Jjjjop

MO RE INSPIR AT I O NA L HOM E S T HA N AN Y OT HER MAGA ZINE

25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES MAGIC & SPARKLE READY FOR THE SEASON

Cosy living spaces and dining room inspiration ‘I love bringing the outside in at this time of year’ FLORIST WILLOW CROSSLEY

A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER

Delightful houses full of festive decorating ideas

DECEMBER 2021

25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES M ORE INS PIRAT IO NAL H O M ES T HAN AN Y OTHE R M AGA ZI NE

no.

2

no.

7

Careful planning was key to the successful refurbishment of this listed property (p20)

3

no.

How a pair of serial renovators converted a doctors’ surgery into two homes (p26)

no.

8

no.

4

no.

9

Exciting colour combinations are a hallmark of this Boston home (p32)

Foliage and greenery This breathtaking chalet Colour and pattern fill bring vibrant life to the in the French Alps is the home of renowned home of florist Willow the perfect retreat for textile designer Vanessa Crossley (p52) the festive season (p58) Arbuthnott (p63)

no.

With its spacious, sociable layout, this home comes into its own at Christmas (p12)

5

no.

10

no.

no.

1

6

Dramatic changes to This Victorian semi has been transformed with the layout and decor beautifully rich dark reinvigorated a terraced colours (p47) house (p40)

no.

Swiss and British Christmas traditions are celebrated in colourful style (p67)

11

Shades of blue bring a sense of harmony to the mix of decorative styles in this period semi (p72)

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 7

13

no.

12

no.

no.

17

no.

18

no.

23

A restrained palette This once neglected allows the features of an Regency house has arts and crafts house been restored to its to shine (p78) period splendour (p82)

The owner’s creative flair has brought warm character to this Portuguese flat (p104)

no.

22

A timeless yet modern kitchen is the centre of family life in this new build home (p128)

8 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

A converted barn has become the perfect holiday home for a family of seven (p109)

The brief for a luxe hotel-style bedroom has been exquisitely fulfilled (p133)

no.

14

A Canadian home has been given a Scandi-inspired makeover (p90)

no.

19

Gorgeous lake views informed the design and decor of this new build (p114)

no.

24

15

no.

16

20

no.

21

no.

This pretty holiday How a cottage and cottage has been schoolhouse were decorated to reflect its combined to create one stunning home (p94) coastal location (p100)

no.

For this pair, filling their A large extension is the home with antiques was venue for this home’s dramatic kitchen and the continuation of a living space (p124) family tradition (p118)

no.

25

Room Envy

This bright and orderly Sacrificing a bedroom A glamorous minimalist spa retreat in Sweden scheme is a masterclass allowed this family to with magical wintry in making a home create the bathroom of views (p146) office work (p136) their dreams (p140)

EDITOR’S LET TER

| 25bh

25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Sarah Spiteri Homes Editor Fiona Mace Group Creative Director Emma Williams Group Chief Sub Editor Jennifer Spaeth Content and Product Development Director Michael Holmes Brand Development Director Laura Crombie Homes Content Team Editorial Director Rhoda Parry Group Art Director Alison Walter Deputy Art Director Emma Jackson Art Editors Melanie Brown and Paula Jardine Head of Subs Operations Maxine Clarke Hub Chief Sub Editor Carly Rigley Senior Sub Editors Marian McNamara and Karen Wiley

MANAGEMENT Senior Vice President, Womens, Homes & Country Sophie Wybrew-Bond Managing Director of Homes Jason Orme Chief Audience & Ecommerce Officer Aaron Asadi Finance Director Mags & Subs Dan Jotcham SVP Global Operations & Marketforce Adrian Hughes

SYNDICATION Sales Executive Efi Mandrides (efi.mandrides@futurenet.com)

WELCOME ‘Christmas is not the time to be minimalist,’ says Claudia Ludwig, who loves to break her usual restrained style rules at this time of year and indulge in some full-on festive finery in her chic home (page 67). And we certainly agree – we’ve been marvelling at the bold seasonal style that seems to have caught everyone’s imaginations. Unsurprisingly, renowned florist Willow Crossley uses an abundance of greenery against a backdrop of uplifting pattern

CIRCULATION

to bring cheer to her relaxed country cottage (page 52). For those

Circulation Manager Katie Greenan (katie.greenan@futurenet.com)

of us who believe colour is not just for Christmas, take inspiration

MARKETING Head of Marketing Sian Cupid (sian.cupid@futurenet.com) Deputy Head of Marketing Laura Timms (laura.timms@futurenet.com)

ADVERTISING Commercial Director Rob Biagioni (rob.biagioni@futurenet.com) Head of Homes Nicola Ponting (nicola.ponting@futurenet.com) Brand Director Rebecca Vincze (rebecca.vincze@futurenet.com) International/Luxury Accounts Manager Carole Bunce (carole.bunce@futurenet.com) Classified Advertising Enquiries Simone Adams (simone.adams@futurenet.com)

INSERT SALES Canopy Media Michael Davie (020 7611 1062) Insert Sales Manager Katherine Brown (07464 544375)

PRODUCTION Head of Art Production Nicola Tillman Art Production Designers Chris Saggers and Phil Dunk Group Production Manager Clare Scott Production Controller Bill Argent Advertising Production Manager Nick Williams (nick.williams@futurenet.com) Senior Ad Production Manager Jo Crosby

INTERNATIONAL LICENSING 25 Beautiful Homes is available for licensing. To find our more contact us at licensing@futurenet.com or view our available content at www.futurecontenthub.com Head of Print Licensing Rachel Shaw

SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES help@magazinesdirect.com

BACK ISSUES Magazines Direct help@magazinesdirect.com (+44(0)330 333 1113) magazinesdirect.com Vol 24 No 12 ISSN 1369529 © Future PLC, 2021.

Distributed by Marketforce (UK) Ltd, 3rd Floor, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP (020 3787 9001)

from Liz Caan’s riot of pattern and vibrancy in her amazing house in Boston (page 32). And if you’re still looking for a last-minute present for someone, why not treat them to a subscription to 25 Beautiful Homes?

All the details are below. Happy Holidays.

FIONA MACE, HOMES EDITOR

INSTAGRAM Follow us @25beautifulhomesmagazine DIGITAL EDITIONS Find back issues on your device

SUBSCRIBE to 25 Beautiful Homes for just £34.50 a year, plus get a free welcome gift (see page 88). Go to magazinesdirect.com/ XBH/XM21

We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from responsibly managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. The paper in this magazine was sourced and produced from sustainable managed forests, conforming to strict environmental and socioeconomic standards. The manufacturing paper mill and printer hold full FSC and PEFC certification and accreditation.

All contents © 2021 Future Publishing Limited or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press.

Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any other changes or updates to them. This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.

If you submit material to us, you warrant that you own the material and/or have the necessary rights/permissions to supply the material and you automatically grant Future and its licensees a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in any/all issues and/or editions of publications, in any format published worldwide and on associated websites, social media channels and associated products. Any material you submit is sent at your own risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents, subcontractors or licensees shall be liable for loss or damage. We assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise stated, and reserve the right to edit, amend, adapt all submissions.

Editorial Complaints We work hard to achieve the highest standards of editorial content, and we are committed to complying with the Editors’ Code of Practice (ipso.co.uk/IPSO/cop.html) as enforced by IPSO. If you have a complaint about our editorial content, you can email us at 25beautifulhomes@futurenet.com or write to 25 Beautiful Homes, Future, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. Please provide details of the material you are complaining about and explain your complaint by reference to the Editors’ Code. We will endeavour to acknowledge your complaint within five working days and we aim to correct substantial errors as soon as possible.

25 Beautiful Homes is published by Future PLC, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. Printed by Walstead UK Limited. Cover printed by Walstead UK Limited. Publisher’s subscriptions rates for 12 issues (including p&p): UK, £57.60; Europe and Eire, €187.80; USA and Canada, $122.80; rest of the world, £143.30. For all subscription enquiries and UK orders, please email help@magazinesdirect.com.

2 5 B H D EC E M B E R 202 1 | 11

1

no.

C O N S E R VAT O R Y Lotte’s brother salvaged the conservatory from a care home and it now serves as a fantastic entertaining space.

Try the Chiavari gold chairs, from £41.94 each, Strictly Tables & Chairs.

Kibibi wooden candle sticks, from £29.95, Ironbridge Candle Company, are similar

OPEN HOUSE

Lotte and Kees Vink’s extensive renovation has given them a sociable, open-plan space that’s perfect for festive gatherings FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM | PHOTOGRAPHY MUK VAN LIL/COC FEATURES

12 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY 1920s semi-detached house L O C AT I O N The Netherlands R O O M S Kitchen-diner/ sitting area, office, cloakroom, conservatory, three bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2016 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were living in a tiny two-bed house in The Hague,’ says Lotte.

SITTING AREA A velvet chair and curtains deliver drama and luxury.

Try the patterned side table in Gold, £219 for two, Barker and Stonehouse

DINING ROOM A vintage chandelier, hung from a steel structure that was added beneath the roof light, is a beautiful focal point.

Try Decorative Collective for a similar chandelier and antique dining table

KITCHEN The bespoke kitchen was hand-painted so that the grain is still apparent.

Kitchen by Dutch company Wood Creations; Roundhouse sells similar cabinetry in the UK. Painswick Ghoul oak herringbone floor, £54.95 sq m, Luxury Flooring, has this look SITTING AREA The piano is an antique, found at an online auction.

Lotte loves the lush feel the plant introduces.

The patchwork stork was bought from a local garden centre, Westland Florada; for a similar stork sculpture try Vinterior, £365

W

ith its spacious, entirely open-plan ground floor, the Dutch home of Lotte and Kees Vink comes into its own at Christmas. ‘We purposefully bought an enormous dining table so that we could entertain family and friends,’ notes Kees, adding, ‘We knew from the outset that we wanted this to be a very sociable home.’

When the 1920s house – which is situated in the town of Wateringen near The Hague – first came on the market, the couple dismissed it as too expensive. ‘We were living in a tiny property in the Hague but I grew up in Wateringen and my father mentioned that this house was for sale over dinner one evening,’ Lotte recalls. She continues, ‘It came

with quite a lot of land and storage, which interested my father as he owns a demolition company. In the end, we agreed that he would buy the property and sell us the house, so that he could keep the storage for his business.’

Lotte runs her own interior design firm although she first trained as a carpenter, and her skills can be witnessed throughout the house. ‘With the help of my father, Kees and I undertook almost all the work ourselves,’ she says of the extensive renovation, which entailed taking the house back to its stud walls. A series of small rooms were knocked together to create the open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting area, with Lotte’s office separated from this space by a striking metal-framed glazed wall. Upstairs, more steel2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 15

LOET’S BEDROOM A fabulous wallpaper accentuates the room’s ceiling height.

Max Toucan wallpaper, £65 for a roll, Fabrics & Papers. Sniglar cot bed, £40, Ikea MAIN B AT H R O O M The tiles mark out the shower area in this wetroom style space.

Try the Elegance brushed gold bar shower with riser, £495, Lusso MAIN BEDROOM A simple wooden bed has been transformed with paint.

Wall behind headboard in Card Room Green estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball KEESJE’S BEDROOM The canopy lends a fairy-tale quality to the iron bed.

Try the Numero 74 canopy in Powder, £94, Smallable

framed glass serves as a partition between the couple’s bedroom and their bathroom. ‘We love that feeling of openness the glazing creates,’ observes Kees.

Having grown up with her father’s business – which has since been handed over to her brother – Lotte has an affinity for old materials and reclaimed pieces, and the couple have incorporated these into the house, from vintage doors and fireplaces to an entire conservatory, which is heated with a wood burner in winter. ‘It’s astonishing what some people decide to throw away,’ marvels Kees.

In their quest for vintage pieces, the couple also scour flea markets, online auctions and websites such as Catawiki.

‘When we bought the dining table, it was missing two 16 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

extension leaves and the family who were selling it told us that they had been used as firewood during the war when it was very cold,’ explains Lotte, who had the missing pieces remade so that the table can extend to over three metres.

Lotte’s love of colour is evident throughout the home: notably a palette of greens and reds that proves the perfect backdrop to her festive displays. ‘Since we moved here, we have had our two children, Keesje, who is nearly four and Loet, who is almost two,’ says Lotte, who continues, ‘I began a tradition that every Christmas the children can each choose a decoration to buy and this year will be the first time that Loet will select one. It’s wonderful to get them involved in decorating the house – their excitement is infectious.’

MAIN BEDROOM AND EN SUITE A steel-framed glazed partition allows the light to circulate between the spaces and brings an industrial edge to the aesthetic.

Bespoke glass partition, Glass At Work. The Astonian Rimini, £1,420, from Aston Matthews, is a similar bathtub. Try the Honed Black slate tiles, £61.89sq m, Topps Tiles

‘Rather than a grey or white, I went for a very pale green on some of the walls – it creates a soothing, natural feel’ D E C O R ATI N G TI P

Perfectly planned Viveca and Peter Stewart used care and forethought to make big changes to their home – and they take a similar approach to getting ready for Christmas FEATURE CELIA RUFEY | PHOTOGRAPHY JODY STEWART/NARRATIVES

20 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

no.

SITTING ROOM Originally all the walls were exposed, but the couple decided to plaster all but one to make the space brighter.

Bumpster corner sofa, £2,745, Loaf.

Gotland wool throw, £69, Nordic Nest, has this look. Find similar embroidered cushions, from £58 each, Anthropologie.

Nordlux Aver 50 pendant light, £138.84, Comet Lighting

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A Grade II-listed 16th-century priory with 19th-century addition L O C AT I O N Kent R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner/living area, playroom, study, six bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before we moved here, we lived in a Victorian terraced house in south London,’ says Viveca.

2

KITCHEN Accents of wood warm up this more contemporary space.

Kitchen, Simon Jewell Designs. Units in French Gray estate eggshell; island in Down Pipe estate eggshell, both £67 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Bar stools, £250 each, Cox & Cox

2 2 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

W

hen Viveca and Peter Stewart decided to move from London to Kent in 2012, the prospect of Peter’s commute to the city was outweighed by their desire to bring up their children – Marta, now 12, Maxi, 10 and Scarlett, 8 – in the country. Viveca declares herself ‘a glutton for a handsome house’, and a restoration project was desirable.

‘We wanted space for the children to have freedom to play and explore without us watching their every move,’ she says.

The house they purchased is one of those places hidden away without being too isolated. This six-bedroom property with a two-acre garden had once been a priory, and the oldest part of the Grade II-listed building dates from the 16th century with a 19th-century addition. ‘As soon as I went into the house I could see myself living here,’ Viveca recalls. ‘Though the house is old, it has a very easy feel.’ But, unsurprisingly, there was a good deal of upheaval before the interior would work for their family.

The previous owners had their kitchen in the oldest part of the building, a room with beamed ceiling, exposed brick walls and access through a stone archway to a utility room. The Stewarts wanted this characterful space as their sitting room. They retained the brickwork on the window wall only and plastered the other walls with panelling on the lower part. An oak floor was laid and a wood-burning stove installed. Now this cosy space is Viveca’s favourite retreat, with the former utility room furnished as a study.

The kitchen was re-sited at the other end of the house in the 19th-century extension, and Viveca gave considerable

DINING AREA The glazed ceiling lantern and French doors flood the room with light.

Similar Eichholtz Kasbah chandelier, from £480, Sweetpea & Willow. The Oslo oak spindle back chairs, £350 for two, Cox & Cox, have this look. Painted cabinet, price on request, Simon Jewell Designs

MAIN BEDROOM Comfortable seating makes the most of the space in this converted attic and creates an inviting feel.

Walls in Egyptian Cotton matt emulsion, £26 for 5ltr, Dulux. Cushion covers, from £40 each; luxury wool-cashmere throw, £170, all The White Company.

