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MO RE INSPIRAT I O N AL H OM E S T HA N A NY O TH ER MA GA ZINE

25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES SUMMER LIVING

Inspired solutions for house and garden

COAST & COUNTRY PROJECTS Building from scratch in Cornwall Converting a Wiltshire barn Transforming a Dorset semi

ROOM KNOW-HOW • Kitchen extensions • Spa-style en suites • Tranquil bedrooms

‘We removed the barrier between inside and out’

SEE DESIGN IDEAS FROM THIS FAMILY VILLA

Find your

perfect style Vintage charm • Classic looks • City chic • Relaxed modern

JULY 2022

JULY 2022

25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES M ORE INSP I RATIO NAL HO M E S THAN AN Y OTHE R M AGA ZINE

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High-end luxury sits alongside rustic touches in a holiday home in Majorca (p16)

One family decided to swap city life for an idyllic house in the country (p48)

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A new extension and contemporary styling brought dynamic energy to this period villa (p8)

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Creating a modern Attention to detail and A Victorian terrace A couple designed their British feel was the brief elegant finishes give this adapted for modern day home from scratch, keen for this drawing room’s stunning coastal home living but with lots of to create something overhaul (p46) enduring appeal (p22) traditional charm (p33) new and exciting (p38)

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These owners bought A reconfigured layout This revamped semi is A colourful makeover this home to do up and enhanced the light and the perfect showcase helped this modern sell on but decided to sense of flow in this for the owners’ large art townhouse feel more Victorian villa (p54) collection (p60) like a period home (p67) make it their own (p74)

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Rich colours and sleek materials have turned a dated kitchen into a chic space (p78)

This San Francisco home is decorated with a theatrical flourish (p100)

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A New Zealand couple built their dream home to maximise indooroutdoor flow (p124)

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The owners of this Coastal living at its best A hacienda-style house A new family-friendly in California blends in a new house built on kitchen full of character home are obsessed with the site of an old family west coast and classic is at the heart of this pattern and aren’t afraid to use plenty of it (p96) style perfectly (p88) bungalow (p82) historic home (p92)

Eclectic, eye-catching schemes bring bags of personality to this riverside retreat (p107)

Layers of fabrics in soft Textured materials and Pared-back hues and simple furnishings allow colours help to give this natural tones gave a bedroom a fresh former chapel relaxed the beams to sing in this converted barn (p118) classical feel (p112) elegance (p114)

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What was once a small A Spanish Revival home was given a refresh en suite has become while retaining its a dreamy spa-style old-world charm (p132) bathroom (p130)

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The conversion of two barn gave one family the home they dreamed of (p138)

Room Envy

Vibrant decor creates an inviting atmosphere for guests at Callow Hall hotel (p146)

EDITOR’S LET TER

| 25bh

25 BEAUTIFUL

HOMES EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Rhoda Parry Homes Editor Fiona Mace Group Creative Director Emma Williams Group Chief Sub Editor/Production Editor Jennifer Spaeth Group Art Director Alison Walter Art Editors Melanie Brown and Paula Jardine Group Production Editor Maxine Clarke Hub Chief Sub Editor Carly Rigley Senior Sub Editors Marian McNamara and Karen Wiley

MANAGEMENT Senior Vice President, Women’s, Homes & Country Sophie Wybrew-Bond Managing Director of Homes Jason Orme Finance Director Mags & Subs Dan Jotcham SVP Global Operations & Marketforce Adrian Hughes

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

CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Justine Lazauskas (justine.lazauskas@futurenet.com)

ADVERTISING Commercial Director Rob Biagioni (rob.biagioni@futurenet.com) Head of Homes Nicola Ponting (nicola.ponting@futurenet.com) Sales Manager Kelly James (kelly.james@futurenet.com) International/Luxury Accounts Manager Carole Bunce (carole.bunce@futurenet.com) Classified Advertising Enquiries Simone Adams (simone.adams@futurenet.com)

WELCOME Many of us have enjoyed embracing the concept of the indoor-outdoor home in recent years and in this issue we have some inspiring examples of how people have put that idea into practice. For a house to drool over, turn to page 16 where Thomas and Liliana Griem have installed a retractable sliding door to give them a full panoramic view of their stunning Mediterranean garden and pool. A little closer to home, Putri and Ben Mackereth were inspired by the lifestyle of their native New Zealand when they built their new abode in south London, page 124. With two sets of doors opening onto a large patio area, they have created an easy flow between inside and out which comes into its own at this time of year. For Julia and Owen Bailey, maximising breathtaking sea views was the top priority when it came to renovating their once-tired 1930s Dorset property.

Take a look at the extraordinary results on page 22.

FIONA MACE, HOMES EDITOR

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

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

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A HOME TO TREASURE An old villa is now Giulia and David Bos’ forever home after a very big and very smart makeover FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL/GERALDINE NESBITT PHOTOGRAPHY STAN KOOLEN/COCO FEATURES STYLING LINDA VAN DER HAM

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached villa, built in 1911 L O C AT I O N Blaricum, the Netherlands R O O M S Sitting room, dining area, kitchen, morning room, snug, five bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before this, we lived in a self-build nearby,’ says Giulia.

SNUG This cosy sunken area is where the family chat, read and enjoy spending time together.

N701 modular sofa, from £1,059, Ethnicraft. Gas fire, price on request, Pook Haarden. Oak herringbone flooring, from £40.11sq m, Wood and Beyond

DINING AREA Floor-to-ceiling glazed doors and a picture window make the most of the lush garden views.

True North Salon chairs, DKK 7295, Ro Collection.

Samt dining table, from £635, Sav & Økse. Modo chandelier, from £347, Beautiful Halo

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MORNING ROOM ‘The elegant arch is an original feature and brings character to this room,’ says Giulia.

Neila side tables, £165, After Noah. Try spotted fringed rug, £150, La Redoute

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iulia and David Bos had rightly felt proud of the house they had built in the northern Netherlands but they still yearned for a place with history and character. And their wishes were granted when they found a beautiful 110-year-old villa nearby. It had a wealth of original features including latticed bay windows and French doors as well as unexpected niches around every corner.

‘We first saw the house on a spring day and coming up the driveway we were enchanted by a sea of green surrounding the property,’ says Giulia. ‘We only had to step through the door and we knew it was the one for us. The next day we put in an offer.’

R E N O VAT I O N P L A N S

Charming though the house looked, it needed lots of work, as well as extending to suit the needs of the couple and their children Jasmijn, 11, Valentijn, nine, and Nova, five. ‘I was determined to respect the feel of the house and fuse it with a contemporary style,’ says Giulia. And because the exterior is listed, everything they did had to be done through the right channels.

Over the next 18 months, the house underwent a complete transformation. Giulia

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SITTING ROOM ‘I painted the woodwork in a dramatic dark green colour to contrast with the pale pink walls,’ says Giulia.

Woodwork in Studio Green estate eggshell, £70 for 2.5ltr; walls in Setting Plaster estate emulsion, £52 for 2.5ltr, both Farrow & Ball. Try the Lazytime corner sofa, £3,730, Camerich. Berber rug, from £63.95, Benuta

‘Our design classics – like these Cherner bar stools – they give extra substance to a house’ FAVO U R ITE FE AT U R E

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and David began by stripping the house back to the bare essentials, replastering the walls, upgrading the electrics and plumbing and adding underfloor heating. Special steps were also taken to preserve the building’s character, such as replacing the worn-out latticed windows with new replicas – albeit double-glazed.

With the original house on the way to being returned to its former glory, the couple then proceeded to add on a massive extension, almost as large as the century-old property. Again, extreme care was taken to be faithful to the feel of the old building and the whole roof was rethatched. The brickwork was then painted white, accentuating the black steel-framed sliding doors that are a contemporary take on the old-style lattice windows.

STYLISH TOUCHES

Interior designer Giulia (interiorbygiulia.nl) was keen to create a home that reflected modern family life, particularly in the new extension where the living and dining areas and kitchen are located. ‘I was looking for something out of the ordinary in my design choices,’ she says. ‘An original, unexpected interior, oozing style and elegance. I think I’ve managed that.’

KITCHEN ‘We liked the play on materials between the walnutlook wood, marble and lacquered-steel,’ says Giulia.

Cabinetry, price on request, Eginstill. Marble disc and brass wall light, £160, Rockett St George. Norman Cherner bar stools (left), £295 each, Swivel UK. Marset Santorini pendants, £254 each, Inspyer Lighting

H A L LWAY A monochrome palette creates a tranquil feel.

Kai hexagonal tiles, £29.87sq m, Victorian Plumbing, are similar. Try double globe wall light, £140, Rockett St George

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N O V A’ S R O O M This earthy pink will suit a teen, too.

Walls in Setting Plaster estate emulsion, £52 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Cotton bunting, £12.50, Etsy

To achieve warmth, a solid oak herringbone floor and two complementary nude tones were used in the sunken snug and sitting room.

A double aspect hearth and open built-in bookshelves draw the two spaces together.

For the kitchen and dining areas, a poured cement floor gives a more industrial feel that is softened by dark wood tones and marble in the kitchen. A more masculine touch comes in the form of the sturdy dining table and chairs, and the designer ceiling lamp.

While every room has its own subtle colour scheme, working from a Farrow & Ball palette ensured that each space connects with the other areas. Part of what makes this interior feel so characterful are the objects that create interest here and there, and which were either inherited or picked up at thrift stores or antiques fairs.

The furniture adds extra substance. ‘We love design classics, such as Vitra and Knoll,’ says Giulia. ‘And the bar stools in walnut and black leather from Cherner were a must-have.’

‘This is our family home so I was thrilled to work on it,’ says Giulia, who learned her trade designing offices and hotel spaces. ‘I have received so many compliments about what I achieved here and that’s made me so proud.’

MAIN BEDROOM A floral theme creates an air of romance here.

Fleur duvet cover, €139.95, Essenza Home. Vintage side table, £225, Vinterior. For limed and washed oak flooring, £109sq m, try Broadleaf Timber

MAIN EN SUITE Marble adds understated luxury to this scheme.

Carrara marble floor tiles, £97.80sq m, Topps Tiles.

Try the Eden countertop washbasin, £186, HiB

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TAKE IT OUTSIDE

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Life is spent outdoors at Thomas and Liliana Griem’s home in Majorca, where the boundaries between inside and out are blurred FEATURE ROSALIND ERSKINE | PHOTOGRAPHY PHILIP VILE

POOL AREA The L-shaped metal-framed outdoor sofas provide a comfortable place to lounge after a swim.

Outdoor sofas, £1,800 each, TG Studio. Cantilevered parasol, £320, Gardenesque, has the same look

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FAVO U R ITE FE AT U R E

‘The sliding door that leads to the garden terrace – the idea

KITCHEN The design incorporates plenty of storage to keep the open-plan space clutter free.

Kitchen, supplied by Gemini Design

HOME TRUTHS T H E P R O P E R T Y New architecturally designed villa L O C AT I O N Majorca R O O M S Open-plan kitchendiner/living area, five bedrooms (two en suite), bathroom LAND PURCHASED 2019 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We’d been looking for a holiday home, as a place to relax away from London life,’ says Thomas.

LIVING AREA The large corner sofa allows views of the garden and the TV. Moda sofa, from £2,436, Camerich. Ventura lounge armchair, price on request, Poliform. Glass coffee table, £2,285, Gallotti&Radice

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was to remove the barrier between inside and outside so it retracts into the wall’

OUTDOOR DINING AREA A wooden decking space softened by Mediterranean grasses provides a wonderful eating spot for friends and family.

Table, £3,500; chairs, £450 each, all TG Studio.

Decking, made to order, Millboard

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I

t was a client project in Ibiza that inspired Thomas and Liliana Griem to find their own slice of sunshine in the Balearics. The couple, who run TG Studio, an interior and architect design company based in London, had long been on the hunt for the perfect location for a family holiday home.

The large corner plot near the sea is located close to Palma in Majorca. ‘It was a parcel of land perfect for a family home in the sun, something I had wanted for years,’ says Thomas. ‘We searched the entire island of Majorca looking for the right piece of land – and this one was perfect.’

Once the plot was found, the couple turned their attention to the build. Thomas designed the L-shaped house, with enough room for their two sons and daughter, plus

a guest suite with its own terrace. It was Liliana who decided the home should be mostly single storey, with only one of the five bedrooms on the first floor, complete with its own private terrace with sea views.

The entrance to the house is marked by a Corten steel gate, which stands out against the Mallorca stone walls of the building.

The path leads to the three-metre-high Iroko wood door opening into the house.

A canopy above the entrance formed in concrete is clad with the same Iroko wood underneath. ‘It softens the straight lines and adds an organic touch,’ says Thomas.

These thoughtful touches continue inside in the spacious open-plan living/ dining/kitchen space with its soaring ceiling. This is Thomas’ favourite space thanks to the huge sliding door system.

‘When we open the doors, it makes the huge room seem even larger,’ he says. Traditional elements are found throughout and include Majorcan stone flooring, and local wood and stone for surfaces. These are skilfully mixed with modern furniture, light fittings, and bold photography and artwork. ‘We wanted to create a sense of calm, serenity and happiness in our home,’ said Liliana.

While a lot of work, care and attention has gone into the house, the garden definitely hasn’t been forgotten. It was designed by Stephen Woodhams who has worked with TG Studio in the past, and who introduced many large palm trees and old olive trees to the plot. ‘For much of the year, the garden acts as part of the house,’ says Thomas, ‘and that is perfect for our family’s way of life.’

‘With new builds, always consider the light and the views – here, it was all about maximising the spaces facing the garden’

DESIGN TIP

MAIN BEDROOM Burnt orange accents inject a burst of colour.

Chairs upholstered in Mohair in Burnt Sienna, £189m, Amy Somerville. Diamond rug, from £2,344, The Rug Company

BEDROOM Pops of blue complement the outdoor furniture accessories.

Star print rug, from £2,200, The Rug Company, has this look

EN SUITE Warm tones pick up on the style of the main bedroom.

Bespoke bathroom units, TG Studio

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LIVING THE

DREAM

Julia and Owen Bailey always wanted to move to the coast and finding this stunning home was the start of a wonderful new life by the sea FEATURE KAREN JENSEN-JONES | PHOTOGRAPHY NICK SMITH

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BACK EXTERIOR

The new extension allows for amazing views of the ocean – the views can also be taken in from the terrace. Another new addition is the outdoor shower area.

For similar outdoor furniture sets, try Maze Living, price on request

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KITCHEN

Simple, streamlined units were chosen so the cook space blends in effortlessly with the living area.

Structured Oak cabinetry, price on request, Bulthaup. Montera bar stools by Poltrona Frau, from £2,040 each, Everything But Ordinary.

Neolith Basalt Black flooring, price on request, Urban Tiles

DESIGN TIP ‘Consider the sight lines from one area to

another when you have a big open-plan space – a dramatic hint of colour or texture can create interest and surprise’

DINING AREA

The inset fireplace can be enjoyed at dinner or when in the living area.

Copenhagen dining table, price on request, Interni Edition. Bonaldo Miss Filly dining chairs, £560 each, Go Modern

LIVING AREA

Rich colours and fabrics echo the kitchen and dining area for a cohesive scheme.

