and it works rather well,’ Emma says. The

resulting scheme combines a palette of neutrals with statement wallpapers and a mix of furniture. Classic country shades, such as blues and greys are combined with lavender, sage and gold accents, along with bold textiles, to create an eclectic effect. The renovation process has also inspired Emma to pursue a new creative pathway and she’s now planning to become an interior designer herself. ‘I’ve moved from having a busy stressful life to a more creative lifestyle,’ she says. ‘I like recycling furniture and want to get more involved in that.’ With the project complete, Emma and Andrew are enjoying the results. ‘We’re completely bowled over by what we’ve achieved here,’ says Emma. ‘The house has a lovely calm feel. We love it when guests come to stay but when there’s just the two of us here, we thoroughly enjoy the peace and quiet.’

BEDROOM Large-scale wallpaper creates a stunning feature wall. Try Dazzler bed, £845, Loaf. Adam’s Eden wallpaper, £126 a roll; cushions in Skittery linen in Beech, £62m, all Lewis & Wood. Walls in Dove Grey matt emulsion, £38 for 2.5ltr, Neptune EN SUITE Wooden shutters and an African Bamileke-style table add rustic style to contrast with the sleek free-standing bath. Painted roll-top bath, price on request, Hurlingham The Bath Company. Braided rug, from £325, The White Company

13 6 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

MASTER BEDROOM Layers of sumptuous textiles ensure a luxurious feel. Antoinette bed, £1,095, Loaf. Plushious Duck Egg velvet bedspread, £370, The French Bedroom Company, has the same look. Gustavian chest of drawers, £1,510, Chelsea Textiles. Try the Amli Navy cushion, £80, The Rug Company

FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 13 7

READER OFFER | 25BH

7 2 B E S T VA LU E P E R E N N IA L S • This generous collection will bring plenty of colour to garden borders. • Specially selected to ﬂower in succession from late spring until autumn • Plant them in groups for maximum impact! • Height: up to 150cm (60in) • Spread: up to 75cm (30in) • Flowers: May-September • Supplied as plug plants

72 PLANTS ONLY £9.99 Achillea ‘Cerice Queen’

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Delphinium ‘Dark Blue & White Bee’

Foxglove ‘Dalmatian Mixed’

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Gaillardia ‘Mesa Bright Bicolour’

Gaura ‘Sparkle White’

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Echinacea ‘Primadonna Rose’

Verbena ‘Buenos Aires’

Coreopsis ‘Golden Joy’

Maxicrop plant treatment Give your plants the best possible start with this amazing offer! For ONLY £1 we will treat your whole order with maxicrop. • Reduces plant stress during transit • Helps to stimulate strong root development • Greater tolerance of frost

HOW TO ORDER ■ BY PHONE Call 0844 573 1686** quote TM_25BH7 lines open 7 days a week, 9am-6pm. ■ ONLINE VISIT www.thompson-morgan.com/TM_25BH7 ■ BY POST Fill in Coupon below

Offer available to readers on the UK mainland only. Offer subject to availability. Your contract for supply of goods is with Thompson & Morgan, a company wholly independent of 25 Beautiful Homes, published by TI Media Ltd. Cardholders call direct on 0844 573 1686 quoting TM_25BH7. The order lines are open seven days a week, 9am-6pm. Alternatively, please complete the coupon in BLOCK CAPITALS. Remittance may be made by MasterCard, Visa, Maestro, postal order or cheque (name, address and TM_25BH7 on the back of cheque, please), crossed and made payable to T&M. Offer available to readers on the UK mainland only. **Calls cost 7p per minute plus your telephone provider’s access charge. Please note that we cannot deliver this product to the following postcode areas: GY, HS, IV41-IV56, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-48, PA60-PA78, PA80, PH40-PH44, TR21-TR24, ZE1-ZE3. Images for illustration purposes only. Closing date: 29 April 2020. Despatched from April 2020 onwards. All orders will be acknowledged by letter or email advising you of the expected dispatch date.

