WELCOME HOME A super family

A FAMILY HOME A FAMILY HOME

Back in 2002, Boston’s Katie Hopper and husband James moved back into the Back in 2002, Boston’s Katie Hopper and husband James moved back into the family home in which she’d so enjoyed growing up. The couple’s three daughters family home in which she’d so enjoyed growing up. The couple’s three daughters are enjoying growing up in the property too, but the family home is now on the are enjoying growing up in the property too, but the family home is now on the market, seeking new custodians... but only after one last family Christmas there!market, seeking new custodians... but only after one last family Christmas there!

Words: Rob Davis. Images: Matte Black Media.

Tradition is good. Heritage is good, too. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia, as Katie Hopper discovered when she and husband James were seeking a property in which to raise their family back in 2002. “I grew up here but spent a number of years working as a teacher in London. So, whilst returning to the area and looking for property, I was surprised to see our old family home was on the market. We went to have a look round and we were delighted that The Elms had still the lovely warm feel I remembered.” Katie says that the house was in good order and they could move in immediately, just before Christmas. That first festive season was lovely and nostalgic, but despite being in sound condition the couple still wanted to put their own mark on the place, which they’ve done with unimpeachable taste and an eye for quality and detail.

The kitchen was considerably smaller back then, so Katie and James opened it up to create a lighter and more practical space – better suited to entertaining – adding a dining area and Inglenook fireplace with oak beam plus a Clearview stove.

The couple enlisted Lisa Collins of Market Rasen-based Habit Kitchens to create a farmhouse kitchen in solid timber with its in-frame shaker doors, granite worktops and two-tone Farrow & Ball paint finish. Complementing the Neff appliances, Belfast sink and built-in wine cooler is a cheerful red two-oven Aga.

A separate utility room helps to keep those potential mountains of laundry and other family clutter out of sight and mind. Helpful, when you’re trying to relax during the festive season. And speaking of relaxing...

“The Elms’ next owners will benefit from an outdoor kitchen, which has seating for ten and a wood-fired pizza oven...”

The Elms has two sitting rooms; a ‘sunken’ lounge with Clearview stove and a drawing room with open fire and tiled surround, plus a dining room with a further wood burning stove and views over the parkland. Whilst it’s a little chilly right now, spring and summer are just around the corner for The Elms’s new owners and so, for entertaining during the warmer months you’ll reap the benefits of the garden kitchen, which has seating for ten arranged around a really big wood-fired pizza oven. “We love to cook, whether we’re entertaining friends or just spending time as a family. And one of the benefits of the kitchen being configured the way we’ve chosen is that you can be cooking or plating up and entertaining at the same time.”

“Likewise, the outdoor kitchen has proven to be a really sociable space with the children able to play under supervision whilst the grown-ups enjoy cooking proper pizzas and a glass of wine. There are work surfaces and space for refrigeration too, so you don’t have to keep going back into the house. And when it gets a bit chilly the lovely warmth from the pizza oven ensures it remains nice and cosy.”

As part of their work, the couple employed local tradespeople such as builder David Pitfield to create the garden kitchen, and grow the upstairs space, creating a new bedroom.

>> The master bedroom suite features a walk-in storage area and en suite bathroom which includes a phenomenal looking copper bath with brushed nickel interior, pitched roof and natural light raining down through Velux windows. It’s probably the most stylish and romantic bathroom I’ve seen for a while; just add scented candles and wine, then delete kids and husband... for an hour, at last. Elsewhere in the house there’s another en suite to the guest bedroom, making a total of five bedrooms. A family bathroom and separate shower room – also on the first floor – means fewer frustrations over the availability of a bathroom, which is handy with three teenage daughters kicking around. And with three daughters, the gentleman of the house we guess, will probably avail himself

regularly of the property’s ‘man den,’ perhaps more properly referred to as a study on the house’s particulars. With its antique furniture, two-tone tiled floor and old-fashioned wood burner, it’s a great place to run a business, read a book in peace or listen to music. During our visit James was tackling the big job of digitising his large collection of records into a more modern format.

The vinyl record enjoying a 21st century conversion during our call was a Talking Heads album from 1984; Stop Making Sense. But with plenty of space for the family, pretty views over local parkland, tasteful decoration, and an overall sense that The Elms offers great accommodation for its next custodians... well, if you’re waiting for this particular property to stop making sense, you could be here for some time. A move nearer to family has meant the family is, at the time of writing, currently preparing to enjoy one last Christmas and New Year in the property. In 2021 though, someone else will enjoy The Elms, and for that family, it’ll be a very happy new year indeed. n

THE ELMS, NEAR BOSTON

Location: Boston two miles. Style: Mid-Victorian era property with five bedrooms and four reception rooms; sitting room, lounge, dining room, living kitchen.

Guide Price: OIEO £650,000

Find Out More: Poyntons, South Street, Boston PE21 6HT. Call 01205 361694 or see www.poyntons.com.

Carefully selected artists from the Royal Academy, Royal Institutes, Federations and Societies

Linda Alexander ROI | Silver Jug and Greengages | Oil on Linen 8.25 x 8.25 inches

New Fine Art Gallery Now Open in Stamford 5-8 The Mews • The George Hotel • Stamford • PE9 2LB Tuesday - Sunday from 11am to 5pm | 01780 480800

Also at Lees Yard • Holt • Norfolk | Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm | 01263 713883

Please visit the website to view and purchase our artworks www.adrianhillfineart.com

A Whiter Shade of STYLE

This month we’re enjoying the cool, calm simplicity of white with – who else? – The White Company. The firm’s spring 2021 range reflects the retailer’s commitment to timeless style and quality...

This Spread: Savoy double duvet cover £100; Halden quilt from £180, Garth collection throw from £60; Tibetan sheepskin rug from £125; Faro bench £275; Thurloe bed – king £1,595.