Absolu sofa, price on request, Edra. Flax chair, from £2,416, Ligne Roset

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HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY 1930s semi-detached house L O C AT I O N Dorset R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner/living area, snug, utility room, cloakroom, five bedrooms (two en suite), three bathrooms, dressing room P U R C H A S E D 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a detached modern house in southwest London,’ says Julia.

A

love of the outdoors and a passion for water sports were the motivation for Julia and Owen Bailey when they purchased their coastal property in Dorset, with its incredible views and sandy beaches. ‘When we first viewed the property, it looked tired and in need of updating and I wasn’t feeling hopeful,’ says Julia, ‘but when we came to the back of the house and saw the views out to the sea, there was no doubt in our minds that this could become our forever family home.’

The couple both have busy professional lives and decided to appoint interior designer Rebecca Leivars of Leivars Interiors Studio (leivars.com) to oversee the interior design alongside Munden Robinson Architects. ‘The most important detail in our brief was that the layout and back extension should focus on the views,’ says Julia. ‘We wanted to keep as many of the original 1930s features as possible and chose some of the colour scheme to echo the original stained glass in the double doors on the upper landing. It 2 5 B H J ULY 202 2 | 2 5

was lovely seeing the glass come back to life after careful cleaning.’

For the extension, the idea was to create a more angular and contemporary design. Rebecca had plenty of advice on how to achieve this, even down to positioning the dining table at an angle to make the most of the ever-changing landscape.

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came from the couple’s love of travel and their time living in Asia.

‘Rebecca spent a great deal of time working on the scale of the rooms and advised us to think about how the sight lines work from one room to another,’ says Julia. ‘She has such an eye for colour and was able to direct us when things weren’t working out. We were considering using more pattern in some of the rooms but it felt too busy so we simplified everything with block colour, leaving the incredible views to provide the added magic.’

SITTING ROOM

‘The dark moody walls change colour with the incredible light flooding in,’ says Julia.

Walls in Blue Blood pure flat emulsion, £54 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library. Betty ceiling light, price on request, Taylor Howes. Isabel sofa by Flexform, price on request, Clippings. The Merle coffee table is similar, £895, Oka

FAVOURITE ROOM ‘Every room is a favourite because the views make them all special – we can lie in bed and soak up the outdoors and feel immersed in nature’

HALLWAY

Oversized artwork adds drama.

Lion print by David Yarrow, Maddox Gallery.

Pouffe in Vanity Fair fabric in Vermilion, price on request, Holly Hunt

SNUG

This was inspired by the couple’s trip to Asia, where they fell in love with the dusky colours of the Shangri-La hotel.

Walls in Michigan silk (66-1529) , price on request, Stereo Interiors. Victor desk by Lema, £4,330, Go Modern

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MAIN BEDROOM

Sheer curtains allow the view to be seen.

Walls in Glass pure flat emulsion, £54 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library.

Seymour sofa system, price on request, Minotti

EN SUITE

A pouffe is the perfect place for a drink of choice during a long soak.

Ocean Emerald tiles, £72sq m, Porcelain Superstore, are similar

The attention to detail and meticulous forward planning has certainly resulted in a spacious, artful family home with enduring appeal. ‘Rebecca spent a lot of time discovering how we and our children Ben, 19 and Poppy, 17, like to live and what matters to us,’ explains Julia. ‘We believe in buying things to last and not merely throwing things away after a few years and we feel this obligation strongly. Rebecca sourced everything with this in mind and the quality of her choices reflects our ethos and personalities.’

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As much as Julia and Owen love living by the sea, they did find that renovating a coastal property does have certain challenges. ‘Not only do you have to consider the heat penetration, which means a careful choice of fabrics at the windows such as linen rather than silk, but the salt in the air corrodes outdoor furniture and ironmongery,’ explains Julia. ‘However, it’s a small price to pay for living in such a beautiful location with the beach on our doorstep, an array of water sports and those amazing views.’

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HAPPY DAYS

The home that Carey Mann and her husband Johan Karlberg designed has the feel-good factor both inside and out FEATURE AND STYLING MARISHA TAYLOR | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH

GARDEN

The summer house comes to life in the warmer months. ‘In Sweden saunas are a part of everyday life and Johan grew up with one in his home so we replicated that but with a plunge bath,’ says Carey.

Salsa two-seater garden sofa, £145; set of two Salsa garden chairs, £160, all John Lewis & Partners. Mural on summer house wall by @aliceincolour

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T HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A Victorian terrace L O C AT I O N Kent R O O M S Sitting/dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, bathroom, summer house P U R C H A S E D 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We previously rented a twobedroom apartment in Hackney Wick, London,’ says Carey.

ired of their busy London life and looking for a new adventure, Carey Mann and her husband, Johan Karlberg, relocated to the coastal town of Margate back in 2015. ‘At the time we wanted to get on the property ladder,’ says Carey, a freelance interior designer, ‘which was something we couldn’t afford to do in London. We had friends in Margate and we loved the inspiring views, sandy beaches, the artisan vibe and could really see ourselves living there.’

At the time, the couple had a five-year plan, part of which was making sure they had a very low mortgage, giving them the freedom to explore other opportunities.

‘We thought our budget would only stretch to a small apartment so we were delighted when we realised that we could afford a two-bedroom

Victorian terrace house that had just come on the market. The minute we pulled up to view the house, we knew we wanted it.’

The house had been owned by an elderly couple and hadn’t been touched since the 1980s. ‘It was a full renovation project, but it had so much potential,’ Carey recalls.

‘Johan grew up by a lake in Sweden and had been building and making from an early age, so could turn his hand to most jobs.’

Over the next five years, Carey and Johan gutted each room one by one, fitting a new kitchen and bathroom, replacing the electrics, plumbing, windows and flooring – replastering and redecorating each room as they went. The biggest part of the renovation was opening up the ground floor into one open living space. ‘It was the only area where we decided we needed professional

‘Knocking down the wall separating the two sitting rooms was a very good decision – now our living area feels spacious’

FAVO U R ITE FE AT U R E

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KITCHEN

Simple cabinets have been paired with shelves instead of wall cabinets to make the space feel open. ‘It’s little but perfect for us,’ says Carey.

Walls in Valspar Nice Tan, £32 for 2.5ltr, B&Q. Metod/Axstad kitchen cabinetry and Vrena worktops, price on request, Ikea

SITTING/DINING ROOM

Retro furniture teamed with vintage rugs, contemporary accessories and plants creates an eclectic vibe.

Francis three-seater sofa in Teal dusky velvet, £1,995, Sofa Workshop, is similar. Royal Kashqai Traditional wool rug, £159, The Rug Seller, has this look. Scalloped lacquered mirror in Red, £395, Sourced By Holly

HALLWAY

‘I love wallpapering a wall to define an area,’ says Carey.

Morris & Co Strawberry Thief wallpaper in Indigo, £99 a roll, Wallpaper Direct. Skogstar acacia bench, £40, Ikea

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MAIN BEDROOM

Hanging plants create a wonderfully lush look.

Grafton Ottoman king size bed in Sundance Amber, £1,399, Tempur.

Cole & Son Savuti wallpaper in Dark Petrol, £100 a roll, Wallpaper Direct.

Wall hanging by @I_used_to_use

help, as sourcing and installing the correct steels is specialist work, and we wanted everything to be compliant with building regulations.’

In the replanned ground floor, the couple reinstated the fireplace in the seating area and put back all the original coving and ceiling roses.

‘I’m so pleased we spent the time on these details – the downstairs has been adapted for modern-day living but with all the traditional touches, it feels as if it has always been this way – exactly what we wanted to achieve.’

When it came to choosing the decor and furnishings, it was important to Carey to reflect the Victorian origins of the property.

Obsessed with colour and pattern, she has skilfully combined wallpapers, bold paint choices and soft furnishings with the more traditional elements throughout the house and what has emerged

is a fun, eclectic and playful home.

‘Wherever you look, there’s little eccentric touches and I love that.’

The couple didn’t stop at their renovation project. Johan, a music producer, has since built his own music studio in a warehouse near the old Margate train station, while Carey opened a little cafe along the Margate harbour wall and invested in an apartment close to the beach, which is rented out as a holiday let.

Johan also spent the summer of 2021 building a lakeside home on his family’s land back in Sweden, where the pair hope to spend summers.

‘These were all dreams we simply would not have achieved if we had stayed in London,’ Carey smiles.

‘Moving into our Victorian terrace in Margate was such a turning point in our lives, it gave us financial and creative freedom and acted as a springboard into new adventures.’

‘I’m so glad we spent time on putting back all the original coving and ceiling roses – we wanted those traditional touches’

LAST WORD

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BATHROOM

A Victorian cabinet (below) was upcycled with paint and ties in with the roll-top bath.

Bromley single ended roll-top bath, £459, Victorian Plumbing. Cabinet (below) in a similar colour to Dulux Pretty Pink Quick Drying eggshell, £19 for 750ml, Wickes

BEDROOM

Both the walls and cabinetry have been painted in the same peachy pink, which gives the room a cohesive and relaxed feel.

Try Pink 02 matt for the walls and eggshell for the cabinetry, both £42 for 2.5ltr, Lick. Indian Kantha Coral Reef double quilt, £195; Coral Reef block printed pillowcases, £29 each, all Artisans & Adventurers

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Character piece Lucy and Steven Cahill’s new build looked lived in from day one because of the beauty of the materials used – from weathered oak to aged limestone FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM | PHOTOGRAPHY ARMELLE HABIB/LIVING INSIDE STYLING JULIA GREEN

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KITCHEN Topped with dark green granite, the huge island is a grounding feature within the space.

Roundhouse can supply a similar kitchen. Similar zellige tiles in White 2, €182sq m, Emery & Cie. Derwent Antique Brass Medium Cube pendant, £858, Heathfield & Co, would suit this scheme S TA I R C A S E Weathered oak flooring adds character and feels wonderful underfoot

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HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached new build L O C AT I O N Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia R O O M S Kitchen-diner/living area, playroom, cloakroom, wine cellar, four bedrooms (two en suite), bathroom, dressing room P U R C H A S E D 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a townhouse that we had built ourselves,’ says Steven.

F

or a number of years, Steven Cahill and his wife Lucy had dreamt of living on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, so when the chance arose to buy a rather dilapidated house just a five-minute walk from the beach, they snapped it up. ‘We lived in the property while I made plans for a new home on the site,’ explains Steven, who co-owns the building firm Cahill (cahillbg.com.au). ‘I love designing houses so I spent months working on about eight different floor plans,’ he says. ‘Once Lucy and I had decided on our favourite option, we had it drawn up by a draughtsman.’

At this stage, the couple approached Kate Walker of KWD (katewalkerdesign.com.au) for help with achieving their vision for a modern Belgian farmhouse aesthetic. ‘Kate had some incredible ideas to improve

the plans,’ recounts Steven, adding, ‘We wanted a home that was warm and inviting; the most important part of the brief was that it should feel lived-in from day one.’

Their first meeting with Kate turned into a four-hour marathon session: ‘Steven and Lucy wanted to be pushed out of their comfort zone to create something exciting and new,’ she recalls. ‘It was very rewarding working with clients who were so invested in the design story.’

Kate’s input involved every aspect of the property, from tweaking the layout and incorporating arches to sourcing tactile materials that include weathered oak floors, aged limestone and bespoke wool carpets. ‘The home is extremely textural; everything feels amazing,’ notes Steven, whose team completed the property just in time for the family to move in before the arrival of their

DINING AREA An impressive contemporary chandelier helps to define this area.

The robust table is made from salvaged timber.

Lyon dining table, from £7,195, I & JL Brown, has this look.

Roark chandelier, from £2,305, Ralph Lauren Home LIVING AREA The characterful arched alcoves were painted soft green to introduce a touch of colour.

Have a look at the Lampe Gras 304 wall light with conic shade, £335, Holloways of Ludlow. Try the Rattan serving tray, £325 for a set of three, Oka

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third child – Fleur is now one, while her brothers Hunter and Huxley are six and four.

For this young, sociable family, the vast kitchen-cumliving space is a dream. ‘The kitchen is connected to the outdoor dining and lounge area which has a beautiful fireplace. It gets used all summer long and is perfect in spring and autumn with the fire lit,’ explains Steven. The room’s pitched roof and black window frames capture the essence of a Belgian farmhouse, as do details such as hand-crafted joinery, zellige tiles and sisal rugs.

Shades of green appear throughout the interiors, most notably in the couple’s bedroom where the entire space is painted a deep forest green for an enveloping feel.

The same hue was carried through to the dressing room and en suite. ‘The greens and greys, together with pops

of pink and orange, are reminiscent of the surrounding flora and fauna,’ comments Kate, who encouraged the couple to be brave with pattern, suggesting a floral wallpaper for the ceiling in Fleur’s nursery.

Kate also devised the lighting scheme, which includes striking chandeliers in the hallway and the main living space. ‘It adds the jewellery to the house and took the interiors to a whole new level,’ she observes.

The seamless connection with the outdoors is undoubtedly this home’s greatest triumph: ‘We are very sociable people and since we finished the house all our friends want to come around – we find ourselves entertaining in the kitchen or the pool area at least once a week,’ says Steven. He adds, ‘The house has such a calm and homely feel and that is what we are most proud of.’

M A I N B AT H R O O M Tumbled limestone lends an organic quality to the scheme. A simple dividing wall created a wetroom-like shower.

Try the Picasso freestanding stone bath, £1,395, Lusso Stone.

Jerusalem Ivory tumbled limestone, from £86.40sq m, Mandarin Stone, will achieve a similar effect DRESSING ROOM Bespoke storage maximises the available space, while a custom-made wool carpet feels glorious underfoot.

Ottoman covered in a fabric similar to Habanera Chilli, £126m, Romo

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MAIN BEDROOM A cocooning feel was created by painting everything, including the ceiling, the same deep green hue.

Walls in Jeep ultra flat paint, from £40 for 1ltr, Porter’s Paints.

Try the Washed linen bed linen in Dusky Pink, from £28 for a pillowcase, Heal’s. Artwork, Boyd Blue Gallery

LAST WORD

‘The outdoor dining and lounging area is connected to the kitchen and has a fireplace so it gets used all summer and is perfect for spring and autumn with the fire lit’

GARDEN ‘We chose to put the swimming pool in the corner of the plot to create a separate destination,’ says Steven

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SITTING ROOM FOCUS

CITY SANCTUARY Neutrals keep this welcoming drawing room serene, but with standout sculptural pieces and stunning details it’s anything but bland FEATURE KAREN WILSON | PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS HORWOOD

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hen the owner of a listed home in London’s Mayfair decided on a complete refurbishment, they commissioned Marie Soliman of Bergman Design House.

‘The 25,000sq ft house is a rarity in that it hasn’t been converted into apartments and retains its magnificent Italian marble staircase,’ says Marie. ‘However, the north-facing drawing room felt lifeless and depressing.

It was all white with no chandelier or furniture and many of the panels were damaged.’

THE BRIEF

As a waiting room for guests, including ambassadors and politicians, Marie’s client wanted the space to have a contemporary British feel with a hint of James Bond.

‘The client loved the parquet floor and wanted to keep his wife’s glass coffee table,’ says Marie. ‘I was happy to work with it as it’s not timber and kept the room feeling light.’

