ON THE COVER RESTORATION WORK Floral prints

BATHROOM

A freestanding tub is the perfect setting for long, leisurely baths, while the balcony offers stunning views of the garden HB This bright and inviting space, with its cosy touches, such as sheepskin rugs and woollen throws, combines vintage pieces with a minimalist-inspired aesthetic. Nicole decorates seasonally so she can constantly change and update rooms

Recreate Nicole and Thorsten’s modern country scheme with soft colours and natural textures

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1 Natural cowhide rug, £420, Amara 2 Frederick pendant, £84, Dar Lighting 3 Perl cereal bowls, £50/four, Soho Home 4 Stafford leather dining chair, £695, Oka 5 Lazy quilt throw, £195, Loaf 6 Black lantern, £62, Layered Lounge 7 Graphite wall paint, £41.95/2.5L, Annie Sloan 8 lamp, £275, Rose & Grey 9 Water hyacinth basket, £55, Mint & May 10 Angie sofa in Sand, £3,080, Sweetpea & Willow 11 Kentia palm, £80, House Beautiful Collection at Homebase 12 Tolix-style metal kitchen stool, £59, Cult Furniture

ST Y LE IT FOR UNDER £30

HOME PROFILE

WHO LIVES HERE Kate Monckton, an interior designer THE PROPERTY A Grade II-listed 18th-century house in East Sussex, originally a bakery and cottage, now converted into a single four-bedroom home

LIVING ROOM

A soft sky shade, Blue Grass by Fired Earth, was the starting point for Kate’s interior scheme, and provides a serene Kamala by William Yeoward

RESTORATION WORK

WORDS JO LEEVERS | PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH | PRODUCTION BEN KENDRICK

LIVING ROOM

Eighteenth-century beams and classical symmetry combine to beautiful effect in this harmonious space, in which Kate has included both traditional furnishings and a few more modern pieces, such as the copper coffee table from Habitat and the Jasper Morrison for Cappellini sofa

PORTRAIT

Kate at her kitchen table. Her priority when she moved in was to create a sense of timelessness and calm oday, the weatherboarded and brick buildings in the street where Kate Monckton lives are

Talmost all houses. But just 50 years ago, it must have had a very different feel. As the local bakery, Kate ’ s own house had a commanding position in the village. A note from the last of the bakers, which Kate still has, describes a sweet shop, greengrocer, butcher, tailor and an undertaker along the row. ‘That note is a lovely snapshot of how the village was 50 years ago, ’ says Kate.

When she first moved to this East Sussex village, Kate was mindful of respecting the Grade II-listed house ’ s history, with features that include 18th-century beams, worn brick paving and the original cast-iron oven. However, she also wanted to introduce a new feel to reflect her own personality and interiors style. First, the house was given a thorough overhaul, which included installing a damp course, stripping back and replastering the walls, upgrading the heating and plumbing, and laying new flooring. ‘Previously, it had rather bright pine floorboards, which didn ’t suit the mood of the building, ’ explains Kate.

Darker rough-sawn oak boards now run from the front living room to the adjoining snug at the back, where Kate reads or watches TV in the evenings. The walls were already lined in dark oak panelling, but Kate has hung a row of ceremonial masks from Africa on one side, to add a different style note to the beamed space. ‘Although the panelling is not original to the property, it does date from the 18th century, so is in keeping with the architecture, ’ she says. A hefty salvaged door, also a later addition that Kate inherited, leads from this space into the brick-paved rear hallway. ‘The door came from a prison and has a metal peephole in its centre, ’ she explains.

An altogether lighter mood prevails in the main living room, which is painted in the powdery shade of Blue Grass by Fired Earth.

KITCHEN/DINER

Built-in banquette seating, the dining area. A ceiling light from Jim Lawrence hangs above the table, and African woven baskets on the wall add texture

the idea of having a slightly unexpected colour in here, ’ says Kate. This blue backdrop provided the starting point for her interiors scheme, which ‘ came together surprisingly quickly, ’ she continues. ‘As I rented a house around the corner before I moved in here, I was in the enviable position of being able to pop in when the builders weren ’t around, ’ she recalls. ‘I took all of my fabric and paint samples with me, which allowed me to calmly and quietly build up a picture of each room. From that point, my choices felt instinctive. ’

The building work included turning the previous kitchen with the old Victorian bakery oven into a utility room and relocating the kitchen/diner to the rear of the house, where it has views over the secluded walled garden. For the kitchen ’ s cabinetry, dining table and bespoke built-in seating, Kate chose Fired Earth’ s Wild Olive. ‘I know I won ’t get bored with this shade – the entire house was designed with longevity in mind, ’ she says.

Collections of art and vintage objects, from gleaming 1920s glassware to decorative ceramics made by Kate, add more pizzazz and personality. Before working as an interior designer, Kate ran her own fashion PR company, but moving here gave her more time to learn new skills, including pottery. She has recently set up a small studio at home, selling online and in Streett Marburg ’ s antiques shop in Fulham.

Kate has a longstanding love of fabrics and chose classic prints by Lewis & Wood and William Yeoward for curtains and upholstery, with just a glimpse of Morris & Co ’ s Strawberry Thief on a headboard in a guest bedroom. A pair of Piero Lissoni velvet armchairs, picked up for a song at Lots Road Auctions in Chelsea, and a copper coffee table strike more contemporary notes. ‘I have a few modern pieces but I deliberately didn ’t choose anything too trend-driven, ’ says Kate. ‘Instead, I wanted to create a sense of timelessness and calm. ’

KITCHEN/DINER

For the cabinetry, dining table and built-in seating, Kate chose Fired Earth’s Wild Olive paint: ‘I know I won’t get bored with this shade, ’ she says. The tiles are Fired Earth’s Star Anise in Buttercup by Neisha Crosland

SNUG

With dark oak panelling, this is a cosy space where Kate likes to read and watch TV in the evenings. The sofa is covered in Kimono from Lewis & Wood. Kate’s dog Billy sits on a velvet chair by Piero Lissoni for Living Divani