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58 country 8 14 54 58

C A R E F U L LY C R A F T E D Honouring

the history of an old Suffolk barn was a vital part of this eco-conscious conversion M O V I N G M O U N TA I N S A speedy renovation that didn’t cut corners was the plan for this ski chalet in Australia’s Victorian Alps H A N D L E D W I T H C A R E Extending a period property in Berkshire was a careful balance between adding more space and light and retaining its character and charm A M E R I C A N B E A U T Y A considered update pays homage to the heritage of a traditional clapboard house in Massachusetts

COVER STORY

69 86 96 105

C O U N T R Y C A S U A L A rural idyll in

Shropshire with beams and an inglenook fireplace is enhanced with a soft palette, natural textures and pretty floral prints R E S T O R AT I O N P I E C E Careful planning and thrifty buys were key in the renovation of a dilapidated rectory in Suffolk T H E G E N T L E T O U C H This Surrey cottage had previously been extended by Sir Edwin Lutyens so a sensitive approach was essential S I M P LY I D Y L L I C After living overseas for more than a decade, a Cotswold cottage proved the perfect place to come home to

Contemporary pieces mix with luxe layers of texture in this sophisticated home (page 14).

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 3

54

city 20 24 40 46 50 81 100

34

126

A R C H I T E C T U R A L G E M Creative ideas made the

most of this London terrace’s historical character F A C T O R Y F I N I S H An industrial-style decor was the ideal choice when it came to the conversion of an abandoned concrete workshop in Milan H O M E T O S TAY Relocating to an Edwardian terrace in the city where she spent her early 20s was a dream come true for this art-loving owner K E Y C H A N G E A duplex apartment with stunning riverside views encompassing iconic London landmarks struck the right chord with this couple TA K I N G T H E L O N G V I E W One homeowner’s desire to find a home she’d never want to leave was fulfilled by an ex-council house in London with plenty of potential O L D M E E T S N E W A pared-back palette of white, blue and grey with colourful accents lends a modern aesthetic to a five-storey period home in the capital S K Y ’ S T H E L I M I T The opportunity to tailor the space to individual requirements made this penthouse apartment in west London a tempting prospect C R E AT I V E S P I R I T The owners’ love of fashion, art and contrasting colour allows this London house to sing

c oa s ta l 28 64 117 123

A S E N S E O F L U X U R Y The impressive exterior of

this Victorian-style villa in Devon called for an equally grand interior complete with custom-made furniture C H I C R E T R E AT Reinstating lost period features breathed new life into a family bolthole in Kent A N E W WAV E This Kent apartment successfully references its coastal location while avoiding clichés WAT E R C O L O U R S It is New England style rather than British seaside in this cottage on the Suffolk coast

town

110

34 74 78 90 110

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A C O L O U R F U L A P P R O A C H Confident use of

vibrant shades revived a tired Victorian semi in Kent F A M I LY A F F A I R Parental help made a big difference to the transformation of a 1940s property in Surrey S T R O N G S TAT E M E N T An unassuming Hertfordshire house has been reworked with a touch of gold A S T U D Y I N S T Y L E Returning to their university town led one couple to a characterful Edwardian terrace S O U L S E A R C H I N G Collections of artwork, ceramics and furniture bring personality to a South African home

r e g u l a r f e at u r e s 132 134 135 138

T R AV E L O F F E R Award-winning river cruises T R AV E L O F F E R Luxury escorted tours W H E R E T O B U Y Find stockists listed in this issue R O O M E N V Y The scheme that’s inspired us this month

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e d ito r ’s le t te r | 25bh 25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES EDITORIAL

WELCOME There is so much promise at this time of year; a chance to begin again with a new mindset, a new mood. I’m not one for worrying too much about self-improvement – I suspect that deep down we’re all pretty good as we are – so instead of focusing on a new you, let this issue inspire you to have a new way of thinking about what’s around you. I’m particularly taken with the way Catherine Nice has repurposed vintage pieces in her family house in Kent on page 34, reminding us that breathing new life into what we own is often the best way to hit refresh.

That said, this month can be a time to tackle those larger projects.

Perhaps you’ll want to let the light in, like Nick Leith-Smith did in his stunning Georgian property on page 126, or maybe enhance the best features your house already has, like Sally Paget-Brown’s loving refurbishment of her 18th-century cottage on page 96. However big or small you go, you’ll find ideas aplenty here.

Wishing you a very happy new year.

PIP MCCORMAC, ACTING EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

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2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 7

Carefully crafted Onitha and Dan Jarrold’s modern barn conversion manages to respect its origins while also incorporating eco-conscious elements into the heart of its design FEATURE CIARA ELLIOTT | PHOTOGRAPHY BILLY BOLTON

8 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

c o u ntry | 25bh LIVING AREA The clean, low lines of Danish mid-century furniture create a sense of calm and simplicity.

Secto Octo pendant light, £690, Made In Design.

Try Antiques Atlas for a haberdashery cabinet like this one, price on request.

Samsung The Frame TV, £1,499, John Lewis & Partners. Bow standing lamp, £129, Made

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 9

25bh | c o u ntry

T

LIVING AREA Onitha upcycled a vintage rocking chair and sideboard using a selection of tester pots.

Try eBay for an original Hans J Wegner J16 rocking chair, from £450.

Chalk paint, £5.95 for 120ml, Annie Sloan

rying to honour the heritage of an old building while giving it a new lease of life always presents a challenge to a renovator. But this Suffolk barn conversion has achieved a pleasing balance between the before and after. ‘Before we started the build, I used to mentally walk through the house every night as I was falling asleep, trying to envisage how the layout would work,’ says Onitha Jarrold, who with husband Dan bought the site and outbuildings on the grounds beside her old family house. Together they have created a modern home for themselves and sons Noah, now 14, and twins Isaac and Finn, 11, plus Sunny the Cockapoo.

‘I spent a lot of time making mood boards and doing sketches,’ says Onitha, who runs a furniture refurbishment business called Rekindled. Sustainability and beautiful interiors are very close to her heart. ‘I set out with the aim of creating a personalised interior for us, but as we have quite an eclectic mix of items I took my time to plan how it would all fit into the space.’

The construction of the barn involved building a framework out of hollow polystyrene blocks, which was then filled with poured concrete. The heating and hot water are generated by a ground source heat pump, which collects energy and converts it into heat.

Onitha and Dan also wanted to incorporate as much eco-conscious design as possible into the build, H A L LWAY Slotted windows reflect an ever-changing canvas of light and shade as the sun moves.

Staircase designed by architect Peter Wells. Black round rug, £95, Vanil SNUG AREA A chic wood burner makes this part of the open-plan room extra cosy.

Wood-burning stove, £1,225, The Stove Fitters Warehouse. Afaw Berber-style rug, £399, La Redoute KITCHEN ‘We wanted as much functional storage as possible,’ says Onitha.

Shaker-style cabinetry, price on request, Manor Farm Reproductions; painted in Kigali architects matt, £55 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library

10 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

home truths T H E P R O P E R T Y Modern barn conversion L O C AT I O N Suffolk R O O M S Hallway, kitchendiner/living room/office/snug, utility room, work room and gym, playroom, five bedrooms (two en suite), bathroom B U I LT I N 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in a Victorian red-brick townhouse nearby,’ says Onitha.

25bh | c o u ntry LANDING Sleek contemporary additions lend style and personality to this airy walkway.

Harry Bertoia-inspired Wire Diamond chair, £74, Stone Butterfly.

Ludde sheepskin rug, £29, Ikea. Klum pendant lights in Cork and Red, £59 each, Made

as well as make the house feel warmer with salvaged and vintage furniture and floors. The parquet flooring throughout the ground level is 300 year-old reclaimed oak from a chateau in France.

‘There’s very little here that has been bought as new,’ says Onitha. ‘I like the simplicity of mid-century design and its elegant lines, and the floors give warmth both physically and aesthetically, which makes the place feel cosy and homely despite its size. Being built from mostly modern materials could have made the house feel cold and unwelcoming, but surrounding ourselves with meaningful pieces that have a story and that we have put a little extra effort and love into, helps give it a character and honesty.’

Walking into the light-drenched, double-height atrium of the living areas, you are immediately hit with the standout feature of the house – the floor-to-ceiling window, which allows uninterrupted views from both downstairs and upstairs.

‘The installation was nail-biting experience,’ says Onitha. ‘It was transported on a flatbed lorry and lifted into place using a suction crane. But we couldn’t be happier with how it has turned out. The view is like a constantly changing piece of art. We often find ourselves gazing out of the window watching the sunset, instead of the TV. It really connects us to the landscape.’

The finished project doesn’t come without an element of sadness, though. ‘Having lost both of my parents recently, the location holds even more significance and many special memories,’ says Onitha. But there will undoubtedly be many more joyful times ahead for the Jarrolds in their beautiful house.

BOY’S BEDROOM Onitha fashioned the lamp using dowel left over from another project.

Mirapocket Mia 1000 pocket memory divan bed, £542, Very. The side table was a flea-market find EN SUITE ‘I’m quite proud of the luxurious look we’ve achieved in here,’ says Onitha.

Upcycled cabinet in Amsterdam Green, £19.95 for 1ltr, Annie Sloan. Brass wall sconces, £93.50 each, Khalima Lights

12 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

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

MASTER BEDROOM Wood flooring and soft upholstery add warmth and texture to this cool blue and white palette.

Roscoe super king-size bed in Aegean Blue, £499, Made. Wright bedside table (unpainted), £349, West Elm. Pink bed linen, from £8, Primark.

Vagmalla throw, £13, Ikea

M O V I N G M O U N TA I N S Joe and Olivia Bartolo faced a race against time to renovate a picture-perfect chalet on the slopes of Australia’s Victorian Alps FEATURE JULIET BENNING | PHOTOGRAPHY ARMELLE HABIB/ LIVING INSIDE

EXTERIOR The three-story building has far-reaching views of the Great Dividing Range

14 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

c o u ntry | 25bh LIVING AREA Simple furnishings allow the textures of the rug, wall hanging and pendant to draw the eye.

Skantherm Shaker wood-burning stove, ÂŁ2,153, Stoves Online.

The Dove Grey diamond rug, ÂŁ245, Weaver Green, is similar

25bh | c o u ntry

A

s keen skiers, Melbourne-based property, a plan was set in motion that Joe Bartolo and his wife Olivia, would see not a moment wasted. ‘We had along with children Kayden, to measure the chalet to within an inch 12, and Milla, nine, are regular of its life, and on that first trip Joe and I visitors to the Victorian Alps. Mount mapped out a whole new floor plan,’ says Hotham has become their favourite winter Jessica. ‘It was extremely difficult to get playground and it is there that they have everything up the mountain, we were created the perfect family-orientated chalet. faced with narrow roads and it was an The three-story building, which has effort to persuade the trades to come up T H E P R O P E R T Y Chalet become such a strong feature in their lives, is from Melbourne,’ Joe adds.

L O C AT I O N Mount Hotham in the Victorian Alps, Australia situated on one of the resort’s most popular It was all worth it though, with the R O O M S Hallway, kitchenruns. In previous seasons, the family had renovation completed on time. ‘To diner/living area, utility room, often admired the property as they skied counteract the glare from the snow, we boot room, three bedrooms, past – and a long campaign for ownership opted for a dark interior,’ says Jessica. three bathrooms B O U G H T 2016 ensued. ‘The chalet belonged to a friend The rich, sophisticated scheme, with all PREVIOUS PROPERTY of mine and we were constantly bantering its comforting layers, is a mix of both Joe ‘Our main home is a 10-year-old about how I wanted to buy it, but he and Olivia’s styles. ‘Olivia was taken with house in Williamstown, says Joe. wouldn’t sell,’ Joe laughs. Eventually, his the idea of a Viking chalet, but I wanted persistence paid off and the friend agreed to something more masculine,’ says Joe. sell him the property, but the uphill challenge that lay ahead The simple, angular shapes of the furniture are softened was only just beginning. ‘The place had been rented out by chunky knits, faux furs and leathers, with extra cosiness regularly and when I first walked in, I realised we would added courtesy of the chalet’s timber-clad walls. need to rip everything out and start again,’ Joe recalls.

Functional yet effortlessly stylish, the chalet has already With only 10 weeks to fit in a comprehensive renovation hosted too many guests to count. ‘We never have a weekend before the beginning of the ski season, Joe called on the to ourselves, but we love to share it with friends. It’s a very help of his long-term collaborator, interior designer Jessica special place for us as a family,’ Joe says, while no doubt Bettenay of Resident Avenue. After their first visit to the counting the days until their next visit.

home truths

d e c o r a t i n g t i p ‘Stick to a palette, start with floors and walls, consider the space as an entirety and, most importantly, be brave’

LIVING AREA Bespoke joinery and floating shelves maximise the available storage space.

Ay Illuminate Z1 pendant light, £532.90, Dmlights.

Custom sofa by Resident Avenue; try Indivi corner sofa, from £3,989, BoConcept

KITCHEN-DINER Custom-designed by Resident Avenue, the table is fixed to the island to save space.

Otto benches, from $2,448 each, Jardan.

Ercol Originals stool, from £255, available at Heal’s

BOOT ROOM The low windows are positioned to make the most of the incredible views.

Try House Doctor velvet cushion in Curry, £55, Design Vintage

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 17

25bh | c o u ntry

B AT H R O O M Interior designer Jessica designed the contemporary vanity with floating sides.

Lucas mirror, £82.50, Maisons du Monde, would suit this scheme

BEDROOM The flare artwork was the starting point for the colour scheme in this cosy space.

Carpe Diem by Brian Crippe, from $1,400, The Cool Hunter

BEDROOM Trundle beds below the bunks mean up to six can sleep comfortably in here.

Skylar Mongolian beanbag, £99, Dunelm, has this look

18 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

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

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25bh | c it y

home truths THE PROPERTY Late-1800s terraced cottage L O C AT I O N Northwest London P U R C H A S E D 2013 R O O M S Kitchen-diner/living area, three bedrooms, bathroom PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I had a two-bedroom flat just south of here,’ says Coco.

Architectural gem

Renovating a period cottage with a mix of complementary styles was a dream come true for Coco Campbell FEATURE KAREN JENSEN-JONES | PHOTOGRAPHY NICK SMITH

H

aving grown up in West London’s Holland Park, Coco Campbell had always admired the houses in nearby Kensal Rise. ‘I love the historical character of the area so finding this cottage on one of my favourite avenues was quite unbelievable,’ 20 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

says Coco. ‘The property was in good repair when I bought it so I moved in straightaway, but my plan was to renovate the whole house with an emphasis on lots of natural light and somewhere to display books and artworks.’

Luckily for Coco, her next-door neighbour was interior designer Amelia

McNeil, owner of Amelia McNeil Interior Design who had recently renovated her own home. ‘When I saw Amelia’s beautiful renovation, which was a combination of industrial, rustic and Scandi styles, I knew we had similar taste,’ says Coco. ‘I could see she had a clever eye for maximising

DINING AREA

Built-in storage painted in a bold shade of blue makes an eye-catching statement.

Unit in Hague Blue estate eggshell, £62 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Timothy Oulten Akel MK2 table, £1,575; Olson pendant lights, from £99 each,

design tip ‘Instead of overhead units in the kitchen, consider adding open shelving, which is ideal for displaying lovely china and treasured pottery’

all Heal’s. Ercol Quaker chairs, £435 each, Choice Furniture Superstore, are similar

KITCHEN

Metal-framed doors lend an industrial look, while pale wood adds a Scandi feel.

Strong Boy cast-iron shelf

brackets, £37.50 each, Mark Lewis Interior Design. Crittall Doors, price on request, Perla Windows. Counter stools, £190 each, Cox & Cox. Try the Tubby two-seater sofa in Saffron Yellow velvet, £349, Made. Baco swing-arm wall light, £545, Julian Chichester

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space. Her suggestion to turn the staircase around in my house to make space for a shower upstairs was inspired because it benefited the whole house and led to the opening up of the entire ground floor.’

Renovation expert All4House was enlisted to help on the project. ‘Amelia had worked with the company before and knew how impressive its attention to detail was,’ says Coco. ‘For me, it’s the finishing touches that make all the difference and I was happy not to rush things in order to get a high-quality result.’