The Olivia CD6 painted chest of drawers, £819, Scumble Goosie, has this look

B AT H R O O M Previously a bedroom, this space has a generous shower with a floor-level tray for a wet-room look.

Dawlish Victorian slipper cast-iron bath, £1,331.26, The Cast Iron Bath Company. Walls in French Grey 113 intelligent matt emulsion, £51.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

2 4 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

thought to the specifics of its arrangement. ‘I do lots of cooking and like storage to be logical and positioned for easy access,’ she says. ‘It’s also a live-in kitchen complete with sofa and though the children have a large playroom, they tend to bring everything in here!’

In contrast to the atmospheric light in the sitting room, the kitchen is exceptionally well lit thanks to the addition of an open-plan conservatory dining extension. The planning authorities allowed the architecture of the extension to be contemporary but the condition for gaining approval was the commissioning of handmade bricks for the exterior elevation to match the size and mix of colours in the period bricks. Even the mortar had to match.

Acknowledging the age and quality of the house, Viveca has kept background decoration simple with painted walls throughout. ‘I don’t think the house needs dressing up,’ she says, ‘but I’ve added interesting textiles and spots of bright colour to complement features, especially the windows.’

Decorating the house at Christmas is handled with similar restraint and an emphasis on the handmade. On the first weekend in December, Viveca invites friends over so that they can all make wreaths for their front doors. Over the following weeks, Viveca and the children construct stars and wooden trees out of hazel twigs and they all enjoy making Christmas gifts. ‘The children have now learned to make pastry for mince pies, and each of them puts one out with a carrot when they hang up their stockings on Christmas Eve.’ And despite the house being hidden away, Father Christmas always manages to find it.

SITTING ROOM As the property is listed, all original features were maintained but Mary-Anne picked furniture with sleek lines for a modern look.

Mirrored brass coffee table, £772; bespoke silver grey rug, both Gallo & Gallo. Pica wallcovering, £94.50 a roll, Romo. Chandelier, £600, Bella Figura.

Utrecht vase table lamp (on sideboard), £882, Vaughan. Marble fireplace, from a selection, Chesneys

26 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

no.

3

home truths THE PROPERTY Georgian villa, built in 1822 L O C AT I O N Scotland R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen, sunroom, cloakroom, five bedrooms (two en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2019 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we rented locally,’ says Mary-Anne.

GRAND DESIGN

Serial renovators Mary-Anne and Riccardo Gallo were just the right people to take on the task of converting a doctors’ surgery back into not one but two homes FEATURE ALISON GIBB | PHOTOGRAPHY DOUGLAS GIBB

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 2 7

KITCHEN The glazed units add another layer of character to this space.

Similar kitchen, £50,000, Gallo & Gallo. Antique brass mixer tap, £1,300, Perrin & Rowe. Pendant lights, £135 each, Jim Lawrence.

For similar bar stool fabric, try Orsi Quartzite, £112m, Romo

M

ary-Anne Gallo and her husband Riccardo had been looking for their next home for a while when they spotted a run-down doctors’ surgery in a conservation area of Edinburgh.

The large house was ripe for dividing into two homes and they purchased it with a view to converting it. ‘The generous garden confirmed that our plans were realistic,’ Mary-Anne explains. ‘We could see that the basement would make a lovely lower ground apartment and that with the addition of an elevated sunroom, with stairs down to the garden, the main part of the house on the ground floor and upper floors could also benefit from a section of valuable outside space’.

The couple handled the project with the help of architect Ron Tremmel, a specialist in period properties in the area.

The building was B listed and needed a full remodelling so there were a few challenges. ‘We wanted to honour the heritage of both the building and the area, so we aimed to create a lavish interior that offered the best of contemporary design and to preserve the beauty of the period details and the architecture,’ explains Mary Anne. The refurbishment included overhauling the windows, installing new heating and a Lutron lighting system and laying beautiful flooring.

The main rooms on the ground floor were knocked through to create a large open-plan living space.

‘My taste has evolved over the years and I’m gravitating towards calmer, more minimalist interior schemes,’ says Mary-Anne. ‘I loved researching for this project and learning to recognise the undertones in the wallpapers and paint

SUNROOM Built to connect the upstairs to the outside, this addition is often bathed in sunlight. ‘It is probably my favourite room,’ says Mary-Anne.

Table, £700; benches, £250, all Gallo & Gallo. Pendant, £117, Ocean Lighting H A L LWAY This generous space is the perfect spot for the Christmas tree. ‘I rescued the Berber-style sofa from my parents’ home,’ says Mary-Anne.

Similar Louis French sofa with rattan back, £719, Crown French Furniture

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 2 9

MAIN BEDROOM A stunning oversized headboard covered in pale lilac silk with classic nailhead detailing brings even more glamour to this space.

Headboard covered in silk fabric, from a selection, James Hare. Table lamp, £300, Gallo & Gallo

3 0 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

colours, which connect with the fabrics and soft furnishings, to create a harmonious balance in a room.’

The Gallos are serial renovators, but as Mary-Anne says: ‘juggling often quite complex property transformations with our young children and my previous career in finance was becoming increasingly unrealistic. Launching our boutique design and development business, Gallo & Gallo and having a single focus had been a long-held dream of mine and it feels good to have turned it into a reality. It was a particular joy to create bedrooms for our children, Sofia and Zaccaria. It was tough as a family to live in the house during the remodelling, so it is really lovely to be settled in time for Christmas.’

The festivities are all about food and family for the Gallos. ‘Riccardo has Italian heritage and we’ve always

enjoyed the large gatherings that are routine in the Italian community here in Edinburgh,’ says Mary-Anne. ‘Their food heritage is firmly part of the city and has been for a long time. On Christmas Day, “il Giorno di Natale”, we start cooking a large lunch called “Cerone” of roasted meats, “Pasta in Brodo”, grilled vegetables and all the desserts. The traditional “Panettones” are filled with nuts and candied fruits to symbolise the fertility of the new year ahead. We prepare a chocolate version for the children as well.

‘Presents are not the only items exchanged on Christmas Day. Our children write love letters and wrap them like gifts.

Family members then unwrap them along with other presents and read them aloud at the table. After a long year, we’re looking forward to the chance to be together again.’

B AT H R O O M Mirrored alcove shelving bounces the light around.

Hyde freestanding bath, £569.99, Bathroom Mountain. Marble tiles, £70sq m, Mandarin Stone. Curtain fabric, £35m, Vescom S O F I A’ S B E D R O O M ‘I designed this room with pink and bronze tones, adding the same blush pink linen curtains around the four-poster bed as the windows,’ says Mary-Anne.

Blissford bed, £450, Habitat. Birdcage Walk wallpaper, £76 a roll, Nina Campbell

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 3 1

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A detached Georgian-style home dating from the 1920s L O C AT I O N Boston, USA R O O M S Sitting room, family room, dining room, kitchen, utility room, cloakroom, five bedrooms (one en suite), three bathrooms P U RC H A S E D 2 0 0 3 PREVIOUS PROPERT Y ‘Before we lived in a Victorian house in Chicago,’ says Liz.

3 2 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

TO BOLDLY GO Interior designer Liz Caan’s mastery of combining vibrant colours and standout patterns is a true joy to behold – and it has ensured her 1920s home has the wow factor FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM | PHOTOGRAPHY ERIC ROTH

no.

G

4

rowing up in what she describes as a ‘very non-decorative home’ was probably what first prompted Liz Caan (lizcaan.com) to turn to her attention to colour and pattern. ‘I hated living in a brown house,’ admits the interior designer, adding, ‘I studied at art school where I was encouraged to be bold; as a result, my interiors have never been constrained by rules or theories.’

For the last 18 years, the 1920s Boston home Liz shares with her husband Geoff, and children Henry, 25, Lily, 21, and Leo, 14, has been a veritable hotbed of experimentation where she has been able to fully embrace her maximalist tendencies, layering pattern on pattern and trialling exciting, often unexpected, colour combinations. ‘The house has been constantly changing but we held off on the big renovation of the kitchen until two years ago,’ she recounts. ‘We knew this would involve a considerable investment and we wanted to be absolutely sure of what we wanted to do.’

In the autumn of 2019, Liz visited the New York showroom of British company deVOL to discuss designs for her new kitchen. ‘I wanted a space that didn’t feel at all utilitarian and their approach perfectly fitted that brief,’ she explains. ‘I had already selected the blue-green colours I wanted for the cabinetry as I had been working with these hues on different projects for a while.’ Just as

SITTING ROOM

Liz describes this space as a ‘technicolour spoof on a classic living room’, in which bold patterns and colours give traditional pieces an edgy feel.

Amore wallpaper in Lavender, £123 for a 9.1m roll, Raoul Textiles at Turnell & Gigon.

Primitive painting by Henri Maïk. For a similar glazed dresser, try The Hoarde

FAMILY ROOM

‘When I finished painting this room, I felt that the ceiling wasn’t invited to the party,’ says Liz of her decision to paper it with an ethereal Fornasetti design.

Nuvolette 114/28054 wallpaper by Fornasetti, £300 for two 10m rolls, Cole & Son. Sofa in Indira fabric in Ebony, POA, Raoul Textiles at Turnell & Gigon

KITCHEN

A striking pendant light and vitrine-style cabinetry lend a decorative feel.

Classic English kitchen, from £25,000, deVOL. Campion pendant light in heirloom finish with antique brass accents, $7,053, The Urban Electric Company

3 4 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

‘Putting colours together is like balancing ingredients in a recipe – in the sitting room, I cut through the sweetness of the pink wallpaper with curtains and club chairs in dark hunter green’ D E C O R ATI N G TI P

Liz had finalised her order, the world began shutting down: ‘I did ask myself if a renovation at this time was smart or dumb, but in reality by this point the train was already rolling,’ she recalls.

For six weeks during the first lockdown, the couple, together with Leo and Lily – who had returned from college – and their two Samoyed dogs, decamped to a hotel while the works took place. Liz’s plans involved extending the kitchen with a small cantilevered addition that helps link the house with the garden; a slice of the dining room was requisitioned in order to further enlarge the kitchen with a walk-through storage area housing a fridge-freezer and pantry. ‘I intentionally made the dining room the only place where we could sit down to eat so that we actually used it,’ adds Liz, who made the space more casual than its previous iteration, which her children had deemed too formal.

It made sense to use this time to undertake other works, such as re-staining the timber floors and revising

DINING ROOM

The walk-through area to this space houses a large fridge-freezer on one side and a pantry on the other.

Cabinetry in Inchyra Blue estate eggshell, £67 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Bubble wall lights, $1,710 each, The Urban Electric Company

HALLWAY

‘I love the cheeky humour of the needlepoint lips; they disarm visitors, which helps put them at ease,’ notes Liz. One-off lips needlework in vintage frame by Carmella Carney, Patch NYC. Try bespoke New York Fern mirror, The Looking Glass of Bath

air-conditioning units. It was also the chance to tweak the decoration throughout the house. ‘I wanted to connect the dining room with the new kitchen in terms of colour and that in turn led to me rejigging the rest of the spaces,’ says Liz, who had sofas and chairs reupholstered and art reframed, selling any mass manufactured pieces she owned and replacing them with antiques or handcrafted designs by ethical brands that are aligned with her way of thinking. ‘We invested in a few beautifully made pieces such as the dining table, which we had inlaid with brass patches that have meanings that are personal to us,’ she explains.

As well as their inspirational new schemes, the social spaces now have a much better flow, something that everyone in the family appreciates. ‘The home now functions wonderfully and as a result we seem to spend much more time together,’ Liz remarks, adding, ‘Even our oldest son, Henry, who no longer lives at home, is coming back to stay more frequently.’

MAIN BEDROOM

Matching wallpaper and curtains is a stylised touch, giving a true designer feel to this wonderfully maximalist space.

Monty wallpaper, £248.40 for a 5-yard roll; Monty fabric, £261.60m, both Quadrille at Tissus d’Hélène

CLOAKROOM

The exquisite blockprinted wallpaper is beautifully framed by the dark-painted woodwork.

Grenades N & B wallpaper, €150 for a 91.3x280cm roll, Antoinette Poisson. Petal wall lights, from £1,400, Soane Britain

3 6 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

no.

5

HAPPY HOLIDAYS Anisha and Jay Radia have slowly reimagined their period terrace and it has always been about making it a welcoming space FEATURE EMMA J PAGE | PHOTOGRAPHY KASIA FISZER

4 0 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

DINING AREA

‘Our schemes are generally quite minimalist, but Christmas is the time of year to deck them out,’ says Anisha. A simple linen cloth and naturalistic elements keep the look fuss-free.

Glass baubles and foliage, Lavenders of Covent Garden and V L Paling Styling. J104 chairs in Black, £195 each, Hay. Hooked 6.0 pendant, from £814, Buster + Punch

SITTING ROOM

A midnight blue feature wall picked up the palette of the family’s existing furniture, while metal framed elements, including the coffee tables, contemporise the look.

Trikonasana multi-arm pendant light, £313, Dowsing & Reynolds.

Aula nesting coffee table, £349, Made

4 2 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Late Victorian terrace L O C AT I O N North London R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, cloakroom, four bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We moved here from a flat in Shoreditch,’ says Anisha.

T

he mantra ‘don’t move, improve’ is one that Anisha and Jay Radia have taken to heart since taking on this north London end-of-terrace a decade ago. Since then it has been through no less than three incarnations, though this latest, and most dramatic, has been its most successful according to the couple, who live here with son Kyan, five, and daughter Myla, three.

‘When we moved in, we painted throughout and made minor tweaks,’ says Anisha. ‘Then, about six years ago, we went further, knocking through the main bedroom to make a bigger suite, and upgrading the staircase.’ But it wasn’t until the arrival of their children that the couple gave serious consideration to what they needed from their home – and so, with the help of interior specialists KEMSI, in collaboration with architects AS Design, they came up with a plan to future-proof the space. Unusually, this involved undoing some of the previous work, such as returning their bedroom to its original size and combining its previous extra space with an existing guest bathroom to create a first-floor utility room. ‘It made sense, because the guest room had by then become Myla’s room and she didn’t need its en suite,’ says Anisha. ‘And though our room became more compact again, it still feels spacious. On the second floor, we also carved out space previously used for storage as a study, which has proved very useful.’

The family eschewed a traditional rear extension in favour of working with what they had. The kitchen-diner was reimagined and opened up to the sitting room and the garden re-landscaped. Initially,

KITCHEN

Brass details bring another layer of luxe.

Quartz White Carrara satin finish worktop, £99m, Planet Marble.

Kitchen, price on request, designed by KEMSI and Point 5 Kitchens. High oak stools in Black, £229 each, Hay at Amara

SITTING ROOM DETAIL

An industrial-look cabinet brings style to a corner behind the door.

Downton cabinet, £1,200, Abigail Ahern

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 4 3

MYLA’S BEDROOM

Coral is a beautiful alternative to pink.

Moby accent armchair and footstool in Vintage Pink velvet, £629, Made

HALLWAY

The clever addition of a high display shelf draws the eye upwards.

Chandelier, price on request, Abigail Ahern

BATHROOM

A panelled drawer front was added to the wash stand for extra style.

Parallels drawer front, £72; Holy Wafter handle, £17, both Superfront

BEDROOM

Painted exposed bricks give an industrial feel.

Wall in Goblin absolute matt emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

4 4 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

the couple had their heart set on Crittall windows, but interior designers Carmelina Dalton and Lisa Sharistani persuaded them that their budget would be better spent elsewhere. ‘Instead, we painted the window frames in an intense black to recreate that slightly industrial, contemporary feel,’ says Lisa.

‘Then we invested in a bespoke, kitchen with a generous larder and brilliant storage built into the alcoves in the dining area.’

The family moved out while the layout was reworked to accommodate an open-plan kitchen and a new, practical cloakroom. ‘Jay is attracted to an industrial feel while I enjoy quite a trad look,’ reflects Anisha. ‘We solved that conundrum by opting for a kitchen with Shaker elements complemented by more contemporary touches such as the brass pull handles.’