O R D E R Y O U R B E S T VA L U E P E R E N N I A L S PLEASE SEND ORDER AND PAYMENT TO

25 Beautiful Homes Best Value Perennials Offer, Dept TM_25BH7, PO Box 162, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3BX. I enclose a cheque made payable to T&M (no cash, please – write your name, address and order on the back) for the sum of £

Mrs/Miss/Ms/Mr

Initial

Surname

Address Postcode Daytime tel no (incl code) Email

CODE

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

QTY

KA9820

72 Best Value Perennial Collection (6 of each variety) £71.88

£9.99

KB4236

144 Best Value Perennial Collection (12 of each variety) £143.76

£18.99

56335

70 litres incredicompost® + 210g pack of incredibloom® fertiliser

£14.99

KA2524

Maxicrop Plant Treatment. One application cover your whole order

£1.00

Tick [ ]

T O TA L

P&P

£4.95

GRAND TOTAL

DATA PROTECTION By submitting your information, you agree to our Privacy Policy available at www.ti-media.com/privacy Please keep me up to date with special offers and news from 25 Beautiful Homes and other brands within TI Media Ltd by email , post , telephone and/or SMS . You can unsubscribe at any time. Please keep me up to date with special offers and news just by email from carefully selected companies. Your personal details will not be shared with those companies - we send the emails and you can unsubscribe at any time. TM_25BH7.

s to c k i s t s | 25bh

WHERE TO BUY Details of companies featured in the May issue

1stdibs 1stdibs.com 202 Design 202design.co.uk Abigail Ahern/EDITION debenhams.com Adrienne Chinn Design adriennechinn.net Alison Eldred alisoneldred.com Alphabeds alphabeds.co.uk amazon.co.uk amazon.co.uk Anna Karlin annakarlin.com Another Country anothercountry.com Antiques Atlas antiques-atlas.com Aram Store aram.co.uk Arlo & Jacob arloandjacob.com Asda asda.com Ashmore Spencer ashmorespencer.co.uk Atkin and Thyme atkinandthyme.co.uk B&B Italia london.bebitalia.com B&Q diy.com Benuta benuta.co.uk Birdie Fortescue birdiefortescue.co.uk Blue Island Home blueislandhome.co.uk Brownrigg Interiors & Decorative Antiques brownrigg-interiors.co.uk Bruun Rasmussen bruun-rasmussen.dk Cabbages & Roses cabbagesandroses.com Cable & Cotton cableandcotton.co.uk CafePress cafepress.co.uk Caoba caoba.co.uk Cavendish Equipment cavendishequipment.co.uk Celeste celesteprize.com CFS choicefurnituresuperstore.co.uk Chameleon Interiors chameleoninteriors.com Chelsea Textiles chelseatextiles.com Chive chiveuk.com Christopher Farr Cloth christopherfarrcloth.com City Cows citycows.co.uk Claremont claremontfurnishing.com Clever Little Monkey cleverlittlemonkey.co.za Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk CP Hart cphart.co.uk Crucial Trading crucial-trading.com Crystal Palace Antiques & Modern crystalpalaceantiques.com CTO Lighting cto-lighting.co.uk Cult Furniture cultfurniture.com Damson Consultancy damsondesign.com de Gournay degournay.com Decaso decaso.com Design Vintage designvintage.co.uk Disko Kids diskokids.co.uk Drench drench.co.uk Dulux dulux.co.uk Dunelm dunelm.com eBay ebay.com Emma Bridgewater emmabridgewater.co.uk English Salvage englishsalvage.co.uk Ercol ercol.com Etsy etsy.com Everhot everhot.co.uk