Storage was a key feature in Coco’s design brief and she is delighted with the impressive shelving. ‘The idea of the bookcase as a focal point in the room really 22 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

appealed to me,’ she says. ‘The dark blue complements the Crittall doors and the artefacts add further interest. I generally favour a neutral palette for creating a calm atmosphere with colour and texture added through soft furnishings and accessories. I also prefer natural products where possible, so Amelia suggested wood and sisal for floors, with wool and tweed fabrics.’

A clever use of lighting is evident throughout the house. ‘The pendants over the dining table were carefully measured from ceiling to table so they hang at the perfect height,’ says Coco. ‘Amelia was adamant that they had to be just the right distance from the table for maximum effect. Towards the end of the project, when

my budget was almost spent, Amelia suggested adding garden lighting. I was against it initially but eventually agreed to install three downlighters on the wall and five lights in the flower beds, at a cost of £200. Now when the garden’s lit up in the evening the whole ground floor extends out and it creates a lovely atmosphere. Amelia was right – it’s the best money I spent.’

Coco admits that living next door to your interior designer has its advantages.

‘We’d often have meetings over the garden wall and I could call into her house any time to have a look at something she’d done.

Amelia’s expertise and advice have been invaluable and on top of that, we’ve become good friends, so I’m very fortunate.’

LIVING AREA

Soft furnishings echo the colours of the painting above the fireplace.

Sofia footstool, £595, Soho Home. Pleated velvet cushion, £50, John Lewis & Partners.

Perch & Parrow’s Brad linen armchair, £560, would work

favo u r i t e r o o m ‘The bathroom, because I love the bold colour and the brass hardware, which took so long to source but was definitely worth the effort’

MASTER BEDROOM A French-style bed and smart wall lights evoke a sense of hotel-style luxury.

Coco kingsize bed, from £1,375; Gaston wall lights, £85 each, both Loaf. Roller blind, price on request, Amelia McNeil Interior Design

BATHROOM

Black, gold and brass finishes bring contrast and drama to this scheme.

Petite Millbrook bath, from £925, The Cast Iron Bath Company. Walls in All White estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

DINING AREA

Rich, dark-brown walls and a striking rug zone this area of the open-plan space, while the antique Danish table contrasts with the new designer chairs.

Mahogany estate emulsion is a match, £46.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Kartell Yellow Comback armchair, £367, Made In Design.

Stockholm rug, from £129, Ikea

KITCHEN

Mia designed the scheme herself, using reclaimed wood.

Hector pendant light is similar, from £129, Original BTC. Down Pipe estate emulsion is a comparable wall colour, £46.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Try the laminate full stave rustic oak worktop, price on request, Worktop Express

FACTORY FINISH

Architect Mia Buzzi used unusual textures and bespoke design when she converted a derelict industrial unit into a warm and welcoming home FEATURE MELANIE WHITEHOUSE/FRANCESCA DAVOLI | PHOTOGRAPHY FABRIZIO CICCONI/LIVING INSIDE

U

ntil a decade ago, architect Mia Buzzi’s beautiful house was a deserted old concrete factory in downtown Milan. ‘When I first saw the property, it had been abandoned for 50 years,’ she says. ‘Although it was decaying, the beams, trusses, skylights, granite columns and some of the beautiful cast iron tie-rods were still intact.’ Many people would 24 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

not have seen the attraction of this empty space, but Mia knew its potential. ‘It was the ideal spot for my long-held dream of a home with a real lawn, open-plan spaces and large windows,’ she says.

From a planning perspective, Mia’s greatest worry was how to preserve the flow of the space, which she did by incorporating the sitting room, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor. A

c it y | 25bh

home truths THE PROPERTY Converted concrete factory dating from the 1800s L O C AT I O N Milan R O O M S Sitting room, kitchendiner/living area, TV room/study, utility room, two bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 1999 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I had a flat in Milan but I needed a space with a garden,’ says Mia.

LIVING AREA

Wider stairs add drama to the space and the double-height ceiling, with its original cast iron tie-rods and old larch beams, retains the feel of the old factory.

Gronlid three-seater sofa with Inseros White cover is a match, £495, Ikea. Try the Bright Black shaggy rug, £144.95, Benuta.

Similar steel handrails and balustrades, from £52, ManoMano. Off Black estate emulsion is a match for the chimney breast, £46.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

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MASTER BEDROOM

Cool, calm shades make Mia’s room a tranquil retreat.

Calanque rocking chair is comparable, £324.

Maisons du Monde.

Try the Cargo canvas by Ben Lowe, £375, Loaf

BATHROOM

The bathroom, designed by Mia, is simple but sleek.

Try the Crosswater wall-mounted chrome taps, £261.99, Tap Warehouse. The Barrington oak mirror is similar, £99, Dunelm

BATHROOM

This space has been finished with a splashback made of reclaimed planks.

The oak-effect textured wallpaper has this look, £21.97 a roll, Your 4 Walls

wooden stairwell – twice the usual width and made of larch wood and acidulated steel – rises dramatically from the sitting room to connect with the first floor. Mia preserved the original roofing with beams and tie-rods, creating an impressive double-height ceiling.

‘I wanted to be able to take in the whole house at a glance,’ she says.

But the project was not without its challenges. ‘Because the building had been a factory, the major issue was to transform it into a house, in accordance with Italian planning law,’ says Mia. ‘It was complicated, but work eventually got underway.’ The two-year project included the conversion from industrial unit to residential property, as well as a total interior renovation. This involved removing part of the roof to reposition the windows at the front, and the creation of a small, private terrace on the first floor.

Upstairs, both bedrooms have small balconies and the windows 26 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

look out onto the well-tended garden. ‘Natural light means everything to me – it’s fundamental to living,’ says Mia. It would have been easy for the large space to feel cold and unwelcoming, but Mia’s industrial-style decor, mixing chunky recycled wood, galvanised steel and lights hanging at intimate levels, means the former factory feels cosy and warm. Flea-market finds mix together, creating a timeless, balanced look. Neutral black, white and grey shades and natural fabrics bring a relaxed feel to the space, mixed with souvenirs from trips abroad and inherited pieces.

Even with the work finished, Mia likes to make regular updates to further refine the property. ‘My home is different, as it’s quiet, green and I don’t feel as if I live in the city,’ she says. ‘I love the roof structure and the large wooden beams, industrial-style windows, and the volume of the space –it’s the perfect home for me.’

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Having found an idyllic location, Francesca and David Hayden set about creating a sophisticated, calm retreat FEATURE ROSALIND ERSKINE | PHOTOGRAPHY FIONA WALKER ARNOTT

SITTING ROOM

Although the colour scheme is neutral, this room is filled with pattern and texture, thanks to the embroidered curtains, patterned silk rugs, velvet-covered coffee tables and textured wallcoverings.

Madagascar wallpaper, £166 a roll, Elitis. Berkeley sofa, £3,325, David Seyfried. Coffee tables, custom made, Chameleon Interiors

home truths THE PROPERTY A detached Victorian-style villa built in 1995 L O C AT I O N Devon R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, dining room, TV room, kitchendiner/living area, utility room, three bedrooms (all en suite) P U R C H A S E D 2018 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a house in Cardiff, before moving to Devon,’ says Francesca.

HALLWAY

A striking feature is this elegant entrance and stairs with cast-iron balustrades.

Ceiling light, made to order, Vaughan Designs. Inlaid table custom made by Moissonnier

LIVING AREA

This family room is part of the open-plan space that’s ideal for entertaining.

Bloomsbury sofa, £3,260; oval stool, £830, both David Seyfried

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25bh | c oa s ta l KITCHEN

Custom-made in walnut, the island offers an informal dining area with bar stools alongside a dining table.

Infinity round table, £3,274, Porada.

Editor’s dining chairs, £1,000 each, David Seyfried. Ceiling light, made to order, Vaughan Designs

H

aving decided to move from South Wales, Francesca Hayden and her husband David wanted to find a large home with garden space and, ideally, lovely views. ‘When we viewed this property in Devon, it was just what we were looking for,’ she says. ‘We also liked the unconventional entrance, which opens onto an unusually wide tiled hallway with four rooms off it.’

The Victorian-style detached villa is certainly grand from the outside, and needed an interior to match. So Francesca and David embarked on a reconstruction of the house which involved remodelling the property – set over three floors – to create open-plan relaxed living spaces together with a more formal sitting room on the middle floor.

This allowed the couple to make the most of the beautiful coastal views which are such an asset to the house.

Because Francesca and David travel extensively for work, they employed the skills of Cardiff-based interior designer Yvonne Jones and her company, Chameleon Interiors. ‘We started the design process as soon as we had bought the house and began work four months after,’ says Francesca. ‘We had worked with Yvonne on our last home, and we trusted her to make the best of the space and layout.’

Yvonne oversaw the project and vision for the interior design, which involved a range of custom-made and high-end furniture, which appealed to Francesca and David’s style. ‘We

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BEDROOM

The subtle palette is enhanced by bespoke furniture and lighting.

Headboard, custom made by Chameleon Interiors. King-size bed, £369, Hypnos.

Lamps, bespoke, Vaughan Designs. Chest of drawers, custom made, Moissonnier

love the finer things in life whether that’s bespoke furniture, our glassware collection or our calm, formal sitting room.

We feel our house is restrained but stylish,’ says Francesca.

This professional touch can be seen in every room, but particularly in the sitting room. ‘All the fabrics in here are tactile and I love the use of natural and embroidered linens, velvets and silks. We both do a lot of travelling, and we want our home to be our retreat and sanctuary,’ she says.

When it came to the kitchen, an internal wall had to be removed to create a large kitchen-diner. Francesca wanted a contemporary space for cooking and entertaining, as well as somewhere that complemented the rest of the house’s style.

‘I do cook a lot, and I wanted the kitchen to be a warm, inviting space as well as functional,’ she says.

The garden too has been subject to a makeover. ‘David lovingly manages the newly planted vegetable and fruit gardens, which provide us with our own produce and make us more self-sufficient,’ says Francesca. Flowers from the garden in every room add a pop of colour to the timeless, neutral schemes.

The house has additional environmentally friendly touches, as Francesca explains: ‘We have installed a system which allows us to control heat on each floor, which saves energy. We recycle all our waste and love our thick bespoke curtains which keep heat in on dark winter nights. Whenever we come home after a trip, we feel so happy to be here.’

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

SHOWER ROOM

This contemporary space has a walk-in rain shower and a restful colour scheme.

Shower and tiles, Porcelanosa; its Tina shower column, £1,107,60, and Ferroker Platino floor tiles, £52.72sq m, have the same look

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A COLOURFUL APPROACH Confident use of bright shades and pattern has breathed vibrant new life into Catherine Nice’s family home FEATURE EMMA J PAGE | PHOTOGRAPHY FIONA MURRAY

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SITTING ROOM An original marble mantelpiece adds a period note to this lively, contemporary scheme, while cosy textures create an inviting feel.

For a similar orange footstool, try the Isla, upholstered in Ganges, £430, Sofa.com

home truths THE PROPERTY Victorian semi L O C AT I O N Kent R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen-diner, six bedrooms (one en suite), shower room, bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2018 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a smaller terrace in Bedfordshire,’ says Catherine.

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DINING ROOM Catherine reupholstered the bench and stools in bold fabrics to bring a pop of colour and pattern to the deep-blue backdrop.

Walls painted in Bond Street marble matt emulsion, £51 for 2.5ltr, Mylands. Vintage stools in Summer Garden, £95m, Kitty McCall. Sweet Savage artwork, £1,042, Bonnie and Clyde

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tow n | 25bh KITCHEN ‘We replaced the worktop, painted the cabinetry and added the lino,’ says Catherine.

Rococo vinyl flooring in Dotty Charcoal, £10.36sq m, Floormart

M

ost homeowners are familiar with the idea of repurposing a vintage piece to give it new life, but Catherine Nice took that concept one step further when she found a large Victorian semi in need of attention. ‘We’ve upcycled this house to our taste’, is how the print designer describes the challenge of refurbishing the previously tired property using pattern and colour.

The demands of running a business, raising a family, plus budgetary constraints meant Catherine and her husband Gary had to get creative when it came to maximising the impact of their new home. ‘Undertaking a huge refurbishment was never a top priority for us,’ says Catherine. ‘Instead, we wanted to find a forever home that offered plenty of scope for improvements over time.’

The family moved to the Kent coast from Leighton Buzzard, seduced by the promise of open skies and fresh air for their children, Jude, eight and Ruby, five. ‘I grew up in a

cosy, warm home and we really wanted to recreate that feeling,’ says Catherine, whose studio-store is on the high street nearby.

Generous proportions, original features and plenty of space won the family over, but they were less impressed by the property’s old carpets, brown decorative accents and leaking ceilings. ‘Having an inspiring environment is important to me,’ says Catherine. ‘So once we’d made the place watertight, it was a question of rolling up my sleeves and wielding a paintbrush.’

The couple spent weeks applying coat after coat to the walls. And though they were tempted to rip everything out and start again, they opted for some handy hacks which were just as impactful. ‘We upcycled the kitchen by refurbing the worktops, painting the cabinetry in a midnight blue and replacing the flooring with mosaic tile-effect lino,’ says Catherine. She also introduced a sense of flow between the ground floor rooms by using vivid accents,

such as burnt orange and hot pink, anchored by a cocooning deep-blue base note. ‘Bright colour isn’t just about bold walls,’ says Catherine. ‘I like to upholster with bright prints as the pieces can be moved about.’

A big fan of vintage furniture, Catherine has amassed an impressive haul of pieces, including two G Plan chairs, a 1960s bench for the dining room and retro dining chairs in the kitchen. Most pieces are transformed with one of Catherine’s vibrant fabrics, designed at her studio. ‘I enjoy creating timeless prints that just as easily pair with vintage and contemporary pieces,’ she says.

Artworks play another key role, some

by Catherine and others by contemporary artists. ‘I never worry about finding the space for a piece – if I love it, I’ll buy it,’ she says. It’s a relaxed approach that has worked brilliantly for this renovation. ‘There is always the potential to improve a space without making huge structural changes,’ says Catherine. ‘All it takes is confidence.’

l e s s o n l e a r n t ‘Using a consistent palette of materials and patterns running through each space achieves a sense of flow and warmth’ 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 37

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MASTER BEDROOM Accessories in bold colours are layered into this soft grey and pink space, adding interest.

The Audrey bedside table in Mist Grey, £399, West Elm, has this look

f u t u r e p l a n s ‘We’d like to make a few modern additions, including opening up the kitchen to install doors that open across the rear into the garden’

JUDE’S BEDROOM The stool is upholstered in a fabric designed by Jude.

Try the Danish alphabet poster, £22, Zazzle

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RUBY’S BEDROOM Vibrant artwork and wallpaper lift the look.

Wilderness wallpaper, £221 for two rolls, Kitty McCall

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

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LIVING ROOM

The soft muted scheme takes its cue from the colours of the painting reflected in the mirror.

Rug, from £2,275, The Rug Company. Mirrors from £450, Graham and Greene.

Painting over fireplace, Paul Armitage at Cricket Fine Art

HOME TO STAY

Amanda Congreve teamed up with friend and designer Jo Thorp to bring warmth to a partially converted house FEATURE MAGGIE COLVIN | PHOTOGRAPHY ROBERT SANDERSON

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home truths THE PROPERTY Early-Edwardian terrace L O C AT I O N West London R O O M S Hallway, living room, sitting room, kitchen-diner, second kitchen, four bedrooms (three en suite), shower room P U R C H A S E D 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We moved here from a farmhouse in Yorkshire,’ says Amanda.

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This most lived-in part of the house is a favourite party room.

Pendant lights, £250, Tom Dixon. Dachshund clock, £45, The Labrador Company

M

ore than a century has passed since Fulham was a rural village, but in many ways its quiet charm remains. ‘This area carries happy memories for me,’ says Amanda Congreve, who lived there in her early 20s. Moving from Yorkshire for the sake of her daughters, Fleur, now 18, Honor, 16, and Grace, 14, who needed a London base, was, Amanda says, ‘like coming home’.

