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

home truths

T H E P R O P E R T Y

Detached house built in the 1920s LOCATION Torquay, Devon ROOMS Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner, four bedrooms, two bathrooms BOUGHT I N 2013

PREVIOUS PROPERTY

‘We rented a modern flat just down the road,’ says Antonia.

vibrations GOOD

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

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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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

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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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It 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

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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

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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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.’

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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

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

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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