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

After the cornicing and listed period details were restored by contractor Culena London, Marie chose Shaded White by Farrow & Ball for the walls. ‘It doesn’t come across as white and changes throughout the day,’ she says.

Alcove bookcases fitted with antique mirroring conceal the air-conditioning units, while two sofas positioned in a semi circle towards the door create a welcoming feel and open up the room visually.

FINISHING TOUCHES

To make the most of the 120cm ceiling rose, Marie commissioned a huge chandelier which is matched in scale by a 3m-tall tree in one corner. A teal chair, oversized artwork and cushions with precious stones inject some much-needed colour.

LESSONS LEARNT

‘You don’t have to follow a style, it’s about having a different experience in each space,’ says Marie. ‘Being locked at home during the pandemic meant that variety was important. If the whole house was all neutral, all art deco or all modern, you would feel stuck in a loop.’

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S D E S I G N E R Marie Soliman of Bergman Design House P R O P E R T Y A listed six-storey house in London W O R K Restoring and updating the drawing room as part of a whole-house renovation project

AHEAD OF THE CURVE As it’s a large square room, Marie has opted for curved sofas echoed by the rounded tops of the bespoke bookcases to soften the space.

Walls in Shaded White estate emulsion, £52 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Bespoke curved sofas, from £6,000, Black Berg Collection via Bergman Design House.

Bespoke Icicle chandelier, from £4,620; icicle wall light, £569, both Chelsom. Try Liang & Eimil Mayfair coffee table, £1,554, Olivia’s. Hamlet gold overmantle mirror, from £249, The Online Mirror Shop, is similar

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HALLWAY

A bold wallpaper can distract from a hall’s narrow proportions.

Magnolia wallpaper in Emerald/Teal, £225 a roll, GP & J Baker. Argento 3 Light ceiling pendant by Elstead Lighting, £285, House of Isabella

A RURAL

IDYLL

The farmhouse Juliette and Tom Bowes call home has been given a new lease of life with a delightful array of patterns and colours FEATURE MARISHA TAYLOR | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH

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HOME TRUTHS

SITTING ROOM

Stripes on the rug and ottoman and a wall-hung rug bring fun touches to this classic scheme.

Love Message rug (on wall), price on request, Jürgen Dahlmanns at Rug Star. Try the Kilim Fars Design 300x200cm, £1,100, Nain Trading

THE PROPERTY Detached Georgian farmhouse L O C AT I O N Norfolk R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner/living area, office, utility room, boot room, games room, six bedrooms (three en suite), bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a four-bedroom house in Norwich,’ says Juliette.

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‘It has to be the updated kitchen – the new white Corian worktops and painted island lift the space’

FAVO U R ITE FE AT U R E

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estled in the picturesque Norfolk countryside at the end of a white gravel drive sits Juliette and Tom Bowes’ impressive 19th-century farmhouse. Surrounded by pretty, wild gardens with willow trees framing a small lake in front of the house, this idyllic setting prompted the couple to move from their Victorian house in Norwich city centre in 2017.

‘At the time, we were keen to leave our city life behind,’ Juliette recalls. ‘We wanted to connect with nature and craved more space and land. Henry, who’s now nine, and Arabella, seven, were still young, and it seemed the perfect time to move before they were settled into schools.’ However, no properties were really hitting the mark until they went to view this Georgian farmhouse. ‘Before we had even reached the end of the drive, I remember turning to Tom saying this was the one,’ says Juliette. Once a working farm, it was 5 0 | 2 5 B H J ULY 202 2

set within five acres with outbuildings dotted around. The property was secluded, but close enough to the local village, and still not so far from the city that the family felt completely isolated.

The abundance of space was very welcome. ‘It felt palatial, a far cry from the Victorian terraced house we had lived in for the previous four years,’ explains Juliette. ‘I loved that you could access the upstairs from a formal staircase in the entrance hall or from the “staff” staircase in the kitchen and we spent the first couple of weeks taking the wrong turn on the landing!’

The property had recently been redecorated and the kitchen and bathrooms updated. Although not to their taste, nothing was in desperate need of fixing or replacing. Instead, they were able to turn their attention to making the rooms work better and adding some personality into the existing neutral decor. ‘We quickly realised

KITCHEN

Opting for a blue island provided a beautiful contrast to the oak units and pale flooring and walls.

Island designed by Sojojo, made by Wood B Design, painted in Farrow & Ball’s Stone Blue estate eggshell, £70 for 2.5ltr. Corian Savannah worktops, price on request, Worktops.net

DINING AREA

‘We love to entertain in this comfortable and sociable space,’ says Juliette. The upholstered, scroll-top chairs add a luxury look to the kitchen.

Longborough oiled oak dining table, £850, The Cotswold Company, is a similar style

LIVING AREA

The exposed red brick around the fireplace adds rustic texture and warmth to this scheme.

Armchair upholstered in Yosemite in Spring, £39m, Andrew Martin.

The Carron woodburning Ecodesign stove, £799, Direct Stoves, is a good alternative

EN SUITE

On one side of the dividing wall sits a double vanity sink unit, behind it, a series of cupboards that make up a dressing area.

Bespoke vanity unit, CGL Design.

Regular Espere wall lights, £141 each, Pooky. Antique silver framed mirrors, £175 each, Cox & Cox

BATHROOM

The base of the roll top bath has been repainted in zingy red to tie in with the koi carp wallpaper.

Bath in Bronze Red intelligent eggshell, £72 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Folia Derwent wallpaper

by Osborne & Little, £73.60 a roll, Designer Wallpapers

BEDROOM

A harmonious palette of greens and whites creates a fresh and relaxing atmosphere.

Pomegranate Trail wallpaper in Green/Chocolate, £69 a roll, Osborne & Little. Try Winchcombe oiled oak super king sleigh bed, £1,395, The Cotswold Company

MAIN BEDROOM

The use of a bold yellow gives this space modern credentials.

Cantaloupe wallpaper in English Grey

by Sanderson, £83 a roll, Jane Clayton.

Sofa covered by Sojojo in Varese in Primrose by Designers Guild, £75m

though that this was easier said than done alongside demanding jobs and young children, so we engaged the help of interior designer Jojo Humes from Sojojo (sojojo.co.uk). We didn’t have a huge budget and Jojo’s brief was to try and work with what we had and inject some fun and colour into the old house,’ says Juliette.

Juliette and Tom loved the farmhouse look of the kitchen with the original beams and solid oak cabinetry, but felt it could do with an update. Jojo designed a larder and island with seating, which she had fitted and painted a vibrant blue to contrast with the original cabinetry. The old black granite worktops were replaced with white Corian, and a Rangemaster put in the place of the old Aga. The kitchen instantly felt brighter and more contemporary. In the empty space at the other end of the room, Jojo created a seating area with a TV which is now a favourite place with the children. Blinds,

cushions and reupholstered chairs tie the space together and add personality. ‘Although nothing has changed structurally, it looks and feels like a completely different room,’ says Juliette.

Throughout the house, Jojo has skilfully added pattern, texture and colour into each space, balancing contemporary flourishes with the period charm of the property and its setting. The sitting room has been reconfigured and given a new lease of life with warm, earthy tones and layers of rich textiles. ‘Each space has its own identity, yet the house feels cohesive and inviting,’ says Juliette.

‘Jojo’s advice and expertise has been invaluable and I’ve been encouraged to experiment with colours and textiles which I would never have thought to try before. It’s been an incredibly exciting process and we feel very lucky to have been able to add character to this splendid old farmhouse.’

‘Wallpapers and fabrics don’t have to cost the earth and they are so transformative’

D E C O R ATI N G A DV I C E

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DINING AREA The Saarinen table and mid-century-style chairs are a contemporary contrast to the panelled walls.

Marble Saarinen dining table, £12,612, Heal’s. Sami Kallio for &Tradition dining chairs, price on request, Aram Store. Find similar engineered wood flooring, price on request, Havwoods. Jug by Marice Cumber

SEE THE LIGHT A radical reconfiguration has ensured that every space in Ruth and Mike Anderson’s Victorian villa is lovely and bright

FEATURE AND STYLING MARY WEAVER | PHOTOGRAPHY ANNA STATHAKI

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HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Four-storey Victorian villa L O C AT I O N South London R O O M S Two sitting rooms, kitchen-diner, playroom, work area, reading nook, utility room, cloakroom, gym, wine room, six bedrooms (two en suite), dressing room, bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were living in a similar house a mile away,’ says Ruth.

KITCHEN A massive picture window lets the light flow in.

Unit and worktop in Gravel, price on request, Bulthaup.

Walls in Slaked Lime intelligent matt emulsion, £56.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

BLUE SITTING ROOM With its deep blue walls and comfortable seating, this has a cosy gentlemen’s club feel.

Walls in Basalt intelligent matt emulsion, £56.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Noble armchair, £965; Lazytime sofa, £2,920, both Camerich. Around coffee table, £599, Muuto. Waldorf suspension light by Lambert & Fils, £1,920, The Conran Shop.

Black and white painting, Florian Heinke

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hen Ruth Anderson and her husband Mike first viewed the London villa that’s now their home, they both agreed the layout needed radically reconfiguring. ‘The staircase was right in the centre of the house and took up far too much space, so it needed repositioning,’ says Ruth.

‘The previous owners had renovated the house, but it needed improvement.’ Undeterred, Ruth and Mike could see the house had lots of potential, so they decided to go ahead.

The first task on the list was to draw up a schedule of works. ‘As well as moving the staircase, the basement needed totally rethinking as the space just didn’t flow,’ says Ruth. ‘We spent a lot of time and effort redoing the basement and tweaking the layout on every floor to make sure it flows fluidly and is filled with light.’ Functionality and practicality were also top priorities to make sure the house worked for their family, including their 10-year-old twin daughters, Laura and Neve and eight-year-old son Jack, as well as their two Labradors.

The house had to tick lots of boxes for the varying needs and tastes of family and also to ensure that every inch was used.

With the renovation under way, Ruth found she began to struggle with decisions about design. ‘Our previous house was all tasteful shades of grey, which turned out to be rather bland and boring,’ she says. ‘I did want to push myself out of my comfort zone and I wanted a bolder look.’ She was then introduced to Karena Clayton (colourinteriors.com) via Ade Architecture (ade-architecture.co. uk) who were overseeing the build.

‘Karena was key to the project, from spatial planning to choices

PINK SITTING ROOM A cantilevered wall separates the two living spaces so they have their own personalities yet are connected.

Interior design, Karena Clayton. Chairs in Ozone, £205m, Christopher Farr Cloth. Bespoke bench, Sofa Workshop. Try the Saraille Peony rug, £1,045, Designers Guild. Art consultancy, Louisa Warfield. Art, Pat Douthwaite

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S TA I R S The pretty carpet runner echoes the greens and blues used throughout the house.

Masai Emerald runner, £160m, Roger Oates Design. The Scottish Terrier and The Hare prints (left), £95 each, Mashka’s Marvellous Menagerie.

Bench in Temple, £180m, Christopher Farr Cloth

M A I N B AT H R O O M Natural shapes and materials give this an elegant, streamlined feel.

Egg Shell bath, £1,350, Lusso Stone. Bespoke vanity unit (right), Barbara Genda. Green flute pendants, £435, by Tom Kirk at Holloways of Ludlow

about colours and fabrics,’ says Ruth. ‘We’d previously thought that if you more or less know what you want, there would be no need for a designer, but without her this house would be nowhere near as exciting – nor as functional.’

Art consultant Louisa Warfield (louisawarfieldart.com) who entered the project later on, also played an important role. ‘We started out by asking for a bit of advice and ended up relying on her expert knowledge and brilliant eye,’ explains Ruth.

Now the project is complete, Ruth and Mike are delighted with the revamped layout and interior.

The hallway is wide and welcoming, complete with emerald runner.

‘The green runner was a scary decision at the time but it’s turned out to be one of our best and connects the colours throughout the whole house,’ says Ruth.

The ground floor sitting room is now split into two separate sections. The ‘blue room’ has a bit of a gentleman’s club vibe with a TV set into its cantilevered wall. ‘I deliberately put a TV there so we use the room every day,’ says Ruth.

‘The “pink room” is where guests gather for drinks and piano practice takes place, but the children drift in and out all the time too.’

Much of the house is decorated with what many people would not consider a child-friendly design, such as the fabulous pink Christopher Farr fabric covered armchairs, pink living room rug, precious art on the walls and a magnificent Saarinen oval marble dining table. ‘Friends told me I was mad, that the table would stain or chip, but we all eat there every day and it’s still looking good,’ says Ruth. ‘Despite those luxurious fabrics, great artwork and classic sofas, nowhere is out of bounds – even for the dogs.’

MAIN BEDROOM ‘Blue and green is my favourite colour combination – it helps create a restful atmosphere,’ says Ruth.

Bespoke headboard and mannequin in Travelling Light, £220m, Christopher Farr Cloth.

Art, ‘Kernel Series’, William Crozier

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ART & SOUL

Art lover Isatu Funna has a talent for putting together schemes that are highly unique – as her stunning Victorian semi shows FEATURE KARA O’REILLY | PHOTOGRAPHY PAUL RAESIDE | STYLING MARY WEAVER

REAR SITTING ROOM ‘This space is where I feel most together, most me, most at peace,’ says Isatu. ‘It overlooks a park and – best of all – it’s got my favourite painting.’

Painting on glass, Stefan Sehler.

Try the Malibu sofa, £3,350, Jonathan Adler. Belles Rives lacquer tray, from £174, Rita Konig. Parquet flooring, price on request, FPS Flooring

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FRONT SITTING ROOM Pale walls and simple window shutters allow the colourful art and fabrics to sing.

Oceana cushions, from £68; for similar footstool fabric, try Sosa, £83m, both Dar Leone. Coffee table, price on request, Les Couilles du Chien at Liberty London. Artwork (next to sofa) by Maimouna Guerresi

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Semi-detached Victorian house L O C AT I O N North London R O O M S Kitchen-diner/family room, two interconnected sitting rooms, study, office, utility room, boot room, four bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2009 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were living in Berlin before moving here,’ says Isatu.

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F A M ILY R O O M The edit of pieces in here is minimal but the vibrant colours make the scheme feel rich.

Chairs in Oceana Hudson, £84m, Dar Leone.

Scott velvet sofa, £1,250, Made, is similar. The Magnificent Dozen masks by Djordje Ozbolt

KITCHEN ‘We have a close-knit group of friends and it’s really nice to have them over for a dinner party here,’ says Isatu.

Cabinetry, price on request, Barget Kitchens

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hen designer Isatu Funna and her husband Philipp were house-hunting in London, they had a clear vision of the space they wanted. ‘We were relocating from Berlin because of Philipp’s work,’ says Isatu. ‘We both adore art and have a sizeable art collection, so it was important to find a house with walls of sufficient size.’ The couple, who have twin daughters, now aged 19, looked at over 60 properties before finding a suitable home. ‘When we saw this house in north London, I instantly knew it was the one,’ says Isatu.

One of the selling points of the house was the fact that it could accommodate Isatu’s favourite painting – a three by two-metre floral piece painted on glass by Stefan Sehler. ‘It was always about finding that wall,’ says Isatu. ‘I thought, we’re not moving unless we can fit this work in – it would be very sad to see it go into storage.’