After months of searching she found a large early-Edwardian property in a quiet leafy street, in a half-finished state. ‘It was a challenge,’ she says, ‘but most of the main

SITTING ROOM

The girls’ den was designed to link in with abstract art by Terry Frost from Cricket Fine Art. The sofa and the stool fabric are

by Gastón y Daniela, available through Thorp & May, prices on request

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renovation work had been done. The bones were sound, with well-proportioned rooms, high ceilings and plenty of light, but the house needed a complete cosmetic overhaul.’

Even before exchanging contracts, Amanda rang interior designer Jo Thorp to help. ‘Jo immediately gauged the style I was looking for,’ says Amanda. ‘I’d grown weary of the grey minimalist look of my previous home and wanted something new.

Her idea was to add colour and make it really comfortable and inviting.’

Jo’s verdict on the house was also encouraging. The previous architect had

some clever ideas, she pointed out. ‘All too often London terraced houses are gutted in one clean sweep leaving an uninteresting shell. This architect had sensitively divided the ground floor into two levels with a partly glazed and partly open wall section creating an intimate feel to the sitting room, with a view onto the kitchen-diner below.’

Having started her working life in the contemporary art department of Christie’s, Amanda has accumulated a dazzling collection of paintings, which Jo skilfully integrated into the colour schemes. ‘The classic old-school vibe in the living room

DINING AREA

A table lamp and dimmed lighting creates a convivial mood in the evenings.

Chairs in Carlow fabric, £101m, Osborne & Little. Blue raffia mats, £14.95 each; Lillian crystal wine goblet, £30 each, both William Yeoward

DINING AREA

A circular table worked best in this sociable space.

The Neuilly round wooden dining table, ÂŁ973, Maisons du Monde is a good match

25bh | c it y BEDROOM

This elegant twin-bedded room is perfect for guests.

Sanderson’s Nectar wallpaper, £41 a roll, John Lewis & Partners. Lamps from £195, and shades, £75, both Oka. Bedheads in Chase Irwin fabric from Thorp & May, price on request

was inspired by a painting of Kitty, the much-loved family pony, nuzzling up to a pack of hounds.’ Jo recalls how pleased they were the day they found the rug for this room. ‘It exactly matched the background colour of this painting,’ she says.

On the same shopping spree, Jo and Amanda found a red geometric rug to bring warmth and a contemporary edge to the girls’ sitting room on the lower ground floor, The room links to a terrace with a glass roof, so is unusually light for a basement.

The plan of the new kitchen, designed

by Grainne Tuite at Mark Plant, was an

important ingredient in answer to Amanda’s request for relaxed dining for younger guests. ‘It’s our social space with a large island unit and four bar stools,’ she says.

‘This is where my daughters’ friends tend to group for nibbles and a glass of wine.’

The dining table for more formal parties is divided from the kitchen by a light switch.

As Amanda explains, ‘I switch off lights to darken the kitchen and highlight the dining area with dimmed spots and candles.’

When it came to finishing touches, the choice of cushions and accessories was a joint effort. Amanda admits this was a good

decision. ‘My natural inclination would have been for more masculine choices,’ she says, ‘but Jo encouraged me to go for a softer look with floral patterns and stripes.’

The evidence is in the relaxed happy vibe, achieved despite Amanda’s selfconfessed leaning to perfectionism – she is passionate about order. ‘I hope I’ve become more of a relaxed perfectionist, rather than a totalitarian one,’ she smiles. ‘My girls are a good influence in this respect. They arrive with a gang of friends who tend to create a homely mess. The atmosphere buzzes when they are around and we all chat non-stop.’

MASTER BEDROOM EN SUITE

Shutters ensure both privacy and plenty of natural light.

Walls painted in String estate emulsion, £54 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

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Soft-toned fabrics give the grand proportions of this space a relaxed feel.

Curtains in Aylsham, £110m, Fermoie.

Mirror, £1,295, Nordic Style. Casanova chair, £346.50, Maisons du Monde is similar

MASTER BEDROOM

The epitome of comfort and tranquillity, this room features Amanda’s favourite portraits of her three girls, painted by Louisa Risch.

Bedside tables, £399, Nordic Style. Bedhead is by Thorp & May, price on request. Similar raspberry and pink throw, £90, The British Blanket Company

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DINING AREA A calm mid-century feel pervades here, with the velvet dining chairs adding a touch of luxe.

The West Elm Modern Farmhouse dining table in Dark Mineral, £999, is similar to this one. Wire Frame Velvet dining chairs, £199 each, West Elm. Rattan dining chair, £98, French Connection

KEY

CHANGE Mats Ellefsen and conductor Andrew Gourlay struck all the right notes when they transformed a neutral duplex into a cool and contemporary space with a softly Scandi feel FEATURE EMMA J PAGE | PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH

LIVING AREA The couple have left the windows undressed to enjoy expansive river views, while there is plenty of seating options for when they entertain friends.

Develius sofa by &Tradition, £3,381, Aram, upholstered in Mikado velvet, £67m, Osborne & Little and Derby velvet, £77.90m, Pepe Peñalve at Jane Clayton. Joinery, Cat Dal Interiors

home truths T H E P R O P E R T Y Duplex apartment in a block built in 2015 L O C AT I O N Greenwich, southeast London R O O M S Hallway, cloakroom, kitchen-diner/living area, two bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2018 PREVIOUS PROPERT Y ‘This is our first place together,’ says Mats.

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 47

KITCHEN Tiles with a subtle geometric design add texture and interest to the island unit.

Walls painted in Slate II, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library.

Flowerpot pendants, £205 each, Aram. Georg low barstools

by Skagerak, £256 each, Twentytwentyone

LIVING AREA A playful rug adds character to the ‘nook’.

Hayon X Nani rug, £1,099, Monologue

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hen Mats Ellefsen and Andrew Gourlay first came across their Greenwich flat on an online search, it didn’t pass their tick-box test. An apartment rather than a house, north-facing with a small balcony, it was the opposite of what they had originally searched for. But having viewed several houses, the pair had gradually come around to the idea of living in a contemporary new-build.

And once they saw this duplex in the flesh, they were sold. The balcony might be modest but its views are anything but, with iconic landmarks, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Canary Wharf’s 48 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

skyscrapers and The Shard, as well as glimpses of the Cutty Sark and the O2.

‘As soon as we saw the light coming off the river and filling the rooms, we loved it,’ recalls Andrew.

However, the apartment’s layout, with an L-shape tangent in the openplan living space, presented a challenge.

‘It was tricky due to its length and the “nook” on one side,’ says Norwegianborn Mats. ‘Without proper planning, it might not have reached its potential, and yet we were afraid to fill the space.’

Fortunately, Cat Dal Interiors was on hand to help with reconfiguration.

‘Courtney Thornalley worked on the layout with us and one of her first

c it y | 25bh MASTER BEDROOM Mats and Andrew chose to reference their riverside setting by opting for a calming palette of blue and white.

Bespoke headboard upholstered in Samba, £110m, Zimmer+Rohde.

Collet table lamp, £69, Made.

Dawson bed throw, £295, Soho Home

suggestions was to install bespoke joinery along the length of the space, with concealed storage, floating shelves and bench seating,’ says Mats. ‘Made from oak and finished with a white stain, it acts as a visual anchor.’

The L-shape ‘nook’ was given a different treatment to delineate the space. Inspired by the living wall on the adjoining balcony, Courtney added brick slips to the wall then painted them a deep green, connecting outside and in.

This area houses conductor Andrew’s piano, as well as lush foliage for a deeply restful feel. ‘For us, the key was to make this home a little different, eliminating its cookie-cutter feel,’ says Mats, who

works in finance. ‘It also had to be somewhere Andrew can work and where we can cook, relax and host friends.’

Turning the flat into a characterful home meant tuning in to the details.

‘Our brief was to create a home suitable for cocktail parties, lazy Sundays, simple dinners and studying scores,’ says Cat. Elsewhere, the apartment echoes its waterside setting: a headboard in painterly tones of blue and white runs the width of the wall in the master bedroom, while the guest room features a similarly restful palette, with custom joinery in soft blue. ‘For us, the interior is now just as compelling as that view,’ says Mats, ‘which is a great result.’

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

CLOAKROOM The couple added a rich splash of colour in this compact space with an iconic palm print wallpaper.

Palm Jungle wallpaper, £99 a roll, Cole & Son

TAKING THE LONG VIEW A determination to wait for a house with the right potential paid off for Imogen Parson when she found a jaded 1950s terrace FEATURE ANNA TOBIN | PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH

KITCHEN-DINER

‘The best thing I did was extending to create a new living area. What was once nondescript is now the heartbeat of the home,’ says Imogen.

Imperial Nickel pendant lights, £215 each, Neptune.

Units, from £324 for a standard single door base cupboard, The Shaker Kitchen Company.

Quartz worktops, price on request, Topsco

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LIVING AREA

The vintage travel trunk came from a junk shop and makes a great coffee table.

For a similar sofa, try Saturday sofa, from £585, Sofa.com

home truths THE PROPERTY Terraced house L O C AT I O N South London R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner/living area, cloakroom, utility room, study, three bedrooms, two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2016 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a one-bedroom flat not far from here,’ says Imogen

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LIVING/DINING AREA

Imogen deliberately didn’t include a TV in the extension as she wanted it to be purely social.

Try JAF Graphics for a personalised street sign, from around £35

SITTING ROOM

This intimate space comes into its own in the evenings.

For a table with display top, try Liatorp, £139, Ikea

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

c it y | 25bh ELLIOTT’S ROOM

This is a place of fun with a double-decker toy bus that doubles up as a bunk bed.

London bus bunk bed, £415.99, Wayfair.

Star rug, £100, John Lewis & Partners

MASTER BEDROOM

The mismatched display of artwork shows Imogen’s love of the non-uniform.

For a similar cushion, see Vintage Union Jack cushion, £14, Dunelm

f a v o u r i t e r o o m ‘The kitchen-diner. It’s where I hang out with my son, entertain friends and family and enjoy time to myself’

E

ven though Imogen Parson, who runs online accessories and giftware business The Imoporium, and her son Elliott, who is six, were outgrowing their one-bedroom flat, she wasn’t in a rush to buy somewhere new.

‘I wanted to find a home where Elliott could grow up and where I would never want to leave,’ she explains. ‘I wanted a garden and a spare room for friends and family to stay.

My dream home was a country cottage in the city, so I was looking at Victorian houses, but the ones that were being sold in this area exceeded my budget.’

With this image in mind, Imogen was sceptical when an estate agent phoned to say a 1950s ex-council house had come on the market within her budget and in her desired area. But being curious, she decided to view it. ‘On first impressions, I didn’t think that the house was for me,’ she admits, ‘but then I noticed the rooms were larger than most Victorian houses and it had huge potential.’

Although the decor wasn’t to Imogen’s taste, the property was in a good condition.

‘When we moved in, my family helped

redecorate and I was able to put my own mark on the place,’ she says. ‘I love colour, so I have added bursts throughout the house, including bright linens and cushions, and a fabulous red bus bed in Elliott’s room.’

Imogen replaced the tired gas fire in the sitting room with a woodburning stove, and added white plantation shutters. ‘I don’t love the windows, but they’re double-glazed so I couldn’t justify replacing them,’ she says. ‘I like the way shutters help disguise them when I’m inside the house.’

A year after moving in, Imogen decided that she and Elliott would benefit from a larger living area. ‘The upstairs was fine, but downstairs only had one reception room and a small kitchen, so I wanted more space to entertain and for Elliott to play.’

Now familiar with the house, Imogen knew how she wanted her new living area to work and where the light fell. This gave her the confidence to design the extension herself. ‘I was the project manager and the interior designer,’ she says with pride. ‘I worked out the layout, chose a sloped roof with Velux windows to maximise the light

and included an exposed brickwork wall and a little side window – quirky details that help the house feel irregular and cottage-like.’

Imogen got a structural engineer to specify the construction details and the extension took shape. When it came to the kitchen, she was after a high-end look on a budget. ‘I wanted a Shaker-style kitchen with an island,’ says Imogen. ‘My dream one was from DeVOL, but my budget didn’t run to that, so I began looking for cheaper alternatives, without scrimping on quality.’

Imogen found that The Shaker Kitchen Company did a similar, but more affordable kitchen and she kept costs down further by sourcing the worktops and appliances herself. ‘I love the living space now and it’s exactly how I pictured it would be,’ she says.

‘The kitchen area feels cottagey, but the dining and living space with its exposed brickwork is more industrial chic, yet they complement one another brilliantly.’

Having been patient enough to wait for the right house has more than paid off for Imogen. And just as she’d hoped, she can’t see herself ever living anywhere else.

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 53

HANDLED WITH CARE Anna and Joel Loader brought their period house into the 21st century while retaining its original character FEATURE VIVENNE AYERS/SEÁN O’CONNELL | PHOTOGRAPHY POLLY ELTES

home truths THE PROPERTY An 1820s detached house L O C AT I O N Berkshire R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner, utility room, garden room, five bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2008 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We owned a flat in London before moving here,’ says Anna.

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KITCHEN-DINER Brass pendants and drawer pulls are a nod to the house’s period heritage and bring a little glamour to the dark woodwork.

Kitchen cabinetry, from £600 for a 600mm unit; brass classic handles, £45 each, both deVOL. Brooklyn cone pendants in brass, from £44 each, Industville. Gavin bar stools, £142.99 for two, ManoMano

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SITTING ROOM An internal window brings more natural light into the cosy family space, which is centred around a woodburning stove (below).

Walls in Railings estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Aissa sofa, £1,460, Sofa.com

W

hen Anna and Joel Loader decided the time had come to move out of London, in 2008, they set their sights on a small village in Berkshire, near to where Anna grew up. ‘We came out of the station and there was the feeling of autumn – the smell of woodsmoke and mist over the canal,’ says Anna. ‘The setting alone sold the village to us and we both knew it would be a lovely place to live.’

It didn’t take the couple long to find a house with the period features they were after. ‘The Victorian frontage was attractive, plus it was light and spacious and it reminded me of my childhood home,’ says Joel. It was clear the house needed quite a bit of work, but they had a vision of what it could become. In fact, they started renovating the place as soon as they moved in, knowing it would be a long haul. They carried out the work slowly over three years, replacing floors, installing underfloor heating and adding a new boiler. Walls were then re-rendered and replastered, ceilings were repaired and part of the roof was replaced, all before decorating could begin.

Then, in 2016, with all three bedrooms occupied by themselves and their two children, Beatrix, now 13, and Willem, seven – the pair decided to extend their home.

They visited architect and structural engineers Orange Key Design Studios to discuss their options. The design

B AT H R O O M Twin basins are the perfect starting point for curating a symmetrical scheme.

Cube countertop basins, £195 each, Lusso Stone, are similar.

Misty Fjord polished tiles, £157sq m, Topps Tiles

studio’s plan involved a contemporary side extension that would create two more bedrooms and two extra bathrooms, plus a glass kitchen-diner extension that opened out to a Mediterranean-style courtyard. The challenge was to get a balance between bringing in more space and light, while retaining the property’s period elements.

‘We went to a lot of trouble to keep the original materials and find similar reclaimed ones that were sympathetic to the house,’ says Joel. ‘Roofing tiles were handmade to match the originals and new windows commissioned to blend with the existing sash windows. The front retains its period feel, but the back has a contemporary edge,’ he says.

Alongside the extension, Anna and Joel took the opportunity to refurbish the rest of the house. Using as few ingredients as possible worked really well for the couple, whose family now numbers five, since the arrival of son Edward two years ago. Limestone flooring was laid throughout most of the downstairs rooms, while unfinished oak was used for the floor in the living room to create a light, natural feel. ‘The William Morris quote, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful,” played a big part in our plans,’ says Joel.

The family is thrilled with the result. ‘The extension delivers on both a functional and a design level,’ says Anna. ‘It’s changed how we live as a family.’

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EN SUITE Wood-effect tiles bring a warming, rustic touch to this period-style bathroom.

Xylem dark porcelain floor tiles, from £36sq m, Mandarin Stone. White metro wall tiles, £19.50sq m, Topps Tiles

CHILDREN’S ROOM A mezzanine level ensures each of the older children has their own space.