‘What we love is that Lisa and Carmelina also helped us see existing pieces with fresh eyes, encouraging us to upcycle and re-work rather than replace,’ says Anisha. And so their natural wood dining table has its top re-stained and legs repainted, a simple oak shelf runs adjacent to the kitchen counter, ideal for homework sessions, and a treasured console in the hallway has been treated to a re-paint and new handles.

Best of all, the family now has room to gather, especially during high days and holidays. ‘This year, we’ll be hosting our extended family, which includes both sets of grandparents,’ says Anisha. ‘Decorating the Christmas table is a highlight – it involves plenty of candles, natural foliage and fluted rosé bottles repurposed as vases. It’s wonderful to have created our forever home – third time round.’

MAIN BEDROOM Painting a shelf and the wall area below it creates a focal point.

Lower wall in Down Pipe estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball.

Lohko bedside cabinet, £395; glass shade marble table lamp, £78, both Oliver Bonas

‘A clever reimagining can transform your home without the need for additional square footage’ LESSON LEARNT

no.

6

SITTING ROOM ‘This room used to be neutral, so I chose a deeper shade to make it feel more cosy,’ says Rachael, who worked in pops of vibrant colour to lift the scheme.

Walls painted in Green Smoke estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Bluebell sofa, from £1,705; Valentin footstool, from £360, both Sofa.com. Try Amelia chandelier, £900, Abigail Ahern

COLOUR CONFIDENT Rachael and Matthew Wilshaw’s home is a masterclass in decorating with marvellously dark and rich shades FEATURE IFEOLUWA ADEDEJI

| PHOTOGRAPHY KATIE LEE 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 47

DINING AREA An exposed brick wall and a wood and metal dining table create a mix of rustic and industrial styles. ‘I didn’t want the house to feel too formal, so it’s ideal,’ says Rachael.

Fia dining table, £1,200; Fia bench, £595, both Nkuku, are similar. Brick slips, price on request, Brick Slips. Try Juliet crystal chandelier, £405, Pooky

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian semi-detached house L O C AT I O N County Durham ROOMS Sitting room, kitchen/diner, playroom, cloakroom, four bedrooms, two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2019 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were renting a much smaller new build nearby,’ says Rachael.

4 8 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

R

achael Wilshaw and her husband Matthew were renting a house with their children Lily, five, and Harry, three, when they decided to buy a house from a friend. ‘We were moving back to my home town after years of living abroad,’ says Rachael. ‘I knew this property well and I’d always liked it.’ The couple found its original Victorian features, such as the elaborate plasterwork and high ceilings, especially appealing. ‘People were asking, “Don’t you think it’ll be weird living in your friend’s house?” But I knew we could put our stamp on it and make it our own.’

Rachael and Matthew promptly began drawing up a schedule of renovation works. ‘We made a firm plan

and stuck to it, which saved us time and money, although we did have to compromise too,’ says Rachael. ‘We’d initially wanted to build a fifth bedroom as there was the potential to extend into the loft. But we had to abandon that idea as the house is in a conservation area and we couldn’t get planning permission to add a dormer.’

The revisions involved reinstating and repairing period features, such the damaged plasterwork, adding a new shower room upstairs and a cloakroom downstairs, renovating the kitchen and installing new flooring throughout. They decided to cover the original floorboards with a fitted parquet. ‘I’d always wanted a parquet floor,’ says Rachael, ‘and this herringbone

KITCHEN With windows on both sides, this room gets lots of natural light so it can take the unconventional colour choice of a dark charcoal shade.

Try Down Pipe estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball, for a similar paint shade. Petit Paris glass pendant lights, £45 each, Garden Trading H A L LWAY ‘This space was partially painted grey when we moved in and I really liked it, so we painted the rest to match,’ says Rachael.

The large porthole mirror, £175, Graham and Green, is similar. Angelica wooden beaded chandelier, £425, Ella James at Notonthehighstreet, has this look

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 4 9

is beautiful. It has made the house far warmer, concealed the cracks and keeps the creepy-crawlies out!’

The building work took just two months to complete, despite the challenges that cropped up along the way.

‘Things didn’t go to plan with the builders, but I was lucky to find some fantastic decorators instead,’ says Rachael. ‘They had a tough job but were amazing from start to finish, and fixed a lot of issues that other trades should have tackled, especially with the plasterwork.’

Next, Rachael turned her attention to the interior design. In keeping with the period of the house, she opted for a classic aesthetic, with a palette of deep greens and greys, offset with vibrant accents. ‘I’m not

a colourful person and I prefer a darker-toned palette,’ says Rachael, who shared her decorating journey on her Instagram account (@beetrootandblack). Brick slips were installed in the kitchen, to stop the decor feeling too formal, creating a rustic-cum-industrial vibe. ‘The brick works well with the cabinets, which were here when we moved in.’ Elsewhere, Rachael softened the schemes with luxurious velvet sofas and upholstery and added statement lighting throughout.

Now that the project is complete, Rachael and Matthew can sit back and relax. ‘We are really pleased with the way the house has turned out,’ says Rachael. ‘It’s just perfect for our family.’

MAIN BEDROOM The deep-toned palette is continued in the couple’s room. ‘We had carpet fitted, as I wanted a cosier feel in here,’ says Rachael.

Sienna rattan bed, £1,550, Feather & Black, has a similar design B AT H R O O M Taking the tiles to different levels is a striking design feature.

Mileto gloss tiles in Brick Grey, £35.47sq m, Victorian Plumbing, are a match. The Millbrook free-standing bath, £1,368, The Cast Iron Bath Company, is similar

5 0 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Extended Grade II-listed 16th-century cottage L O C AT I O N Oxfordshire R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen/ breakfast room, dining room/ conservatory, study, playroom, cloakroom, six bedrooms (one en suite), dressing room, two bathrooms, mezzanine P U R C H A S E D 2011 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were living in London in a one-up-one-down,’ says Willow.

CONSERVATORY/DINING ROOM ‘Eating in this room is just like being outside,’ says Willow. ‘It feels so special.’

The French Depot sells similar antique dining chairs, price on request

no.

In full bloom

7

Florist Willow Crossley’s listed cottage is decked with swathes of greenery at Christmas and throughout the year FEATURE AMY MOOREA WONG | STYLING MARY WEAVER | PHOTOGRAPHY PAUL RAESIDE

KITCHEN

Deep green paintwork is a practical choice for Willow’s familyfriendly kitchen/breakfast room.

Similar British Standard Cupboards range, price on request, Plain English.

Cabinets in Studio Green estate eggshell, £67 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball.

Artwork, Kate Corbett-Winder

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 5 3

FAVOURITE ROOM ‘The kitchen – everything

happens in this space. It’s where the boys ate their first meals and I wrote my books’

5 4 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

SITTING ROOM

Putting festive lights on the ceiling creates a magical touch.

Similar Aubourn sofa, from £2,900, Oka. Silk cushions, around £265 each, Nushka. Doris Brixham branched wooden table lamps, £185 each, Notonthehighstreet, have this look

ATTIC BEDROOM

The upper floors are carpeted in natural seagrass. ‘It’s another way to bring the outside in,’ says Willow.

Similar seagrass carpet, from £24.75sq m, Alternative Flooring

MAIN BEDROOM

The vibrant mix of colours and fabrics lend a distinctive character.

Vintage quilt, price on request, Guinevere

BATHROOM

‘I find myself staring at the beauty of this mural,’ says Willow.

Hand-painted wall mural, Fifi McAlpine

F

loral stylist and author Willow Crossley is a firm believer in ‘bringing the outside in,’ especially at Christmas.

Preparations for the festive season in her Oxfordshire home begin several weeks in advance, as she also believes in really decking the halls. At Christmas, this means plumes of dried hydrangeas, snowy paperwhites and lashings of eucalyptus at every turn.

WILD AND FREE

Willow and her family moved to the Oxfordshire countryside 11 years ago, after years of dividing their time between the South of France and London. ‘We moved 5 6 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

to this rambling, labyrinthine space, which seemed almost custom-made for our young children to explore,’ says Willow.

A FA M I LY H O M E

The home she shares with her publican husband Charlie and their three sons, Wolf, 11, Rafferty, nine, and Kit, six, is a Grade II-listed cottage near Woodstock, with various extensions added over the years.

‘It’s very higgledy-piggledy and wonky but it has so much character,’ says Willow. ‘The cottage is very much an extension of us – we’ve really made our mark on it. We’ve restored so many parts of it, which has given it such a homely atmosphere.’

F LO R A L FA N C Y

Just as you might expect, greenery is a key feature of the interior decoration. ‘I’m always bringing the outside in,’ says Willow. ‘Foliage makes the house feel so lived in and alive.

I’ll fetch in flowers from the garden, or I’ll set off into the woods to find some branches or greenery.’

Living so close to nature has proved to be a great source of inspiration for Willow, who’s embarked on various new ventures since moving to the country. ‘I’ve collaborated with wallpaper brand Barneby Gates, creating whimsical floral designs,’ she says. ‘I’ve also launched an online floristry

course. For Christmas, there’ll be lessons on wreaths, garlands, table centrepieces and decorations.’

‘Christmas, for me, is all about games, films and roaring fires,’ says Willow. ‘I spend the festive season creating immaculate arrangements for clients, but at home it’s a different story. I used to try to make it perfect but I’ve had to relax and let the children get involved,’ she says. ‘So we cover the tree in decorations the boys have made and then Kit will come along and put seven baubles on one branch, so the tree topples over – but for us, that’s just part of the joy of Christmas!’

no.

8 DINING AREA Oversized pendants bring an industrial edge to the aesthetic.

Caravaggio pendant

by Fritz Hansen, from £172, Nunido

A WINTER’S TALE Anne Bayrou’s mountain retreat exudes a warmth and a character that are completely dreamy but also thoroughly luxurious FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM STYLIST ANNE VALÉRY PHOTOGRAPHY PATRICK SORDOILLET/AC SCOFFONI

ENTRANCE Laying the cladding horizontally looks more modern.

Bespoke console, Sempre Life

5 8 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

LIBRARY Taking the shelves to the ceiling emphasises the room’s lofty proportions.

Bespoke bookshelves, Chalets Bayrou

TERRACE The handsome timber chalet and furniture blend beautifully into the surroundings.

Bespoke table, Chalets Bayrou

SITTING AREA Large windows pull light into the open-plan space, which expertly balances rustic and modern designs.

Byron sofa, from £1,275, Love Your Home, is similar.

Try the Gravel Mix rug, from £775, Woven

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY New-build chalet L O C AT I O N Serre Chevalier, southeast France R O O M S Kitchen-dining/sitting area, library, five bedrooms (all en suite), dorm-style bedroom, spa with indoor pool, sauna, Japanese bath and shower room L A N D P U R C H A S E D 2013 PROPERT Y HISTORY ‘I also live in Gap in an early1900s townhouse,’ says Anne.

S

B AT H R O O M The sculptural bath is a crisp contrast to the natural timber and dark walls.

Spoon XL bath, price on request, West One Bathrooms

S TA I R C A S E An LED star adds a festive seasonal accent against the rugged stone wall.

Try the Osby Star light, £42.99, Lights4fun

MAIN BEDROOM A wall of reclaimed beams features openings that offer a view of the bathing area.

Try Raspberry linen pillowcases, £36 a pair, Piglet

ituated in the hamlet of Puy-Saint-Pierre, with breathtaking views of the Briançon valley and surrounding Serre Chevalier mountains, Chalet Maj feels as if it has been here for ever. ‘It is built from larch, which is an incredibly hard-wearing local wood,’ explains its owner, Anne Bayrou. ‘It doesn’t require any treatment, which was very important to us – we wanted it to be entirely natural.’

As co-manager of Chalets Bayrou, a fourthgeneration company that works with skilled craftspeople and architects to build beautiful chalets, Anne knows a thing or two about the lure of a mountain retreat.

‘Most people who come to us envisage their chalet as a way of uniting their family – a place for creating memories,’ she says. ‘My three children are in their 20s now, but this place still brings us all together.’

Anne and her late husband bought the land nine years ago and commissioned local architect Philippe Gauthier to help with the design. ‘We wanted the terraces to be flush with the surrounding land, so the building is laid out across a series of half levels,’ she explains. On the lowest floor is a spa, with an indoor swimming pool, a sauna and a Japanese bath. ‘As we embarked on the project, we realised that we could use this chalet to show our clients what could be achieved.’

Larch has also been used inside, cladding walls and crafted into pieces such as banquette seating and library bookshelves. Slate and Italian stone add further tactile quality, while the expansive glazing and stainless steel kitchen offer a sleek contrast to the more rugged features.

Clever details abound: in the main bedroom, a trap door in the wall enables its occupants to benefit from the fire in the adjoining sitting room, while openings in the timber partition between the bedroom and bathroom allow light to flow between the two spaces.

The interior architecture, including the kitchen and bathrooms, was designed by Jean-Michel Villot of JMV Resort, while for the decoration, Anne enlisted the help of interior designer Angélique Buisson. ‘I knew we needed to soften the rooms with textiles,’ she says of Angélique’s choice of cosy wools, velvets and linens, which bring a sense of understated luxury to the spaces. Further plays of contrast include, for example, juxtaposing industrial-style pendants and modern chairs with a rustic dining table in reclaimed teak.

The result is a home that exudes character and warmth, and that everyone gravitates to for the festive season. ‘It’s wonderful to have my children, their cousins and our friends here,’ says Anne. ‘During the day, we all go off to ski or walk in the mountains, but in the evenings we congregate around the pool or by the fire.

It’s a place where we can truly relax and recharge.’

Chalets Bayrou, chalets-bayrou.com. Chalet Maj is available to rent, chalet-prestige.com

‘The design is all about the larch wood, which is from a nearby managed forest’ I N S PI R ATI O N

6 0 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

no.

9

MERRY & BRIGHT

Textile designer Vanessa Arbuthnott’s love of colour and pattern sings out from every corner of her beautifully converted Victorian cow byre FEATURE JANET McMEEKIN | PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH

H A L LWAY The pale blue on all the woodwork creates a lovely softness.

Staircase painted in Powder Blue estate eggshell, £67 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Vinterior’s mid-19th-century circular marquetry inlaid centre table, £2,243, would work here

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 6 3

D R AW I N G R O O M The mix of the dark wall and bright fabrics is stunning.

Walls painted in Dark Lead Colour intelligent matt emulsion, £53 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Morsø stove with log storage, £1,799

A

s the Christmas season approaches and Vanessa Arbuthnott is again getting ready to welcome friends and family into her vibrant, much-loved home, she always finds it hard to believe that this rural idyll was once a desolate and draughty cow byre, strewn with hay bales and roofed with rusty corrugated iron.

‘My husband Nicholas is an architect and craved a creative project,’ Vanessa says.

‘He instantly recognised the vast potential of the farm buildings. However, at that time, having four children under the age of

six, I found the prospect of tackling such a major conversion rather daunting.’

Despite her reservations, Vanessa took a leap of faith and the couple clinched the deal. ‘We decided to live in our previous rented house for eight months while the first phase of work commenced,’ says Vanessa. Being on a tight budget, the Arbuthnotts started converting just one section of the u-shaped byre to create a kitchen and spacious hall, complete with a twin staircase. ‘When we first moved in here, there were no internal doors, no skirting boards and no carpets – and the

children had to sleep on mattresses on the floor,’ says Vanessa.

Initially, all the walls were whitewashed and the dark wooden beams painted white, creating a blank canvas. While bringing up her young family, Vanessa studied surface print during a part-time course at art college in Stroud and these freshly honed skills soon proved invaluable. ‘The course introduced me to a glorious world of colour and pattern that ignited my passion for textile printing,’ says Vanessa.

Beautiful fabric designs in muted colours, inspired by her love of nature and

‘The children’s own paintings were always displayed in the kitchen – it’s a tradition I continue with our grandchildren’ FAVO U R ITE FE AT U R E

6 4 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

KITCHEN-DINER ‘Bright orange walls link many of my fabrics here,’ says Vanessa.