The house needed a fair amount of work before the family could move in. ‘It had previously been divided into flats, so we needed to gut the place and then build everything back again,’ says Isatu. She and Philipp enlisted the help of interior architect Ramses Frederickx. ‘A good friend had commissioned him to remodel her home and I loved the way he’d brought it all together.

We had a similar aesthetic, so I asked for an introduction.’

Isatu, Philipp and Ramses worked as a team on the project.

‘Ramses and Philipp guided the nuts and bolts of the renovation,’ H A L LWAY A hanging sign adds a vibrant touch, whether lit or not.

Motel Yalta sign by Hüseyin Bahri Alptekin. Flooring, approx £35sq m, Tiles Etc. Sculptural figure by George Lilanga

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DINING AREA Ebullient artwork forms a striking contrast to the sleek furniture.

Beetle chairs, £686, Gubi at The Conran Shop. Artwork over fire

by Aboudia. Artwork in alcove by Boris Nzebo

‘Coming from Sierra Leone I love colour, but I grew up in America, too, so I also have a very preppy side’

I N S PI R ATI O N

LANDING ‘Buying art is a gut response and my husband and I find that we both notice the same work, so we agree – for the most part – on what to buy,’ says Isatu.

For similar Andy Warhol Beethoven prints, try 1stDibs

says Isatu. ‘I was more interested in the final bits and pieces.’ With the shell of the house in place, Isatu could fine-tune the decor. The pared-back bones of the building meant she was able to introduce colour and personality with furnishings and an abundance of art.

‘I love colour and I think it harks back to coming from Sierra Leone originally,’ says Isatu. ‘I love the feel and warmth of African decor. I was brought up in America and met my husband at law school there, so I also have a very preppy side too – I love J Crew!’ she laughs. ‘It may sound bizarre, but if you combine African geometrics with American preppy-ness, that describes my style!’

Seeing the skilful craftspeople Ramses commissioned to create elements of the renovation inspired Isatu to set up her own business, Dar Leone (dar-leone.com). ‘It’s my personal take on contemporary African design,’ she says. ‘Working with Ramses and seeing how he created such great designs from scratch – such as the built-in furniture – gave me the decor bug. I also owe a lot to Eva Sonaike, who’s from Nigeria – she’s amazing and I adore her textiles.’

Isatu’s signature print is her Oceana design, used in varying colourways throughout the house. Despite the spectrum of bold colours, the interior feels edited and curated. ‘We buy what we like and we’re always sure it will work,’ says Isatu. Her home is very much a space where the family can kick back and relax. ‘I come in, close the door and feel like I really can leave the outside behind.’

MAIN BEDROOM A flamingo artwork creates a striking focal point in this restful space.

Artwork, price on request, Huang Yi-Sheng at Ocula. Hector wall light, £175, Original BTC

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B AT H R O O M The wall recess is a handy space for storing bottles, but it fits with the room’s sleek look.

Coniston freestanding bath, £4,753, C.P. Hart. Shutters, price on request, California Shutters

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After years of tweaks and touch-ups, Elisha Utley finally made her modern townhouse feel like home thanks to a bold use of colour FEATURE KAREN WILSON AND HANNAH TIER | PHOTOGRAPHY KATIE LEE

SITTING ROOM

‘We replaced two beige sofas with this lovely velvet chaise design, which fits the room better,’ says Elisha.

Berlin chaise sofa, £2,349, Swoon. Yellow and orange cushions, £35 each, Made.

Yellow throw, £29.99, Very. Berber-style rug, £99, La Redoute

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A

fter 19 years in their previous home, it was time for a change for the Utley family. Elisha, husband Darren, daughters Imogen, 21, and Daisy, seven, and their two Pomeranians needed more space. So, when a four-bedroom townhouse in a nearby lakeside estate came to market, Elisha jumped at it. ‘I made an offer straight away,’ Elisha says, ‘and told my husband later! He didn’t even see it until four weeks before completion. Luckily, he liked it, despite being a bit daunted by its size.’

Built in 2004 with shops and a playground on the doorstep, the house seemed a natural move before their youngest daughter started school. ‘It had been rented out so looked a bit tired,’ says Elisha. ‘But the rooms were bigger than other similarly priced houses in the area and I loved having the sitting room on the second floor and a top floor walk-in wardrobe.’

But it wasn’t love at first sight. ‘I cried for the first year,’ she says. ‘It just didn’t feel like home.’ After trying to recreate the country style of their previous home, Elisha realised it was going to take more than a few tweaks to make it truly feel like home. ‘The first week my father-in-law put up the same wallpaper from our old home to make me feel less homesick,’ she recalls. ‘Three months later I realised it didn’t work. The house is modern and doesn’t have a traditional layout – it needed an eclectic mix of old and new with much more colour.’

Their first – ambitious – structural alteration was to take out the raised floor in the dining room. By building a wall to separate the open-plan kitchen-hallway, they found space for a cosy family room – and a blank canvas for Elisha’s impressive print collection. ‘Money was tight so we did everything bit by bit, like the shutters, which we ordered one by one over two

KITCHEN

The range, which is reminiscent of the traditional style of Elisha’s previous home, has been given a modern twist with a practical blackboard splashback and neon sign.

Kitchen, price on request, Symphony.

Units resprayed in Bond Street wood and metal eggshell, £76 for 2.5ltr, Mylands. Oak worksurface, from

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£205m, Worktop Express. Plate rack, £135, Emma Bridgewater.

‘Chateau Utley’ sign, £27.99, Etsy. ‘Cuddles in the kitchen’ neon sign, £335, Bag & Bones

STAIRCASE

By building a wall to screen the new living area from the hallway, Elisha found space to create a vibrant gallery.

Console table, £49, Apple Crates UK. Clock, £65, Newgate

DINING ROOM

Signage, a brightly coloured table and feature plate wall give the space a playful and homely feel.

Bespoke dining table, Farmhouse Furniture; painted in Charlotte’s Locks, £70 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Industrial chandelier, £172, Amazon. Dining chairs, from £89 each, Very and Cult Furniture. ‘Welcome to the mad house’ sign, £22, Etsy

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached townhouse, built in 2004 L O C AT I O N Yorkshire R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen, utility, family room, dining room, cloakroom, four bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2017 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a 1930s semi a few miles from here,’ says Elisha.

MAIN BEDROOM

‘I wanted to add colour but not on the walls, which were previously green,’ says Elisha. ‘I’d always liked the idea of a pink bed so this set the tone.’

For a similar bed try Margot, £695, Made.

Mustard tassel light, £204, Trouva.

Throw, £74, Amara. Bedside lamp, £35, Dunelm. Artwork, from £8.95, Juniqe

last wor d ‘Because the

house is modern, it needed an eclectic mix of old and new to give it character’

years,’ she says. Next, they turned their attention to the kitchen, demolishing an upstairs balcony that was stealing natural light, and a false chimney breast to make way for a country-style range cooker. This nod to their previous home was paired with a colour palette to match. ‘At first I played it safe with cream Shaker units,’ says Elisha. ‘But after a year, I regretted the colour choice and found a great company who resprayed the units in blue.’

Elisha continued to play with colour as the house took shape. The bathrooms came at the top of her lockdown revamp list, and with some creative touches Elisha brought new life to their en suite. ‘It felt a bit boring so I created shapes from tester pots and leftover paint, as well as painting the vanity unit pink,’ she says.

The family bathroom came next. With some help from Darren’s brother, they fitted panelling to the walls. ‘I changed things again by painting the exterior of the bath green, adding wallpaper and putting mosaic vinyl on the floor,’ says Elisha.

Although happy to take a break from decorating for now, her next project comes in the form of Karndean flooring in the main bedroom and black metal-framed doors in the family room. With her never-ending eye for improvement, Elisha has created the vibrant space her family needed to make the modern townhouse feel like home.

FAMILY BATHROOM

brilliant Lucy Tiffney printed wallpaper.

Teal velvet bed, £419, Danetti. Lagoon wallpaper, £135 a roll, Lucy Tiffney. Neon sign, £355, Bag & Bones.

Velvet cushions, £30 each, Christy

IMOGEN’S BEDROOM

EN SUITE

A vibrant wallpaper and a painted finish on the bath have transformed this room.

Stig Lindberg Herbarium wallpaper, £84 a roll, Boråstapeter

Originally opting for a more subdued pink paint, 21-year-old Imogen found a far funkier solution in this

Colour blocking and fun features suit Elisha’s vibrant personality.

‘Get naked’ sign, £14.99, Desenio. Ivyline planter, £34.99, Very

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Changing tides

Andy and Laura Lock started from scratch to turn their single-storey home into a three-floor one in order to make the most of the sea views FEATURE JANE CRITTENDEN | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH | STYLING MARISHA TAYLOR

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY New-build house L O C AT I O N West Sussex R O O M S Kitchen-dining/ living area, cloakroom, three bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom B U I LT 2020 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We were living in a two-bedroom flat in Hove before we moved here,’ says Laura.

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KITCHEN Wood-look flooring brings warmth to the scheme.

J Pull kitchen, £3,000, Wren Kitchens. Karndean’s Art Select vinyl in Spring Oak, £48.99sq m, Flooring Supplies

S TA I R C A S E Laura came up with the idea to make a feature of the staircase with ‘floating’ oak treads and a glass balustrade.

Try Kandla side table with gold base, £109.95, Roseland Furniture

OPEN-PLAN LIVING AREA A considered palette ensures the three zones - kitchen, dining and seating - flow seamlessly.

Ikon bar stools in oak and grey velvet, £79.99 each, Atlantic Shopping. Similar rug, £649, La Redoute

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B AT H R O O M ‘Andy took the legs off a sideboard to make the vanity unit,’ says Laura.

Lagos slate-effect floor tiles are similar, £30.95sq m, Walls and Floors. Kennet Carrara marble tiles in herringbone, £120sq m, Neptune. Mathis gold mirror, £230, Maisons du Monde

W

hen builder and property developer Andy Lock laid eyes on a house with sea views his focus was to maximise its potential – and sell on. Then he met Laura and life took an unexpected turn. ‘About a year into the project we got married and wanted to start a family,’ says Laura. ‘As the house took shape, I realised how emotionally invested we were and we decided to make it a home for ourselves.’

The original-single storey property had been poorly built and made little use of the stepped site. At street level, the ground floor was used for parking and storage with all the accommodation squeezed on to the first floor, level with the back garden.

Andy decided to demolish everything except the foundations and build a high-end home. ‘I liked the look of a stacked box design with a flat roof, which over three floors would make the most of the views,’ he

says. ‘A mix of double-storey glazing, wood cladding and render adds a modern look.’

Andy planned the layout around the original floor levels so the elevated main living space would still be in line with the back garden. Above, the new second storey would have bedrooms and bathrooms and above that a roof terrace, while the ground level would stay as it was for the time being.

Laura was first to view the house in a different light. ‘I came over one day and Andy had built the bathroom walls and it suddenly hit me,’ she says. ‘I began to picture what life would be like living here as a family.’ Taking a steer from Andy, who’d already envisaged a contemporary scheme to reflect the architecture, Laura started to plan the interiors. ‘I work in the ski industry and like the luxury ski chalet look of natural wood, greys and whites, and I’m drawn to Scandi styles, too,’ she says. ‘We both like clean lines and calm spaces that aren’t

overfilled.’ Andy had also been keen to use wood, stone and marble, which gelled with Laura’s own taste for minimalist styles.

When it came to the main living spaces, getting the right shade of white proved a challenge. ‘I was concerned a standard white could make the house look boxy and cold, like a bland developer home,’ she says. ‘But in the end, with all the natural light, Dulux’s Pure Brilliant White was the answer because there were no colour undertones.’

Warmer tones were used upstairs, where marble, wood and rattan feature in bathrooms and bedrooms. Leafy green plants add a natural colour touch with a hint of pink in cushions and art to complement the property’s waterfront location. ‘We love living here by the water with the views and it’s ideal for bringing up our newborn son, Rolan,’ says Laura. ‘There’s something very special knowing that Andy did all the work himself for us, it’s perfect.’

‘Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of spotlights in the bedroom, they can be put on different circuits for different moods and dimmed’

DESIGN TIP

MAIN BEDROOM ‘Travelling as part of my job inspired our hotel-style bedroom with the bath,’ says Laura.

Bari freestanding bath is similar, £600, Appliances Direct. Walls in Ammonite estate emulsion, £52 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

BEDROOM An oversized window was put in to make the most of the sea views.

Feature wall in Green Smoke estate emulsion, £52 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Diamond Monsoon blanket, £50, Weaver Green.

Areca cushion cover in Blood Orange is similar, £65, Oka

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KITCHEN FOCUS

THINKING BIG

By knocking down the wall between his small galley kitchen and dining room, Roda Sulaiman achieved a beautiful cooking and living space FEATURE MELANIE WHITEHOUSE | PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS SNOOK

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P R O J E C T D E TA I L S O W N E R Roda Sulaiman P R O P E R T Y A mock Tudor detached home in west London W O R K A complete rework internally, including new plumbing and electrics, a rear extension and replacement of the kitchen and bathrooms

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H

aving bought his house in west London in 2018, architect Roda Sulaiman spent a couple of years planning a complete overhaul of the property.

Central to the project was the brand-new kitchen and he approached designer Shehryar Khan, owner of Sheraton Interiors, to create a design with plenty of individual character that would be more suitable for him as he is a keen cook and likes to entertain.

THE BRIEF

The ground floor was separated into distinct rooms – kitchen, dining room and living room. Roda was keen to turn the dining room and kitchen – a narrow galley with dated cabinets and appliances – into an open-plan space more suited to 21st-century living. ‘I needed it to be the centrepiece of the house,’ he says. Shehryar explains: ‘The client wanted a modern take on an in-frame Shaker kitchen, with a unique look and feel to it.’

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Roda wanted to have open shelving to break up the run of continuous units and open up the space. ‘To get the unique colour and give the kitchen a bespoke feel, it was hand-painted on site,’ explains Shehryar. ‘Roda chose a “half pencil and scalloped” kitchen made of alder wood

by Sheraton Interiors, because he liked the intricacy of the door beading. We designed a corner larder unit to house the washer dryer as the property doesn’t have a utility room,’ adds Shehryar.

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

The doors of the cabinets are made in alder wood; the worktops and splashback are in a marble lookalike material called Dekton Bergen, a tough, durable finish with grey veins and a sculptural pattern.

FINISHING TOUCHES

‘We added a solid oak chopping board and serving tray that pull out vertically from the side of a cupboard, and hexagonal handles to the wall units with the motif repeated on the bar handles to give a contemporary look,’ says Shehryar. A waterfall island provides a counter and space for blue velvet bar stools.

LESSONS LEARNED

‘Always ask for samples so you know exactly what you’re getting and are happy with it,’ says Roda. ‘We looked at a lot of colour charts before we found the exact blue we wanted. We love the bespoke nature of our kitchen, with its taller-than-standard units. The quality and attention to detail is excellent, so it will last a long time.’

MODERN TOUCH The units are a modern take on Shaker style and the cubbyhole shelving adds to the contemporary feel.