Alana bed, £399 for a double; Brisa Pink bedlinen, £99 for a double set, both Made.

Try Paloma knitted throw, £45, Habitat

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f a v o u r i t e s h o p ‘We love Benchmark, a furniture maker in Hungerford – we admire the craftsmanship’

MASTER BEDROOM The vaulted ceiling and panelled wall gives this room a majestic feel.

Try the Doux Chesterfield headboard, from £239, Sueno. Alana bedside tables, £99 each, Made. Reade wall lights, £275 each, Soho Home. Vintage Rose throw, £199, Melin Tregwynt

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AMERICAN BEAUTY

Sandra Wijnberg used a sympathetic and sensitive touch to stamp her own style on an exquisite historic house in New England FEATURE CHRISTINE STOVELL | PHOTOGRAPHY ANDREAS VON EINSIEDEL

SITTING ROOM

The past and the present seamlessly combine in this sophisticated setting, where the couple regularly entertain family and friends.

Eckard four-seater sofa, from £4,825, The Sofa & Chair Company, is comparable. Bastide sisal rug in Grey, £263, Maisons du Monde, would work here

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home truths T H E P R O P E R T Y An 18th-century clapboard house L O C AT I O N Massachusetts R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, living room, dining room, kitchen-diner, sun room, three bedrooms (two en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2007 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Our main house is in New York – this is our home for weekends and holidays,’ says Sandra.

KITCHEN-DINER

An earthy paint palette enhances the characterful woodwork.

For a similar island unit, price on request, try Chalon. The Vintage Kitchen Store sells a selection of herb choppers, £8.50 each. See the Eiffel high stools, £84 each, Eclipse Furniture

DINING AREA

Heart-pine floors were hand-sanded and stencilled with a chequerboard design by the previous owners.

Try Forget-Me-Knot Furniture for rustic farmhouse dining sets, from £690. Smiths 50cm wall clock, £68, Wayfair, has this look

SUN ROOM

‘This is our room for all seasons, bar winter,’ says Sandra.

Gaston wall light, £85, Loaf, has a similar feel. Roman blinds in Basketweave in Beige from £28.42, 247 Blinds, will create this effect

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he challenge of owning an historic property is that there is often a balance to be struck between conserving the past and adapting for the future. But when Sandra Wijnberg came across this 18th-century house in Massachusetts, she was pleasantly surprised. ‘I was looking for a bolthole and couldn’t believe my luck when I walked in and realised everything matched my taste and style perfectly,’ she says.

Completed in 1790, the classic Georgian house had survived to a remarkable degree. Other than its original owners, it had been

lived in by just two other families before Sarah acquired it in 2007.

‘The previous inhabitants had carried out a 10-year long restoration with painstaking care and detail,’ Sarah explains. ‘The kitchen was sensational and all the woodwork, including the floors, had been dry-scraped by hand. Also, about 100 years-worth of wallpaper had been meticulously peeled off the original horsehair plaster walls, providing a lovely distressed quality that could never be replicated.’

Sensitive to the building’s heritage, Sandra and her partner Hugh spent time getting to know the house before introducing

FAVOURITE ROOM ‘The kitchen still delights me as much as the first time I saw it.

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DEsign advice ‘When restoring an old house, it’s important to research its history’

sympathetic changes to make it their own. Outside, a freestanding barn, which was beyond repair, was replaced with another 150-yearold barn. A row of redundant open-sided carriage barns at the back of the house then became a large sitting room with stunning views across the garden to the mountains beyond. ‘We kept the design to reflect the old barn-like space, retained the roof pitch and recycled timber for the beams and the floors,’ says Sandra.

She wanted a harmonious interior scheme to provide a fresh interpretation of the property’s original decor while retaining its ambience. To help her, Sandra called upon designer Selina van der Geest, who works organically to reflect a property’s natural setting in her designs. Scale was an early consideration in the large sitting room, therefore many of the pieces – like the sofa and the steel and 62 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

stone coffee table – are custom-made to fit the space. A palette of soft brick and pinky reds with neutral blinds, and the tactile qualities of wood floors and leather-bound sisal rugs combine to make it warm and relaxing, especially in winter when fires are lit in every room.

Elsewhere, only the lightest of touches have been applied to a house that has been loved by generations of families. Sandra and Hugh have added their own chapter to its story through carefully curated collections of personal items, eclectic art and photography, and treasured finds from London, Venice and India. A display of antique chopping implements adds a quirky touch to the kitchen.

Redesign complete, Sandra is happy in the knowledge she has respected the architecture and history of the building while moving forwards. ‘The house,’ she says, contentedly, ‘is just perfect.’

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

MASTER BEDROOM

Rich terracotta walls and distressed painted furniture create a warm and textural backdrop.

Tuscan Red absolute matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene, is a match.

Classic cotton quilted bedspread, £70 for a double, Soak & Sleep, is similar

BEDROOM

A contemporary mirror works brilliantly in this traditional space.

The Edwardian small single iron metal bed frame, £269, The Original Bed Co, is similar. Round Gold convex starburst mirror, £107, Exclusive Mirrors, is near-identical

BATHROOM

The vintage striped rug pulls the look together while keeping things warm and cosy underfoot.

Pelham & Vernon rug, price on request, Roger Oates, is similar. For a brass tap like this, try Perrin & Rowe, from £300

CHIC RETREAT A yearning for the coast led Nick and Caroline Richards to a quiet town where they found just the place to turn into a seaside getaway FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL/JENNIFER STUART-SMITH | PHOTOGRAPHY BRUCE HEMMING

home truths THE PROPERTY Victorian terrace L O C AT I O N Kent R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, three bedrooms, bathroom, shower room P U R C H A S E D 2016 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Our main home is in London,’ says Nick.

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c oa s ta l | 25bh SITTING ROOM The absence of a central dividing wall allows a generous amount of flow-through light.

Holly chaise sofa, from £1,340. Sofa.com.

Miller lamp, £129; Oro pendant shade in White Clay, both Made. Pinheiro coffee table, £169.99, and Pinheiro side table, £98.99, both Wayfair.

Shutters, price on request, Just Shutters

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KITCHEN-DINER Metal pipe shelving adds character to this space.

Shelves, price on request, Standing Wave Woodwork.

Edelweiss table, £399; Edelweiss chairs, £149 for two, all Made

iving in London is all very well, but when you grew up in a small town in Wales, the call of the countryside can be strong. This was certainly the case for Nick Richards who, with his wife Caroline, decided to buy a seaside home on the Kent coast to serve as a retreat from the city for themselves and their two daughters, Olivia, 10, and Sophie, seven. ‘For me, it’s important to spend time somewhere calm, with a sense of community,’ he says. ‘Whitstable is only 50 minutes’ drive from our main home, so it was the perfect choice when we were looking for a place to spend our weekends.’

The Victorian terraced house the couple found is conveniently placed in a quiet spot just off the high street, though it looked anything but idyllic on first viewing.

‘It was in a state and I realised it was going to involve rather more than just doing a bit of painting,’ says Nick.

‘We were fortunate to discover a local interior designer, Kate Harris, who offered us great guidance throughout,’ continues Nick. ‘Caroline and I both work full-time, so finding someone who could design our house and oversee the project proved invaluable.’ Work ensued over a period of nine months, during which time several walls were removed, a damp-proof course was installed throughout and rotten floor joists were replaced. As well as turning a downstairs bathroom into a stylish shower room, the Richards also added extra storage, namely an understairs cupboard for the washing machine

SITTING ROOM The Scandi vibe is accentuated by logs stacked in the fireplace.

Jozef Chierowski 366 chairs, £595 each, Rose & Grey. Try the Bug knitted pouffe, £85, Loaf. Walls in Clunch estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball

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and vacuum cleaner. ‘Now the downstairs areas just flow together and the space works really well,’ says Nick.

With Kate as project manager, work ran smoothly and when the build was complete attention switched to the interior details. To restore some of the house’s original character, Kate suggested reinstating period features that had long been removed, such as the banisters, tongueand-groove woodwork and skirting boards. ‘We had to rip out some unpleasant Seventies additions,’ says Nick.

Even the exterior was given a facelift with the addition of wooden plantation shutters, which have the added benefit of shielding the sitting room from the gaze of passers-by.

For Nick and Caroline, making the house feel warm was a priority. They achieved this by installing a woodburner in the sitting room and using wooden elements to create a sense of cosiness. Reclaimed scaffold boards were utilised to create a feature wall in the kitchen, with timber featuring elsewhere in the form of ash dining furniture and oiled-oak floorboards.

Throughout the house, the interior feels simple and clean, especially in the master bedroom where Nick and Caroline have chosen a retro-style dressing table and chest of drawers. Economy of space is also a hallmark of the adjoining bijou bathroom, where not having a cupboard under the sink boosts the sense of space. ‘The whole house works wonderfully well for our entire family,’ says Nick. ‘We love every single room.’

SHOWER ROOM Herringbone tiling keeps the look simple and elegant.

Simply gloss White tiles, £23.83sq m, Topps Tiles. Round mirror, £82, Maisons du Monde. Radius 60 basin, £336, Allbits

MASTER BEDROOM A retro-look dressing table and drawers create a timeless feel.

Penn dressing table, £279; Penn chest of drawers, £499; Oro lampshade, £29, all Made

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

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The Art of Window Styling

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COUNTRY casual Hannah and Tom Coulson traded in town life to fulfil their dream of creating a rural family home FEATURE MARISHA TAYLOR | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH

KITCHEN-DINER

Open shelves were added in the alcoves to break up the run of units. They work perfectly with the rustic cottage feel.

Rangemaster Nexus 110 dual-fuel range cooker in White and chrome, £2,249, Currys. Walls in Off White estate emulsion, £46 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball

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SITTING ROOM

A large wood burner feature and interesting pieces of furniture bring the area to life.

Chiswick sofa in Cream, £1,099, Next Home. Large footstool, from £320, The Furniture Tailor on Etsy. Tweedmill wool throw in Ink, £49, Hurn & Hurn

DINING ROOM

The eye-catching wall mural and chandelier make for a beautiful space.

Similar spindle chairs, £179 for two, John Lewis & Partners. Wall mural, £57, Aurora Wallpapers on Etsy

home truths THE PROPERTY A 19th-century cottage L O C AT I O N Shropshire R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen-diner/living area, utility room, four bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2016 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We’d been in a modern detached house nearby,’ says Hannah.

H

annah and Tom Coulson always wanted to move to the countryside to raise a family. ‘Tom and I both have happy childhood memories of village life. I remember fondly the long, scenic walks and Sunday lunches in cosy pubs,’ says Hannah. In 2016, they decided to make this a reality, eventually coming across their perfect home near Shropshire, within easy reach of work and family.

‘We loved that the cottage was south-facing and had a charming country garden,’ says Hannah. ‘It had such a homely feel when you

walked in with exposed beams and an inglenook fireplace. With some reconfiguration we knew it had the potential to make the ideal family home.’

Later that year the couple moved in and work on the house started straight away. The entrance was moved from the side to the front of the house, and a hallway and cloakroom were created by knocking through from the store shed. ‘The pretty porch you now see was made by my father with reclaimed beams from the sitting room,’ says Hannah. ‘It looks like it’s always been there!’

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MASTER BEDROOM

The beautiful wallpaper, mismatched cushions and vintage accessories add a touch of feminine elegance without being too frilly or fussy.

Fresco Birds wallpaper, £87 a roll, Barneby Gates. Similar rattan headboard, £355, Crown French Furniture. Small Artur lamp base in stone crackle glass, £121, Pooky, is a close match

floor to the unused landing on the first floor.

This not only gave them a family bathroom, but with a clever Jack and Jill door, they were able to fit in an en suite to the master bedroom, too. Relocating the bathroom meant the couple were able to open up the sitting room and improve the flow through the cottage. ‘When the wall came down between the two spaces, it was so exciting seeing how the sitting room was going to look for the first time,’ says Hannah.

The discovery of dangerous electrics running along a central beam meant they had 72 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

to rewire the whole house. But by the time Hannah discovered she was pregnant with her daughter, Beatrice, in 2018, the major work had all been done and the pair could focus on the decor and finding interesting pieces for their newly renovated home.

Using a soft palette, natural textures and pretty floral prints has ensured that a classic, cosy rustic style has naturally emerged. ‘It’s warm and inviting,’ says Hannah. ‘And, most importantly, it is now the country home we had always envisaged for our family.’

Favourite Item

‘I love the classically beautiful Fresco Birds wallpaper in the master bedroom, which is a modern take on the ancient art of fresco painting’

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

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An outdated, dark wood dressing table was repainted in a soft pink and now takes centre stage in this light room.

Madison daybed with trundle, £199, Dunelm. Dressing table painted in Setting Plaster estate emulsion, £46 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball

NURSERY

‘We wanted a traditional but pretty space for Beatrice,’ says Hannah, ‘so opted for calming greys and whites mixed with natural textures that can easily be adapted as she grows.’

Sleepi mini cot, £349, Stokke.

Aftas round jute rug, £60, La Redoute, is similar

BATHROOM

A roll-top bath and the wood panelling capture the country feel.

Cambridge roll-top bath, £490, Soak. Pink towels, from £8, House of Fraser

FAMILY AFFAIR Holly Dormon and Matt Haswell called on parental expertise to tackle a run-down 1940s house

FEATURE MARISHA TAYLOR | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH

DINING AREA ‘This is a great space for when we have friends over – I can cook but still socialise,’ says Holly.

Diner 125 light fitting, £929, Original BTC. The Tolix-style metal chair, £69, Cult Furniture, is similar

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home truths THE PROPERTY A 1940s semi-detached L O C AT I O N Surrey R O O M S Hallway, kitchendiner/living area, sitting room, cloakroom, four bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2016 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We’d been living locally in a small Victorian terrace before we moved here,’ says Holly.

KITCHEN The stainless-steel worktop is functional with an industrial aesthetic.

Solid-wood units, price on request, Benchmarx. Custom-made stainless-steel worktop, MPM Engineering. The T-bar pull handle, £14, SDS London, is similar. Steel doors and windows, price on request, Fabco

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LIVING AREA ‘It’s the interesting smaller pieces, like these Arturo Rhodes paintings, that make a home unique,’ says Holly.

Aissa sofa, from £3,020, Sofa.com.

Koldby rug, £180, Ikea. Artwork, arturorhodes.com

H

aving already completely renovated their previous Victorian house, Holly Dormon and her partner Matt Haswell relished another project, and when a run-down 1940s house came on the market at a very reasonable price it was too good to miss. ‘My dad’s a builder and has always encouraged me to take a few risks,’ says Holly. The couple went to view the property and found it hadn’t been touched for decades, but it had a large footprint and a big back garden to extend into.

‘We took Dad back for a second viewing and he was able to see how we could reconfigure the space and create an open-plan area downstairs and, with a rejig, make the most of the upstairs,’ says Holly. ‘With Dad’s seal of approval, we put in an offer and placed our house on the market. It was only a week before Christmas and everyone thought we were mad, but we couldn’t let the house go!’

The couple then lived with Matt’s mum for almost a year while planning permission came through and building work got under way. ‘When the work finally started on the house there was no way we could have lived there with our two young daughters Ava, now eight, and Elise, five,’ says Holly. ‘We had to start from scratch – at one point it was just a shell with very few internal walls.’

With the help of Holly’s dad Neil and his team of builders, the house was eventually transformed. ‘We decided to steer away from the original ground-floor layout suggested by the architect,’ says

Holly, ‘as it didn’t seem to make the most of the space when the builders started to put the walls back in. It cost us some time but other than that, the renovation couldn’t have gone better’.

The whole of the downstairs has now been extended and reconfigured to create a large open-plan area housing the kitchen, dining space and a living area. ‘We’re so delighted with the new layout and the impact it has when you walk in,’ says Holly. ‘The pitched roof gives a real sense of drama and I love the different zones we’ve created, each with their own personality – perfect spots for entertaining and practical areas for us to spend time as a family.’

Upstairs, the loft was converted into two bedrooms and a shower room for Ava and Elise, and a wall in the master bedroom has been knocked through into the box room to create a small en suite.