Holloways of Ludlow’s Titan pendant light, £269, would work here.

Find similar star fairy lights (below), from £15.99, at Lights4fun

home truths THE PROPERTY A converted cow byre and Dutch barn, dating from 1890 L O C AT I O N Gloucestershire R O O M S Kitchen-diner with sitting area, drawing room/office, boot room, cloakroom, six bedrooms, three bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 1993 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We rented an Arts and Crafts house in Gloucestershire,’ says Vanessa.

MAIN BEDROOM ‘Painting the beams white gave the bedrooms a much brighter and fresher feel,’ says Vanessa.

Quilt made using Moss velvet, £62m; curtains made in Japonica in Indigo, £59m; armchair upholstered in Paisley Ground in Limestone/Raspberry, £57m, all Vanessa Arbuthnott

B AT H R O O M Vanessa chose a bright and breezy wallpaper as a striking backdrop for her father’s watercolours.

Fruit Garden wallpaper in Buttercup/Clay/Winter, £59 a roll, Vanessa Arbuthnott

countryside living, were soon made into curtains and blinds as the home began to take shape. ‘After seeing my hand-printed fabrics in the house, several friends commissioned more designs, which, in turn, kick-started my whole business,’ she says.

Being on a shoestring budget made Vanessa thrifty and resourceful. While combing through second-hand and junk shops, she discovered interesting pieces of furniture that were given a new lease of life in her latest designs by a trusted upholsterer.

The look of the house developed naturally over time. ‘When it came to the

interior, I didn’t have any master plan,’ Vanessa says. ‘Our home simply evolved through the decades and has gradually been filled with treasures we love, including lots of new artwork, family portraits and landscapes that hold poignant memories.’

During 2016, the Arbuthnotts rejigged several rooms on the ground floor. After careful consideration, they converted a studio at the back of the property into an airy drawing room, installing a wood burner and glazed doors that lead out to their garden. At the front of the house, a handy boot room and laundry room were created,

and an existing cloakroom fitted with a new shower and then redecorated.

The new-look home is an uplifting kaleidoscope of colour and a testament to Vanessa’s talent for creating stunning designs for fabric and wallpaper in complementary colours that work equally well in traditional and contemporary spaces.

This is a place that is ideal for large gatherings, particularly during the festive season. ‘It’s been a fabulous journey,’ says Vanessa, ‘I still adore living in this very special home where we’ve made, and continue to make, precious memories.’

‘I’m very excited about my Botanical collection, which features classical floral designs in colourways inspired by our garden’

I N S PI R ATI O N

6 6 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

no.

GARDEN Slatted fencing looks sleek and modern.

Firepit, £46.99, Rammento at Amazon. Etsy sells vintage Swiss Army wool blankets, from £150

10

ALL IS CALM

The serene schemes in Claudia Ludwig’s home provide the perfect backdrop for every occasion and are a far cry from the dated decoration the house had FEATURE EMMA J PAGE | PHOTOGRAPHY TORY McTERNAN/BILLY BOLTON

KITCHEN-DINER This space was enlarged with an extension that has a wall of glass.

White linen tablecloth, £125, The White Company. Try Artĕl for coloured glassware.

Walls in Skimming Stone estate emulsion, £53 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 67

FAVO U R IT E H O L I DAY R IT UA L

‘In line with my Swiss

roots, we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve’

DINING AREA The two delicately woven globe pendants bring a whimsical touch to the space.

Random pendant lights, £530 each, Moooi at Made in Design. S1 BYKATO sideboard, £3,731, Andersen Furniture at Skandium.

Artwork by Jules de Balincourt

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Edwardian terrace L O C AT I O N Northwest London R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner, playroom, wine cellar, cloakroom, five bedrooms (two en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We moved here from a period flat nearby,’ says Claudia.

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 69

‘Storage in every room is key – it lets your decorative schemes breathe’

DESIGN ADVICE

SITTING ROOM Little details – like the way the bookshelves are divided – bring a unique twist to the space.

Interiors, Claudia Ludwig Design. Plate coffee tables, from £1,150 each, Jasper Morrison for Vitra at Nest. Set of three trays, £95, Jasper Morrison for Vitra at The Conran Shop

B AT H R O O M Curved fittings add an elegant touch.

Barcelona basin, from £611; Barcelona freestanding bath, from £3,324, Victoria & Albert

70 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

MAIN BEDROOM Claudia focused on design classics – key pieces that would last a lifetime.

Febo bed, £4,607, Antonio Citterio for Maxalto at Chaplins. Ziggy bedside tables, £1,687 each, Porada at Chaplins.

Quadra floor lamps, £670 each, Contardi at Go Modern. Artwork by Andreas Kock

T

hough this family home usually embraces less-is-more interiors, Christmas is the time of year when interior designer Claudia Ludwig is happy to make an exception.

‘It’s not the season to go minimalist and I love using bold colours,’ she says. ‘I start thinking about how I would like to decorate the house and the table several months in advance. And throughout the year, I collect special candles, stationery and decorations.’

The Edwardian terrace that Claudia shares with her husband David and their three young children did not always make such a ready backdrop for the festivities.

When the couple found the property eight years ago, it had been poorly converted into a series of bedsits, complete with coinoperated electricity meters. ‘We loved the house for its generous width and its setting, but we knew that aside from the front facade and the original staircase, we’d need to start again,’ explains Claudia. ‘The pipes were rotten, the window frames had

disintegrated and there was a pungent smell of decay.’ Alongside Ambigram Architects, the couple worked to completely reconfigure the space, expanding the rear with a steel-framed extension, adding a basement and a loft, and reworking the layout to turn three bedrooms into a first-floor suite, while giving over the second floor to the children.

In the spirit of Claudia’s ethos to combine classic and contemporary, the couple preserved Edwardian architectural elements where they could. At the foot of the staircase, they uncovered detailed fretwork under multiple layers of paint and plywood, restoring it with a lime-washed finish; some of the fireplaces were re-sited in other rooms; and the stained-glass front door panels were remade by an Italian glass artist.

‘Much of our budget was spent on the unseen elements, from insulation to the thickness of the doors,’ says Claudia. ‘Not as exciting perhaps as the decorative details, but so important as a foundation. Storage is also key in this home: there is joinery in

practically every room to house toys, games, coats, shoes and laundry. ‘It’s the only way to let every scheme breathe,’ says Claudia.

At Christmas, the family pulls out the stops. ‘In keeping with my Swiss upbringing, Christmas Eve is all about lighting the wax candles on the tree and revealing it to the children in its full glory, with all the gifts from angel Christkindl beneath,’ she says.

‘We sing carols, read the Christmas story, open presents and then have supper. Then, on Christmas Day, we start all over again!’

Those combined traditions call for a festive dining table and Claudia mixes it up with vintage wine glasses paired with coloured water tumblers on a white linen cloth or silver cutlery and embroidered napkins on a bare wooden table for contrast.

‘Inevitably, my colour scheme is not always in line with the children’s ideas though,’ smiles Claudia. ‘So we have a second, smaller tree for them to decorate. I’ve learnt that a truly calm festive season involves flexibility and relaxed expectations.’

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 7 1

no.

11

R H A P S O DY IN BLUE

home truths THE PROPERTY Victorian semi-detached house L O C AT I O N Surrey R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner/living area, snug, utility room, cloakroom, seven bedrooms, dressing room, two bathrooms, kitchenette P U R C H A S E D 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a Victorian end-ofterrace nearby,’ says Philippa.

KITCHEN ‘The floor was dug level with the conservatory for a seamless finish and we used concrete and parquet to create contrasting textures,’ says Philippa.

Similar oak parquet flooring, £60sq m, The Natural Wood Floor Company. Try White gloss metro tiles, £20sq m, Topps Tiles

7 2 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

H A L LWAY ‘I painted a gold stair runner as a temporary replacement for the worn-out carpet, but I liked it so much, I kept it,’ says Philippa.

Stairs in Bedec MSP Gold soft satin paint, £43.87 for 2.5ltr, Brewers. For a similar wall colour, try Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr

Interior designer Philippa McFarlane’s once dated Victorian semi is now a harmonious mix of classic and contemporary styles tied together with a beautiful hue FEATURE ANNABELLE GRUNDY | PHOTOGRAPHY BRENT DARBY | STYLING GEMMA GEAR

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 7 3

74 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

W

hen interior designer Philippa McFarlane and her husband Alistair discovered they were expecting their second son, they both agreed it was time to move.

‘We definitely needed more space, so we began house-hunting,’ says Philippa.

After looking around for a while, the right property finally came along. ‘We adored this house from the moment we walked in,’ says Philippa. ‘It was much bigger than our previous home and the beautifully proportioned rooms and period features were all fabulous.’

The couple soon discovered, however, that the house needed a great deal of work. ‘The interior was all dated creams and yellows and although the house was habitable, the kitchen was small and poky,’ says Philippa. ‘There were structural issues, too – the roof, windows and guttering all needed replacing, along with the decrepit conservatory at the back of the house, which also had a leaky roof.’

At the top of the couple’s wish list for the renovation was a light-filled, open-plan kitchen and they were eager to forge ahead with the work. ‘We’d both been very hands-on with DIY before our sons were born, so we did do some of the decorating ourselves,’ says Philippa. ‘However, we didn’t have the time or energy to move forward as quickly as we wanted.’

Two years later and with a renewed purpose, the McFarlanes embarked on an ambitious 15-month-long renovation.

Bedrooms and bathrooms were scheduled for an update as well as a full upgrade of the heating and electrical wiring. ‘We decamped to the top of the

LIVING AREA Statement wallpaper enlivens the grey scheme and draws attention to the wood-burning stove.

Fornasetti Nuvolette wallpaper, £350 for a two-roll set, Cole & Son. Oscar corner sofa, from £2,845, Loaf. For a similar wall colour, try Cornforth White estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Try Manhattan coffee table, £765, Neptune

house and turned one of the spare bedrooms into a temporary sitting room,’ says Philippa. ‘The timing wasn’t ideal, as I was just about to have our third son. There were masses of decisions to make and juggling family life with all the dust and mess was pretty stressful. That said, we were excited about our plans and did enjoy the process in the end.’

Walls came down, uneven floors were levelled and the dilapidated conservatory was remodelled to form an open-plan kitchen, orangery-style dining room and seating area. ‘We thought it was important to restore the house as sensitively as possible,’ explains Philippa. ‘I spent a lot of time researching just the right modern floor tiles for the hallway, to match the original Victorian design in the porch.

We also felt the house deserved traditionally laid solid oak block flooring with plenty of visible knots, to give it even more character.’

With the structural works nearing completion, Philippa was finally able to turn her attention to the decor. ‘I don’t use a lot of colour, but blues are a definite thread running through the house,’ she says. ‘Blue also works well with turquoise, which is my favourite Christmas accent, because it also looks good with white and silver.’

Now that the renovation is complete, the couple are thrilled with the results of their labours. ‘We’d never attempted a project on this scale before, but I wouldn’t change a thing,’ says Philippa. ‘We spend most of our time in the new kitchen-dining-living room.

It’s lovely for entertaining and really comes into its own at Christmas.’

DINING AREA ‘The new conservatory is based on the original Victorian design,’ says Philippa. ‘For continuity, the frame is painted in the same hue as the hallway.’

Concrete floor, price on request, Lazenby. Large glass pendant lights, price on request, Philippa McFarlane, Sandrock House. Vitra Eames DKR wire dining chairs, £630 each, Innes

SITTING ROOM ‘This is where we like to relax with music or a film, so I painted the walls dark blue to make it cosy and relaxing,’ says Philippa.

Interior design by Philippa McFarlane, Sandrock House.

Walls in Basalt intelligent matt emulsion, £53 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Bagsie sofa, from £2,685, Loaf. Light grey sheepskin rug, £79, Nordic Sheepskin

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 75

76 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

MAIN BEDROOM Classic and contemporary elements combine for a look that’s both comfortable and chic.

For a similar wall colour, try Pitch Blue estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Try the Antoinette bed, £1,245, Loaf. The Bethany chandelier, £250, John Lewis & Partners, is a good alternative

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 7 7

LET THE LIGHT IN

This beautifully bright Arts and Crafts house was transformed by interior designer Anne-Marie Leigh using a carefully curated palette of off-whites

A

FEATURE KAREN JENSEN-JONES | PHOTOGRAPHY NICK SMITH

s an interior designer and a former colour consultant for Farrow & Ball, Anne-Marie Leigh is used to transforming other people’s houses but admits it’s much more challenging when it comes to renovating your own. ‘Finding our house was difficult as the market is so competitive in the area and it took two years and a sealed bid before we could finally call it our own,’ remembers Anne-Marie, who now runs Anne-Marie Leigh Interior Design. ‘The house was the perfect renovation project as it hadn’t been touched for 40 years and 78 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

we were able to start from scratch with our architects Beckmann Architecture. We decided to live in the house for a year before starting the renovation to see how the light and space worked and this is something I always advise my clients to do if possible.’

The period features were particularly appealing for AnneMarie. ‘It’s such a beautiful 1930s Arts and Crafts house and I could see that the bones and history of the property are what make it special,’ she explains. To make it more suitable for themselves and their children, Louis, 14, and Max,12, they sympathetically

no.

12

KITCHEN

A dated conservatory was knocked down to make way for this wonderfully light space.

Walls in School House White estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr Farrow & Ball. Pendant lights, £331 each, Jim Lawrence.

Handmade cabinetry, price on request, Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch. Bar stools, £145 each, Fusion Living. Dining table, £2,000; chairs, £250 each, all at No 44 Furniture & Fine Things

SNUG

Anne-Marie has enhanced the off-white space by adding soft pink to draw the eye.

Sofa, £1,500, Sofa.com. Magritte mirror, £1,495, Oka. Coffee table, £780, Robert Langford

SITTING ROOM

The Arts and Crafts windows have been discreetly dressed in plain fabric so they remain the focus of attention.

Walls in Elephant’s Breath estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Try Snooze sofa in Grape, from £2,699 for a three-seater, Heal’s. Coffee table, £445, Perch & Parrow, has a similar look

D E S I G N T I P ‘Using a warm white and

dimmers for lighting will create a much softer atmosphere in neutral schemes’

home truths T H E P R O P E R T Y An Arts and Crafts house dating from the 1930s L O C AT I O N Surrey R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen/ dining room with snug, cloakroom, study area, four bedrooms (two en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2018 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a converted mews house nearby,’ says Anne-Marie.

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 7 9

F A V O U R I T E R O O M ‘Our spacious bedroom – it has a wonderful vaulted ceiling

with original oak beams and is flooded with natural light’

MAIN BEDROOM

The majestic headboard is the focal point here and it brings subtle colour to the calm scheme.

Walls in Skimming Stone modern emulsion, £53 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Bespoke headboard; bedside cabinets, price on request, Anne-Marie Leigh Interior Design

refigured the living space and knocked down an old 1980s conservatory and replaced it with a much brighter and more spacious kitchen arrangement with sliding doors to the garden. ‘We spent a lot of time trying to match the brick and tiles and even the cornicing is bespoke to match the original,’ says Anne-Marie.

The Arts and Crafts movement began in the late 19th century and is clearly still relevant today with its focus on natural materials and well-designed craftsmanship – something Anne-Marie appreciates. ‘I’m an advocate for good quality and for spending money on things that you won’t want to change, such as great flooring, quality sanitary and brassware, and beautiful lighting.

I always try to introduce layers of light in a home – it helps to create a soft atmosphere and different moods. Lighting design is so important and is often overlooked but it makes a huge difference.

I would also add that you don’t need to spend a fortune on a designer kitchen if you’re thoughtful in your choice of materials. We worked with Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch who supplied 8 0 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

MAIN EN SUITE

A pink vanity is the standout piece.