F&P Interiors fabricsandpapers.com Farrow & Ball farrow-ball.com Feather & Black featherandblack.com Felix Lighting felixlightingspecialists.co.uk Fern & Grey fernandgrey.com Finnish Design Shop finnishdesignshop.com Fired Earth firedearth.com Flooring4UK flooring4uk.co.uk Folk Interiors folkinteriors.co.uk Fritz Fryer fritzfryer.co.uk Funky Chunky Furniture funky-chunky-furniture.co.uk FY! iamfy.co Garden Trading gardentrading.co.uk George Smith georgesmith.co.uk GP&J Baker gpjbaker.com Graham and Green grahamandgreen.co.uk Habitat habitat.co.uk HĂ¤cker haecker-kuechen.de Hannah Wassef Interiors hannahwassef.com Happy Decs happydecs.co.uk Harmony Antiques harmonyantiques.co.uk Harts of Stur hartsofstur.com Haus hauslondon.com Havwoods havwoods.co.uk Healâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heals.co.uk Heathfield & Co heathfield.co.uk Henrietta Hayward 020 8673 3633 Holloways of Ludlow hollowaysofludlow.com Homebase homebase.co.uk Homeplace homeplace.co.uk Howdens howdens.com Hurlingham The Bath Company hurlinghambaths.co.uk Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design iandunn.com Ikea ikea.co.uk Illya Kitchens illyakitchens.com Indigenous indigenous.co.uk Industville industville.co.uk Innes innes.co.uk Jack Canning jackcanningdesign.com James Mudge jamesmudge.com Jane Clayton & Company janeclayton.co.uk Jim Lawrence jim-lawrence.co.uk Jo Cowen Architects jocowenarchitects.com John Lewis & Partners johnlewis.com Jonathan Adler uk.jonathanadler.com Julian Chichester julianchichester.com Juliette Byrne juliettebyrne.com Kim J Thornton kimjthornton.co.uk KosiLight kosilight.uk La Redoute laredoute.co.uk Ladderstore ladderstore.com Lanka Marine lankamarine.it Laura Ashley lauraashley.com Lauritz lauritz.com Lee Longlands leelonglands.co.uk Lefroy Brooks lefroybrooks.com Lewis & Wood lewisandwood.co.uk Linwood linwoodfabric.com Little Greene littlegreene.com

K L

Loaf loaf.com London Heritage Design londonheritagedesign.co.uk Love Your Home love-your-home.co.uk LoveAntiques.com loveantiques.com Lucy Tiffney lucytiffneyshop.com Lumiere Art & Co lumiereartandco.com.au Lusso lussostone.com M Goldstein mgoldstein.co.uk M&S marksandspencer.com Made made.com Made in Design madeindesign.co.uk Maisons du Monde maisonsdumonde.com Manuel Canovas manuelcanovas.com Marshbeck Interiors marshbeckreproductionfurniture.co.uk Matalan matalan.co.uk Max Made Me Do It maxmademedoit.com MDF Italia mdfitalia.it Melin Tregwynt melintregwynt.co.uk Millymog millymog.com Mylands mylands.co.uk Naked Kitchens nakedkitchens.com Natural Bed Company naturalbedcompany.co.uk Neptune neptune.com Nest nest.co.uk Next Home next.co.uk Nkuku nkuku.com Nobis Restaurant Furniture nobisrestaurantfurniture.co.uk Oka oka.com On Reflection Mirrors antiquemirrors.co.uk Original BTC originalbtc.com Otto Tiles & Design ottotiles.co.uk Paige Gemmel etsy.com Paint & Paper Library paintandpaperlibrary.com Pamono pamono.co.uk Papers and Paints papers-paints.co.uk Parker Howley & Co parkerhowleynco.co.uk Pash Classics pash-classics.com Penny Morrison pennymorrison.com Perch & Parrow perchandparrow.com Pezula Interiors pezulainteriors.co.za Piglet in Bed pigletinbed.com Plum Chutney plumchutney.com Pooky pooky.com Poppy and Honesty poppyandhonesty.com Print Arcade printarcade.co.uk PVA Developments pvad.co.uk Quay Point Construction qpcltd.com Rebecca Hughes Interiors rebeccahughesinteriors.com Robert Kime robertkime.com Rosanna Lonsdale rosannalonsdale.com Rose & Grey roseandgrey.co.uk Roundhouse roundhousedesign.com Rowen & Wren rowenandwren.co.uk Rug Store rugstoreonline.co.uk Rupert Bevan rupertbevan.com Sanderson stylelibrary.com/sanderson Sarah Jane Humphrey sarahjanehumphrey.com