Since moving in, the house has been decorated in warm greys, pinks and blues, with pops of colour everywhere. ‘I wanted our home to feel inviting and be interesting to look at,’ says Holly. ‘I have lots of antiques and vintage pieces, which I display all over the house.

‘It’s been a real renovation journey and our home is now unrecognisable from the house we first saw,’ she continues. ‘I’m so pleased with the changes we’ve made, not just the big ones but the small ones, too. They’ve given the house an abundance of character.

It perfectly suits our growing family and there’s not much more we could want or need – that’s unless another project comes along!’

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ELISE’S ROOM This teepee makes a fun den for Elise and doubles up as a place to store her cuddly toys and cushions.

Teepee tent with floor mat and pillows in Candy Star, £95.20, Fun with Mum

B AT H R O O M Holly has indulged her love of colour and vintage items to add interest here.

Bath base painted in Palmerston Pink eggshell, £69 for 2.5L, Mylands. Parquet Charcoal floor tiles, £44.80sq m, Neisha Crosland at Harvey Maria

MASTER BEDROOM ‘I love the softness of the pink against the darker colours,’ says Holly.

Lucy king-size bed in Armour velvet, £1,150, Sofa.com, is a good match. Washed linen duvet set in Dusky Pink, £80, H&M. Macramé dreamcatcher, try Etsy

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

AVA’ S R O O M The high sleeper bed makes good use of space here.

Christopher midsleeper treehouse bed, £499, Noa & Nani. Pompon cotton rug in Grey, £47.99, Maisons du Monde

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S T R O N G S TAT E M E N T Thanks to Nicola and Adam Harvey’s dynamic design ideas, their once dated Victorian home is now unrecognisable FEATURE JANE CRITTENDEN | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH | STYLING MARISHA TAYLOR

home truths THE PROPERTY Detached Victorian house L O C AT I O N Hertfordshire R O O M S Hallway, kitchendiner/living area, office, playroom, cloakroom, utility, four bedrooms (all en suite), dressing room P U R C H A S E D 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were living in a smaller house in the same area,’ says Nicola.

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KITCHEN ‘I chose a “rough-brush” finish so scratches aren’t noticeable,’ says Nicola.

Try 30mm-thick worktop, from £450, Cavendish Equipment. Hee bar stools, £165 each; Foscarini Aplomb mini suspension pendants, £242 each, both Made in Design

tow n | 25bh LIVING AREA ‘I love gold and it balances out the utilitarian concrete and steel aesthetic,’ says Nicola.

Gold microcement wall, £100sq m, Microcement Supplies UK. About a Table dining table, £1,209, Hay at Connox

N

icola and Adam Harvey are design aficionados, enthused by their respective jobs in interior design and property investment. When the couple, who have two daughters, Mia, nine, and Summer, six, found a run-down Victorian home, Nicola began sketching out ideas, pushing the boundaries of conventional renovation to find ways to create visual impact. Then a hidden gem revealed itself in the roof.

‘We had a huge attic, which would have been a waste not to use,’ says Nicola. ‘But

instead of converting the loft, the height sparked the idea to have a mezzanine dressing room in our bedroom, and a playroom above Summer’s room.’

Light, openness and space are the bedrock of the couple’s design approach.

In the entrance hall, a ceiling-height sliding door leads to Nicola’s office and glass doors link seamlessly with the kitchen-diner/ living area. Here, a double-storey extension increased the downstairs space and helped turn the master bedroom above into a luxurious sanctuary. This is the jewel in the

design. ‘I think the volume and space look dramatic and I love the bespoke staircase up to my dressing room,’ says Nicola.

Changing the upstairs layout meant few of the walls remain – the Harveys even sacrificed a bedroom. But they feel the remodelled look is better balanced, with its four en-suite bedrooms and laundry room. ‘It made much more sense to put a laundry room upstairs as this is where most of our washing is!’ says Nicola.

The couple enlisted a local designer and structural engineer to draw up the

DEsign advice ‘Plan in lighting – in our open-plan living space we have layers of light, including under the kitchen cabinets, to create atmosphere’ H A L LWAY Glass doors fold back against the wall for a streamlined finish.

Try Roman numeral wall clock, £179, Dwell

S TA I R C A S E Nicola made an industrial design statement in her staircase choice.

Rhino baby, £199, Pangea Sculptures, is similar

LANDING The new roof lantern improves the light and sense of space up here.

The Grid rug, £200, Habitat, is similar

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25bh | tow n MASTER BEDROOM The bright-white room looks anything but stark with the addition of the gold wall.

Moon Cries for Ferdinand artwork, £350, Ally McIntyre at Jealous Gallery

FUTUR E PLANS ‘I’m working on my office now and putting in a String shelf system for my samples and mood boards’ plans for them. Once approval was given, Nicola project managed the work.

Lighting was a priority. ‘Adam and I didn’t get it right in our last house, so I spent a long time planning out layers of lighting with our designer,’ says Nicola. ‘We chose wall lights for the living area, a pendant above the table, floor lamps, concealed lighting under the kitchen units and task lights – the combination works very well.’

Concrete and steel form the backbone to the couple’s home, seen in the bespoke staircases and poured concrete floor. The

MASTER BEDROOM The couple use the mezzanine level as a dressing room.

Tatsuma drawers, £350, Habitat

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Harveys have also embraced the industrial theme in the kitchen with a stainless-steel worktop, concrete cupboards and white cement Foscarini lighting. But as the project progressed, Nicola felt the scheme needed more warmth. ‘Steel and concrete are great, but the gold microcement feature walls have added the warmth that was missing,’ she says.

Elsewhere, rooms are painted white for a unified feel, with warmer colours and textures introduced in Nicola’s choice of rugs, cushions and plants. ‘We moved towards a simplistic Scandi look as the

project went on,’ says Nicola. ‘I like to keep the base white, adding colour where I want it with a few accent touches.’

Nicola and Adam’s project was finished within a year and they hosted a big family party to celebrate. ‘I love the feeling of space – it’s perfect for entertaining,’ says Nicola.

‘And I particularly love the design impact of our bedroom because it’s not what you would expect. The house is great for our clients, too, as they can come here to get ideas and see how easy it is to create an unusual design that works.’

P L AY R O O M Nicola kept the colour scheme calm so this space can easily be turned into a den in a few years time.

Teepee, £50, Dalos Dream at Amazon.co.uk

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

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OLD MEETS NEW James and Gwyneth Archer returned their period property back to its former glory, adding a few contemporary touches along the way FEATURE PENNY BOTTING | PHOTOGRAPHY ROB SANDERSON

SITTING ROOM

‘We bought the mirror at a flea market in Paris for a fraction of what it’s worth,’ says James.

Winchester wing chair, price on request, Alter London. Garcon coffee table, £2,400, Julian Chichester, is comparable

home truths THE PROPERTY Victorian terrace L O C AT I O N West London R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, dining room, family room, kitchen-diner, study, playroom, five bedrooms (three en suite), dressing room, two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERT Y ‘We lived in an apartment in Paddington,’ says James.

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Velvet upholstery connects this elegant scheme to the adjoining sitting room, which features the luxurious fabric in equally striking hues.

Lambeth carver chairs in Amy Somerville Smoking Room Velvet, price on request, Alter London.

Simla bordered rug, from £1,332, Jacaranda

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ith a growing family, James and Gwyneth Archer felt it was time to leave their flat in west London in favour of a larger property. ‘We loved living in the apartment, particularly as it was quite big,’ says James, ‘but with two children [Harry, now five, and Vivien, three] and no outside space, we craved a garden, and a more flexible living area.’

So, the search began for a property that suited the Archers’ needs, with private 82 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

outdoor space, well-lit rooms and a spacious area for them to relax together as a family.

Ideally, they were after a house with tall ceilings and Victorian architecture. ‘One of the other things on our wish list was a walk-in larder, as it reminds me of my childhood,’ explains James. ‘We were hoping to find a house with a traditional look, but with some of the mod-cons necessary for 21st-century living.’

When James and Gwyneth first saw this Victorian terrace, not far from their

existing home, they loved all the potential it offered. Located in a conservation area, it was nice and quiet. The rooms spanned over five floors, plus there was a garden.

Internally, the place hadn’t been touched for 50 years, and the majority of the original features had been stripped out.

With plans to open up as well as update everything, the couple went ahead with the purchase, knowing that with professional guidance, they would be able to make it their own. To help with the changes, they

KITCHEN-DINER

‘We wanted a traditional design with modern comforts,’ says James.

Luxurious cotton velvet aged brass bar chair, price on request, Touched Interiors, would work. Bianco Sofia marble surfaces, £167sq m, Natural Stone Projects

d e s i g n a d v i c e ‘The three most important things to think about when refurbishing a home are: storage, storage and storage!’

enlisted the services of TG-Studio. ‘We chose them because we knew they would be able to oversee the whole renovation project, including obtaining the necessary permissions for any construction work, and also the interior design,’ says James.

Making decisions together, the couple were able to clearly convey to the studio what they wanted. ‘Structurally, our brief was to open up the lower-ground floor to incorporate an additional area of living space,’ explains James. ‘Then aesthetically,

HALLWAY

A splash of blue brings this area to life.

For a similar table, try Indigo Mandarin console table, £995, Orchid

DINING AREA

A banquette keeps the look relaxed.

ILtavolo Caffé table, £350, Opinion Ciatti. Star lantern, from £435, Vaughan

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BATHROOM

A freestanding bath and marble floor lend an air of luxury.

The Tay cast-iron skirted bath tub, from £3,570, Drummonds; painted in Bone China Blue Pale absolute matt emulsion, £45 for 1ltr, Little Greene

f a v o u r i t e f e a t u r e ‘I love the Victorian feel that we’ve created throughout the house, reflecting the property’s past’ VIVIEN’S ROOM

A blend of comfort and colour is perfect for an infant’s room.

Personalised Kid’s director chair, £55, Etsy. L’Envoi wallpaper, £135 a roll, Manuel Canovas

we wanted to create a warm and inviting family atmosphere with a design inspired by today’s level of comfort, yet still being practical and respectful to the history and period of the property’s origins. This meant restoring the traditional Victorian features and feel of the house, but with classic as well as contemporary elements.’

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MASTER BEDROOM

Understated decor enables the restored Victorian features to shine.

White marble and black metal console table, £350, Maisons du Monde, has this look. Round occasional side table, price on request, Julian Chichester. Positano table lamps, £522, Vaughan Designs

linking the sitting room to the children’s playroom and kitchen on the lower-ground floor was added. Also on this level, a take on a traditional kitchen with Shaker-style units and modern finishes was installed.

Then a combination of contemporary and classic fireplaces was added throughout the lower levels, with original cornices, architraves, skirting and wall panelling reinstated in the main rooms.

For the bedrooms upstairs, the couple selected soothing pastel shades of soft FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y

pink for the furnishings set against light-grey walls, with the woodwork picked out in cream, and complementary neutral carpet completing the look. For the family bathroom, a white and grey marble scheme is simple yet sophisticated.

‘Our favourite palette is a variety based on three main colours: white, blue and grey,’ says James. ‘We’ve kept this consistent throughout, but with a few changes here and there so it doesn’t all look and feel the same. We really love the house now and

how it has all come together – it perfectly suits the way we live as a family.’

When asked if the transformation is complete, James replies, ‘Not quite. We have a great patio area outside, which is ideal for a bit of alfresco dining, but our next plan is to add a single-storey building at the end of the garden to create a gym as well as a childfriendly space.’ And will they tackle the job themselves? ‘No,’ James laughs. ‘If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from this experience, it’s that it’s always best to get expert help!’

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Restoration PIECE By shopping smart and upcycling Natalie and Kester Hayter have renovated an old rectory within budget FEATURE CIARA ELLIOTT | PHOTOGRAPHY JEMMA WATTS

SITTING ROOM

Georgian-style panelling below the picture rail gives the scheme a luxurious touch.

Sofa, from £2,000, David Gundry at Englishman’s Castle, in Linwood fabric by upholsterers Perkins and Gibbs. The Kwad teak coffee table, £249, Tikamoon, is similar

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1 KITCHEN The log store is made from old floorboards and a kitchen door.

Mid-century chair sourced from Vintage Mischief

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2 DINING AREA A different wall colour helps define this part of the kitchen.

Ekedalen table, £129, Ikea 3 , 4 & 5 KITCHEN It’s hard to believe the cabinetry is second-hand.

Laura Ashley Ockley glass bottle pendants, £70 each, are similar

home truths THE PROPERTY Double-fronted Victorian rectory built in 1870 L O C AT I O N Suffolk R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner, utility room, boot room, snug, office, five bedrooms, two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We moved back to the UK from France and rented in the area for a year,’ says Natalie.

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aving returned to Suffolk from a two-year stint in France for work, the Hayter family began their life back in the UK with the purchase of this former rectory and care home, which needed total restoration.

‘When we first viewed the property, each bedroom had a sink and call bell system and downstairs was a warren of poorly planned spaces,’ explains Natalie, a former marketing manager who gave up work at the time of their move to France to become a full-time mum to daughter Liv,

now 20, twin boys Corben and Flynn, 10, and seven-year-old son, Soren.

While Natalie and husband Kester loved the house straight away, they soon realised the enormity of the project they had taken on. ‘All the walls had to be taken back to bare brick and the house needed new electrics, plumbing and heating,’ says Natalie. ‘Plus, all the floor joists downstairs were rotten and many walls needed repositioning to create more space.’

However, having put together a plan for the works and earmarked where they could

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MASTER BEDROOM

Black accents bring a modern edge to the classic country scheme.

Super-king brass bedstead, £599, Marks & Spencer.

For a similar central light fitting try Nicky Cornell.

Pheasant artwork, Durrants Auctions

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

1 HALLWAY Brickwork was left exposed to create a layered, rustic feel.

Stairs painted in Rich Black, £18 for 2.5L, Dulux

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2 FLYNN’S BEDROOM Even in here Natalie chose hues that reflect the countryside.

Walls in Velvet Evening, £22 for 2.5L, Crown. Pahl desk, £45, Ikea.

3 & 4 BATHROOM A low wall hides the WC and a chandelier adds glamour.

Birdcage chandelier, £319, Universal Lighting

3 4 make savings, Natalie felt confident to proceed. ‘I knew I could keep costs down by buying and storing items ahead.’

It meant they were able to make some thrifty purchases, such as their birch kitchen cabinetry from Gumtree, which they stored for over a year before fitting, as well as a bathroom suite they found on eBay. ‘We were also lucky to work with two local builders who have been very understanding and have become family friends.’

Downstairs, the space which used to house the kitchen, boiler rooms and garages was reworked to create a large open-plan kitchen and dining area, shower room, boot room, utility room and office. Chimneys to facilitate wood burners were opened up to

give the house character and a new parquet floor was laid in the sitting room.

While the renovations were taking place, the family installed a log cabin in the garden with room for the cooker, fridges and washing machines, as well as a dining table and chairs for when the kitchen and dining area were renovated. ‘We virtually lived in the log cabin for six months and shared our bedroom with a whole kitchen worth of cabinetry,’ laughs Natalie.

With two years of late nights and long weekends doing a lot of the work themselves, Natalie says at times it felt never ending. ‘Now we are finished, though, it is even more pleasing to look around the home we have designed,’ she says with pride.

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A study in style Discovering a property in their old university city allowed Suranga and Gemma Chandratillake to craft a beautiful home FEATURE DOMINIC BRADBURY | PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH/INSIDE FEATURES

DINING ROOM The couple sensitively remodelled this space, while preserving the fireplace and other original features.

Walls in Lamp Room Grey estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Bespoke elliptical walnut dining table, Carpintree.

Lattice chandelier, price on application, Neri & Hu

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SITTING ROOM Period elements, such as the fireplace, contrast with classic mid-century pieces.

Walls in Salon Drab estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Kylie Minogue portrait, price on request, Annie Kevans.

Similar Murano glass Vistosi chandelier, £1,135, Pamono.

Isamu Noguchi coffee table, £2,100, John Lewis & Partners

home truths THE PROPERTY Edwardian terraced house L O C AT I O N Cambridge R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/living area, music room, four bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in San Francisco before moving back here,’ says Gemma.