For a pink vanity unit, from £1,171.38, see UK Bathrooms. Bevelled mirror, £135, Graham and Green

our painted Shaker-style kitchen and then added a light quartz worktop and bronze handles for a stylish yet understated look.’

Anne-Marie’s expertise in colour is evident throughout with a muted palette of off-white hues creating a refined backdrop for more colourful fabrics and accessories. ‘Every room is a different colour but they all work beautifully together,’ she says. She has also been careful to make sure the rooms flow effortlessly, without anything that jars and creates discourse. ‘The pink vanity unit in the en suite is a bold statement piece,’ she says, ‘but because there are many variations of pink in the house, it works really well.’

The French oak beams in the main bedroom emphasise the height and create drama, while tasteful arrangements of decorative objects add personality to the renovation of this lovely home. The project took 18 months to complete and Anne-Marie is clearly delighted with the final outcome. ‘When our friends come over and we open the doors to the garden and enjoy a glass of wine together, there’s absolutely no doubt it was all worth it.’

House of SURPRISES Once hidden behind overgrown trees and bushes and in a similar state of gloom inside, Loraine Gabb’s period home is now full of delights FEATURE JANET MCMEEKIN | PHOTOGRAPHY ANDREAS VON EINSIEDEL

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A detached Regency house L O C AT I O N West Sussex R O O M S Sitting room, dining room, kitchen-diner, study, utility room, cloakroom, orangery, five bedrooms (four en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a Georgian house in Kensington, London,’ says Loraine.

8 2 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

no.

13

DINING ROOM

The base of the table was painted to match the kitchen cabinetry for a cohesive look.

Similar berry wreath, £22.95, Live Laugh Love. Scandi hearts Christmas tree decorations, £6.99 per pack, Gifts From Handpicked, have the same look. King & McGaw’s world map, 1660, £130, would work here

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 8 3

KITCHEN

Panelled units give the cook space the look of a living space.

Units in Moss eggshell; island in Dove Grey eggshell, both £54 for 2.5ltr, Neptune.

Kitchen, price on request, designed and installed by Stephen Anthony Design

W

hile welcoming friends and family into their charming candlelit Regency home, Loraine and Les Gabb are thrilled that they seized the opportunity to restore this magical property. ‘We could easily have missed out on this house despite having, unknowingly, driven past it dozens of times when it was hidden by large conifers and overgrown bushes,’ Loraine says. ‘After spotting it online, Les and I were puzzled as to where on earth it could be.’

In November 2014, the mystery was solved when the pair set up a viewing that left them spellbound. Over the years, the Gabbs found themselves visiting West Sussex with increasing regularity. While living in London, the pair, who love renovating old homes, bought a Georgian house in Chichester. ‘It was meant to be a weekend bolthole, but we found our visits lasting longer,’ says Les. Deciding to put down more permanent roots in the area, the Gabbs began searching for a larger period home and were enchanted when they finally got to see inside this elegant flint and brick building. The house also boasted mature gardens and a small lake. ‘Although much of the interior was dark and had a boxy layout, Les and I

ENTRANCE

The open porch is simple but decorative.

Front door in Castle Gray exterior eggshell, £73 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

8 4 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

LESSON LEARNT ‘Appearances

can be deceptive – this house looked cottage-like, but when we saw inside we realised how substantial it was’

SITTING ROOM

Touches of gold and yellow add warmth and glamour.

Walls in Elephant’s Breath estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. India Jane sells similar prints, £250 each

DINING ROOM

Hanging wreaths on windows is a nice alternative to placing them on doors.

Mangan Antiques sells similar wall sconces, price on request

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 8 5

HALLWAY

The antiques stand out against the bold ochre backdrop.

Walls in Sudbury Yellow estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball.

Flower arrangement, price on request, Katherine Stayt of Passionate 4 Flowers

MAIN BEDROOM

Timeless botanical wallpaper complements the couple’s Georgian furniture.

For similar wallpaper, try Palampore in Silver/Gold, £78 a roll, Sanderson. Try the mahogany four-poster antique French-style bed, £1,504, Homes Direct 365

8 6 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

BEDROOM

While each space has its own strong identity, they are all tied together by their richness.

The Cotswold bed, from £1,350, The Cotswold Bed Company, is similar

BATHROOM

could tell it had once been extremely beautiful,’ says Loraine. ‘Unfortunately, though, the period features were neglected and the house felt stripped of any emotion.’

After much deliberation, the pair put a modest offer in and were astounded when it was accepted. ‘Our hand was forced and we bit the bullet,’ adds Les. Having enlisted Helyer Davies Architects to help rejig the layout and design a new orangery, planning permission was granted and, in July 2015, the building project commenced.

‘We wanted to enhance the flow by knocking through rooms and fitting a new kitchen and bathrooms,’ says Les. ‘We were careful to retain what was left of the original features and restore them. ‘Loraine and I felt that every space should have its own identity and we chose a rich palette of predominantly Farrow & Ball colours to ensure that our restoration was a true reflection of the period.’

Keen to inject warmth and a homely feel, the pair chose fabrics and furniture to suit this classic English setting. As the project progressed, the Gabbs experienced an unforgettable, moment. ‘While one of our builders was peeling off wallpaper beside the study fireplace, he uncovered a message pencilled on the wall. Remarkably, he realised the note was addressed to his grandfather, who had worked on the house 60 years ago,’ says Les. With their stunning home transformed, the Gabbs are justifiably proud of this sensitive restoration. ‘It has been a pleasure to breathe a new lease of life into this beautiful home,’ says Loraine. ‘And every Christmas, I think that it really does look its best.’

The couple got a master en suite by converting a spare bedroom.

Bath in Breakfast Room Green estate eggshell, £67 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 8 7

for just £34.50 plus

FREE AERY WORTH

£36

Your Aery gift set includes three miniature votive candles.

The candles have been designed to revive and restore.

Each candle is vegan and made with sustainable ingredients.

Terms and conditions: Offer closes 31st January 2022. Offer open to new UK subscribers only. All gift subscriptions will start post-Christmas with the next available issue. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Your gift will be delivered ɀƺȵƏȸƏɎƺǼɵ ɯǣɎǝǣȇ ‫ ׎ה‬ƳƏɵɀ ƏǔɎƺȸ ɵȒɖȸ ˡȸɀɎ ȵƏɵȅƺȇɎ ǝƏɀ ƬǼƺƏȸƺƳِ JǣǔɎɀ ȒȇǼɵ ƏɮƏǣǼƏƫǼƺ ɎȒ ɀɖƫɀƬȸǣƫƺȸɀ Ȓȇ Ɏǝƺ Èk ȅƏǣȇǼƏȇƳِ Xȇ Ɏǝƺ ɖȇǼǣǸƺǼɵ ƺɮƺȇɎ ɎǝƏɎ ɯƺ ȸɖȇ ȒɖɎ Ȓǔ Ɏǝǣɀ ǕǣǔɎً ɯƺ ȵȸȒȅǣɀƺ ɎȒ Ȓǔǔƺȸ ɵȒɖ Əȇ ƏǼɎƺȸȇƏɎǣɮƺ ǕǣǔɎ Ȓǔ Ɏǝƺ same value.

Your special Christmas offer FREE Aery candle set worth £36 Enjoy 12 months of 25 Beautiful Homes for just £34.50 – that’s just £2.88 an issue!

Receive every issue delivered direct to your door A thoughtful gift that keeps delivering throughout the year

Upgrade to include digital for only £10 Instant access any time, anywhere Never miss an issue of 25 Beautiful Homes Available on iOS or Android

Order the gift that keeps on delivering www.magazinesdirect.com/XBH/XM21 or call 0330 333 1113 and quote XM21 ¨ƏɵȅƺȇɎ ǣɀ ȇȒȇ‫ٮ‬ȸƺǔɖȇƳƏƫǼƺ ƏǔɎƺȸ Ɏǝƺ ‫ ג׏‬ƳƏɵ ƬƏȇƬƺǼǼƏɎǣȒȇ ȵƺȸǣȒƳً ɖȇǼƺɀɀ ƺɴƬƺȵɎǣȒȇƏǼ ƬǣȸƬɖȅɀɎƏȇƬƺɀ ƏȵȵǼɵِ IȒȸ ǔɖǼǼ Ɏƺȸȅɀ ƏȇƳ ƬȒȇƳǣɎǣȒȇɀً ɮǣɀǣɎ ɯɯɯِȅƏǕƏɿǣȇƺɀƳǣȸƺƬɎِƬȒȅٖɎƺȸȅɀِ IȒȸ ƺȇȷɖǣȸǣƺɀ ȵǼƺƏɀƺ ƬƏǼǼ ‫ ِב׏׏׏ בבב ׎בב׎‬nǣȇƺɀ Əȸƺ Ȓȵƺȇ xȒȇƳƏɵ‫ٮ‬IȸǣƳƏɵً ‫ח‬Əȅ‫דٮ‬ȵȅ Èk Ɏǣȅƺً Ȓȸ ƺȅƏǣǼ ǝƺǼȵ۬ȅƏǕƏɿǣȇƺɀƳǣȸƺƬɎِƬȒȅِ !ƏǼǼɀ ɎȒ ‫ ׎בב׎‬ȇɖȅƫƺȸɀ ɯǣǼǼ ƫƺ ƬǝƏȸǕƺƳ ƏɎ ȇȒ ȅȒȸƺ ɎǝƏȇ Ə ȇƏɎǣȒȇƏǼ ǼƏȇƳǼǣȇƺ ƬƏǼǼً ƏȇƳ ȅƏɵ ƫƺ ǣȇƬǼɖƳƺƳ ǣȇ ɵȒɖȸ ȵǝȒȇƺ ȵȸȒɮǣƳƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀ ƬƏǼǼ ƫɖȇƳǼƺِ

FRESH APPROACH Designer Stephanie Brown reveals how she brought the clean, simple aesthetic of Scandi style to this Canadian home FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL | PHOTOGRAPHY PHIL CROZIER

KITCHEN

The beauty of the oak island is enhanced by being wrapped in the white quartz worktop.

Bespoke oak cabinetry, Smallbone. For Caesarstone quartz countertops, price on request, try Henderstone.

Ambit pendants by Muuto, from £179, Made in Design

HOME TRUTHS D E S I G N E R Stephanie Brown H O U S E Detached home in Canada, built in 2002 W O R K Complete redesign and basement extension

9 0 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

LANDING

Dead space was turned into a reading nook.

Try the Lacey armchair, £325, Next. Around coffee table by Muuto, £308, Made In Design

DINING ROOM

A bespoke cupboard provides open and closed storage.

A similar light fitting is the Black Rod glass globe chandelier, £129, Tekled

no.

14

W H AT ’ S YO U R D E S I G N B A C K G R O U N D ? I’ve been in interior

design for nearly 20 years and in 2012, shortly after moving from Alberta to Vancouver, I founded my own design firm Stephanie Brown Inc. Since then, my design team and I have been busy designing custom homes everywhere from Canada to The Bahamas.

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE I N VO LV E D I N T H I S P R O J E C T ?

I’d worked with the owners Jenneh and Paul for several years on projects connected to their landscaping firm and they asked for my help in renovating their home in Vancouver.

After gutting it, replacing the windows and insulation and digging down to extend the basement, we carried out a complete redesign throughout, including kitchen and bathrooms, plus new furniture and decor.

SITTING ROOM

A medley of tables is more interesting than just one.

Interior design by Stephanie Brown Inc. Inga Sempé Ruché armchairs, £3,550 each, Ligne Roset

T E L L U S , W H AT W E R E T H E H O M E O W N E R S ’ M U S T- H AV E S ?

They wanted to improve the functionality of the spaces to suit their young family and this included creating a more open-plan ground floor, as well as adding lots more built-in storage for all the toys and games. Their other main priority was to update the home, making it brighter and fresher throughout, with modern Scandinavian influences – the existing spaces were dark and tired so we needed to change everything from the finish of the property to the furnishings.

W H AT WA S T H E I N S P I R AT I O N F O R T H E S C H E M E ? Jenneh and

I referenced lots of modern Scandinavian interiors for inspiration and agreed a palette of light wood, white cosy textures and soft pastel 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 9 1

MAIN BEDROOM

A vignette of art over the table adds extra decoration .

Trica Nest bed; Absolute bedside table, both price on request, Once a Tree. For chunky knitted wool blankets, £46, try Shop Green

accent colours would feel modern, fresh and inviting. We also included soft green accents as a quiet nod to the clients’ landscaping business.

I S T H E H O U S E C O O R D I N AT E D T H R O U G H O U T ? Yes, the colour palette

MAIN EN SUITE

A his and hers shower is behind the bath.

Marble panels, from £141 each, Rubber Duck Bathrooms.

For bespoke vanity units, try Harvey George

is consistent upstairs and downstairs – we used white walls and light oak wood everywhere.

The bedrooms all feature light grey wool carpet, which is also consistent with grey tones in the furniture elsewhere.

W H AT WA S T H E M O S T S A T I S F Y I N G A S P E C T ? It was great

to work with clients who trusted our vision from start to finish. Some people get ‘project fatigue’ and decide to keep their old decor and furniture, which is disappointing as the design/ environment of the home isn’t fully realised.

A N D W H AT D I D J E N N E H A N D PAUL THINK OF THE FINAL S C H E M E ? They were thrilled with it and

love their ‘new’ renovated home – they say the warm palette feels inviting and peaceful when they walk through the door. This is now a place to restore and relax, and somewhere the family can spend quality time together.

W H AT ’ S YO U R A D V I C E F O R C R E AT I N G A S U C C E S S F U L S C H E M E ? Use all the resources available,

such as design magazines and Pinterest, to gather the inspiration and ideas you love, and then edit, edit, edit – you should only need about 10 key images that represent the style and palette of your home project. And the other thing is to have common threads in colours and material types, so different spaces still feel cohesive and unified.

92 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

no.

15

THE POWER OF TWO Rising to the challenge of uniting a cottage and former schoolhouse, Kim and Mark Dyke created a harmonious home that works on every level FEATURE AND STYLING ASSISTANT KAREN DARLOW STYLING PIPPA BLENKINSOP | PHOTOGRAPHY MALCOLM MENZIES

9 4 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

KITCHEN This sits in what was the schoolhouse.

Freestanding cabinetry and a farmhouse table that serves as an island create a relaxed look.

Christmas tree, from a selection, Pines and Needles.

The vintage kitchen island dining table, £1,495, Vinterior, has this look. For a selection of oriental-style rugs, try Country & Eastern

SITTING ROOM Two sofas facing each other is a sociable set-up.

Magnum sofas, from £2,693 each, Delcor.

Rosy Red velvet cushions, from £64 each; Rusty Rose Beech ticking stripe cushions, £38 each, both Susie Watson Designs

O HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A Victorian schoolhouse joined to a Grade II-listed cottage L O C AT I O N Near Norwich, Norfolk R O O M S Sitting room, dining room, kitchen-diner, snug, study, cloakroom, boot room, utility room, cellar, five bedrooms, two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 1995 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were renting in Norwich while looking to buy,’ says Kim.

9 6 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

utside a thatched cottage in one of Kim and Mark Dyke’s favourite Norfolk villages, someone was tapping a For Sale sign into the ground. With pretty views of the church and common, and not far from Norwich, where both Kim and Mark work as healthcare professionals, the cottage was in a perfect setting.

‘If I’m honest, though, I didn’t find the house instantly appealing,’ says Kim. ‘It was actually two properties: the timbered cottage that had first caught our attention and, joined to that, the former village school.’ Only it wasn’t exactly joined and it wasn’t exactly habitable as it had no working electricity, heating or plumbing.

Its interior wasn’t attractive either: ‘The beams were black, the carpets were pink, plus the front garden had been the school playground, so was all tarmac,’ says Kim. Luckily, as Mark thought it was worth pursuing and Kim was won over by the

village and rural views, they decided to take the plunge and buy the property. Not long after, the couple called in Jonathan Funnell, an architectural technician, to help them turn the disparate buildings into a harmonious whole. There were false ceilings to remove, walls to replaster and new stairs to go in – and that was just in the schoolhouse.