Bespoke hand-painted Inframe Shaker kitchen, Sheraton Interiors; a similar kitchen would cost £30,000

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R I C H D E TA I L I N G

The blue velvet on the stools ties in with the colour of the units and adds a luxurious touch, as do the glass droplet pendants.

Similar Heather bar stools, £129 each, Cult Furniture. Bespoke hand-painted Inframe Shaker kitchen, Sheraton Interiors; a similar kitchen would cost £30,000. Units in Ammonite and Stiffkey Blue estate eggshell, £70 for 2.5ltr, both Farrow & Ball. Work surfaces in Dekton Bergen, price on request, Sheraton Interiors.

Slide & Hide oven, £699; built-in compact oven with microwave function, £1,129, both Neff.

3N1 boiling water tap in brushed gold, price on request, InSinkErator. Voronoi 11 pendant lights, £139.50 each, Tala. Herringbone rustic oak engineered flooring, £79.99sq m, UK Flooring Direct, has this look

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STREAMLINED FINISH A waterfall island unit clad in the same marble-effect material as the splashback creates a sleek, seamless look

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COASTAL ATTRACTION

It is very hard to believe that Jess and Ash Alken-Theasby’s completely charming beach house is a new build FEATURE SARA BIRD | PHOTOGRAPHY DAN DUCHARS

OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE

The versatile space includes purpose-built seating and an outdoor kitchen.

Landscaping, Sam Ovens

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DINING/LIVING AREA

Jess has successfully zoned the large open-plan room into separate but linked spaces.

Source a similar dining table and club chairs at Vinterior. Chortler dining chairs, £440 for a pair, Loaf

OUTDOOR DINING AREA

Planters and a pergola help fill this space with greenery.

Concrete table, price on request, Cast & Polish. Pergola, Mena Woodwork

KITCHEN/DINING AREA

Wall-to-ceiling cladding and bricks over the stove give the vast space a characterful feel that’s full of warmth.

Henley cabinetry, price on request; Ludlow wooden stools, £400 each, both Neptune.

Creamware pendant lights, from £220 each, deVol. Similar Frankie corner sofa, from £2,795, Jo & Co Home

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached new-build house L O C AT I O N Cornwall R O O M S Kitchen/dining/living area, boot room/utility, cloakroom, office, playroom, nursery, five bedrooms (two en suite), three bathrooms M O V E D I N 2019 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Ash and I are originally from Cornwall, but I lived in London for six years after university before moving back,’ says Jess.

F A V O U R I T E I T E M ‘Our dining table is so old and battered that it doesn’t

matter if our boys show it very little TLC over the next decade or so’

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ate most definitely took a hand when Jess Alken-Theasby – @cornishwife.cornishlife – and her family found their ‘forever home’ by the Cornish coast. ‘My husband Ash and I are both originally from Cornwall and my great-great grandfather James H. C. Millar, a waterscape artist from London, once lived in nearby Trevone Bay,’ says Jess.

‘We had been planning to move, yet were undecided about whether to buy an old property to convert or to create something new. So when my granny’s old bungalow

NURSERY

A tepee makes a lovely play den.

Nevada play tent, £159.95, Nobodinoz at Scandibørn

BOYS’ BEDROOM Two-tone walls look smart yet decorative.

Panelling painted in Carys and Brighton intelligent eggshell, £72 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

came back on the market it felt like it was meant to be.’ Jess and her husband had already built and renovated their own homes before they met, and Jess’ beautiful family home had been sold to boutique hotel group The Pig. Now married with two young sons, the couple were ideally placed to create a uniquely beautiful family home.

Knowing the plot already was a boon when designing a new-build house on the site. ‘On paper there was lots of potential, but understanding the landscape and setting helped us plan for everyday living

and the local climate,’ says Jess. ‘By having traditional sash windows and glazing bars, we wanted the views to take a back seat internally so that the house felt cosier during the winter months. Another priority was being able to open out the sea elevation onto the garden and terrace for the summer. Having sheltered spaces outside to shield us from the cool sea breezes was also important.’

The couple enlisted the help of local architects Harrison Sutton. ‘They fully understood we were building a family home

and not a show home,’ says Jess. ‘It was really important to me that the house had soul and a “lived-in” feel. I kept reminding myself that in the end it’s the finishing touches and details that make a house feel cohesive and considered.’

Jess’ awareness of the importance of details inspired her to reuse the red bricks from her granny’s bungalow, creating a link with her family’s past. The influence of The Pig’s founder (and now friend) Judy Hutson can also be seen in the interior styling. ‘Judy is amazing,’ says Jess. ‘How she mixes old

and new and makes something feel lived in yet sophisticated is incredible. That and the need to make things “just-so” means our home is a balance of real-world living, authentically sourced materials and carefully considered design features.’

The house is a breathtaking new build with a nod to New England style, packed to the rafters with original details and reclaimed finds. Particularly successful is the way Jess has made the open-plan interior feel cosy and inviting. By using differing levels, paint shades, sliding

doorways, textures and lighting, she has created a hospitable, versatile and inviting space. ‘The house is designed to grow with us – it definitely feels like our own story is beginning to evolve here,’ says Jess, who has already embarked the next project of restoring their soon-to-be-open apartments in a Victorian terrace situated on a clifftop in Trevone Bay, near Padstow (atlantatrevonebay.com). ‘I love the quality of life here for our young family. Our home is just a short walk down to the beach for fish and chips after school.’

LIVING AREA

Jess chose stronger shades here to bring a cosy feel to the space.

Walls painted in Green Smoke estate emulsion, £52 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball.

Painting by James H. C. Millar

BATHROOM

Whitewashed cladding is paired with marble.

Shower screen panel, around £731, Impey Soho

MAIN BEDROOM

A sliding door is a space-saving feature.

Try Foxcote bed, £3,395, Soho Home. Linen ikat lampshade, from £45, Pooky

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CALIFORNIA

DREAMING

Designer Susie Novak reveals how she gave this hacienda-style home a refresh so it’s the perfect blend of west coast casual and classic style FEATURE RUTH CORBETT | PHOTOGRAPHY THOMAS KUOH

EXTERIOR The pretty house, with its white stucco walls and red clay roof tiles, is flanked by olive trees and white rose bushes

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KITCHEN The dark-stained timber flooring brings a hint of richness to this bright and modern scheme.

For a similar kitchen try the Iconic collection by Smallbone, price on request. Series 7 3107 chairs, £403 each, The Conran Shop

HOME TRUTHS D E S I G N E R Susie Novak of Susie Novak Interiors (susienovakinteriors.com) H O U S E A five-bedroom house in Santa Clara county, California W O R K The brief was to reimagine the living spaces and guest suite

‘Invest in good quality pieces and start with the larger items that are harder to source, like a rug, and design around that’

D E C O R ATI N G A DV I C E

H O W D I D YO U C O M E T O B E I N VO LV E D I N T H E P R O J E C T ? I had worked on the client’s San

Francisco condominium. When lockdown restrictions were imposed she called me about her home in Santa Clara. She’d been meaning to change the look for a while and while she was there indefinitely it was the perfect time to get started.

W H AT W E R E T H E M A I N P R I O R I T I E S F O R H E R H O M E ? A dramatic change in style, introducing

colour through lots of reupholstery, while incorporating existing pieces and investing in some new high-quality furnishings for a total refresh.

W H AT WA S YO U R I N S P I R AT I O N F O R T H E S C H E M E ? Luxury, modernity and sophistication.

I love to mix different styles and introduce a moody feel using masculine interiors in a modern-meets-traditional way.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE COLOUR P A L E T T E ? The existing space had a lot of orange

accents. We wanted a complete change: something more neutral and bringing in a healthy dose of black was a must.

D E S C R I B E Y O U R D E S I G N S T Y L E . My aesthetic is California modern with a British flair. I like a mix of clean neutrals, fun pops of bold colour and sculptural forms. I’ll take into consideration the client’s style goals and lifestyle and from there, I’ll bring in a classic, slightly edgy point of view. And I like to have fun and make it beautiful, of course!

H O W I N V O L V E D W A S T H E O W N E R ? The process was incredibly collaborative. I helped the client to highlight her favourite pieces for a final look that feels elevated and personal. I work closely with my clients to get an understanding of how they want the space to feel, to take an inventory of pieces they might want to keep and understand how the architecture of the home will play into the plan.

W H I C H R O O M WA S T H E M O S T I M P O R TA N T T O T H E H O M E O W N E R ?

The sitting room absolutely. She spends a great amount of time there. But I actually adore the guest room. The striped rug, black nightstand and lamp are so strong together. It feels very modern, very Spanish Revival, and I just love it.

DINING ROOM Two strong patterns work together in here because they have a similar intensity.

Try the Sigri rug in Charcoal by Linie Design, £929, Heal’s. Chair No 729, price on request, A Rudin.

Tobu round table from Walter Knoll is similar, £13,339, Aram

BEDROOM A touch of black is a classic stylist’s tip to bring a room together confidently.

Try the Revolve table lamp, £1,020, Bert Frank. Barra rug, £295, Soho Home, has the same look.

Bloomsbury satin black pine wood bedside unit, £200, Ruma

W H AT WA S T H E B I G G E S T C H A L L E N G E ?

While the couple wanted a significant new look for their sitting room, they also needed a large rug that was durable enough for their huge 100-pound dog. That wasn’t the easiest to source, but we selected a really beautiful nylon cut pile rug cut to size. It looks amazing and will last for years.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD C H A N G E ? I really like the result. All of our decisions

were very considered. I wouldn’t change anything.

W H AT I S YO U R A D V I C E F O R C R E AT I N G A S U C C E S S F U L S C H E M E ? Stick within an edited

colour palette and select great hues, because good colour is everything! Look for items that make the space pop, such as metallics and geometric forms or strong colour.

SITTING ROOM The palette of neutrals feels luxurious thanks to Susie’s use of beautiful sculptural forms in the lighting and particularly the console.

For a similar console table, try the minimalist curved front arch console by Martin & Brockett,

£2,336, 1stDibs. Truman table lamps, $1,395 each, RH. A similar sofa is the Knoll Lounge RH Asymmetric sofa, £7,752; Eileen Gray E1027 side table, £713, both Aram. Melange desk lamp, $2,409, Kelly Wearstler.

Ottoman No 625, price on request, A Rudin

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KITCHEN FOCUS

MODERN COUNTRY Helen and Jens Hucke wanted a cook space that felt modern but also suited the aesthetic of their 200-year-old farmhouse FEATURE AMELIA THORPE | PHOTOGRAPHY PAUL CRAIG

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CONTEMPORARY EDGE Sleek quartz worktops and leather-look bar stools keep everything looking modern.

Admiral wingback bar stools, £165 each, Peppermill Interiors

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fter living in a local market town, Helen and Jens Hucke opted to move into the countryside in search of more space to enjoy with their young son Finn – and two dogs, three ponies and two goats. Set in seven acres with landscaped gardens, a natural lake and paddocks for the ponies, the four-bedroom house itself is full of character, including exposed beams and original fireplaces. ‘We could see it would make a wonderful family home – and we were right,’ says Helen. ‘Finn just lives in his shorts and wellies and has fantastic freedom.’

THE BRIEF

The priority for Helen and Jens was to renovate the kitchen.

‘The existing room was charming, but small,’ recalls Helen.

‘I think that a house needs one big family room, where everyone congregates, so we decided to reconfigure much of the ground floor layout and add an extension to create an open plan kitchen-living space.’

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

By removing walls between the former kitchen, snug, boot room and larder, they were able to open up the space, before extending 2.5m over the patio and adding glazed doors to the garden. The couple followed up a recommendation to meet Alan Bricknell, owner of Truman Kitchens. ‘Alan’s enthusiasm for the project was infectious,’ says Helen. ‘He came out to site, listened to our ideas and added his own.’

As they both enjoy entertaining, Helen and Jens were keen to include a large island as the hub of the room. ‘I also wanted plenty of storage and a large fridge-freezer,’ says Helen. ‘Alan created a very practical layout and a classicmeets-modern design with just the right amount of character, fitting comfortably into an old cottage.’

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

An inframe oak kitchen was chosen to complement the style and age of the room and painted in Mussel and Carbon with oak dovetail drawer boxes. To make the furniture look as if it had always been there, the cabinets were individually scribed to fit the wall angles and to accommodate the pillars and the new ceiling joist.

FINISHING TOUCHES

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S O W N E R S Helen and Jens Hucke and their son Finn, five P R O P E R T Y Two former farm workers’ cottages built in 1820 and combined years ago to make a four-bedroom home in Staffordshire W O R K To reconfigure the ground-floor layout and extend to create a new kitchen

A dresser, designed to match the kitchen cabinetry, links the kitchen and living spaces and provides storage for glassware and china, as well as room for attractive displays.

Symmetrical in design, the dresser also includes a central panel which could be used for a wall-hung TV screen, if required at a later date.

LESSONS LEARNT

At about 200 years old, the house presented certain fitting challenges, including wonky walls, supporting pillars that could not be moved, and a lath and plaster ceiling that could not be damaged by wiring. Thanks to Alan’s expert design and clever fitting, all these obstacles were overcome and the couple have the kitchen they dreamed of.

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AT T E N T I O N T O D E TA I L

A dresser in the living area is designed to match the kitchen cabinetry – in the future, a TV might replace the artwork. Industrial-look blackframed metal doors were chosen to enhance the modern look of this country kitchen.

Inframe oak units in Mussel and Carbon with solid oak dovetail drawer boxes, kitchen prices from £20,000, Truman Kitchens. Similar range cooker, Everhot 100+, from £8,450, Everhot. Carrara Extra quartz surface worktops, £4,500, Truman Kitchens.

Similar vinyl flooring, Van Gogh Walnut VGW87T, £42.49sq m, Karndean. Walls in Skimming Stone modern emulsion, £56 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball.

PUE611BB1E induction hob, £498, Bosch.

D51NAA1COB integrated extractor hoods, £119 each, Neff. RIL1796 integrated larder fridge, £943; RIF1796 integrated freezer, £779; Di652 fully integrated dishwasher, £884, all Caple. WI3126 wine cooler, £737, Caple. Flex 3-in-1 tap in polished chrome, £1,150, Quooker. Fiji 150 undermount sink in Polar White, £502, Carron Phoenix. Admiral wingback bar stools, £165 each; Leo matt gold pendant lights 5 string, £1,200, all Peppermill Interiors. Baldwin pendant lights in Antique Brass, £75 each, John Lewis & Partners

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G AT H E R R O U N D The island forms the heart of the room and includes sink, integrated dishwasher, bins, wine cooler and cupboard space, with a counter area for bar stools

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WILD at heart Founders of interiors brand Divine Savages, Tom Kennedy and Jamie Watkins have created bold schemes based around pattern and vintage style FEATURE ALICE ROBERTON | PHOTOGRAPHY TAMSYN MORGANS STYLING ALICE ROBERTON AND TAMSYN MORGANS

HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian maisonette L O C AT I O N Southeast London R O O M S Sitting room, kitchen-diner, two bedrooms, bathroom and garden studio P U R C H A S E D 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Our first home together was a rented flat in Fulham,’ says Tom.

SITTING ROOM

This eclectic space has a delightful avian theme and the dark walls are lifted by pops of colour.