W SITTING ROOM The repetition of blue in the sofa, pendant and chair adds to the space’s calm ambience.

Try Wayfair for a similar sofa

hen Suranga and Gemma Chandratillake were both students at the University of Cambridge, they lived in rented rooms in the Petersfield district – a characterful quarter with rows of Victorian and Edwardian houses within easy reach of the city centre.

After relocating to the United States for more than a decade, the couple decided to return to Cambridge and – naturally – settled on Petersfield.

‘We were based in San Francisco and agreed that if we ever moved back to Britain we would want to live in Petersfield,’ says Suranga.

‘We kept an eye out online until eventually we found this place.’

The house had a workshop on the ground floor and self-contained flat on the top level. Having bought the property, the couple rented it out as they prepared to move back to Cambridge, while planning how to update the house for themselves and their two young children. ‘We didn’t want to rush straight into a renovation, so we waited until we had moved in and got to know the house,’ says Suranga. The couple were keen to have a more fluid layout, with a balance between larger rooms and intimate retreats.

‘We wanted a more natural sense of movement through the

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KITCHEN/ LIVING AREA An island sits at the centre of this new space, while a bank of bespoke cupboards (below left) contains crockery, china and glassware. The window seat in the living area (below far left) is framed in the same wood.

Cabinetry in American black walnut, price on request, McLaren.Excell. Limestone worktops, price on request, Stone Age. Anour copper pendant light, ÂŁ1,508, Beut. Polished concrete floor, price on application, Steyson Concrete Floors

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MASTER BEDROOM Bespoke storage painted in the same shade as the chimney breast and surround forms an elegant backdrop.

Hague Blue estate emulsion is a similar wall colour, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball

house,’ says Gemma. ‘And we wanted to make more of the relationship between the interior and the garden.’

During one of their online searches, Suranga and Gemma stumbled on a kitchen design by architects Luke McLaren and Rob Excell. They decided to get in touch and began work on a renovation that took around a year to complete.

The flat at the top was converted back into living space, with two new bedrooms, while a large skylight was added above the staircase. The firstfloor master bedroom and guest bedroom, as well as the bathroom, were redesigned with crafted joinery and fitted storage and a smaller bedroom was repurposed as a study.

But the most dramatic changes were on the ground floor, where a new extension, clad in oak, spreads out into the garden. With its pitched roof and picture windows, it serves as a hub with a bespoke kitchen at one end and living space at the other. A bank of fitted cupboards runs down one side, with a mini-extension beyond holding utility spaces.

‘A large element of the project was about reorientating the house towards the garden,’ says architect Luke. ‘So we took the back off the structure and rebuilt it to enable the new extension to blend a little into the rest of the house.’

The kitchen flows into the dining room, which benefits from a generous, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door. This frames the garden, while connecting to a new outdoor room. ‘I love to be in the kitchen because I can prepare a meal but feel connected to people,’ says Suranga.

‘The windows are so large that it feels as though you are outdoors, which is just what we wanted.’

B AT H R O O M A pared-back scheme ensures the floor tiles stand out.

Moroccan encaustic tiles, from £3.80 each, Terrazzo Tiles. La Rochelle Bateau bath, from £3,135, The Cast Iron Bath Company

B AT H R O O M The children’s bathroom is on the top floor, tucked into the pitch-roof space created by one of the dormer windows.

Similar wallmounted brass tap, £960, The Water Monopoly

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BEDROOM The custom-made wall panelling includes storage cupboards and a headboard complete with shelf.

Similar throw, ÂŁ75, Bronte By Moon. Ogilvy swing arm wall lamp in matt Black and antique brass is similar, ÂŁ59, Made

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home truths THE PROPERTY Detached cottage, parts of which date to the early 18th century L O C AT I O N Surrey R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner, pantry, study, boot room, four bedrooms (two en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I lived in a converted coach house in a country park about four miles from here,’ says Sally.

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THE GENTLE TOUCH Sally Paget-Brown called on a dream team of craftspeople to sensitively bring a period building into the 21st century FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM | PHOTOGRAPHY CAROLINE MARDON

2 1 & 2 SITTING ROOM Timber wall panelling was added to match the original detailing around the fireplace.

Woodwork in Light Gray estate eggshell, £62 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Pompidou small metal and glass coffee table, £535, Oka. Curtains in Ralph Lauren Cottage Rose Floral in Tea Rose, £101m, Designers Guild. Try the RV Astley Alia two-seater sofa, £1,257, Houseology

3 HALLWAY Sally loves to entertain, so uses this extra large space for special occasions.

Victorian table, Elisabeth James Antiques; find a similar design at 1stdibs, from £4,000. Washakie chairs in Sand linen, £320 each, Oka. Blind in Woodland Berries, £59m, Sanderson at Style Library. Walls in Dimity estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball

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ally Paget-Brown used to run a successful interior design firm and although she retired a number of years ago, she can’t resist a project. ‘I was drawn to this house by its quirkiness,’ she says of the quintessentially English cottage she bought in 2017. ‘I was happy in my previous home, a converted coach house, but I missed having a garden for my grandchildren to play in.

I also needed more bedrooms for visitors.’

The 18th-century house started as a one-up, one-down dwelling that was extended several times, twice by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. ‘He lived in the house opposite with his parents and this was his first commission,’ says Sally.

‘Not only is the cottage Grade II listed, but it is also in a conservation area, so needed additional permissions. The Lutyens Trust also took a keen interest in the renovation.’

S Y M PAT H E T I C R E S T O R AT I O N

The house certainly needed attention ‘There were all sorts of problems, from damp to wood rot,’ says Sally. With the help of architect Peter Barker of Antique Buildings, Sally gained permission to knock down two walls in order to enlarge the kitchen, and an entrance to a bedroom was blocked so that it could be turned into an en suite. The beams were stripped and flooring was restored or replaced.

When it came to the decor, Sally was equally respectful of the house’s history. ‘It’s important not to fight a house – glitzy black and white were not for this cottage,’ says Sally, who chose gentle grey-greens and chalky off-whites. Floral fabrics in the upstairs rooms nod to the beautiful garden.

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FRESH PERSPECTIVE

Sally’s former home featured grand spaces and soaring ceilings and, as a result, many of her antiques and artworks look very different in the cottage. ‘Things seem to be somehow more visible in intimate spaces,’ she says.

‘Friends have commented on “new” paintings that had, in fact, been hanging on the walls in the coach house.’

Entertaining is one of Sally’s great pleasures and the cottage’s large hallway comes into its own when she is hosting a crowd. The Victorian table extends to seat 14, while a new wood burner ensures a warm welcome.

For Sally, one of the biggest surprises of this move has been the sense of community she has experienced now that she lives in a village. ‘Even if I just nip out with the dog I will bump into someone,’ she says, adding, ‘I feel that both the house and the village have embraced me.’

1 KITCHEN Sally chose marble-effect quartz worktops to contrast with the blue units.

Try the Silestone quartz classic Calacatta, £783.90sq m, HC Supplies. Cabinetry, price on request, Riverside Joinery; painted by Peter HalesAlexander in Inchyra Blue estate eggshell, £62 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Building work, Hammer Building Services

2 DINING AREA A colourful oil painting stands out against the white-painted brickwork.

Washakie dining chairs in Sand linen, £320 each, Oka 3 BATHROOM A period-style tub chimes with the style of the cottage.

Millbrook double-ended cast-iron bath, £925, The Cast Iron Bath Company

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3

design tip ‘If you prefer a neutral scheme but want to add some colour, consider a bold hue for your kitchen cabinets’

4 4 BEDROOM Subtle bird motifs help to tie this neutral scheme together.

Curtains in Guinea Fowl linen, £78m, Susie Watson Designs

5

5 DRESSING ROOM The tiles in the en suite shower echo this area’s soothing greens, helping to link the two spaces.

Tiles in Light Green and Ivory, £3.95 each, Susie Watson Designs 6 MASTER BEDROOM Polished brass adds a touch of vintage glamour.

Coriander bed in antique brass, from £3,745, And So To Bed 7 DRESSING ROOM The mirrored cupboard doors are both practical and decorative.

Unit in French Gray estate eggshell, £62 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball

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7

Sky’s the limit

Sophie and Simon Elborne’s long search for a new home came to an end when they spotted a penthouse apartment with potential FEATURE NATALIE WAIN | PHOTOGRAPHY ALEX SARGINSON

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Timber accents and an array of houseplants soften this modern, monochrome setting.

Bespoke Shaker kitchen in Pantry Blue, DeVOL. Normann Copenhagen Knot armchairs, £445 each; Formakami JH3 pendant lights, from £163, all Made In Design

home truths T H E P R O P E R T Y Modern penthouse apartment L O C AT I O N West London R O O M S Hallway, kitchendiner/living area, cloakroom, three bedrooms (all en suite) P U R C H A S E D 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were living in a one-bedroom flat in southwest London before moving here,’ says Sophie.

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The domed pendant light is designed to isolate acoustics so it’s possible to watch TV without disturbing other people in the open-plan space.

Under the Bell acoustic suspension light by Muuto, £629, Made In Design.

Tanzanian throw (on sofa back), £75, Artisans & Adventurers

S

earching for a new home can be a frustrating and long, drawn-out process, as Sophie and Simon Elborne discovered when they were house-hunting in London. ‘We’d been looking for a quirky fixer-upper for several months but hadn’t found anything suitable,’ explains Sophie. Then fate took a hand.

‘We were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when we stumbled upon a new development in west London that included a penthouse apartment. We

102 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

knew it was what we were looking for. The partition walls had gone up, but the project had been delayed. This meant that we were able to work alongside the developers and tailor the space to our requirements.’ As Sophie is an interior designer by profession, she and Simon were able to put their own stamp on the place right from the outset.

The pair were immediately drawn to the apartment’s light-filled spaces, great proportions and high ceilings, but creating the layout proved to be a challenge. ‘We like

to entertain and so wanted several different places where we could eat,’ says Sophie.

‘An office area and a place to curl up and watch a film were also needed. Zoning the large, open-plan space was the natural solution and we had to find a way to bridge entertaining and family life [the couple have two young sons, Max and Luc], so I chose finishes that would work with both.’

A generously proportioned bespoke kitchen by DeVOL was the starting point for the scheme as Sophie and Simon both

LIVING AREA

Bespoke storage helps demarcate this neat study corner.

Stockholm rug in Black/Off White, from £129, Ikea, has this look. Try Artisan & Adventurers for similar Indian-block style cushions

d e s i g n a d v i c e ‘Play with varied lighting and differently scaled furniture in a large room to create zones and an illusion of more space’

wanted a ‘foodie playground’. Sophie worked closely with DeVOL’s designers to ensure that the layout was just right.

A well was created in the centre of the island so that oils and utensils are close at hand when cooking, for instance, and the kitchen flows into the adjacent dining area, which is a boon for socialising. Both zones are linked by a unifying colour scheme and a trio of oversized sculptural pendant lights.

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Painting architectural details in a contrasting shade adds interest.

Bespoke cabinetry designed by Sophie Elborne at Atelier Elborne and built by Ciorba Construction

d e c o r a t i n g t i p ‘Twilight colours of black, rich navy, indigo, icy greys and warm ecru and linen work beautifully through the seasons’ MASTER EN SUITE

A simple black-and-white palette creates a clean, fresh feel.

Bespoke sink unit designed by Sophie Elborne and made by Rough Living

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MASTER BEDROOM

The hand-embroidered bed canopy adds a classic detail.

Wall in Pigeon estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

couple could indulge their love of cinema.

With this in mind, Sophie designed and made an extra-large ottoman to go with a slouchy sofa and white rocking chair (an anniversary present from Simon).

In the living spaces and bedrooms alike, bespoke cabinetry was installed to provide ample storage and keep the overall feel clean and uncluttered. And as the main bedroom overlooks the street, Sophie decided to work with the angled roof and create a cocoon-like bed canopy. ‘Bringing more fabric into the room had acoustic benefits as it helped to absorb the noises from outside,’ she says.

When it came to choosing the decor, Sophie opted for a restrained palette of classic shades, offset by subtly patterned wallpapers and fabrics. ‘It’s not an enormous apartment; too much colour and pattern would have been overwhelming,’ she explains. ‘I also wanted the palette to complement the natural finishes in the space. For example, the wall colours are drawn from the sandy tones of the wood, the black door frames from steel, and fresh whites and greys from the marble worktops.’

Deep-navy kitchen cabinetry and steel blue in the entrance hallway were purposefully chosen to evoke twilight tones, while the grey-green shade in the couple’s bedroom creates restful echoes of nature.

‘At heart, it’s a very painterly aesthetic,’ says Sophie. ‘Our homes are a stage from which the narrative of our lives unfold.’

Like the objects within it, the apartment tells a very personal story – one that no doubt will continue to evolve over time.

NURSERY

This chequered wallpaper lends a soft, fabric-like finish.

Charlotta Green wallpaper, £70 a roll, Sandberg

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KITCHEN-DINER

The vaulted ceiling makes a statement, while painted units strike a classic note.

Kitchen cabinetry by Four Corners, price on application

SIMPLY IDYLLIC

Simon and Shona Walley updated a Cotswold cottage with a classic country palette, transforming it into the rural home they’d always wanted FEATURE VIVIENNE AYERS | PHOTOGRAPHY POLLY ELTES

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W home truths

T H E P R O P E R T Y Cottage, built around 1850, with extensions L O C AT I O N Gloucestershire R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner, snug, five bedrooms, two bathrooms (one en suite) P U R C H A S E D 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in Belgium and the USA before moving back to the UK and buying this property,’ says Shona.

SITTING ROOM

Patterned textiles and wood furniture bring texture and richness to the pale blue scheme.

Blinds in Woburn in Acacia, £37.30m, Clarke & Clarke

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hen Shona Walley and her husband Simon were moving back to the UK after living overseas for 11 years, finding the right family home was a top priority. ‘We knew exactly what we wanted – a five-bedroom period house with plenty of living space,’ says Shona. ‘Simon works from home and also travels a lot so we had a choice of living anywhere, provided it was near to an airport.’ Being close to the right schools was also a key factor as Shona and Simon have five children: Emilia, Rose,Samuel, Mae and Bella. ‘We rented a holiday let in the Cotswolds for six months and enrolled the children in schools on the

Oxfordshire/Gloucestershire border,’ says Shona. ‘This focused our property search.’

After a couple of months, a cottage-style property in Gloucestershire caught Shona’s eye. ‘It only had three bedrooms, but the Cotswold village setting was idyllic,’ she says.

The cottage needed renovating as it hadn’t been updated for several years and had also stood empty for some time. Despite the fact that considerable work needed doing, Simon and Shona felt sure they could transform the property into the country home they wanted.

Once the purchase was complete, the couple drew up plans for the renovation.

Top of Shona’s ‘wish list’ was a large kitchen and open-plan diner, to be housed in a

FAVOURITE FEATUR E ‘The location – the cottage is in a beautiful village with great walks right on our doorstep’

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SNUG

Vintage furniture and quirky details create a unique look.

Etsy sells large wooden keys, from £19.45 each

extension complete with vaulted ceiling.

‘I chose Shaker-style cabinetry for the kitchen so that it wouldn’t date,’ says Shona.

The house also needed rewiring, replumbing, replastering and redecorating. The three bedrooms were then reconfigured to create four good-sized bedrooms and the downstairs living space enlarged. Finally, an exterior wall was removed to create a playroom next to the new kitchen.

Shona and Simon rented a holiday let nearby while the work was carried out.

‘We moved back into the house once the first

UPSTAIRS HALLWAY

A chic display of storage.

Anvard chest of drawers, £595, Oka, has this style

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

round of work was complete,’ says Shona.

‘We then took a few months off before building another extension at the back of the house, as we wanted to create a downstairs snug and a bedroom upstairs for Emilia.’

With the end of the work in sight, Shona started thinking about the decor. ‘I’ve always been interested in fabrics and decorating,’ she says. ‘And as we’ve never lived anywhere for longer than five years, I’ve had ample opportunity to learn from my mistakes.’