The cottage had once been the village rectory, but after part of it burnt down 200 years ago, it was left derelict until about 1860 when, as Kim explains, ‘the school was rather unceremoniously tacked onto what was left of the cottage.’ The two sides are still separate on the first floor, with a staircase each. ‘We thought it made sense to keep it that way, so guests have their own space,’ she explains.

Initially, the couple were unsure about what to do with the gable end of the old schoolhouse, but Jonathan persuaded them that it would suit a large kitchen,

DESIGN TIP ‘Take your time with decorating as your thoughts and ideas can change with each step’

DINING ROOM To help give the impression of more space, the couple removed part of the wall near the stairs.

Loose chair covers, J&S Interiors. Try the three arms candlestick, £38.99, Rosdorf Park at Wayfair

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 9 7

BEDROOM Layers of black paint were removed to reveal the beauty of the beams in this snug space under the eves.

The Marta single Shaker-style bed, £86.99, Daals, is similar. Seagrass natural carpet, £18.49sq m, Knotistry, is a match. For a rug like this, try the Asiatic Bokhara in Traditional Classic Red, £138, Ornatus Interiors

BEDROOM As Kim and Mark were renovating this room they discovered a space within the timbers, which is thought to have been a priest-hole.

Duck Egg Pearl tartan throw, £94, Susie Watson Designs, is similar.

Bird pattern cushions, from £46 each, Susie Hetherington

FAVOURITE FEATUR E ‘Landscaping the garden is one of the best things we did as the wildlife pond has given us so much pleasure’

which would be perfect for entertaining.

Local cabinetmakers built the units, while freestanding furniture and open shelves were added to soften the look.

Now, a vintage table serves as an island, while a range cooker fills the room with warmth, creating the country welcome Kim had always wanted.

Once the kitchen was up and running, the Dykes moved over to the schoolhouse so that the cottage renovation could begin. There were more false ceilings and walls to come down, a bathroom to fit, floors to strip and all the wooden beams to sandblast.

The work also revealed an unusual gap in the timbers in one of the bedrooms.

‘We were told that it might have been a priest-hole, as the house is opposite the church,’ explains Kim. There are plenty of links with the building’s more

recent history, too. Occasionally, someone will knock at the door, curious to see the old school where they were once a pupil. But one thing they won’t recognise is the playground. The hard surface is long gone as Kim and Mark have redesigned and replanted the garden, digging a pond to encourage wildlife and laying a path that weaves its way past both parts of the house as if gathering them together.

Future plans include adding French windows to the sitting room so the couple can admire the view that first drew them to this spot. For now, though, Kim is happy to make the house sparkle, ready for a cosy Christmas. And whether hosting lunch for friends in the kitchen, or a candlelit dinner in the dining room, visitors are always guaranteed a thoroughly festive welcome.

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 9 9

no.

16

SEA CHANGE Interior designer Katharine Pooley worked her magic on a run-down coastal cottage – here she shares some of her design tricks and how she dresses her home for Christmas FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL | PHOTOGRAPHY RAY MAIN

10 0 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

DINING AREA

SITTING ROOM

‘At this time of year I love to fill our home with the smell of pine and spices,’ says Katharine.

For driftwood mirrors, from £78, try Funckles at Etsy. Hamptons coffee table, £355, Pretty Little Home, would work here.

Charnwood C-Five stove, from £1,254, Woodburner Warehouse

Panelling defines the bench seating area and is full of character.

Shoal pendant light, price on application, Scabetti. Bespoke dining table, Humphrey Munson. Vincent Sheppard Lily dining chairs, £380 each, Lagoon

HALLWAY

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A 19th-century detached cottage L O C AT I O N Devon R O O M S Sitting room, dining area, kitchen, four bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Our main home is located in Oxfordshire,’ says Katharine.

Limewashed wood adds to the coastal look.

Console table, from a selection at Petworth Antiques Market.

Brinley 1 wall light, £99, Elstead Lighting.

Limestone flooring, price on request, Town & Country Flooring

W H AT WA S I T A B O U T T H I S H O U S E T H AT I N I T I A L LY A P P E A L E D T O Y O U ? It was

INNER HALLWAY

‘This is a cosy spot to sit and read a book,’ says Katharine.

Bespoke armchair, Dining Chair Company. Pooky’s empire lampshade, from £40, is similar. Xmas garlands, from a selection, Balsam Hill

originally two separate properties, which were very tired and unloved – it was just crying out to be given a new lease of life. It also has a fabulous position in the heart of this coastal village and is a 10-minute walk to the beach.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE Y O U R S T Y L E ? I approach every project

with a fresh perspective, looking at the character of the architecture and how it will be used. It was important that this house had a really relaxed style with it being our holiday home. I am constantly inspired by what I find – both here and abroad – so my design ethos is constantly evolving. At its heart every interior we create balances originality, comfort, luxury and functionality. And in the case of this house, with two energetic boys, everything also has to be durable!

W H AT ’ S YO U R P H I L O S O P H Y O N T H E U S E O F C O L O U R ? I like

FAVOURITE FEATUR E

‘Using tumbled stone and a beam, I turned a hole in the wall into a fireplace that looks like it’s always been there’ MAIN BATHROOM

Katharine likes to introduce small luxurious touches everywhere – like a table with candlesticks for candlelit bathing.

Roll-top bath, from a selection, Holloways of Ludlow. Bath fittings from the Fairfield collection, Samuel Heath. East Hampton wall and floor tiles, from £3.55 each, Fired Earth

to keep the palette consistent throughout the house and base it on warm neutral tones.

Then I have the accent colours different for each room so they all have their own identity.

The bedrooms must be calming and cosy – dressing with accessories like throws, art and cushions will pull a colour scheme together.

W H AT I S YO U R A D V I C E F O R C R E AT I N G A S U C C E S S F U L S C H E M E ? Choose a couple of patterned

fabrics you like, which could be cushions or window treatments. Then pick out the colours within them for the upholstery. Printed linens work great for this as they have a softness and can be how I build a room scheme. Get samples of fabrics and paint finishes and live with them for a while to see how they appear in the room at different times of the day. If you still like them after a couple of weeks go for it.

DOES THE DECOR CHANGE M U C H AT T H I S T I M E O F Y E A R ? I really enjoy decorating the house

for Christmas. I have a vast collection of decorations that I add to each year. I fill the house with the smell of pine and spices. It is such a lovely time for us as a family – we used to go abroad at Christmas but now we come here as we can have all the extended family join us for the celebrations.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE C H R I S T M A S D AY I N T H E POOLEY HOUSEHOLD?

I do like to be quite organised so lots of the food prep will be done the day before so that Christmas Day is about having fun as a family.

We open presents in the morning and go for a long walk with the dogs and might even go for a swim in the sea if we’re feeling brave.

102 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

CHILDREN’S BEDROOM

Boat-inspired beds were designed to include storage.

For bunk beds, try Little Lucy Willow. Hagga rug, price on request, Sinclair Till. Bespoke window blinds, Designers Guild. Christmas decorations, from a selection, Balsam Hill

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 103

Personal STATEMENT HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Apartment built in the 1950s and remodelled in 2014 on the fifth floor of a Estado Novo building L O C AT I O N Lisbon, Portugal R O O M S Sitting/dining area, kitchen, home office, library/ music room/guest room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms R E N T E D Since 2018 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I lived in a two-bedroom flat also in Lisbon,’ says Joanna.

10 4 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

The apartment artist, architect and designer Joana Astolfi calls home reflects her life and artistry FEATURE KARINE MONIÉ | PHOTOGRAPHY FRANCISCO NOGUEIRA

no.

17

R

enting a place doesn’t mean that the space can’t be personal — and the home of creative mind Joana Astolfi is proof of that. Located a five-minute walk from Avenida da Liberdade (the ‘Champs-Élysées of Lisbon’), the 130-square-metre apartment was transformed by Joana to fit the lifestyle of an artist and her daughter Duna (along with their dog Lola). Among the four bedrooms, one was transformed into a home office and another into a library and music room with a daybed for occasional overnight guests.

Particularly keen on the many windows that flood every room with natural light, Joana created several nooks – including in the main living area which is mostly furnished with vintage Scandinavian furniture. ‘If I had refurbished this apartment, I would have kept the layout more open and reduced the number of rooms,’ says Joana.

Despite being unable to change the layout, Joana found a way to reflect her creative vision and personality through other aspects, such as the dusty green and weathered blue on the walls. ‘There are rich pigments with roots in earthy neutrals for the main living space and main bedroom, and in the bathrooms and the office, there are what I call “in-between” tones for the way they respond organically to the shifting light throughout the

LIVING AREA A modern fire has become the focal point with a beautiful gallery of art above.

Vintage leather chair and stool, €900, Vintage Department.

Bioethanol fireplace, €700, Clearfire. Try City Cows for a cowhide rug, from £189. Find a mid-century side table with tripod legs, from £250, Vinterior L I B R A RY/ MU S I C ROOM/GUEST ROOM The compact table and chairs create another space that can be used for work or socialising.

1970s Scandinavian table, €500, Vintage Department.

The ceiling lamp is vintage Danish; the Dyberg Larsen DL45 hanging lamp, £162.90, Lights.co.uk, is a good alternative KITCHEN Pale wood shelves and worktops in traditional Portuguese Lioz stone keep things light and bright in this compact space.

Walls and cupboards in Worsted estate eggshell, £67 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Terrazzo pendant lamp, €50; metal table lamp, €70, both Area Store

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 105

day,’ she explains. The carpets, curtains and upholstery feature tones from sand to straw, and stone to ash, while lush plants bring even more freshness to all the spaces.

Joana has brought items back with her from each place she has travelled to. She has sourced from flea markets, street fairs and artisan workshops. These collections have now found a place in her home. ‘I like an eclectic mix of modern pieces with second-hand and rustic handmade objects,’ she says. ‘Ceramic and wooden pieces and vintage toys and furniture populate my home. In my work, my focus is on the history and memory of each place. I see objects and spaces as experiences, caught in time, but also capable of transcending and bridging time.’

Among her treasures are also gifts from friends and items that Joana has discovered during some of her epic adventures. ‘Here, they become like touch-relics of beloved people and favourite places, and all of those technicolour memories infuse the space with the energy of a life lived boldly and full of love,’ she notes.

In this apartment, Joana feels truly herself and at peace. But she has a bigger dream — where she buys a three- or four-storey building in Lisbon and refurbishes it with her studio and furniture showroom on the ground floor, a few flats to sell in the middle and her house on the top level. ‘One day, I’ll do it,’ she says with confidence.

‘Home is an extension of me — and so is my work.’

OFFICE A potted plant brings vibrancy to this work area.

Desk chair, €180, Area Shop. The Nelis plant basket in Natural, £12.99, Hortology, would also work well here D U N A’ S B E D R O O M ‘With its bold art and modular furniture, this is a playful and dynamic space,’ says Joana.

Walls in Vert De Terre estate emulsion, £49.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Wall composition with coloured pencils, €4,763, Joana Astolfi. JWDA bedside table lamp, €200, Menu. Danish 1950s armchair, €350, Cantinho do Vintage MAIN BEDROOM ‘This space, which opens onto the terrace, features a relaxed atmosphere and great natural light,’ says Joana.

Macramé wall hanging, €500, Vasco Águas aka O Barbudo Aborrecido. Ikea’s Teresia sheer curtains, £7, would suit this space

10 6 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

‘The design process always involves experimentation, trial and error. I am continuously working on my home, transforming it, adding to it’

LESSON LEARNT

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 107

P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E

BEDROOM BLISS

Dressed up in beautiful velvet, these sumptuous upholstered beds from Bensons for Beds are the direct route to a room for relaxing

I

t’s no secret that the bedroom has become our go-to place for relaxing and catching up with box sets as well as getting a good night’s sleep.

Designing a bedroom you’ll look forward to unwind in starts with selecting a bed that sets the scene. At Bensons for Beds, the latest upholstered beds now come in exciting new shades, ready to take any scheme to a whole new level of luxury.

ORIANNA BED IN OYSTER A tall headboard creates a striking focal point for a luxurious bedroom.

Prices start from £799.99 for a double

MOOD ENHANCER

RO O M R E V I VA L

One of the swiftest ways to update a tired space is with a shot of vibrant colour. To get a boutique hotel vibe, Penelope is available in inky navy, a dreamy ocean blue or in on-trend pewter. This bed frame has a deep-buttoned, scrolled headboard and footboard for luxurious comfort. Lift the bed from the side to reveal the ottoman storage, or choose the Penelope standard bed frame option without storage.

PENELOPE BED I N N AV Y This inviting design in a deep shade of blue makes a big impression. Prices start from £699.99 for a double

QUALITY SNOOZING

Nothing beats trying out a bed by stretching out on it. At every Bensons for Beds store, the in-house team will also talk you through all the key aspects, from selecting a quality frame to the right mattress to support your comfort needs. If after 40 nights you don’t find your bed totally comfy, you can exchange it for a new one, provided you’ve used a mattress protector. And to ensure you are buying the best mattress for your own sleep requirements, the exclusive sleepPRO technology analyses the way you sleep to help find the perfect mattress for you.

108 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

TO FIND OUT MORE… Check out the Orianna and Penelope beds at bensonsforbeds.co.uk or visit one of the stores nationwide. On the website there are many more beds to choose from, along with inspirational ideas, helpful tips and advice.

SLEEP BETTER Dr Sophie Bostock, Bensons for Beds’ sleep expert, shares her tips to drift off easier in times of anxiety…

1 Slow, controlled breathing can help to dial down the stress response. Take a few moments to pause and breathe, both during the day and before bed.

2 Sunlight is a natural mood booster. Exposure to natural light in the morning sends a strong alerting signal to the body clock, and will help you feel sleepy in the evening.

3 Protect the last hour of the day to wind down and switch off. Social media is designed to be addictive, and often displaces sleep time.

By adopting a set time for a digital detox, there is less chance of getting distracted.

WORDS CAROLINE RODRIGUES

When the goal is a grand impression, proportions matter. The tall headboard of the Orianna bed frame has an effortless sense of style. Its headboard is winged for a cocooning effect, chic buttoning adds a bespoke feel and the velvet is warm to the touch. The upholstery comes in oyster for a subtle effect, in a gentle blush pink to create a romantic mood or in pewter to fit with any colour scheme. But it’s not all about looks. Beneath the sprung slats, the ottoman storage, which is unobstructed to give maximum space, will take care of your spare bedding and extra clothes with room to spare.

18 HOME comforts no.

Architects were called in to make Maria and John Southwood’s converted barn feel like the ultimate relaxed retreat FEATURE MAGGIE COLVIN/NARRATIVES | PHOTOGRAPHY ROBERT SANDERSON

SITTING ROOM

Simple design decisions like running the bookcase over the door contribute to the cosy feel.

Dahlia sofas, from £1,420 each, Sofa. com. The Wellington oak coffee table, £525, Laura Ashley at Next, is an alternative option

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 10 9

DINING AREA

A roof light floods the space with light.

Natterbox chairs in Inky Blue, £290 for two, Loaf. Holly napkins, £5 for 20, Caspari, have the same look

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Converted cattle barn dating back to the 1800s L O C AT I O N Somerset R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner, boot room, utility, cloakroom, six bedrooms (five en suite), bathroom, guest cottage P U R C H A S E D 2017 OTHER PROPERTY ‘Before buying this for weekends/ holidays, we lived permanently in London,’ says Maria.

KITCHEN

Deciding to put windows across one entire wall instead of a smaller window and units was a complete success.

Bell blown glass pendant lights, £145 each, Holloways of Ludlow. Handpainted red stripe candles, from £4.45 each, Susie Watson Designs

A

s their family expanded, Maria and John Southwood became fed up with trying to book country cottages for holidays and weekends and just missing out on them.