Kalmar armchair in Burnt Orange, £849, Swoon, is a close match. Fringed Bette lampshade, £325; Divine Plumage cushion, £100, both Divine Savages

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KITCHEN

The vibrant wallpaper blends well with the glossy pink tiles.

Crane Fonda wallpaper in Coral, £140 a roll, Divine Savages.

Artisan Haban Rose gloss tiles, £57.93sq m, Tileflair

FAVOURITE featur e

‘Using our glamorous Deco Martini wallpaper, we’ve zoned half the sitting room to create a decadent little art deco-inspired cocktail area’ 2 5 B H J ULY 202 2 | 9 7

BEDROOM

Heavily layered pattern and velvet lead the way in this the luxurious space but the mirrors enhance the light.

Nocturnal Faunacation wallpaper, £140 a roll; Nocturnal Faunacation velvet cushion, £100, both Divine Savages.

Starke bed, £595, Made.

Curtains (on window) in Emile Teal velvet, price on request, Jane Churchill, made by UK Interiors Collective

F

or Tom Kennedy and Jamie Watkins the lines between home and work are joyfully blurred by a riot of pattern, print, exotic birds, art, vintage furniture and personal collections as they run their interiors brand Divine Savages from the southeast London Victorian maisonette they bought in 2012.

An upside-down home, with the bedrooms and bathrooms on the lower ground floor and the kitchen and living room upstairs, a wave of cool, kitsch and glamour washes over you the moment you enter. With a hall lined with an eclectic gallery wall of pop art, natural history, cartoons and nudes, the eye is immediately drawn to a fabulous floral stair carpet and an alluring neon-lit Debbie Harry. Here, a playful – almost risqué – tone is set for the rest of the interior.

Rewind to moving in when the couple decided to live in their new home for a while before changing anything. A ‘while’ turned into almost two years with renovations finally beginning with uncovering an original brick fireplace, a revelation which 98 | 2 5 B H J ULY 202 2

sparked an interest in adding their own stamp to the place. Struggling to find patterns and prints for walls and furnishings they loved, Tom, whose background is in branding, fashion and graphic design, started designing. From here their interiors brand creating luxury wallpapers, fabrics and home accessories – with a divine and savage twist – was born. Tom explains more: ‘we said when we launched the brand that it would be an extension of what we love to have in our own home and as our design and renovation journeys have evolved, they’ve truly influenced each other.’

Both the age and style of the building have also inspired the couple; ‘there’s something about the history of an older home we both really like, a certain romance.

Having previously lived in a one-level flat we’ve relished the luxury of having stairs and have gone to town on giving them lots of character,’ says Tom. The generously sized rooms have offered further scope for creativity, with a mix of bold wallpapers and standout vintage

defining their ‘look’. Cool mid-century furniture sits perfectly next to modern-day velvet covered furnishings in the bedroom and living room, while in the kitchen a brave combination of sleek white cabinets, varnished wood and kitsch decorative pieces chime. ‘When designing the kitchen we fell for some beautiful pink tiles and to accompany them Tom created the fabulous Crane Fonda wallpaper,’ explains Jamie.

‘We really like to encourage people to have fun with their interiors by adding a playful, cheeky edge,’ he adds.

‘We are happiest when we are shopping at a flea or antiques market and really like how an older piece has an unique story to tell – narrative is also a key part of our interior design ethos. We collect all manner of interesting things, from vintage pulp fiction novels and Victorian illustrations to Staffordshire dogs and Karl Ens porcelain parrots, and our dedication to the vintage cause has even seen us shaving away a section of sitting room wall to fit in a mid-century Meredew sideboard!’

DESIGN TIP

‘We’re obsessed with pattern – don’t be afraid to use plenty of it alongside well-chosen pieces of vintage furniture and kitsch objects’

BATHROOM

The small darkly painted bathroom is brought to life with white metro tiles and plants.

Seanic Depths shower curtain, £50, Divine Savages

STAIRS

Everything in pink looks fabulous.

Liberty print stair carpet, price on request, Alternative Flooring.

Walls in Middleton Pink estate emulsion, £52 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

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H A L LWAY The couple’s beloved monochrome is enlivened with bold blue accents.

Walls in White Dove emulsion, £61 for 3.79ltr, Benjamin Moore.

Try Louis De Poortere Mad Men rug in Abyss Blue, from £160, The Rug Seller. Concrete bench, £555, Teak Warehouse

DRAMATIC INTENT Brynn and John Miles’ home has two sides – it has elements of the theatrical but also manages to be beautifully bright, light and minimalistic FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL | PHOTOGRAPHY THOMAS KUOH

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SITTING ROOM Larger than life pieces give this space character.

Velvet upholstered lounge chairs, price on request, Coup D’Etat.

Bouclé curved sofa, £2,250, Six The Residence. Bistro 6 pendant cluster, £115, John Lewis & Partners, is an alternative option

H

ouses can sometimes be ever so predictable.

Often, so much attention is given to the practicalities that all excitement is extinguished, but that could never be said about the San Francisco home of Brynn and John Miles. Having bought a Victorian detached, the couple could easily have gone down the road of heritage colours and period-style furnishings, but their collaboration with designer Emilie Munroe produced the creative spark they were looking for.

‘When we bought this place, we knew it was for the long term, so we wanted to make it our own,’ says Brynn. ‘The only things we kept were the aspects we really loved that dated back to the origin of the house, such as the mouldings and the ceiling roses. We knew we wanted it to feel new and fresh.’ Also, as the couple have two young daughters, Maya and Carolyn, creating a sense of fun and vitality was an absolute must.

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HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian detached L O C AT I O N San Francisco R O O M S Sitting room, family room, dining room, kitchen, study, basement kitchen, cinema room, five bedrooms (two en suite), two bathrooms P U R C H A S E D 2020 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We owned an Edwardian house in the city,’ says Brynn.

personal, professional and entertainment needs,’ says Emilie, whose company Studio Munroe was commissioned to transform their previous home, six years ago. ‘That had a strong black-andwhite colour motif throughout – the challenge here was to honour the couple’s love of monochrome while taking them in a new direction.’ The solution was to use white as the foundation colour in most of the main rooms, while adding several colours.

If any room reflects Emilie’s dramatic intent, it’s the dining room – a space of undeniable sultriness. With walls covered in 102 | 2 5 B H J ULY 202 2

black lacquered raffia, complemented by high-backed carver chairs in emerald velvet, this room is the kind of place where dinner parties could stretch long into the night with the wine flowing and secrets spilling.

Less dark but more curvaceous is the sitting room. ‘While each space has its own distinct identity, we always like to consider the flow from room to room,’ says Emilie. ‘The sitting room is a standout area – it has such a lovely relationship with the adjacent hallway and dining room.’

DINING ROOM A textural wallcovering adds to the plushness of this dramatic space.

Dimpled Cup chandelier, £255, Beautiful Halo, would work here. Rug, price on request, Tai Ping. Black lacquered raffia wallcovering, £200sq m, Phillip Jeffries.

Set of two green velvet dining chairs, £249, Beliani, are similar

KITCHEN The brass handles are like jewellery on the cabinetry.

Worktops in Caesarstone Quartz, from £789sq m, The Marble Store. Try the Bulea Globe ceiling light, £99, La Redoute

Even the more orthodox family room, with its made-forcomfort leather sofa, has its clever touches. Taking on board the owners’ love of a certain colour combination, Emilie took a simple black-and-white wallcovering by Pierre Frey and turned it into an artwork that has become the room’s focal point.

And a softer version of monochrome can be found in the guest bedroom where a black-stained oak bed was designed by Emilie – she says the intent is to convey an element of ‘joie de vivre’. They say bedrooms are made for surprises and the

explosion of pale greens and blues in the couple’s own bedroom is an unexpected delight and a testament to the range of styles in this home for all seasons.

It goes without saying that Emilie’s vision lived up to that of her clients. ‘We love it – it feels chic, but with a warmth that makes it comfortable for guests,’ enthuses Brynn. ‘We entertain a lot, and the house is well equipped for a fancy cocktail party just as much as it is for a kid’s birthday party, and that chimes with our vibe as a family perfectly.’

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MAIN BEDROOM Papering the ceiling in a gold design makes the whole scheme sparkle.

Gallery Retreat four-poster bed, £940, Olivia’s, would work here. For button-back sofas, from £670, try Perch & Parrow

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MAIN EN SUITE A single potted plant brings earthiness to the white scheme.

For white metro tiles, £21sq m, try Topps Tiles. The Picasso freestanding stone bath, £1,395, Lusso Stone, would work here

BEDROOM Rich shapes and textures are skilfully combined in this restful space.

Bed and headboard made bespoke by Brimer Workshop. For juju feather wall decorations, from £97.99, try Wayfair

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

THE SMART WAY TO SLEEP WELL

WORDS LIZZIE HUDSON *RESEARCH UNDERTAKEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UCLAN (2019)

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e all know that we’re meant to prioritise sleep to take better care of ourselves, but getting a good rest isn’t always easy. And many of us are not getting the quality of sleep needed to help our wellbeing, and this affects our moods, memory, performance and health.

Several factors can interfere with the quality of our sleep, including temperature, noise levels, intruding light, a snoring partner, stress levels and anxiety, but more often than not it’s the mattress that’s to blame. In fact, research shows a staggering seven out 10 of us are sleeping on the wrong type of mattress for our body shape*. But how do we pick the right one when there’s just so many options out there to choose from?

The solution is simple – Silentnight’s new and easy-to-use sleepunique® tool, which will recommend the perfect mattress

for you. Through a two-year study, in partnership with scientists at the University of Central Lancashire and where half a million data points were analysed for full understanding of spinal alignment and pressure points, Silentnight created the sleepunique® algorithm. This intelligent technology assesses your body measurements and sleeping habits to recommend the perfect mattress.

need, as well as further divan and bedding options for a complete sleep package.

Silentnight is a brand that we all know and love. They are the UK’s most trusted sleep brand with over 75 years of sleep expertise and they have maintained recognition as a Superbrand for over 16 years. From beds, mattresses and headboards to sleep advice, they offer solutions for the whole family.

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N AT U R A L L U X E James Carver and Anna Carloss have transformed a bungalow and its outbuildings into the most relaxing place to live HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A detached house, originally a bungalow, built 25 years ago L O C AT I O N East Sussex R O O M S Sitting/dining area, kitchen, TV room, cloakroom, five bedrooms (three en suite), bathroom, plus one selfcontained studio and one cabin P U R C H A S E D 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a reinvented 1960s single-storey house in the countryside,’ says James.

FEATURE VANESSA RICHMOND | PHOTOGRAPHY MALCOM MENZIES/LIVING INSIDE STYLING CARVER & CARVER

OUTDOOR AREA In summer, family life spills out onto the deck shaded by a vine-covered pergola.

For a similar curved outdoor sofa, try the Half Moon rattan sofa set, £1,799, Maze Living

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DINING AREA

The contrast between the modern art and rustic pieces is stunning.

Painting by Luke Hannam at Anima Mundi gallery. Eames DSS chairs, from £260 each, Vitra, are similar

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I

t was a desire to be closer to the action that prompted James Carver and Anna Carloss to move house. ‘We had started to get itchy feet as our old home was in the countryside a 15-minute drive from the town of Rye. The boys were getting bigger and we wanted to feel reconnected to the world,’ explains James, a moving image artist, photographer and co-founder of Now.Be Present (nowbepresent. com). Moving to Rye also meant that Finlay, who is now 20 and at university, and Bodie, 13, would have friends within walking distance. When James and Anna took the property on, it was a dated bungalow

KITCHEN

Wood cladding helps connect this space to the living areas.

Try the Suffolk doors in Odessa Oak, from £6.38 each, Kitchen Door Outlet

HALLWAY

A vintage sideboard is the perfect place to display colourful ceramics.

The simply painted floor and stairs make this a calm, welcoming space.

Vinterior sells a selection of mid-century sideboards. For similar floor paint, try Strong White modern eggshell, £77 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

FINLAY’S STUDIO

Cheerful, patchwork-effect tiling brings an eclectic feel to the simple white cabinets.

Casablanca Mix tiles, £50.40sq m, Porcelain Superstore

in a very tired state, but its huge potential and stunning riverside location were just what they were looking for.

‘We wanted to reinvent the house and make it our own, so we pretty much changed everything,’ says Anna, who is a psychotherapist.

From floors to walls, colours to finishes, nothing stayed the same. The original building was radically supersized and turned into a two-storey, shiplap-clad house. ‘The footprint was increased by the addition of “wings” on each side of the main living space,’ explains James. ‘The perimeter walls and bedrooms remained in the same place, but everything else was opened up.

LIVING AREA

‘This is a fluid space that lends itself to lots of parties and gatherings,’ says James.

Find a similar Charles Eames style lounge chair, £1,104, Swivel UK. For a cowhide rug like this, try TheCowPelt shop at Etsy. Saarinen Tulip round side table, £1,164, Heal’s

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Thankfully, we had a brilliant team of builders and the renovation work went really well.’ The plot also had outbuildings, which the couple has now transformed.

One is a studio, which is Finlay’s self-contained space with en-suite bathroom and small kitchen, while the other, called Chandler’s Cabin, is available as a holiday let (camberholidaycottages.co.uk).

When it came to the interior decoration, James and Anna worked hand in hand. ‘We share a love of the same aesthetics and we try not to be too formulaic,’ explains James. ‘Our style is fresh, funky and eclectic.

We don’t take things too seriously. It’s so easy to play it

MAIN BEDROOM

‘We love lying in bed listening to the river and birds,’ says James.

Tokyo Blossom quilt, €159.95, Pip Studio, is a good alternative

CHANDLER’S CABIN Reclaimed tiles add pattern.

Fez Pottery tiles, from €9 each, Emery & Cie, have this style

LANDING

The door is clad in the same wood as the wall for a cohesive look.

Find similar reclaimed wood panelling at English Salvage

MAIN EN SUITE

An all-white scheme is calming.

Try Kyoto basin, £129.95, Victorian Plumbing. Glo-Ball wall lamp, £120, Flos at Skandium, is a match

safe and settle for the obvious option, but we prefer to push boundaries and have fun with it.’

The couple’s creative style was inspired by trips to Marfa in Texas, which is known as a centre for contemporary art, and the coastal village of Montauk on Long Island with its half-timbered houses. ‘We’ve kept away from shabby chic seaside clichés and created a luxurious, laid-back environment,’ explains James.

Now the decking area, which wraps around one side of the house, is the perfect place for the family to unwind and reflect on the fact that life in Rye Bay may not be so far removed from that on Long Island after all.

BEDROOM FOCUS

PALE PERFECTION

Using soft colours and exquisite pattern, interior designer Katharine Pooley brought a feeling of peace and tranquillity to this sleep space FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES MCDONALD

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W

hen the owners of this Victorian mews house in Chelsea decided to extend and renovate throughout, they called in the renowned interior designer Katharine Pooley. An important part of the project was creating the same mood in the main suite as she had achieved in the rest of the home. ‘It’s a sense of tranquillity and classical elegance with layers of tactile fabrics,’ says Katharine.