Everything from the family’s former home in the United States had to be kept in

BATHROOM

Period-style panelling works well with a modern bath.

The Mya freestanding bath, £629, Soak, is similar

storage while the house was renovated, which gave Shona time to work out her interior schemes. In keeping with the architectural style of the cottage, Shona chose a classic country palette of duck-egg blue, soft taupe and cream, enlivened with red accents. She also installed some eye-catching statement lighting to provide a contemporary twist.

Now that the renovation is complete, the family are able to relax and enjoy their home.

‘The cottage and the village are everything we dreamed that English country living would be,’ says Shona. ‘It really is idyllic.’

SAMUEL’S ROOM

A mix of red, white and blue ties the look together.

Try the Stars knitted cushion, £20, John Lewis & Partners

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home truths T H E P R O P E R T Y Detached house built in the 1940s L O C AT I O N South Africa R O O M S Sitting room, two dining rooms, kitchen, scullery, cloakroom, four bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom, two studios P U R C H A S E D 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a single-level 1970s house in the Cape Town suburb of Constantia,’ says Galia.

SOUL SEARCHING Galia Gluckman pared back her mid-century house in order to display collections of artwork and furniture that tell a very personal tale FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM | PHOTOGRAPHY GREG COX/BUREAUX/LIVING INSIDE

W

ith its collections of paintings, ceramics and mid-20th century pieces, there is a wonderfully layered feel to the Cape Town home Galia Gluckman shares with her husband, Gary, and children, Ella, 13, and Levi, 10. ‘I think the trick is that we have acquired things slowly, and often in a creative way,’

explains Galia, who is an artist. ‘Much of what we own tells a story.’

The Gluckmans bought the property two years ago, having decided to move from Constantia to the mountainside suburb of Oranjezicht to be closer to their children’s school. The house was built in the 1940s but it had been altered a number of times over the years. ‘Decorative columns had been

added to the facade in the 1980s and they didn’t really fit in, plus the layout needed simplifying,’ Galia recalls.

Although Gary doesn’t have any formal architectural training, he is adept at reconfiguring interiors and, together with Galia, he drew up plans to improve the flow of the house. Walls were knocked down to enlarge the kitchen and dining room, while

SITTING ROOM The portrait of Galia’s father by her mother is Galia’s most treasured possession. Her own work, Silva, right, brings energy to the space.

Try 1stdibs for benches by TH Robsjohn-Gibbings.

Similar sofa, AC Lounge, price on request, B&B Italia. Galia Gluckman's paintings are available at SMAC Gallery

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 111

KITCHEN Family meals tend to take place at this counterheight stainless steel table.

Bertoia counter stools in chrome, ÂŁ1,416 each, The Conran Shop

DINING ROOM The dark-grey window frame punctuates the pale walls.

Galia had the 1950s chair reupholstered. For a similar print, try Blue and White ikat cotton fabric, ÂŁ17.52m, DesiCrafts

112 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

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on the first floor, a slice of Levi’s bedroom was borrowed to replace a steep ladder with a new staircase leading to the second floor loft. ‘This is my studio, but it has also become a family room where we all hang out,’ explains Galia.

Before moving back to South Africa in 2010, the family had spent 13 years in New York, and the brownstone aesthetic was a

DINING ROOM A pair of contemporary red corded chairs brings vibrant colour to the classic Danish dining set.

Similar vintage Danish dining chairs, from £350 each; Saturn pendant lights by Jo Hammerborg for Fog & Mørup, £653, all Pamono

strong influence when it came to renovating the house. The window frames and architraves have been picked out in dark grey while the floors, which were originally a mix of mustard-coloured screed and rosewood timber, were also darkened by recolouring the cement and staining the boards. ‘I’m not one to rip things out for the sake of it and unifying the flooring with one dark tone

was all it needed,’ notes Galia. Similarly, she recognised the quality of the kitchen units and repurposed them in the new larger space.

As an artist, Galia works with colour all day long, but when it came to choosing the paint schemes for the rooms, she called on colour guru, Freya Lincoln. ‘Freya is very talented; she mixed all the colours for us,’ explains Galia. For the kitchen units,

25bh | tow n they used a soft grey-blue while the dining room walls are a discreet light pink; the sitting room, meanwhile, has been painted a very pale shade of blue.

These subtle hues form the backdrop to Galia’s extensive collection of art, including her own vibrant works and creations by her mother. ‘One of my favourite pieces is the portrait she made of my dad in his tennis

shorts,’ says Galia, who tasked her framing to a picture hanging service. ‘I think there is a lot of value in seeking professional advice when it comes to hanging art,’ she observes.

Like the family’s art collection, many of the pieces of furniture tell a story, such as the mid-20th century Danish dining table and chairs, which were inherited from Galia’s grandparents and remind her of childhood

family meals, and the sitting room’s bench

by TH Robsjohn-Gibbings, a handsome design procured through a barter for one of Galia’s artworks. ‘I think that when you move a lot, you end up hanging on to the things you really love,’ notes Galia. She adds, ‘The house is always evolving. I am continuously looking for ways to improve it – that’s what I find most interesting.’

B AT H R O O M The generous arched window forms a key feature and offers wonderful city views.

The Astonian Slipper bath, £1,433.96, from Aston Matthews, has a similar shape. Try the Pelagia opal glass globe pendant, £307.50, The Lighting Company

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

LEVI’S BEDROOM A car bed lends a fun element to the space.

Find the Special No 2 Blue car bed, £183.99, at Wayfair

MASTER BEDROOM Sourced from Mali, this indigo and white bedspread brings texture to this serene scheme.

The metal floor mirror in Antiqued Bronze, £399, West Elm, is similar

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A N E W WAV E With vintage furniture and dramatic shades, Wendy Aldridge has given her coastal apartment a fresh take on seaside style FEATURE JO LEEVERS | PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH

KITCHEN-DINER Wendy’s bespoke wall tapestry combines rich colours with deep texture, lifting the dark room scheme and bringing a sense of cosiness.

Tapestry, price on request, Po! Paris

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25bh | c oa s ta l KITCHEN Simple Ikea units were painted in one of Wendy’s favourite colours and given new handles for a bespoke look.

Units in Railings estate eggshell, £62 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball

f a v o u r i t e f e a t u r e ‘All our mid-century pieces are special to us, many for sentimental reasons’

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ooking for an interiors style that referenced their coastal setting without being too obvious, Wendy and James Aldridge went for a mix of 1970s, mid-century and contemporary designs in their new Kent property. The couple, parents to Ida, nine, Arlie, six, and Elodie, eight months, bought this basement flat three and a half years ago. They initially tried to buy in Margate but then widened their net, travelling five miles south to Ramsgate. While Margate is better known, Wendy and James soon discovered that Ramsgate also has a nice beach, interesting vintage shops and some lovely architecture – including sea-facing Victorian townhouses.

This apartment is in the basement of one of those once-grand houses, which had long since been divided into smaller flats and bedsits. It had been rented out for many years, so wasn’t in the best condition when the couple first viewed it, but it did have a large open-plan living space. ‘This meant we could immediately imagine how it would work for us as a family,’ says Wendy.

To set the tone for her cool take on vintage and mid-century style, Wendy found a large, louche 1970s sofa in sage

SITTING ROOM The 1970s sofa was found in Italy.

Wendy now runs Homeplace.co.uk, which sells an eclectic range of vintage and contemporary pieces from the UK and around the world.

Brass planter, £80, Homeplace

home truths

THE PROPERTY Victorian apartment L O C AT I O N Kent R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner, three bedrooms, two bathrooms (one en suite) P U R C H A S E D 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We divide our time between here and a Victorian house in east London,’ says Wendy.

25bh | c oa s ta l BEDROOM A strip of gold separating the two paint shades is a 21st-century take on the dado rail.

Art prints, £42 each, Blanca Gomez at Homeplace

d e c o r a t i n g t i p ‘A dark grey wall paint makes a great backdrop for vintage collectables’ MASTER EN SUITE Repurposing old furniture is a great way to add character, like Wendy has done with this vanity.

Nautical wall light, £140, Mullan Lighting

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green velvet, which she had shipped over from Italy. ‘It’s so low-slung, you literally sink into it,’ she says. ‘I like to imagine it having had a very glamorous life before it came to us, perhaps in a fancy nightclub or a chic Milanese apartment.’

Facing it is an equally glam coffee table and a leather sofa by the Brazilian designer Percival Lafer. But Wendy was careful to avoid getting too themed. ‘I didn’t want everything to be from the same era,’ she says. ‘I like my rooms to feel less formulaic.’

Once Wendy had sourced all of the furniture, she got creative with wall colours and coverings – painting walls in split colours and papering in dazzling patterns.

The fireplace in the sitting room was retiled in a white honeycomb mosaic, replacing an old 1980s faux marble surround. Tiles also form a graph-paper grid on one wall of the kitchen, where Ikea units are cleverly customised with sections of grey paint and soft leather handles. ‘Throughout the flat, I’ve kept all of the finishes very practical, because with three kids and a dog that’s the only way to be,’ says Wendy. ‘But I’ve also tried to add originality and interest at every opportunity.’

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

MASTER BEDROOM The sturdy, dark wood furniture grounds the bold wallcovering.

Enigma wallpaper, ÂŁ101 a roll, Farrow & Ball. Find similar furniture at Love Antiques

Aston Matthews bathrooms

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c oa s ta l | 25bh H A L L W AY Framed drawings, potted plants and a cosy armchair create a welcoming mood.

The Normandy armchair, £720, The French Bedroom Company, has this look

home truths THE PROPERTY Georgian terraced cottage L O C AT I O N Suffolk R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, utility, larder, cloakroom, five bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D April 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We rented a heritage house in a nearby village,’ says Lucia.

WATER COLOURS

A considered mix of delicate wallcoverings, understated furnishings and misty hues form a calming palette in Lucia Poel’s chic seaside home FEATURE CIARA ELLIOTT | PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH

SITTING ROOM A blue sofa is paired with neutral walls for a fresh, bright look.

Oscar corner sofa in Powder Blue, £2,645, Loaf. Try Habitat for a similar metal trunk, £50

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 123

H DINING ROOM Lucia loves how the French-country style table stands out against the original floorboards.

Charnwood wood-burning stove, £1,332, Direct Stoves. Cushions, £16 each, Sainsbury’s Home

aving a home by the sea can provide endless interior design ideas – you only need to step outside to feel inspired by the colours and textures of your surroundings.

But interior designer Lucia Poels and her partner Paul Johnson were keen to avoid the beachside decorating clichés for their house in Southwold. ‘I set out to add a touch of coastal freshness to the renovation but I didn’t want the full-on nautical look,’ says Lucia.

‘We wanted a clean, calm feel, but I looked to colonial and New England styles rather than the British seaside.’

From the outset the house needed a total refurbishment. Paul feared that revamping the property would be a Herculean task as it hadn’t been properly touched for over 60 years, but Lucia says that its ramshackle nature was part of the attraction. ‘It still had charming Bakelite switches and old lead gas pipes and a 1950s kitchen.

There was no central heating and it had so much damp,’ she says. ‘But it was also the dream challenge for me as I could use my creativity and design skills to do a whole house from top to bottom.’

Working with her new floor plans, colour schemes, furniture design and electrical plans for all the rooms, Lucia employed local builders and tradespeople to sand floorboards, take down internal walls, close off two doorways, install wood burners and fit a new kitchen and two new bathrooms. Upstairs, they took out a redundant chimney breast from a bedroom and knocked through to the master bedroom to create an en suite. They also blocked up the old doorway to the room and brought it KITCHEN Boxing in the extractor gives a streamlined look, as do the slimline work surfaces. The deep-blue Aga enhances the homely, countrystyle feel.

Bespoke solid wood cupboards, handmade and installed by SGD

124 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

Bespoke. Dual control three-oven Aga in Dartmouth Blue, £11,000, Aga. Wall units in Shallow intelligent eggshell; base units in Mid Lead intelligent eggshell, both £31 for 1L, Little Greene

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last word ‘Be true to your style and don’t be scared to experiment with colour and pattern’

MASTER BEDROOM The chinoiserie-style wallpaper is bold and ethereal at the same time.

Try the Fine Brushwork Flowers and Birds wall mural, £23.37sq m, MakeUpWallDecor at Etsy.

Camille bed, £1,120, Willis & Gambier at Choice Furniture Superstore

further along the landing to create a new linen cupboard.

‘Paul and I stripped layers of old paint from the door and window furniture,’ says Lucia ‘The temptation was to just replace them, but we felt it was important to work with what we had. So we used really good paint stripping products, which remove paint without any damage. We ended up with lovely original latches and handles.

We also stripped some beams in the attic rooms, which revealed beautiful wood with original carving marks.’

At the end of the eight-month refurbishment, the room Lucia feels happiest in is the kitchen. ‘I love the colour scheme in here. It feels so cosy and cottage-like when I’m chopping away with the radio on. I wanted to maximise the space with as much work surface as possible and add as many units as we could,’ she says ‘The exterior wall originally had a large pane of ribbed glass with an extractor, but we fitted a smaller window, which gives me a view while I prepare food.’

Even after all the work that has been done, Lucia always has her eye on what to do next. This involves finishing the exterior of the property by laying new paving and removing the rails.

In the meantime, the couple are content to relax in their seaside cottage and enjoy all they have achieved.

B AT H R O O M The smart white and blue palette adds to the crisp, coastal style.

Clearwater Palermo Grande freestanding composite stone bath, £1,399, Designer Bathroom Concepts. Fez encaustic cement tiles, £74sq m, Encaustic Tiles

BEDROOM Aqua accents give the scheme a modern edge.

For a similar white French-look bed, try the Louie Solo Sleigh, £299, Time4Sleep.

The Matte White Butlers Tray table, £95, The White Company, is a good alternative

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

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 125

Creative spirit

Nick and Susana Leith-Smith have created an exuberant style that combines bright colours, mid-century cool and 1970s glamour FEATURE JOANNA SIMMONS/SEÁN O’CONNELL | PHOTOGRAPHY SARAH HOGAN

126 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

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SITTING ROOM Rich wood tones and reflective surfaces add an element of glamour.

Wall in Cornforth White estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball.

Bespoke cabinet, Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design. The Rug Company Paul Smith Peaks rug, £2,075, LuxDeco. The Milo Baughman swivel tub chair, £4,846 for a pair, 1stdibs, is similar

home truths THE PROPERTY Georgian terrace L O C AT I O N South London R O O M S Hallway, sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, utility room, cloakroom, playroom, two bedrooms (one en suite), dressing room, bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2011 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We moved here from a garden flat in south London,’ says Nick.

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c it y | 25bh DINING AREA The wooden seats and tabletop introduce warmth and tactility.

Ercol Windsor chairs, £395 each, Heal’s. Table and copper-clad unit, both price on request, Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design. For similar flooring, try Marshalls paving man-made Farndon Buff, £19.12sq m, Paving Superstore. Steel windows, price on request, Fabco Sanctuary

KITCHEN ‘Even when we first saw it, this space had lots of personality,’ says Nick.

Cabinets in Stone White estate eggshell, £62 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball.

Two-oven range cooker, £8,785, Aga

W

hen Nick Leith-Smith and his wife Susana were searching for their first home together in 2011, they knew it had to be Georgian. ‘I love this style of house,’ says Nick. ‘The proportions of the rooms, with high ceilings and big windows, are perfect.’ So when they came across this period gem in south London, complete with mature garden and lots of original features, they were instantly excited. ‘As soon as I walked in, I thought, this is the house,’ says Nick. As the owner of Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design, it is not surprising that he was able to envisage what he would do to the place.

But he was under no illusions regarding the amount of work involved.

‘It looked incredibly tired,’ he says. ‘The previous owner was an art dealer so there were lots of fantastic artworks on display, which distracted from what was wrong.

It wasn’t until the day of completion that reality hit home. ‘Susana got here first to find the carpet hopping with moths,’ he says. ‘I arrived 10 minutes later with a bottle of champagne, ready to celebrate, and found her in tears.’