‘Finally we decided to buy somewhere of our own,’ says Maria. Happily, they found a barn with huge potential, surrounded by fields with breathtaking rural views and a large garden.

The barn had already been converted by the previous owner but needed to be reconfigured to suit a large young family, which now includes Felix, 11, Ellie, 10, Sofia, seven, Anna, five, and Louisa, three. ‘My sister Claire and brother-in-law Max run the architects firm, De Rosee Sa, and they were our first port of call,’ says Maria.

The architects divided the house into intimate spaces adding extra

bedrooms and bathrooms. Ceilings were lowered and floors added but the design still managed to include an exhilarating doubleheight hallway and an open apex ceiling in the main bedroom, which has views over the Mendip Hills. ‘We also added a balcony to this room, where we love to sit with the doors open with a cup of coffee or glass of wine enjoying the glorious views.’

The best design decision was to divide the house into two wings – areas for children and grown-ups – separated by the doubleheight hall. ‘Remote intercom devices for each child’s room means we do not have to be within earshot to hear a child’s cry,’ says Maria.

The new porch is a huge bonus. ‘We do wish we could have made it double size to fit buggies and scooters as well, but it wouldn’t 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 111

MAIN BEDROOM

Having this small window above the bed means the couple can look up at the stars at night.

Porlock bed with velvet headboard, from £599, Swoon. Bedspread, £85, Zara Home

have looked right from the outside,’ says Maria. Wherever possible the architects maximised the stunning views, installing new windows to the main bedroom and, in the sitting room, replacing a tiny barn window with a large bay and a cushioned window seat.

‘This is a big favourite with the children,’ says Maria.

With her busy lifestyle, Maria had little time to visit showrooms or big stores. ‘I bought the entire contents of this home online,’ she says. ‘From sofas, beds, tables, mirrors, lamps, even vintage console tables - it was much easier than you might think.’ Maria says she also picked up tips while visiting artistic friends, especially for accessories, cushions, candlesticks and lamps. ‘They were kind enough to share their contacts,’ she explains. Raw wood beams and 112 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

painted furniture add to the modern rustic feel. ‘I like a bit of mismatch because it feels more homely,’ says Maria. ‘With the children in mind, I went for sofas that they can jump on and stain-proofed fabrics made to withstand sticky fingers and the rough and rumble tumble of small people.’

The house is never more alive than at Christmas when the karaoke music is turned up and the children’s playroom becomes a disco. Maria’s tree is ordered from a local farm and in place by early December. Then there is just the Christmas shopping to finish, No mean feat with five children. ‘I’m lucky to have a large lock-up cupboard under the stairs,’ she smiles. The barn is available to rent through Unique Homestays as Kilnwood (uniquehomestays.com).

HALLWAY

Clever design by the architects allowed for the creation of a doubleheight entrance hall.

Woodwork in Studio Green estate eggshell, £67 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Try Taga hallway bench in Natural, £230, La Redoute

BATHROOM

A freestanding bath is set at an angle to enable bathers to enjoy the view.

Orchard Dulwich bath, £429, C.P. Hart.

Framed seaweed print, £375 for 4, Oka

Decor ating tip

‘Choosing colours from the same palette gave me scope to move things around. Blue was my unifying visual link throughout the house’

HOME TRUTHS DESIGNER Manuela Hamilford H O U S E A new-build home in the Cotswolds W O R K Complete decoration of the entire house

114 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

C OO L , C A L M AND C OL L E C T E D Designer Manuela Hamilford explains how she ensured this lakeside home felt serene and sophisticated FEATURE MELANIE WHITEHOUSE | PHOTOGRAPHY DARREN CHUNG

no.

KITCHEN/DINING AREA The raised bar on the island hides clutter, while the mirrored wall (below) emphasises the view.

Units painted in Hague Blue estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Industville’s Brooklyn giant bowl pendant has this look, £119

19

SITTING ROOM The indoor log fire sits between the two sitting areas, so it can be seen from all aspects.

Similar chunky wood rustic coffee table, Ashley Moore, from £242

H A L LWAY A solid, circular table makes a statement in the entrance.

Bespoke table, William Yeoward.

Hurricane lamps, from £295, Ralph Lauren

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 115

I N S PI R ATI O N

CHILDREN’S BEDROOM Built-in bunk beds are a streamlined choice.

Bunks painted in Little Greene’s Aquamarine intelligent eggshell, £68 for 2.5ltr

‘The owners wanted a Soho Farmhouse vibe – a little bit country and a little bit sophisticated’

GUEST BEDROOM The wallpaper behind the bed replicates the look of silver birch planks.

Andrew Martin Timber wallpaper in Driftwood, £82 a roll, Wallpaperdirect

G U E S T B AT H R O O M Flowing curtains soften the aesthetic.

Try Canterbury slipper bath, from £1,795, Fired Earth

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE I N VO LV E D I N T H I S P R O J E C T ?

This was a new build that needed decorating from scratch - we were involved from conception to completion, working with the contractor for two years. A holiday home for Emma and Stephen Chandler, a family with a twin boy and girl, the house on The Lakes by Yoo in the Cotswolds needed complete design direction - from the colour of the window frames to the ceiling height, sanitaryware and interior design.

My company Hamilford Design Studio (hamilforddesign.com) had done a similar project for a mutual friend who 116 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

lived nearby and so we were the obvious choice for this renovation.

H O W I N VO LV E D W E R E T H E H O M E O W N E R S ? The homeowners,

Emma and Stephen Chandler, were very involved and Emma had a good idea of the direction she wanted the house to go in, which was to give it a country, ‘Soho Farmhouse’ vibe. It had to be super comfortable and include loads of seating a 15-seater dining banquette and three living areas with sofas.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE H O M E O W N E R S ’ S T Y L E ? They

wanted muted colours throughout. To

achieve an interesting outcome, we added loads of textures using different materials in various subdued shades, so that the spaces throughout retained the relaxing energy of this house on a lake. They didn’t like anything too bright or garish.

W H AT W E R E T H E B I G G E S T P R I O R I T I E S ? Emma and Stephen

wanted the house to be child-friendly, with loads of squishy seating to sink into and a rustic fireplace that guests could view from any part of the house. The fireplace is situated between two living areas, the dining area and the kitchen, so everyone can enjoy the view.

GUEST BEDROOM This space includes an open-plan bathroom separated by a wall of storage.

Similar polished nickel Provence floor lamp, £525, Lighting Room.

Similar silk ikat cushion covers, £59, Rug Store

WH AT WAS YO U R I N S PI RAT I O N ?

We started with a few tartan fabrics and some samples of aged limed wood - the client loved them, so we went from there.

We didn’t want anything too predictably ‘country’, but we still wanted to bring through that Cotswold style. It usually includes lots of florals or tight pinstripes, pastels like dead salmon and olive tones.

We stayed away from floral and used bold tartans in modern colours instead.

WHICH AREAS WERE THE M O S T I M P O R T A N T ? The ground

floor was the most important for the owners as it contains the sitting and dining

areas, and the sliding doors open to access the swimming pool, hot tub and fire pit.

Because the views of the lakes were so incredible, the outdoors was also important, so there needed to be seating built on all the decks to get the most from the scenery.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE C O L O U R P A L E T T E ? We wanted to

create a Cotswold feel without looking like a typical Cotswold cottage, so we chose bold but muted fabrics and modern tartans, and mixed these with some relatively colourful stripes. Because the house is on the lake, we opted for colours that co-ordinated with the blues and greens of the water, and

included loads of wood detail in things like the coffee tables and flooring.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

Getting the copper bathtub up the stairs after the handrails had gone in! In the end we managed to get it through the windows on the top floor with a pulley system.

YO U R A D V I C E F O R C R E AT I N G A SUCCESSFUL SCHEME?

Consider your home as a whole and plan how it will flow with one consistent look. We have clients that piece together furniture and lamps they’ve picked up along the way but they don’t always work together, so good co-ordination and a holistic view is key.

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 117

no.

20 DINING AREA

The pretty fabric blind is a soft foil to the characterful wooden pieces.

Similar farmhouse table, £850, Vintage France Design. Vintage Swedish bench, £420, Ardingly Antiques Fair

LOVE AND CHERISH Continuing the family passion for antiques, Kerry and Andy Warren filled their home with treasured pieces FEATURE JANE CRITTENDEN | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH STYLING MARISHA TAYLOR

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY 1870s Victorian semi L O C AT I O N West Sussex R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner, office, utility room, cloakroom, playroom, four bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2009 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in an 1870s terraced house in Brighton,’ says Kerry.

KITCHEN

Painting the walls and ceiling the same colour heightens the room. Simple shaker cupboards complement the age of the house.

Neptune’s Chichester is a similar style unit, £780 for a 600mm cabinet. Samsung quartz worktop in Kauai, £540sq m, World of Stone

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 119

K

erry Warren and her husband Andy have a deep-rooted attachment to all things old and original having both grown-up around antiques.

‘Andy’s father was an antiques dealer and his shop was in a converted stable block attached to their Georgian home,’ says Kerry.

‘When I visited with Andy, we both loved looking at the antiques, which is how they became the foundation for our own home.’

When the couple decided to move out of their Brighton Victorian terrace with children, Paddy, now 17, and Toby, 15 and into the Sussex countryside, a period property was a must. Kerry says the mood of the house really sold it to them. ‘It felt cosy, not sprawling, but with plenty of space and character,’ she recalls.

Since the property was in good shape, and neither Kerry nor Andy wanted to extend or modernise, the only changes were to put it back to how it had once been.

Missing staircase spindles were matched to the originals by a craftsman, while uPVC French doors and a bedroom window were replaced with traditional styles.

Planning the room schemes came naturally to Kerry (@thedecorativemum), who studied textile design and sometimes advises on fabrics and colours for interiors projects. She

SITTING ROOM

‘I’ve started each room with something I love, like this gorgeous pink fabric I used to cover the sofa,’ says Kerry.

Sofa in Iona fabric in Rosebay, £90m, Linwood. Sofology’s Stamford sofa in Heron Rose, £1,249, is similar

1 1 SITTING ROOM The stripped fire surround echoes the pine floorboards and window joinery. ‘One of our first purchases for this house was the 1870s gilt-edged mirror,’ says Kerry.

Mirror, £380, Canterbury Auction Galleries. Similar Famille Rose Chinese porcelain, £61 for a mug, Vinterior 2 TOBY’S BEDROOM Striped textiles and a metal bed strike a simple, utilitarian note.

Blind in Blue ticking, £90m, Kate Forman. Try Toast’s organic cotton Pyjama Stripe double duvet cover, £89 3 BEDROOM ‘The floral oil painting picks out the pinks in the room,’ says Kerry.

Painting, £160, Ardingly Antiques & Interiors. Pooky’s Trafalgar antique brass table lamp, £226, is similar

2

leans toward classic styles with a carefully chosen fabric at the heart of each room.

The couple arranged muchloved antiques, combining eras with ease – the French farmhouse dining table, Victorian side tables and a French chandelier were all in their previous home. ‘When we first moved in together, we didn’t consider buying new, as antiques are beautifully crafted and often cheaper – our sitting room chandelier cost less than £50 and that was 20 years ago,’ says Kerry.

The pair have also inherited pieces that spark happy memories: a late Georgian writer’s bureau was Andy’s doctor grandfather’s in his front living room surgery; they also have Andy’s grandmother’s 18th-century footstool. Kerry likes to mix in the whimsical, too, with old paintings, mirrors and fabrics.

‘I’m a romantic at heart and living with males, I like to have a little bit of prettiness in rooms,’ she says.

‘I’m drawn to 1940s and 1950s floral paintings and gilt-framed mirrors, especially those with a mottled effect that show their age.’

Kerry and Andy love how their house has turned out. ‘Our home serves us well as a family and the location is perfect,’ says Kerry.

‘It’s taken us years to collect our lovely antiques and if we ever moved, the house would have to fit right in with them – our furniture is part of who we are.’

3

4

5

6

4 MAIN BEDROOM The cast-iron fireplace is original and matched with a 19th-century oval mirror from the same era.

Gilt oval bevelled mirror, £735, Pamono, is similar. Italian chandelier, £145, Franklin’s Antiques and Interiors 5 & 6 BATHROOM ‘I like that I catch a glimpse of the oil painting above the bath as I come up the stairs,’ says Kerry. ‘The colours pick out the pinky-reds in the blind and the blue tones in the grey walls.’

Traditional fittings and small details, like the pine apothecary cupboard, bring the classic look together.

Walls in Pavilion Gray and Skimming Stone estate emulsion, both £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Hampshire towel radiator, £327; Whitechapel basin, £157; both Bathstore, are similar. Painting, £120, Ardingly Antiques & Interiors

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 121

ROOMS IN FOCUS

We look at a specific project in five amazing houses to give advice and inspiration in detail

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 12 3

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S O W N E R S Megan and Nick Parkin; their two children have left home but visit frequently H O U S E A four-bedroom 19th-century former grain mill near Winchester W O R K A modern extension made way for a bigger kitchen and dining space with views of the newly landscaped gardens

BLENDING IN

Modern finishes merge seamlessly with old, giving Megan and Nick Parkin a beautiful open-plan space for entertaining FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON | PHOTOGRAPHY SIMON BEVAN

12 4 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

no.

21

M

egan and Nick Parkin’s kitchen plans were part of a bigger dream to transform the entire ground floor of their home. ‘We had an idea to create an eclectic space that didn’t necessarily look like a kitchen but remained very practical,’ says Megan. ‘Woodstock’s designer Guy Bristow was really accommodating and helped us build on this concept.’

THE BRIEF

The renovations involved removing the exterior wall and front door and adding a contemporary glass, steel and brick extension, which included a new entrance hall. ‘Previously, the kitchen was compact and quite dark,’ says Megan. ‘We wanted the new kitchen to feel like it was in the garden with lots of light – somewhere we could spend most of our day.’

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Plotting the layout wasn’t straightforward. ‘It was important that the old kitchen space was used rather than just being a thoroughfare to the extension,’ says Megan.

The solution involved clever zoning, with the washing-up and food storage areas in the footprint of the old kitchen, and cooking and food prep in the much lighter extension.

Bridging the original house and extension, the kitchen has an elongated format that begins at the island and cooker elevation and ends with a reading corner. ‘It might be unconventional, but it ticks all the boxes for us.’

M AT E R I A L S U S E D

The dramatic, dark design of the kitchen was steered by Megan and Nick’s idea that it should blend into its environment. ‘We used a mix of door styles to create a laid-back, eclectic look, but unified them by painting the cabinetry in the same colour as the walls,’ says Megan.

Leaving the mill’s brick and stone walls exposed was a great move; the flint tones sing against the moody paint.

FINISHING TOUCHES

The line detail on the island is a subtle modern twist designed to help it stand out as the room’s centrepiece.

The worktops in the extension are made from striking Quartzite, a natural stone with beautiful veining; the couple opted for a honed finish for its matt appearance and tactile appeal. ‘We love how well the old and new elements work together in design and practicality, not least because every inch is put to good use,’ says Megan.

LESSONS LEARNT

The Parkins originally bought their hob as a back-up for when the Aga is turned off, however they soon realised how beneficial it was and now use it all year round.

‘The speed and level of control of induction cooking is amazing,’ says Nick. They also love how the recirculating downdraught extractor, with its motor tucked beneath the hob, leaves the area above unobstructed. ‘We didn’t want a the unit hanging from the ceiling,’ he adds.

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 12 5

COOK’S CHOICE

An Aga devotee, Megan wouldn’t be without her beloved range cooker but took the opportunity to upgrade to a new Black electric model with on-demand controls (above). The tall cabinetry (above right) hosts the larder in the centre, flanked by an integrated fridge and freezer.