THE BRIEF

‘The principal bedroom had not been refurbished for many years, and we felt it needed to be made more fresh, light and luxurious,’ says Katharine. ‘I wanted to create a peaceful, elegant feel not unlike that of the quiet, geranium pot-filled mews outside – namely, a calm retreat for family life.’

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

The furniture – all newly installed – oozes gracefulness but perhaps the feature that sets this bedroom apart is the hand-painted silk chinoiserie-style wallpaper that is a stunning focal point. ‘It’s so special and personal – it creates a classically grand English feel, but reimagined in soft colours for a fresh and contemporary interior,’ says Katharine. ‘We chose all the colours to ensure a perfect match to the overall scheme and it creates an unusual backdrop behind the traditional button-backed headboard.’

FINISHING TOUCHES

Peace and a gentle feminine softness was the feel the owners were aiming for and Katharine explains how she achieved this: ‘This bedroom needed to be a calming retreat and the use of soft, inviting and tactile fabrics was just one of the many techniques used,’ she says.

‘The lighting is very important, too – we combined different decorative lamps to create a cocooning effect.’

LESSONS LEARNT

The fabrics that were selected ended up upholstering beautifully and draping very prettily, beyond even Katharine’s expectations. ‘Altogether the fabrics are my favourite detail,’ says Katharine. ‘We used lots of natural textiles: wools, linen and cashmere and they create a wonderful mood of warmth and comfort. The final interior design showcased some of my favourite British suppliers as the quality of every piece had to be faultless.’

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S DESIGNER Katharine Pooley P R O P E R T Y Victorian Chelsea mews house W O R K Designing a contemporary main bedroom suite with a classical English feel

S E R E N E S PAC E ‘Symmetry in bedrooms is important because a graceful balance ensures a tranquil feel,’ says Katharine.

Bespoke headboard, Katharine Pooley; upholstered in Great Plains fabric, £300m, Holly Hunt. Bespoke ottoman upholstered in Burley blue fabric, price on request, Veere Grenney. Pillows, from a selection, Holland & Sherry.

Sylvaner wallpaper, from £543sq m, Fromental. Bespoke bedside chests of drawers, Katharine Pooley. Amber twisted art glass lamps, price on request, Global Views

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LIVING AREA The new fireplace helps to zone the large open-plan living area.

Bespoke sofa, ottoman and fireplace, all Designed by Woulfe. Try the teak and rattan armchair, £299.99, Zara

HOME TRUTHS D E S I G N E R Brian Woulfe of interior design studio Designed by Woulfe (designedbywoulfe.com) P R O P E R T Y A converted Baptist chapel in Devon W O R K The ground floor was remodelled and new schemes were created throughout

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DIVINE intervention

Brian Woulfe redesigned a former chapel using textures and colours that reflect its glorious estuary views FEATURE RACHEL LEEDHAM | PHOTOGRAPHY NICK SMITH

no.

KITCHEN The double island ensures there’s a place to socialise and a place to prep food.

Bulthaup cabinetry, price on request, Kitchen Architecture.

H O W D I D YO U G E T I N VO LV E D I N T H I S P R O J E C T ? I had worked with this delightful family of five

previously when I renovated their London home and the project made them realise how tired their holiday home had become. It had been converted from a chapel in the early noughties by a local developer and the interiors had not changed much since then.

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

They were primarily involved in the spatial planning: how they would move through the spaces and the positioning of furniture; also the practicalities of the utility areas which needed functions such as drainage for dripping life jackets and wetsuits. When it came to the aesthetics, they very much valued our professional opinion.

Nerd bar stools, £425 each, Muuto. Orluna air fixed ceiling lights, £141 each, Inspyer Lighting. Binga wall platters, from £85, Ilala. Floor in Material Sable, £103sq m, Material Plans

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BOOT ROOM Bespoke joinery makes practical use of the space.

Walls and joinery in Sage Green absolute matt emulsion, £52 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

D E S C R I B E T H E H O M E O W N E R S ’ S T Y L E . Relaxed

and inviting would best sum up their approach. The family members all have busy lifestyles in London and so when they come here, they want to be able to switch off the moment they walk through the door.

W H AT W E R E T H E P R I O R I T I E S F O R T H E H O M E O W N E R S ? Longevity was important so they wanted to

have materials that were good quality and would be hard-wearing.

They were also keen to replicate the conveniences they had in London, such as a boiling water tap, double ovens and a wine fridge.

W H AT WA S T H E I N S P I R AT I O N F O R T H E S C H E M E S ? The clients love nature, so it was the views that

inspired both the textures and the colours we have used throughout.

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WHICH ROOMS WERE THE MOST I M P O R T A N T T O T H E H O M E O W N E R S ? The

entertaining spaces were key. We went through lots of layout configurations to arrive at the best design, which includes features such as the kitchen’s double island, which ensures easy circulation and allows family members to socialise or work while others are prepping a meal. Bringing the fireplace away from the wall helped us to reconfigure the furniture layout as well as creating two zones within this large living space.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE COLOUR P A L E T T E ? We were entirely influenced by the surroundings

– the soft neutral tones of the stone boundary wall and outdoor terraces as well as the rocks of the coastline and the marine hues 116 | 2 5 B H J ULY 202 2

of the estuary, which tend to be more green than blue. We used this palette of neutrals and greens throughout the house, enlivening them with the occasional pop of colour.

W H A T W A S T H E B I G G E S T C H A L L E N G E ? As a former chapel, the building has unusual windows, and in the bedrooms, these required blackout solutions. For the triangular windows – which had the added challenge of being on an incline – I designed a padded triangle that can be wedged into the recess to create a blackout effect. The other obstacle was that the house is on a narrow lane, which meant every piece had to be carried in person.

W H AT WA S T H E M O S T S AT I S F Y I N G A S P E C T O F T H I S P R O J E C T ? The clients. They are so appreciative,

which made everything worthwhile.

MAIN BEDROOM Wonderful textural pieces add just the right amount of warmth to this bright space.

King size Smoke bed, from £1,095, Loaf. Hombi hemp wall hangings, £60 each, Nkuku. Wonky pendant lights, from £305 each, Ilala.

Small Balabac chests of drawers, £750 each; large Balabac chest of drawers, £995, all Oka

MAIN BEDROOM This space looks out over the atrium but thick, floor-to-ceiling curtains provide privacy at night.

Curtains in Ersa, £92m, Smith & Noor. D’Esposito Beige carpet, £212.40sq m, Stark Carpet BEDROOM A seat was added to make a feature of this circular window.

Kajala cushion covers,

£40 each, Nkuku.

Curtains, pelmet and window seat in Armature Feuilles, £135m, Christopher Farr Cloth B AT H R O O M The timber vanity unit ties in nicely with the ceiling beam.

Similar Pola vanity unit in oak, £1,069, Tikamoon. Try the gloss white square tiles, £3.99 for a 30 x 30cm sheet, Tiles Direct

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BARN STORMING Fiona and Iain Lindsay’s 500-year-old converted barn is a masterclass in pared-back, modern-country style FEATURE KAREN WILSON | PHOTOGRAPHY JON DAY | STYLING HANNAH FRANKLIN

LIVING AREA A Japanese Kokeshi doll and simple white ceramics make an eye-catching display.

Try The Japanese Shop for similar wooden Kokeshi dolls, from £39. Alium Black Object 01 print, £111.20, The Poster Club

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HOME TRUTHS DINING AREA A mighty 2.7m table seats up to 14 people and the oak panel screens off the island while maintaining the room’s sociable feel.

Country oak large extending table, £1,799.99, Top Furniture, is an alternative.

Try Hay 70cm rice paper lamp shade, £40.40, Nordic Nest

THE PROPERTY A 500-year-old converted barn L O C AT I O N Wiltshire R O O M S Open-plan kitchen-diner/living area, family room, office, utility room, boot room, five bedrooms (three en suite), dressing room, bathroom P U R C H A S E D 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a Victorian house in London,’ says Fiona.

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LIVING AREA A double-sided fireplace wall forms a stylish divider.

The surrounding landscape inspired the earthy tones and textural pieces.

Eleanor coffee table by Benchmark, £1,895, Byron & Gomez. Try The White Company’s Southwold table lamp, £195

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LIVING AREA The Ficus benjamina was a present for Fiona’s 50th birthday and joins all the other beautiful greenery.

Framed convex mirror, £1,980, B&S Glass

D

espite this barn’s dilapidated state with a corrugated iron roof and pigeons living inside, Fiona Lindsay wasn’t daunted by the task of transforming it into her dream home. After 25 years in London, she was lured by the 4.5 acre plot near the Wiltshire village where she grew up, and relished starting from scratch. ‘It was an abandoned shell but the amazing views clinched it,’ she says.

As planning permission was already granted, architect Mike Fowler (faap.co.uk) adapted the plans and added an extra bedroom. ‘It’s essentially a giant bungalow – the total opposite to the tall skinny Victorian terrace we had before,’ says Fiona, who lives with husband Iain and their children Honey, 18, and Angus, 16. ‘As we wanted to preserve the character of the beams, there are only two first-floor rooms at each end – Iain’s office and a guest suite. This meant we could retain a full-height ceiling in the open-plan kitchen-diner and living space in between.’

Fiona and Iain’s ground-floor bedroom feels like a quiet retreat, due to the dressing room and en-suite bathroom separating it from the main living space. ‘It’s a long way from the children’s rooms in the side wing, so you don’t hear a thing, which works well with a houseful of teenagers.’

The family rented a home nearby during the project, which included installing ground source heating. ‘The property is very exposed and the roof blew off in a storm just months into the build,’ remembers Fiona. ‘We had to reinforce it with more beams, which swallowed up our contingency fund. With a new build, your costings are usually

LIVING AREA Art plays an important part in the modern aesthetic of the barn.

Artwork, Kitty Stirling. The Filipe recycled teak bench, £199, Tikamoon, would also work here S TA I R C A S E A stunning bookshelf brings character to this corner.

Try Tylko’s wall storage Type 02, £1,687. Sybil console table, £325, La Redoute, is similar

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HONEY’S BEDROOM Painting everything black, including the ceiling, door and skirtings, is the key to making this look work.

Walls in Lamp Black absolute emulsion, £52 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

EN SUITE Simple and uncluttered were the watchwords for this design, which features a jute runner for warmth and texture.

Jute runner, £60, Next.

Concrete floor, from £110sq m, Lazenby

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spot on, but when you buy something old like this, you just don’t know what you’re going to find.’

To compensate, landscaping plans were put on hold. ‘There wasn’t a single plant when we arrived, as it had been a working farmyard covered in 1970s steel agricultural buildings,’ says Fiona. ‘Since then, we’ve planted around a thousand hedging plants and trees, as well as creating a wild flower meadow.’

Fiona’s friend Ange Howell designed the interior. ‘Ange’s expertise was invaluable in zoning the 18-metre-long living space and creating sight lines through one space into another,’ says Fiona.

‘The original plans had the fireplace at one end of the room, but we went for a double-sided fireplace in the middle to break it up.’

Despite having a clear vision, Fiona says moving back into the huge space was daunting. ‘Initially, it felt like a commercial unit with the concrete floors.

Our possessions looked a bit lost and it took a while to soften the space with furniture, rugs and plants.

Now the space flows well and we use it all.’

These days the barn earns its keep as a location house (Ham House on lightlocations.com) and was the backdrop for Fiona and Iain’s wedding reception a few years ago when teepees were erected in the garden. An annexe has also been built for Fiona’s mother, after she was widowed and lost her eyesight in the same year. ‘It’s a mini version of the barn so she can live independently,’ says Fiona. ‘It’s lovely being back near family and the kids are already planning the parties they missed in lockdown. I feel privileged to have been able to build a house for my family and I’ve no intention of ever moving – I’d find it hard to leave such beautiful surroundings.’

MAIN BEDROOM A Moroccan pendant light ties in with black accents elsewhere.

Piper king-size bed, from £1,045, Loaf. Yazdan bedside table, £375, La Redoute. Try the Winchcombe dark oak chest of drawers, £895, The Cotswold Company

‘You can easily ruin a barn by overdoing it, being too contrived and adding too much wood – I’ve let the beams speak for themselves and kept everything else simple and pared back’

LESSON LEARNT

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HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A detached self-build L O C AT I O N South London R O O M S Sitting area, family area, kitchen-diner, snug, office, cloakroom, gym, five bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms B U I LT 2020 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before this, we were living in a flat nearby,’ says Putri.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Inspired by their native New Zealand, Putri and Ben Mackereth built an indoor-outdoor home in the heart of the city FEATURE SEÁN O’CONNELL/JO DYSON | PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS SNOOK STYLING PUTRI MACKERETH

S I T T I N G / F A M I LY A R E A S A beautiful ceiling feature helps zone the spaces.

Try the Jiraya fringed rug, £99, La Redoute. Karla armchair (sitting area, left), £699, Swoon. Capri tray table, £252, Mmilo. Éclair leather sofa, £3,195, Sofa Workshop. Connaught ceiling light (family area, below), £390, Dowsing & Reynolds

P AT I O Two sets of sliding doors open onto this outdoor space – it’s a location that comes into its element in summer, says Putri.

Outdoor lounge set, £1,199, Out & Out. Bifold metal doors, price on request, Steel Door Solutions

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DINING AREA Large terrazzo-style floor tiles complement the metal-framed doors and industrial-style lighting.

Hendrix Grey porcelain floor tiles, £82.80sq m, Mandarin Stone. Dar Academy light, £259, Lighting Direct. Wire chairs, £149 each, Where Saints Go. Skogsta table, £399, Ikea

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KITCHEN-DINER ‘This is where I spend most of my time and it makes a great space for entertaining,’ says Putri.

Handleless Leicht kitchen, price on request, Elan Kitchens.

Portobello ceiling lights, £115 each, Dowsing & Reynolds.

Road House bar stools, £169 each, Where Saints Go

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ew Zealanders Putri and Ben Mackereth only moved to the UK 12 years ago, but they have wasted no time in making their mark. With each setting up their own company – Ben’s a building firm (@mac_building) and Putri’s an interior design consultancy (maehousedesign.com) – they’ve since carried out over 100 house renovations for clients.

Given their complementary skill sets, it is no surprise that the pair decided to combine their talents to create their own dream home. After searching for the perfect plot, Ben came across a run-down 1940s house in south London with around 700sq m of land. ‘The plan was to demolish the old property and build a contemporary-style detached home with the help of our architect David Bell,’ says Putri. However, being in a

conservation area, the edgy build that the couple had in mind needed to be tempered. The solution was to create a house with architectural characteristics that were sympathetic to those of the surrounding area. The pair admit their timing could have been better – they demolished the existing house in February 2020, just as the pandemic was about to take hold. Fortunately the build proved straightforward. ‘The only hurdles were those caused by having to submit several planning applications before getting a design passed that we were truly happy with,’ says Ben. Another priority for the couple were the property’s eco credentials. As well as excellent insulation for thermal efficiency, Putri and Ben installed an air source heat pump, which powers the wet underfloor heating throughout the house.

An added benefit is that no gas is required at the property.

