4 minute read
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
from Gavvav
Creative spirit
This elegant, inviting period townhouse is a showcase and studio for Sarah Jane Humphrey’s delicate botanical artwork
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FEATURE KATHERINE SORRELL | PHOTOGRAPHY ANYA RICE/GAP INTERIORS
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
home truths
T H E P R O P E R T Y
Mid-terraced Edwardian house LOCATION Cornwall ROOMS Hallway, sitting room, living room, dining room, kitchen-diner, five bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom, studio PURCHASED 2008
PREVIOUS PROPERTY
‘We lived in a four-bedroom house in Falmouth,’ says Sarah Jane.
coastal
25bh
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
Sarah 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
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
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
STUDIO Plenty of natural wood brings warmth to Sarah Jane’s artist’s space. Bekvam stool, £20, Ikea, is a match
25bh
coastal
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 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.’
BATHROOM A cosy chair by the fire adds extra comfort.
Sea holly print, £85, Sarah Jane Humphrey
ISLA’S ROOM
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
in the house. Shotgun. The best seat
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