Three-oven eR7 100-3 range cooker in Black, £12,695, Aga. Bespoke solid wood cabinetry hand-painted in Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe estate eggshell, from £40,000; Super White Quartzite worktops, from £1,250sq m, all Woodstock Furniture. Walls painted in Down Pipe; ceiling painted in Clunch, both estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. HW961 Amendo Rustic 180mm engineered oak wood flooring, £98.34sq m, Havwoods. Bistro bulb wall lights, £45 each, John Lewis & Partners.

KI8513D30G integrated fridge, £939; GI7413E30G integrated freezer, £938, both Neff

126 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

V E R S AT I L E S P A C E The layout offers practical cooking and food prep space while details such as artwork lend a living area feel.

Purist single-lever tap in Matte Black, £887, Kohler. Cisterna White ceramic large single undermount sink, £538, Villeroy & Boch

CLEAR THE AIR The hob on the island has a built-in extractor.

‘We didn’t want a unit hanging from the ceiling as this is a living space, too,’ says Nick.

Bora Basic glass ceramic induction cooktop with recirculating extractor, from £2,256, Bora. Shimla pendants, from £99.95 each, Nkuku

JOINED-UP THINKING Jodie and Peter Lasenby have discovered the art of flow by redesigning their dated kitchen to blend with the neighbouring dining and living spaces FEATURE KAREN WILSON | PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS SNOOK

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S

COHESIVE DESIGN The island and the bar created in the dining area have a similar look for a co-ordinated feel, while most of the appliances are hidden behind cabinetry (right) for a streamlined end result.

Similar bespoke kitchen, from £30,000, Sheraton Interiors. Island painted in Raccoon Fur aura eggshell, £92 for 3.79ltr, Benjamin Moore

12 8 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

O W N E R S Jodie and Peter Lasenby H O U S E A five-bedroom detached Georgian-style new build in Buckinghamshire W O R K To replace the dated kitchen with a more practical modern Shaker style, as well as creating a bar and TV unit in the adjoining rooms

no.

22

A

fter 10 years in their home, Jodie and Peter Lasenby felt the walnut kitchen they’d inherited was in need of modernising. They brought in kitchen designer Mark Hassett of Sheraton Interiors to plan a new space that would suit their family including their two children, George, eight and Chloe, five, and form the hub of their open-plan ground floor.

THE BRIEF

The couple wanted a modern yet homely kitchen that was more in line with the rest of their house. ‘Jodie and Peter didn’t like the old-fashioned style, and the blue glass doors were all cracked,’ says Mark. ‘A particular bugbear was the location of the hob at the end of the island as there was no working space around it, and they hated the unsightly cooker hood that was hanging from the ceiling.’

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Although the new kitchen has a similar layout, a pantry unit has been added with recessed doors and deep drawers beneath. ‘This makes things easier to access and gives the tall run of units more character,’ says Mark. ‘As the space is open plan, a dresser on the sink run hides everyday appliances from view.’ A key change was relocating the hob to the middle of the island and adding pan drawers below.

‘Now there is more prep space on either side and a better view into the garden while cooking.’ The cooker hood was replaced by a sleek Bora downdraught hob, while the existing ovens and fridge were incorporated into the new design.

M AT E R I A L S U S E D

The couple chose classic Shaker-style cabinetry in tulipwood as it’s perfect for a durable smooth painted finish.

‘They considered a variety of shades, before finally choosing Benjamin Moore’s Raccoon Fur,’ says Mark. ‘This dark shade of blue worked best combined with Farrow & Ball’s Cornforth White on the tall units.’ Having previously lived with white stone worktops, Jodie and Peter wanted a material with more character. They chose light quartz with a subtle vein pattern and child-friendly bevelled edges.

FINISHING TOUCHES

Antique brass handles give a timeless yet modern finish, while integrated lighting creates a nice ambience in the evenings. ‘The owners chose the pendants as they matched the brass accents in the scheme,’ says Mark. ‘They’re not too bulky, so they don’t interfere with the line of sight either.’

LESSONS LEARNT

For anyone planning a new kitchen, Mark advises that the scheme needs to work practically not just aesthetically.

‘Allow for ample workspace as well as concealed areas to hide clutter,’ he says. ‘Also, cater for the way you intend to cook and ensure the appliances work well for you.’ Jodie and Peter feel this new kitchen perfectly suits the rest of their home. ‘It’s really brought the three rooms together and modernised the heart of the house,’ says Mark.

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 129

HUB OF THE HOME

A modern palette, brass accents and light wood flooring create a sense of cohesion within the kitchen and with the adjoining living spaces.

Jodie and Peter’s favourite feature is the pantry as it provides so much practical storage.

Cabinetry painted in Cornforth White estate eggshell, £67 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Artscut Verona quartz worktop, £520sq m; Bora Puru hob, £2,616; Caple wine fridge, £768; Blanco sink, £576, all Sheraton Interiors. Blanco kitchen tap, £210, Building Supplies Online, is similar. Leiston pendants in antiqued brass, £188.20 each, Jim Lawrence. Button back stool with studs in Dark Grey, £199, Shakletons, is similar. Try Henderson gold lantern, from £50, Olivia’s. Natural engineered oak flooring, £60sq m, Wood and Beyond, has this look. Similar TV unit (in adjoining room), around £5,000, Sheraton Interiors

13 0 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

N E AT S O L U T I O N A bespoke bar area with a wine fridge and mirror splashback provides ample storage for glassware.

Similar bar unit, around £3,000; mirror splashback, £680, both Sheraton Interiors. Balmoral round dining table, £2,925, Neptune

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 13 1

no.

23

LUXE RETREAT

With boutique hotel style in mind, Victoria and Robin Cundall wanted a high-end finish and much-needed storage in their lacklustre bedroom FEATURE KAREN WILSON | PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS SNOOK

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S O W N E R S Victoria and Robin Cundall H O U S E Four bedroom Victorian terrace in south London W O R K To maximise the layout, add storage and bring a hotel feel to the bedroom

SOFT TOUCH Sumptuous pink velvet looks beautiful against the dark blue walls, while the glass pendants enhance the chic hotel feel.

Alice ribbed headboard bed in Velvet Blossom, from £2,737, Love Your Home. Hereford pendants, £150 each, Fritz Fryer

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 13 3

A

fter buying their four-bedroom home in 2014, Victoria and Robin Cundall first tackled the bathroom and added a kitchen side return extension before turning to their attention to the main bedroom. The couple, who have two children, Ottilie, 12, and Allegra, seven, brought in interior designer Laura Stephens (laurastephens.co.uk) to help.

THE BRIEF

‘Our bedroom was soulless and messy with no storage,’ recalls Victoria. ‘We had some temporary window dressings, which were terrible, a mishmash of furniture, radiators on the wrong walls and a lack of plug sockets.

Our brief was for a boutique hotel vibe with storage a high priority. The rest we left to Laura.’

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

The room was re-plastered and new sockets were installed, while the floor was sanded and painted white. ‘Laura suggested moving the radiator under the window, which freed up wall space, and she changed the direction the door opened in so we could relocate the bed,’ says Victoria.

‘She also designed floor-to-ceiling wardrobes and added wooden shutters,’ Victoria explains.

Colour-wise Victoria was adamant that she wanted black walls, but Laura persuaded her to go with dark blue to work better with the light. ‘It really complements the rooms that have already been done, but makes the rest of the house look like it needs Laura’s magic!’ she says.

FINISHING TOUCHES

The couple kept one chest of drawers from their last house, but other than that they gave Laura free rein. ‘She added her signature-touch piping on the scatter cushions, in the same pink as the headboard, and we also had a stool made in the fabric, which complements the paint colour perfectly,’ says Victoria. ‘I particularly love the striking yet graceful style of the dresser and the feather pendant light, which softens the scheme and suits the high ceilings.’

LESSONS LEARNT

Victoria is delighted with the new decor. ‘I’ve learned to be more open minded to suggestions,’ she says. ‘Not only did Laura help with the colour scheme, but her ideas on layout and where to position furniture maximised the space. And all the finishing touches and accents transform the room into something really special. It feels like an escape to a boutique hotel, which was exactly the brief.’

REFINED FINISH

One of Victoria’s favourite pieces is the dressing table, which manages to be both bold and delicate, as does the fabulous feather pendant. Artwork adds pops of colour, while brass accents bring brightness to the rich scheme.

Walls painted in Juniper Ash absolute matt emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Pino brass console table, £254.99, My Furniture. Bethan Gray Feather Collection dining chair, £598, Anthropologie. Nappa fringed table lamp, £115, Oliver Bonas. Ripley drum stool, from £265, The Dormy House.

Gloria feather light, £565, Coldharbour Lights

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 13 5

ORDER FROM CHAOS Designer Jo Aynsley has transformed a dark, disorganised office into a light-filled functional room with a place for everything FEATURE KAREN WILSON | PHOTOGRAPHY ZAC AND ZAC PHOTOGRAPHY

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S O W N E R S Grace and Bill McDonald H O U S E An 18th-century farmhouse in Scotland W O R K To revamp a dark, draughty and cluttered office for occasional home working

13 6 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

no.

24

A

fter working with Jeffreys Interiors on their drawing room, Grace and Bill McDonald asked designer Jo Aynsley to tackle the overflowing office of their Edinburgh farmhouse. With its jumble of desks bumped together, dark cherry wood bookshelves, green striped wallpaper and a vivid red filing cabinet on show, the room was in need of a revamp.

THE BRIEF

The house was previously a holiday home for the family of Robert Louis Stevenson, so the office had to reflect its historic feel while still being functional. ‘It had become a man cave for Bill, but Grace hated it,’ says Jo of Jeffreys Interiors (jeffreys-interiors.co.uk). ‘She wanted to be able to leave the door open and enjoy the look without seeing all the work and especially the filing cabinet.’

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

New skirting boards, architraves and cornices were fitted to match the existing ones, and the window was replaced to stop the draught, with full-length curtains added for an extra layer of warmth in winter. Bespoke built-in cabinetry, with a long desk between, maximises every inch of space. As well as concealing the red filing cabinet, it provides ample storage and keeps the desk uncluttered.

N E AT W O R K Bespoke light oak cabinetry is modern and smart. Slats on the side of the bookcase let more light in.

Similar cabinetry, from around £18,000, Ogilvies of Haddington

FINISHING TOUCHES

Jo managed to rework a lot of the couple’s existing pieces into the room, thinning out their collection of books and styling the space with a few family portraits and well-chosen accessories. A textured wallpaper lightens the scheme, and an ergonomic desk chair has been tempered with a soft spotty fabric, marrying practicality and style. ‘All of this has freshened up the room and given it the light and airy vibe that the rest of the house has going on,’ says Jo. LESSONS LEARNT

During the project Jo took ideas from the cabinetmaker on board. ‘He suggested that the side panels of the shelves could be slatted to allow more light through from the window,’ she says. ‘The couple liked the idea of a more pared-back design, with light wood in contrast to what they had previously, and this worked well with for a more Scandi feel. Now Bill loves the new desk space – and Grace is happy that the red filing cabinet is hidden from view!’

BRIGHT IDEA

The soft grasscloth wallpaper is neutral to keep things bright but also adds interesting texture.

Lisle linen wallpaper, £79 a roll, Harlequin, is similar.

Curtains in Scatter in Aluminium fabric, £71.23m, Mark Alexander at Graham Sanderson Interiors. Similar Brooklyn office chair, £149, Cult Furniture; upholstered in Larkin in Denim, £98m, William Yeoward at Jane Clayton. Similar limited-edition Peter Blake Fag Packets print, from around £1,800, Eyestorm

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 13 7

SPACE TO RELAX Sacrificing a bedroom allowed Rachael and Tom Somerville to gain a family bathroom with plenty of room for pampering FEATURE IFEOLUWA ADEDEJI | PHOTOGRAPHY ADAM CARTER

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S O W N E R S Rachael and Tom Somerville H O U S E A five-bedroom Georgian house in Shropshire W O R K An existing bedroom was converted into the home’s family bathroom

14 0 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

no.

25

W

hen Rachael and Tom Somerville moved into their Georgian home in Shrewsbury they turned the old family bathroom into their main en suite, and realised that the bedroom would be better used as the main bathroom.

This conversion was part of a whole-house renovation, which took almost three years.

THE BRIEF

‘You can’t beat a hotel-style scheme and we’ve stayed in some beautiful places,’ says Rachael. She picked up several ideas that way, as well as from Instagram, where she has her own account (@rachaelsomervilleinteriors). The new bathroom had to work for their two-year-old daughter Nancy, as well as for their overnight guests.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Originally, Rachael had wanted the bath in the centre of the room with a shower behind, but when she realised that it wasn’t going to fit, they built a shower enclosure with screens by a local glass company that suits the space perfectly. ‘To give the room a contemporary twist, we chose a minimalist bath,’ says Rachael.

FINISHING TOUCHES

A Shaker-style vanity unit with elegant curves adds timeless elegance and is complemented by glossy white tiles, a brass shower frame and further brass accents throughout the space. Traditional globe-style lights work well with the mirror, and Rachael matched accessories to the brassware to create a consistent look. Wall-mounted crosshead taps help to save space, while white edging tiles frame the niche behind the bath, which is perfect for displaying toiletries and accessories.

LESSONS LEARNT

‘We decided not to add ceiling coving because of the beam that sits in the centre of the room,’ says Rachael.

‘In hindsight I wish we’d done it, as this feature worked so well subsequently in other rooms. However, the new scheme has been a great success and I love how peaceful and calming this bathroom is.’

M A X I M I S I N G S PAC E

All over marble-effect tiling looks luxe and increases the sense of space as it is continuous. A curved vanity provides plenty of storage to keep the bathroom clutter free.

Picasso bath, £1,395, Lusso Stone. Mimica Bianco Ravenna matt porcelain tiles, £58.80sq m, Mandarin Stone. Find a similar brown glass vase, from £6.95, H&M. Similar Spa Indulgence white bath towels, from £28 each, The White Company.

Stratford Mid vanity unit, £3,252; Hepworth basin taps, £534, Porter Bathroom. Compton wall lights, £120.70 each, Jim Lawrence. Mirror, £249, West Elm. Walls in a similar colour to Cornforth White estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1 | 141

LUXE LOOK Brass detailing on the bespoke shower enclosure is echoed in the choice of sanitaryware and side table.

Enclosure, £1,500, The Glass Studio.

Shower fittings, £1,178, all Porter Bathroom. Antique Brass side table, £119, Trouva, would work here

14 2 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

IDEAS TO SHARE

ROOM ENVY

I

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

f you crossed a Bond villain’s lair with the wildest fantasies of an eco hotelier, the result would probably end up looking a bit like Arctic Bath. This spectacular spa hotel occupies a spot both on the water and the banks of Sweden’s Lule River. The feel is gloriously remote; as far as the eye can see, pine trees litter the landscape and the area is often used by Sámi to graze reindeer during winter.

The pared-back Scandi suites are in striking modernist land cabins constructed with local materials, and perched on elevated poles, nestled among the evergreens.

The temperature outside may be shiveringly sub-zero, but the interiors are a lesson in cool yet cosy minimalism. Designed by 14 6 | 2 5 B H D EC E M B ER 202 1

Sweden’s Annkathrin Lundqvist, pine clad walls, simple timber furniture, tactile rugs and contemporary log burners ensure the vibe stays on trend and toasty – no mean feat when surveying the snow-topped scenery beyond the dramatic floor-to-ceiling pitched glazed window. Minimal it may be, but the style is far from austere.

Throughout the cabins, Baltic grey limestone, wool and other natural fibres in warm, earthy hues feature heavily to keep the connection with the natural world consistent and the rooms cosy and comfortable. There’s a timber deck for morning coffee, or meditation in the warmer months, although outdoor activities are encouraged all-year round, which is a good habit to incorporate into our homes, wherever they are.

FEATURE JACKY PARKER/PATRICK HAMILTON-COURTNEY PHOTOGRAPH DANIEL HOLMGREN

Take in the epic scenery of Swedish Lapland at Arctic Bath, arcticbath.se

9000

9001