O P

Q R

Scaramanga scaramangashop.co.uk Scumble Goosie scumblegoosie.co.uk Silk Road Gallery silkroadgallery.co.uk Sissy & Marley sissyandmarley.com Skandium skandium.com Sklum sklum.com Smith smithstudio.co.za Soane Britain soane.co.uk Sofa.com sofa.com Spark & Bell sparkandbell.com Starc Architects starc.co.za Stocktons stocktons.co.uk Studio Ogee studioogee.co.uk Sue Whimster Curtains suewhimster.co.uk Surrey Marble & Granite surreymarbleandgranite.co.uk Susie Watson Designs susiewatsondesigns.co.uk Swoon swooneditions.com Tapiso tapiso.co.uk The Basket Room thebasketroom.com The Cast Iron Bath Company castironbath.co.uk The Conran Shop conranshop.co.uk The Curious Department thecuriousdepartment.com The Dormy House thedormyhouse.com The Forest & Co theforestandco.com The French Bedroom Company frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk The Night Sky thenightsky.com The Rug Company therugcompany.com The Rug Shop of Tunbridge Wells therugshoptw.co.uk The Sofa & Chair Company thesofaandchair.co.uk The White Company thewhitecompany.com Tikamoon tikamoon.co.uk Tile Mountain tilemountain.co.uk Tiles Direct tiles-direct.com Tom Dixon tomdixon.net ToodleAndPip etsy.com/uk/shop/ToodleAndPip Trouva trouva.com Turnbull & Thomas turnbullandthomas.co.uk Twentytwentyone twentytwentyone.com Vanessa Arbuthnott vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk Vaughan vaughandesigns.com Ventrolla ventrolla.co.uk Victorian Plumbing victorianplumbing.co.uk Vinterior vinterior.co WA Green wagreen.co.uk Walls and Floors wallsandfloors.co.uk Wayfair wayfair.co.uk West Elm westelm.co.uk Wickes wickes.co.uk William James Antiques & Interiors williamjamesantiques.co.uk Woo Design woodesign.ie Wood and Beyond woodandbeyond.com Wren Kitchens wrenkitchens.com Zoffany stylelibrary.com/zoffany

2 5 B H M AY 2020 | 13 9

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ABOUT the HOUSE

Products and services designed to enhance your living space

WAS YOUR CONSERVATORY TOO COLD IN WINTER AND TOO HOT IN SUMMER?

TRANSFORM YOUR HOME A true heritage brand renowned for exceptional quality and beauty, David Salisbury designs and manufactures award-winning orangeries, oak buildings, kitchen extensions and garden rooms with cutting-edge technology. A truly personal service from start to finish with experienced designers visiting your home, taking responsibility for planning permission and project managing your build. David Salisbury is offering readers free planning (£1,200*) until 15 Apr 20. To claim, call 01278 764415 quoting BH0104 or visit davidsalisbury.com. *T&Cs apply.

ENHANCE YOUR GARDEN WITH A LUTYENS BENCH

AS SEEN ON

RECOMMENDED BY

This fast and efficient solution will transform your conservatory into a warm comfortable living space. Exclusive to Conservatory Insulations, the UK market leaders, and comprising technology developed by NASA for the Apollo programme, the Conservaheat layered foil quilt system is suitable for roofs of all styles and will insulate your conservatory for a fraction of the cost of a new tiled roof. A proven energy-saving product - liable to only 5% VAT - your new conservatory insulation will allow you to relax in comfort. Readers receive an exclusive 25% discount. For a free site survey, visit conservatoryinsulations.com or call 0800 634 3179 and quote promo-code 25BH520.

An iconic design, sturdy, practical, beautifully smooth and tactile, our Lutyens Hardwood Bench will enhance any garden. The bench is stained, oiled and gently rubbed down by hand to match our furniture range. Made from Hardwood Acacia from sustainable sources. Reduced from £279.99 to £149.99. There is a matching Coffee Table, which is reduced from £119.99 to £74.99. Cushions for the bench and to turn the coffee table into a footstool are also available to buy. To order please visit www.plant-theatre.co.uk. The bench arrives flat-packed and part-assembled. Includes free UK mainland delivery.