All a far cry from today, where the house is a joyful home for the couple and their children, Olympia, eight, and Leonardo, five. Traditional in style though the building may be, the interior is anything but. Susana is half-Brazilian, 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 129

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Call 0800 5870 854 for more details axappphealthcare.co.uk/idealhome *The £150 AXA ActivePlus voucher is for new customers only. Full terms and conditions at axappphealthcare.co.uk/idealhome. TI Media is an introducer appointed representative of AXA PPP healthcare Limited which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The Personal Health plan is underwritten by AXA PPP healthcare Limited. Registered in England and Wales number 3148119. Registered office: AXA PPP healthcare, 5 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1AD. Write to us at: AXA PPP healthcare, Phillips House, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2PL. Lines are open 9am to 7pm weekdays. We may record and/or monitor calls for quality assurance, training and as a record of our conversation. AXA ActivePlus is not regulated by either the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority.

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c it y | 25bh MASTER BEDROOM Bright colours work particularly well together when set against a warm, dark backdrop, as this vibrant scheme demonstrates.

Walls in Elephant’s Breath estate emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Nixon alpaca throw in Orange, £345, Jonathan Adler

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 131

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c it y | 25bh MASTER BEDROOM Using yellow on the curtains, cushion and rug ties the eclectic scheme together.

Rossini double headboard, from £1,100, The Sofa & Chair Company

design advice ‘Think twice before removing original features – rooms look naked if you take out their cornicing or rails’ half-Portuguese and the Latin influences certainly show, particularly in the sitting room. Here, a flamingo print perches on a period fireplace and cushions are made from zingy fabrics. ‘We love fashion, art and contrasting colour,’ says Nick, ‘and we wanted the house to reflect this.’

Before the bright materials and vintage one-offs could rev up the rooms, though, the house had to be refurbished.

‘The starting point was to enhance the Georgian shell; the cornicing, fireplaces and shutters,’ says Nick. As the house is listed, the couple couldn’t make any radical structural changes. ‘We managed to tweak the first floor to create a bathroom,’ says Nick, ‘but we had to get permission to move the door by 50cm.’

It took six months to transform the house, with Nick, Susana and new baby Olympia all camped out on the lower ground floor throughout, ‘exactly what I advise my clients not to do,’ says Nick, smiling. But it all proved worthwhile and choosing fabrics and colours was a joy.

‘Susana and I had so much fun doing this house together,’ says Nick. He also enjoyed creating pieces for it, including the floating copper unit in the dining area and the beautiful bar cabinet in the sitting room. ‘I’m a big fan of 1970s west coast American style and this is my interpretation of it,’ he says.

Like all self-respecting architects, Nick dreams of building a home one day, and while this Georgian property is perfect for him and his family now, he sees himself merely as its custodian.

‘Really, you just borrow a house like this,’ he says. ‘You might live here for 20 years, but that’s all. Already 20 people have lived here before me and hopefully a lot more will afterwards.’ Nick believes that he simply helped his home reflect a moment in time, while retaining the essence of its character. ‘It’s important when you buy a place of this age that you really like the bones of the house,’ says Nick, ‘and I think it’s obvious we do.’

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

B AT H R O O M The bath is perfectly placed by the window to make the most of the garden views.

The Le Piaf, £4,800, Catchpole & Rye, is similar. Oak flooring, price on request, Havwoods

CHILD’S BEDROOM This cleverly walks the line between playful and smart.

Palm Jungle wallpaper, £100 a roll, Cole & Son. The Libra antique brass convex mirror, £89, Homelia, would also work here

2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020 | 133

reader offers

| 25b h

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Departures from March to November 2020

Departures from January to November 2020

PRICE INCLUDES ● See the famous sights of Tokyo the Meiji shrine, Omotesando Street, fashion setting Harajuku and the Akihabara electronic town ● Enjoy astonishing views of Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi and the hot-spring, mountain spa resort of Hakone ● Travel at 189 mph on the incomparable high speed bullet trains ● Reflect on the horrors of war at Hiroshima’s Peace Park and museum ● Explore Kyoto on a guided tour, experiencing the former imperial capital and the essence of traditional Japan ● Discover Nara, Japan’s first capital with its huge bronze Buddha, on a guided tour ● Opportunity to learn origami, traditional flower arranging or Japanese cooking ● Return flights from the UK, plus all hotel transfers. Premium economy upgrades available at a supplement ● Hand picked four star accommodation, with breakfast and three meals ● The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

PRICE INCLUDES ● Stay and tour Phnom Penh, the ‘Pearl of Asia’ ● Visit the vast, ancient city and temples of Cambodia’s Angkor ● Tour of Vietnam’s beautiful capital Hanoi by cycle rickshaw ● Take a leisurely cruise aboard a converted Chinese junk in Halong Bay ● Visit the Citadel and Forbidden City in Hue, Vietnam’s former imperial capital ● Stay in the heart of exciting Saigon visiting the fascinating Cu Chi tunnels ● Be inspired by the hauntingly beautiful countryside, with shimmering ricepaddies tended by farmers in conical hats ● Enjoy a full day trip on the mighty Mekong River delta ● Return flights from the UK, plus all hotel transfers. Premium economy flight upgrades available at a supplement ● Four and five star hotel accommodation, with daily breakfast, plus five meals ● The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout ● Departures available exclusively for solo travellers * Extend your stay with three nights in Laos – 19 days from £2,829pp

16 days from only £2,299pp*

Call 01283 743370 to book or for a free brochure, or visit tbhriviera.co.uk TERMS & CONDITIONS: Additional entrance costs may apply. Prices are based on two people sharing and are correct at time of print.

Single supplements may apply. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Offer operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430, a company wholly independent of 25 Beautiful Homes, published by TI Media Limited.

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WHERE TO BUY Details of companies featured in the February issue

1stdibs 1stdibs.com 247 Blinds 247blinds.co.uk Aga agaliving.com All4House all4house.co.uk Allbits allbits.co.uk Alter London alterlondon.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Amelia McNeil Interior Design ameliamcneil.com And So To Bed andsotobed.co.uk Andrew Martin andrewmartin.co.uk Annie Kevans anniekevans.com Annie Sloan anniesloan.com Anthropologie anthropologie.com Antiques Atlas antiques-atlas.com Aram aram.co.uk Artisans & Adventurers artisans-and-adventurers.com Arturo Rhodes arturorhodes.com Aston Matthews astonmatthews.co.uk Atelier Elborne atelierelborne.com B&B Italia london.bebitalia.com Barneby Gates barnebygates.com Benchmark benchmarkfurniture.com Benuta benuta.co.uk Beut beut.co.uk Bonnie and Clyde bonnieandclydeart.com Bronte by Moon brontebymoon.co.uk Can Bordoy canbordoy.com Carpintree carpintree.co.uk Cat Dal Interiors catdalinteriors.com Catchpole & Rye catchpoleandrye.com Cavendish Equipment cavendishequipment.co.uk Chalon chalon.com Chameleon Interiors chameleoninteriors.com Choice Furniture Superstore choicefurnituresuperstore.co.uk Ciorba Construction ciorbaconstructionltd.com Clarke & Clarke clarke-clarke.com Cole & Son cole-and-son.com Connox connox.co.uk Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk Cricket Fine Art cricketfineart.co.uk Crown crownpaints.co.uk Crown French Furniture crownfrenchfurniture.co.uk Currys currys.co.uk David Seyfried davidseyfried.com Design Vintage designvintage.co.uk Designer Bathroom Concepts designerbathroomconcepts.com Designers Guild designersguild.com deVOL devolkitchens.co.uk Direct Stoves directstoves.com DMLights dmlights.co.uk Dulux dulux.co.uk Dunelm dunelm.com Durrants Auctions durrantsauctions.com Dwell dwell.co.uk Eclipse Furniture eclipsefurniture.co.uk Elisabeth James Antiques elisabethjamesantiques.co.uk

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Elitis elitis.fr Encaustic Tiles encaustic-tiles.co.uk Englishman’s Castle englishmanscastle.co.uk Etsy etsy.com Exclusive Mirrors exclusivemirrors.co.uk Fabco fabcosanctuary.com Farrow & Ball farrow-ball.com Floormart floormart.co.uk Forget-Me-Knot Furniture forget-me-knot.co.uk Four Corners fourcornerstrading.co.uk French Connection Home frenchconnection.com Fun with Mum funwithmum.com/uk Galia Gluckman galiagluckman.com Gaston y Daniela gastonydaniela.com Graham and Green grahamandgreen.co.uk H&M Home hm.com Habitat habitat.co.uk Hammer Building Services hammerbuilders.co.uk Harvey Maria harveymaria.co.uk Havwoods havwoods.co.uk HC Supplies hcsupplies.co.uk Heal’s heals.co.uk Homelia homelia.com Homeplace homeplace.co.uk House of Fraser houseoffraser.co.uk Houseology houseology.com Hudson Valley Lighting hudsonvalleylighting.hvlgroup.com Hurn & Hurn hurnandhurn.com Hypnos hypnosbeds.com Ikea ikea.co.uk Industville industville.co.uk Jacaranda jacarandacarpets.com JAF Graphics jafgraphics.co.uk Jane Clayton janeclayton.co.uk Jardan jardan.com.au Jealous Gallery jealousgallery.com John Lewis & Partners johnlewis.com Jonathan Adler jonathanadler.com Julian Chichester julianchichester.com Just Shutters justshutters.co.uk Kate Harris Interior Design kateharrisid.co.uk Khalima Lights khalimalights.com Kitty McCall kittymccall.com La Redoute laredoute.co.uk Laura Ashley lauraashley.com Little Greene littlegreene.com Loaf loaf.com Love Antiques loveantiques.com Lusso Stone lussostone.com LuxDeco luxdeco.com Made In Design madeindesign.co.uk Made made.com Maisons du Monde maisonsdumonde.com Mandarin Stone mandarinstone.com ManoMano manomano.co.uk Manor Farm Reproductions 07775 662118 Mark Lewis Interior Design marklewisinteriordesign.com

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Mark Plant markplant.co.uk Marks & Spencer marksandspencer.com McLaren.Excell mclarenexcell.com Melin Tregwynt melintregwynt.co.uk Microcement Supplies UK microcement-supplies.uk Minerva minervaworksurfaces.co.uk Moissonnier moissonnier.com Monologue monologuelondon.com MPM Engineering stainlesssteelworktopsuk.co.uk Mullan Lighting mullanlighting.com Mylands mylands.co.uk Natural Stone Projects stone-projects.com Neptune neptune.com Neri & Hu neriandhu.com/en Next Home next.co.uk Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design nickleithsmith.com Nicky Cornell nickycornell.com Noa & Nani noaandnani.co.uk Oka oka.com Orange Key Design Studios orangekeyltd.co.uk Orchid orchidfurniture.co.uk Original BTC originalbtc.com Osborne & Little osborneandlittle.com Paint & Paper Library paintandpaperlibrary.com Pamono pamono.co.uk Pangea Sculptures pangeasculptures.com Paving Superstore pavingsuperstore.co.uk Perch & Parrow perchandparrow.com Perkins and Gibbs perkinsandgibbs.com Perla Windows perlawindows.com Perrin & Rowe perrinandrowe.com Peter Hales-Alexander Peter Wells Architects peterwellsarchitects.co.uk Po! Paris po-paris.com Pooky pooky.com Porada porada.it Porcelanosa porcelanosa.com Premium Taps premiumtaps.com Primark primark.co.uk Rekindled rekindledhome.co.uk Resident Avenue residentavenue.com.au Riverside Joinery London riversidejoinerylondon.co.uk Roger Oates Design rogeroates.com Rose & Grey roseandgrey.co.uk Rough Living roughliving.co.uk Sainsbury’s Home sainsburyshome.co.uk Sandberg sandbergwallpaper.com Sanderson stylelibrary.com/sanderson SDS London sdslondon.co.uk Selina van der Geest nlgb.com SGD Bespoke sgdbespoke.com SMAC smacgallery.com Soak soak.com Soak & Sleep soakandsleep.com Sofa.com sofa.com Soho Home sohohome.com

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Standing Wave Woodwork etsy.com/uk/shop/ StandingWaveWoodwork Steyson Concrete Floors steysonconcretefloors.co.uk Stokke stokke.com Stone Age stone-age.co.uk Stone Butterfly stonebutterfly.co.uk Stoves Online stovesonline.co.uk Sueno sueno.co.uk Susie Watson Designs susiewatsondesigns.co.uk Tap Warehouse tapwarehouse.com Ted Todd tedtodd.co.uk Terrazzo Tiles terrazzo-tiles.co.uk TG-Studio tg-studio.co.uk The Cast Iron Bath Company castironbath.co.uk The Conran Shop conranshop.co.uk The Cool Hunter thecoolhunter.net The French Bedroom Company frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk The Imoporium theimoporium.co.uk The Labrador Company thelabradorcompany.co.uk The Lighting Company lightingcompany.co.uk The Original Bed Co obc-uk.net The Rug Company therugcompany.com The Shaker Kitchen Company theshakerkitchen.co The Sofa & Chair Company thesofaandchair.co.uk The Stove Fitters Warehouse stovefitterswarehouse.co.uk The Vintage Kitchen Store thevintagekitchenstore.co.uk The Water Monopoly thewatermonopoly.com The White Company thewhitecompany.com Tikamoon tikamoon.co.uk Time4Sleep time4sleep.co.uk Tom Dixon tomdixon.net Topps Tiles toppstiles.co.uk Topsco topsco.co.uk Touched Interiors Touchedinteriors.co.uk Twentytwentyone twentytwentyone.com Universal Lighting universal-lighting.co.uk Vanil vanil.co.uk Vaughan Designs vaughandesigns.com Very very.co.uk Vintage Mischief vintagemischief.com Wayfair wayfair.co.uk Weaver Green weavergreen.com West Elm westelm.co.uk William Yeoward williamyeoward.com Worktop Express worktop-express.co.uk Your 4 Walls your4walls.co.uk Zazzle zazzle.co.uk Zimmer + Rohde zimmer-rohde.com

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Marketplace sofas and sofa beds

GREAT BRITISH SOFAS

JANUARY SALE NOW ON

DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER UP TO 30% OFF IN OUR JANUARY SALE

Agatha 3 seater sofa was £869 - Sale price £649

www.sofasofa.co.uk

For a free colour brochure call 01495 244226 beds & bedding

home improvements

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home interiors

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Marketplace furniture

GREAT BRITISH HANDMADE LEATHER SOFAS DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER

ALBION BAT H C O M PA N Y

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25bh | i d e a s to s h a r e

ROOM ENVY

Each month we bring you a hotel space that intrigues, inspires and dazzles

T

his sumptuous, richly detailed bathroom at Majorca’s new Can Bordoy hotel has us all in a flurry. Those lofty, Mediterranean palace ceilings, that marble splashback, the tattered-looking old fireplace. It’s safe to say this space didn’t start out as a washroom. There’s a trend appearing at the moment that moves the upstairs plumbing into a bedroom, creating bathrooms that are flooded with light and benefitting from oodles of space. They’re the antidote to pokey, shoebox shower rooms fitted with A4-sized windows.

To recreate Can Bordoy’s look at home, you’ll have to defy some of the longtime rules of decorating. A good painter can reproduce the distressed walls by sanding and rubbing them until they take on 138 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020

a worn, aged appearance. Choose soft, easily blendable colours such as putty, eggshell blue and ivory, so the effect remains subtle. Give your cornicing a rococo makeover with gold paint, applied neatly at the edges and scuffed up with wire wool. Hopefully, you have old original floorboards, but if not try the salvaged ones from Ted Todd. Finish the space off with an antique, gilt-framed mirror, a contemporary bath and basin and crisp white towels.

If that all sounds like too much effort, hop over to Palma and check into one of the hotel’s signature suites to experience the real thing. Elsewhere on site, you’ll find stonewashed bedrooms with glittering chandeliers, an immaculate canopy-covered courtyard and a restaurant inspired by the island’s abundant flora.

FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY PHOTOGRAPH ART SANCHEZ

Old-world opulence meets contemporary chic at Palma’s Can Bordoy hotel

SALE

*

*Sale discount applies to orders placed between 23/12/19 and 24/2/20. Minimum order value £3,000 +VAT.

NOW ON

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for our latest brochure

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