‘Creating clever storage makes such a difference to our living spaces as the kids’ clutter can be easily put away out of sight’

DESIGN ADVICE

‘Sometimes starting from a blank canvas is easier than refurbishing and self-building allowed us to make our family home exactly how we wanted it,’ says Ben. Putri agrees but remembers the hectic final push. ‘After spending lockdown in a small flat with our three young children, Bodhi, now five, and twins Freddy and Jack, two, we set ourselves an ambitious target of having Christmas dinner in the new house. With this self-imposed deadline, we gave notice on our rental and moved in with the final building works still going on around us. Being on site makes you realise just how much work goes into the finishing touches; we never gave our builders enough credit for just how long things take!’

Once in, however, they soon made the place feel like their own, with the kitchen being the centre of family life. ‘I spend so

much of my time here and I love that I can keep an eye on the children,’ says Putri. The contemporary styling of the interior on the ground-floor area is matched by the sleek flooring with a touch of the industrial. ‘We wanted a polished concrete floor, but after doing some research we found out concrete can stain and crack and is difficult to patch in when something goes wrong,’ says Ben. ‘So we opted for large terrazzo-style porcelain tiles.’ Another space that’s fantastically fit for purpose is the main bedroom. ‘I wanted to create a luxury hotel-room feel with an open-plan en suite complete with freestanding bath as a space to unwind after a busy day,’ says Putri. The rest of the house is similarly cool and calming. ‘Not only does our house work brilliantly for our young kids now, it can be easily adapted to work well as they grow older.’

‘We put in an air source heat pump, which powers the wet underfloor heating system, so the house is run without gas’

LAST WORD

MAIN EN SUITE This has a boutique-hotel feel.

Stratford double vanity unit with Carrara marble top, £1,695, Lusso Stone

SNUG ‘The boys love this area even more than we do!’ says Putri.

Wall painted in Down Pipe, £52 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Neon sign, price on request, A1deSIGNS

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BODHI’S BEDROOM A palette of soft pinks brings warmth to the scheme.

Wall mural, Etsy. Wardrobe doors, £312, Superfront, fitted to the Ikea Pax system

MAIN BEDROOM The walnut coffered ceiling is a striking feature.

Southwark bedside tables, £179 each, Swoon

P R O J E C T D E TA I L S D E S I G N E R Design director Yousef Mansuri from C.P. Hart P R O P E R T Y Country home in East Sussex W O R K Building an enlarged main en suite

B AT H R O O M F O C U S

GLAM RETREAT

Angela Herbert called in the experts to make her small en suite a big, beautiful and dreamy spa-style bathroom FEATURE CHARLOTTE LUXFORD | PHOTOGRAPHY ANNA STATHAKI

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fter selling her restaurant and cookery school business, Angela Herbert decided to up sticks and start afresh in the East Sussex countryside. After paying a visit to the C.P. Hart showroom in Tunbridge Wells, Angela tasked design director Yousef Mansuri with creating the sanctuary-style en suite retreat she had always dreamed of.

THE BRIEF

‘Angela wanted a special, feminine bathroom where she could completely relax,’ says Yousef. The original en suite was to be enlarged, with the new layout designed to be as versatile as possible, maximising all available space.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

‘The existing small en suite occupied one corner of a big bedroom, with an empty space in the centre,’ explains Yousef. ‘It made sense to replace it with a new bathroom created by building a stud wall across the width of one third of the bedroom, producing a much more generous en suite.’

Angela had sourced beautiful antique French double doors, which now open into the new en suite, with the freestanding tub as the focal point of the room. ‘The double-ended design means she can lie in whichever direction she chooses and enjoy the views,’ says Yousef.

A symmetrical, double-entry shower sits beyond the bath, and tucked away beside the French doors is a double vanity unit, offering plenty of storage.

FINISHING TOUCHES

‘The bath was painted in Sulking Room Pink by Farrow & Ball to create a classically feminine look,’ explains Yousef.

‘This blends with the marble-effect tiles that clad the shower wall, with grey and gold veining complementing the natural wood-effect herringbone floor.’ For a contemporary twist, Yousef chose black brassware and accessories.

LESSONS LEARNT

‘The whole project was coordinated remotely during lockdown,’ says Yousef. ‘As this was a first for us, we anticipated that there may be a few obstacles to overcome, however the process was incredibly smooth! We worked through Angela’s vision for the space, ensuring we maximised all the room available within the budget.’

A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN

Angela wanted this room to feel unashamedly feminine, opting for pink tones throughout. Gold-flecked marble-look tiles add warmth, while a chandelier offers understated glamour.

BC Designs boat bath in Farrow & Ball’s Sulking Room Pink, £1,584; MPRO floorstanding bath shower mixer, £1,092; wall-mounted basin mixers, £414 each; Vos shower head, £376; Drench Border screen, £1,137; Artelinea Incanto vanity unit, £4,952; Cielo Era wash bowls, £723 each; Solstice lighted mirrors, £342 each; Norway Micro Greige floor tiles, £57.11sq m; Bistrot Calacatta Michelangelo wall tiles, £47.18sq m, all C.P. Hart

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SUNSHINE Cortney and Robert Novogratz rebuilt this Spanish revival villa as a bright, contemporary family home FEATURE JULIET BENNING | PHOTOGRAPHY AMY NEUNSINGER AND GUS BLACK

SITTING ROOM White walls allow the high ceiling and arched window to be the focus of attention. A mix of organic and geometric forms lends interest.

Amrita accent chair, £595, Made, would work here. Source Pierre Jeanneret armchair on 1stDibs. Similar natural cowhide rug, £389, Amara. Alta bench, $2,088, Vesta. Similar Tekka wood side table, £125, Sklum, has this look

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HOME TRUTHS D E S I G N E R S Cortney and Robert Novogratz P R O P E R T Y A Spanish revival house in Los Angeles, built in 1931 W O R K Complete renovation, adding first floor with bedroom suite and new pool house

KITCHEN The curves of the bar stools provide a beautiful contrast to the clean, contemporary lines of the architecture. Venetian polished plaster walls and the grain of white oak introduce textural elements.

For a similar polished plaster finish, try Stucco Veneziano. Range cooker, price on request, La Cornue. High bar stools, £219 each, Sklum, are an alternative

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W H AT AT T R A C T E D YO U T O T H E A R E A ? Bird Streets is my favourite part of

Los Angeles and one of the most desirable. It’s up in the Hollywood Hills and all movie stars of the past used to live here so there’s an air of old Hollywood glamour. It’s named after the birds which are prolific and there are tonnes of trees and wildlife. You’re half a mile up from Sunset Boulevard and yet you’re in a different world.

W H AT WA S I T T H AT S T R U C K YO U A B O U T T H I S P R O P E R T Y ? We fell in

love with the courtyard. It’s an unusual feature and while many people cover them in to get extra

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indoor square footage, we wanted an indoor/ outdoor lifestyle and this focal part of the home ensures there’s a great sense of openness and communication between the rooms. The plot was secluded and private with tall hedges so we’re not overlooked. It had been lived in by the same man for many years and hadn’t been touched since the 1970s so we had a real opportunity to restore it.

W H AT W E R E YO U R M A I N PRIORITIES FOR THE PROJECT?

We wanted to rebuild the house from the ground up to make it the most luxe and modern version of itself but at the same time we wanted

POOL HOUSE BAR An interplay of horizontal and vertical planes strikes a chic note.

Vintage Charlotte Perriand Les Arcs bar stool, £1,441, available at Vinterior

SITTING ROOM The new fireplace (right) makes a strong focal point. Pale colours allow the warmth of the wood to shine.

Ophelia XX chandelier, price on request, Stahl + Band.

Photograph, Diego Uchitel. Maximilian dining chairs, $528 each, Vesta. Custom fireplace (right), designed by Noor El-Mohandes. Artwork (right) by Enoc Perez

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H A L LWAY The slim black steel frames of the windows tie in with that of the artwork. House plants inject a sense of vitality.

Black pedestal, £69.99, H&M Home, would work here

to retain its classical old Spanish vibe which we achieved through the application of white stucco, using reclaimed terracotta tiles for the roof and the chequered tiles of the courtyard.

W H AT W E R E YO U R B I G G E S T C H A L L E N G E S ? Building into a hillside is

not for the faint-hearted and you have to plan for earthquakes. There were the obvious problems associated with Covid, mainly to do with supply lines and everything being expensive. Because we live between New York and Los Angeles, I was flying out to be on site for two weeks per month.

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You have to get your hands dirty with a project of this scale – if you take your eye off the ball, things tend to slow down.

W H AT WA S T H E M O S T S AT I S F Y I N G A S P E C T O F T H E P R O J E C T ? In Los Angeles, there aren’t a lot

of building rules, so much of the time people buy old mansions and extend them to make them as big as they can. I felt like we kept the integrity of the original house and to a size that was appropriate for the lot. Even though it’s modern, it looks like it could have been there for 50 years.

MAIN BEDROOM A slimline picture window brings more of the outside in.

Try Emily ottoman storage bed, from £499, John Lewis & Partners. Artwork by Ivan Wittenstein.

Lillee table lamp in Ebony, £67, Pooky, is similar

M A I N B AT H R O O M A deep and curvaceous tub offers a counterpoint to the crisp architecture.

Styli oval bath, £6.984; Dash floor-mounted bath filler, £4,638, Waterworks, are similar.

Try the Teak Root side table, £564, Raft

C O U R T YA R D The chequered floor tiles have a Spanish revival flavour.

Similar encaustic tiles, £152sq m, Otto Tiles & Design. PK1 dining chair by Carl Hansen, £509, The Conran Shop.

Choe oblong table, £235, La Redoute

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‘We highlighted the structure of the glazed link by painting the steel gold bronze,’ says Nick.

Ercol blonde Windsor Jubilee armchair is similar, £420, Vinterior. Souk wool rug, from £579, West Elm

LIVING AREA

The scheme is pared back with simple furniture designs and a touch of colour thanks to the blue velvet sofa.

Bradford sofa in Ink Blue, £1,399, West Elm. Compass table is similar, £95, Unto This Last. Adra linen cushions in Natural are an alternative, £42 for 2, Made

KITCHEN

‘Plywood doors were cut to size, lacquered, oiled and fitted to off-the-shelf cupboard carcasses,’ says Nick.

Cupboards finished in Osmo top oil in White 3037, £20 for 500ml, Wood Finishes Direct. Vetro wall light, £50, Made

Picture perfect A peaceful countryside setting inspired Nick and Tara Jordan to convert two barns into a family home with expansive views FEATURE JANE CRITTENDEN | PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH | STYLING MARISHA TAYLOR

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HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Barn conversion L O C AT I O N Hampshire R O O M S Kitchen-diner/living area, four bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom B U I LT 2019 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We renovated a one-bedroom flat in Hackney before moving here,’ says Nick.

DINING AREA

‘The right glazing solutions were important to connect the house to the landscape, which has such lovely views,’ explains Nick.

Rustic dining table is similar, £190, The Rustic Way. Try the Wood H17 Windsor chair, £108, Royal Design. Knixhult pendant lights, £40 each, Ikea

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KITCHEN

A sleek, contemporary look is achieved with white work surfaces and plywood cupboards.

Caesarstone quartz worktop in White is similar, from £460m, The Marble Group. Furniture cross knobs in Black, £35 each, Buster & Punch

‘Plywood as a finish fitted our budget, but with creative designs for a high-end look’

DESIGN TIP

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EN SUITE

A pair of enamel basins with brushed brass fixtures stand out against the charcoal grey wall.

Alape washstand basins, £135 each, Majorelle Interiors. Lindbyn mirrors, £45 each, Ikea

BATHROOM

‘Concealed LEDs above the tiles highlight the angle of the ceiling,’ says Nick.

Lauro countertop stone basin, £327, Lusso Stone.

Mina rattan chair is similar, £129, Tikamoon. Cushion, £105, Sourced By Holly

MAIN BEDROOM

The use of natural materials throughout, such as this rattan shade, creates continuity.

Hamilton weave natural pendant shade, £19.99, Value Lights. 1950s apothecary drawers are similar, £895, 1stDibs

ADA’S BEDROOM

Terracotta pink on walls is warm and cocooning.

Try Red 03 matt paint, £41 for 2.5ltr, Lick. Felted wool elephant head, £74.95, Fiona Walker at Trouva.

Lohals rug, £100, Ikea

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onverting a pair of 1950s barns became an unexpected adventure for interiors architect Nick Jordan from Studio Jordan (studiojordan.com) and his wife Tara, a primary school teacher. With plans to move out of London for more space, the pair hadn’t intended to take on a project this big. Nor had they expected to be living in a caravan when their daughter, Ada, now three, was born. ‘None of the houses we saw were right, but we were smitten with the barns,’ says Nick. The 1.4-acre plot comprised two 14 2 | 2 5 B H J ULY 202 2

single-storey stable blocks – one long and narrow and the other, square. Planning permission was already in place for them to be connected with a glazed corridor to create one house, but Nick wanted to push the design further.

A major issue was the small windows. ‘We have uninterrupted views, so we felt large windows were important to connect the barns to the landscape,’ he says. ‘In principle, we liked the glazed link, but we increased its width so it was less of a corridor and more of a useful living space.’

In his redesign, Nick improved window placements and sight lines. Bedrooms and bathrooms were kept side-byside down the long barn but in the square barn, he didn’t like the separated rooms or the mezzanine. ‘We left the barn as one large, open-plan room so we could enjoy the drama of the vaulted ceiling,’ he explains.

With the new permission obtained, work began with a project manager – but things didn’t go to plan. ‘I wasn’t always happy with the quality of workmanship by the trades,’ says Nick. ‘We got to a weathertight

stage, then Tara and I picked up the reins so we could be assured of a high-quality finish.’ Inside, steel beams, plywood finishes and polished concrete flooring enhance the buildings. A neutral scheme creates a cohesive journey throughthehouseandcomplements the surrounding landscape.

Thankfully, the project was worth the hard work. ‘I like the little moments we’ve created that allow us to view the spaces from a different perspective – a glass of wine in the glazed link, a coffee on the window seat,’ says Nick. ‘Creating this home was an opportunity we couldn’t miss.’

IDEAS TO SHARE The interiors at Callow Hall hotel have been given a vibrant update

ROOM ENVY

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

rand spanking new hotel group Wildhive (wildhive.uk) has opened its doors to its first property, Callow Hall in Derbyshire, a beautiful 19th-century mansion set in 35 acres of untamed English countryside. Very much a disciple of the outside-in living philosophy, Callow Hall is perfectly positioned as a base to explore all that the spectacular Peak District National Park has to offer.

From well-planned day trips to early morning treks along the local trails, there’s plenty to see and do. Come here for easy tailored access to hiking trails and bike routes. Take a Wildhive bike and venture along the Tissington Trail and stop off for tea on the Tissington Hall Estate. If you’re a keen hiker, discover the 14 6 | 2 5 B H J ULY 202 2

stepping stones in Dove Valley, climb Thorpe Cloud or plot your own route across the Peaks. Culinary offerings include wild picnics and barbecues and in the warmer months you can book a woodland feast under a canopy beneath the stars.

There are 15 bedrooms to snuggle up in in the main house.

Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, choose from woodland accommodation, including one-bedroom hives and self-contained two-bedroom tree houses for a touch of luxury in untouched woodland. It’s not all muddy boots and working out though – the main house and its bedrooms were given a soft, delicate and very pretty update by interior designer Isabella Worsley and there’s a botanicals focused spa down in the coach house.

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