EVERY GARDEN DESERVES A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN ROOM

Leading British garden room manufacturer SMART offer seven unique ranges, in over 60 sizes along with a wide choice of optional extras and upgrades, enabling you to create an amazing space to work, rest or play. With prices starting from as little as £7,944, redefining your living or working space has never been easier. Contact us for a copy of our catalogue or a FREE no obligation site consultation. Telephone: 0800 242 5559 Website: smartgardenoffices.co.uk

TAKE A SEAT

BESPOKE BLINDS FOR STYLISH LIVING Control the temperature and ambience of your home with these stunning bespoke blinds. Provide valuable shade and insulation, and help reduce glare to create a relaxing environment. Perfect for conservatories, orangeries, gables, roof lanterns and bi-folding doors, with remote control options and smart device integration. Contact Conservatory Blinds Limited for your free brochure or quotation, and save up to 25% off the most popular blinds in the Spring Sale. Call 0800 071 8888 or visit www.conservatoryblinds.co.uk/offers

This gorgeous hardwood Adirondack folding chair is stained, oiled and gently rubbed down by hand. The finish is a delight, never mind the width of the paddle style arms to take books and drinks, you will be running your hands down them as they are so smooth and tactile. Reduced from £189.99 to £114.99, matching accessories available to buy separately include a table (down from £73.99 to £44.99), footstool (down from £72.99 to £46.99) high back cushion with pillow headrest (down from £69.99 to £39.99) and chair cover. To order please visit www.plant-theatre.co.uk. The chair arrives flat-packed and part-assembled. Includes free UK mainland delivery.

See all our listings at about-the-house.co.uk. To advertise please contact Michael on 020 7843 6958 or email michaelguest@about-the-house.co.uk About the House and the companies shown in this advertisement feature are wholly independent of 25 Beautiful Home Magazine. Care has been taken to establish that the advertisers are legitimate. It is recommended that you carry out your own checks before making a purchase. When making a purchase we recommend payment by credit card.

Marketplace sofas and sofa beds

GREAT BRITISH SOFAS DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER SALE NOW ON UP TO 30% OFF

Florence 3 seater sofa in velvet was £1139 - Sale price £849

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For a free colour brochure call 01495 244226 furniture

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Spacecraft

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Elgar sofa was £469 - now £349

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Call for your free brochure 01495 243999

www.oakridgedirect.co.uk Tele 01685 844944

beds & bedding

Handcrafted for you in Nottinghamshire

Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co. Hand made in Norfolk. Guaranteed to last a lifetime.

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To advertise here, please call 020 3148 2261, or email homeinterestclassified@ti-media.com

Marketplace floor coverings

garden furniture

Tregothnan Oak Flooring

Ironwork Door Canopies

Hand-crafted in Cornwall Aspen and Ash produces artisan, hand crafted floors for those wishing to enhance the beauty of a space with a stunning wooden floor of genuine, lasting quality. Our designer floors use the finest quality, exclusive Tregothan Oak, Olive Ash as well as reclaimed Douglas Fir and Pitch Pine, to offer unparalleled stability, finish and durability. Our hand crafted parquet and chevron flooring is created with natural form and long lasting function, and laid to stand the test of time. From the forest to the floor, Aspen and Ash is committed to preserving historic woodland with all flooring cut, kiln dried and finished in Cornwall, then delivered throughout the UK.

ASPEN & ASH

www.aspenandash.co.uk 01209 210753 / 07980 703760 Aspen & Ash, Cardrew Business Park, Redruth, TR15 1SQ

catalogue available

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www.garden-requisites.co.uk

home improvements

The ultimate luxury for your home Homelifts by Stannah

Whether enhancing the value of your property or looking to move effortlessly between floors at home – the possibilities for transforming your life with Stannah are endless. Take the Salise, our stylish two person lift that can be fitted stress-free almost anywhere in your home, with minimum disruption. Or our executive lifts, which offer spacious travel for up to four or five people over several floors. Then there’s the Butler service lift, a musthave luxury for your kitchen. Discover the benefits our range of homelifts can bring to you today.

The Midilift Spacious travel

The Butler lift Welcome helping hand

Call us to ﬁnd out more

FREEPHONE 0800 414 8779 www.stannahhomelifts.co.uk The Salise Discreetly indispensable

To advertise here, please call 020 3148 2261, or email homeinterestclassified@ti-media.com

Marketplace home improvements

Vintage Style Homewares and Furniture

SMALL IN SIZE BIG ON COMFORT

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HOME INNOVATIONS

*Credit is subject to status and affordability. Representative Example: Cash price £4,500.00, 30% deposit of £1,350.00, amount of credit £3,150.00, annual rate of interest 0% p.a ﬁxed, 0% APR Representative, 24 monthly repayments of £131.25, total amount payable £4,500.00 (including deposit).

Tubby Tub - only 1200mm long. 5 sizes manufactured

Albion’s range of small free standing baths are big on comfort. From only 1200mm long and sumptuously deep, you can now have the best of both worlds - luxury bathing in a small space. Made using our unique Iso-Enamel material gives you benefits that other materials cannot provide. So what’s so good?

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An Albion bath is less than half the weight of a cast iron bath. The average weight of our baths is 70kg.

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Your bathing water will stay hotter for up to five times longer.

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Clean an Albion bath with all modern liquid cleaners.

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An Albion bath has a hard, high gloss interior that gives years of sterling service.

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Customise the bath exterior with any colour.

Request your brochure of our range of over 50 free standing bath tubs, taps and sanitaryware items.

ALBION

01255 831605 albionbathco.com

BAT H C O M PA N Y

HAND MADE IN ENGLAND

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25bh | i d e a s to s h a r e This stunning Caribbean retreat is a tribute to modern rattan

ROOM ENVY

he trend for all things rattan, cane and raffia is showing no signs of slowing down. Gone are the days when you’d only find wicker furniture in your great aunt’s sunroom; it’s now stocked at almost every furniture retailer, from high end to high street, with products as varied as placemats and lampshades, bar stools and bed frames. This month we feature a scheme that’s a true celebration of the art of woven natural material. This sitting room in the Colleton Suite at Cobblers Cove in Barbados was a design collaboration between the storied hotel and Lulu Lytle, co-founder of Soane Britain. Lytle provided all the rattan elements, including Soane’s Lily armchair, upholstered here in muted coral cotton, the 14 6 | 2 5 B H M AY 2020

Gregory console table and the attractively globed Gourd table lamps. The woven theme continues on the ground, where a textural straw floor covering in a circular pattern offers visual intrigue and softness underfoot. Large-scale artwork in varied shades of the same terracotta tone and a lightweight ivory curtain fabric with a coral repeat pattern give the room a sunset feel, while a collection of beachcombed seashells completes the look. Although this summery decor was designed with the tropical climes of the Caribbean in mind, its chic, classically English aesthetic would translate effortlessly into the conservatories, solariums and orangeries of Britain, promising transporting moments year round, whatever the weather may be. FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY

Each month we bring you a scheme that delights, dazzles and inspires

Transform your existing staircase with no mess, no fuss and best of all no building work Renovating your staircase into an exquisite feature is much easier and less costly than you’d imagine. In just 1-2 days and with no building work, we will transform the heart of your home, and add value to your property with a stunning, handcrafted staircase. All in a style to suit you and your budget. GLASS, STEEL & TIMBER DESIGNS NO STAIRCASE TOO LARGE OR SMALL BRITISH DESIGN & CRAFTSMANSHIP NO BUILDING WORK TYPICALLY INSTALLED IN 1-2 DAYS 10 YEAR GUARANTEE BUY NOW PAY IN 12 MONTHS*

for our latest brochure

nevillejohnson.co.uk | 0161 873 8333 *Buy now pay in 12 months finance offer is available on orders over £2,000 +VAT. Finance is subject to status, terms apply.

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Articles inside

in this London maisonette has resulted in a striking home full of energy and character ALL I N GOOD TIME Waiting to find the right antique pieces to suit this Victorian house’s classic proportions has paid off for this London couple

their old one was the ideal solution for one London family BOLD MOVES A dark, dramatic palette has given this

in Essex has been given a contemporary update TROPICAL TWIST The Cayman Islands

evolved to meets the needs of their expanding family LIGHT FANTASTIC Bright colours and vibrant

with spectacular city and mountain views GOOD VIBRATIONS Natural tones and quirky finds

near Melbourne provided the perfect canvas for this imaginative owner’s vibrant decorating style CREATIVE SPIRIT This elegant Edwardian terrace in Cornwall is filled with beautiful botanical artwork

T O THE MANOR BORN A desire to