Innehållsförteckning för 09-2015 från 25 Beautiful Homes

One of the most interesting aspects of the houses that we include in 25 Beautiful Homes is looking at the floorplans we receive with some of them. It always intrigues me how families work with architects and interior designers to reconfigure the basic layouts of British homes to suit their individual needs. I think most of us can think in terms of knocking a wall down here and there, and possibly even moving a doorway. However, I find it harder to imagine what might be gained from turning around or even repositioning a staircase. So studying these floorplans shows what can be achieved, at a price of course. With typical Victorian terraced houses there are some standard improvements, such as adding a side-return extension to expand the kitchen, knocking the…

LOCATION COMPANIES We have just finished renovating our beautiful detached home, with stunning views across open countryside. I would love to try to hire it out for photoshoots or films, but where do I start? ALEXANDRA MAYER, MANCHESTER The idea of your home earning money is appealing, particularly when photoshoots can earn around £500 a day, while a film can reap £2,500 a day. JJ Locations (020 7749 0500, jjlocations.com), one of the UK’s biggest location agencies, tell me that the majority of shoots and films take place within the M25 – a house outside this area would need to have something unique to offer. Houses with good natural light and large rooms are particularly popular, and ground-floor access and parking are also important. You will need to be flexible,…

The Eltinks’ home features a mixture of classic terracotta, modern geometrics, timeless black-and-white checks and painted floorboards. It can be hard to pull together so many contrasting styles and finishes, but a cohesive colour palette and a judicious approach to pattern and scale are all it takes to make an impact. Mix it up If you’d like to follow Leny and Harrie’s lead, try mixing patterns and plains. Always consider scale, since a little motif or colour can go far, particularly in small rooms. Creating a mood board is a really helpful way of seeing how to achieve a sense of balance and proportion and how to build your scheme layer by layer. For example, if you’re planning a really eye-catching geometric floor, try complementing it with a neutral palette…

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Semi-detached villa, built in 1862 LOCATION Southwest London ROOMS Sitting room/kitchen-diner/study, family room, cloakroom, three bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom PURCHASED 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a semi-detached Edwardian house in Ealing before we moved here,’ says Claire. Moving to a Victorian cottage in Richmond was always Claire and Ron Davis’s retirement plan. ‘We were living in a house in Ealing, but we wanted to downsize,’ says Claire. ‘For us, Richmond was perfect. There’s plenty of green areas but the shops and theatre are still right on our doorstep.’ However, downsizing is never easy, and when the couple found this semi-detached villa, they realised they would need to reconfigure the space to suit their lifestyle. ‘The house was in good shape, so we could…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Elizabethan manor LOCATION West Somerset ROOMS Hall, sitting room, dining room, breakfast room, kitchen, snug, boot room, laundry room, five bedrooms, three bathrooms PURCHASED 2006 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We used to live in a farmhouse on the edge of Exmoor,’ says Finny. FAVOURITE ROOM ‘I love our kitchen. With three sons – who are always hungry – and their friends coming and going, it’s usually a busy room and a great gathering point with everyone sitting around the kitchen table’ Finny Muers-Raby and her husband Nigel, were originally drawn to their historic Somerset manor not only by its glorious red Quantock stone façade and rare rounded mullion windows, but also for its history. ‘There is only one other house from this period in England…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian terrace LOCATION Dublin ROOMS Hall/sittingroom/kitchen-diner, two bedrooms, bathroom PURCHASED 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in an apartment in the Dublin suburbs before moving to this place,’ says Mairead. FAVOURITE ROOM ‘The open-plan ground floor is a beautiful area to be in. It feels really spacious and the layout works so well’ Building contractor Colin Wendel has renovated many houses in Dublin, but from the start, this pretty terrace in the city centre was one he wanted to keep for himself. ‘It was the location that appealed to me as the property is in a street of Victorian homes next to a 19th-century reservoir,’ says Colin. ‘It was derelict, so we got it for a reasonable price and I knew I could bring it up…

NEW-BUILD HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached house LOCATION Leicestershire ROOMS Sitting room, dining room, kitchen, family room/ study, cinema room, cloakroom, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, basement with gym and pool BUILT 2008 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before I built this place, I lived in the house next door,’ says Barbara. DESIGN ADVICE ‘It’s easy to get carried away when designing a house from scratch – walk through the house mentally at the planning stage to make sure it works for you’ A love of property renovation and an adventurous spirit was what inspired Barbara Mansfield when she was hunting for a new home in the Leicestershire countryside. ‘I’ve lived in this area for years and love it,’ she says. ‘After building my last home, I was after a new challenge, and amazingly…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Apartment, built in 1800 LOCATION Edinburgh ROOMS Sitting room, drawing room, kitchen-diner, study, utility room, larder, snug, cloakroom, four bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms PURCHASED 2011 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving, we had a smaller apartment nearby,’ says Louise FAVOURITE ITEM ‘We saw the kitchen table while on a winter holiday in Copenhagen and ordered it as soon as we got home – it arrived just in time for Christmas’ Knowing they wanted to make central Edinburgh their home, Louise and Scott Coates took on the renovation of a substantial ground-floor garden apartment in the heart of the New Town. The property was in an almost ghostly state when they bought it, as it had been badly neglected. But, unfazed, the couple went ahead with…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian apartment LOCATION Southwest London ROOMS Hall, sitting/dining room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom MOVED IN 2010 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before here, we lived in a two-bedroom flat nearby,’ says James. DECORATING ADVICE ‘Customise inexpensive frames by applying gilt cream to the inner edges. It’s really effective’ James Neil, PR for interiors brand India Jane, and his partner Giles Morrison took a creative approach when it came to decorating their small but perfectly formed London apartment. ‘Less is more’ isn’t a mantra that appeals; instead, the pair love to upcycle unusual pieces. ‘We like using our imagination, and none of our ideas break the bank,’ says James. ‘For example, an inexpensive way to create a marble tabletop is to use floor tiles,’ he says pointing to a hand-carved…

DISTINCTIVE home truths THE PROPERTY Georgian detached house LOCATION Derbyshire ROOMS Sitting room, reception room, kitchen, study, cloakroom, three bedrooms, bathroom PURCHASED 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I rented a 1970s rectory in Derbyshire, while the renovation took place,’ says Louise. Louise Trevatt might not have been looking for a project, but when a 200-year-old run down house in Derbyshire caught her eye, she rose to the challenge. Although it needed a great deal of work, she knew it suited her needs. ‘I’d converted a barn years ago, so I wasn’t scared to take it on,’ says Louise. ‘I couldn’t wait to get started.’ Louise wanted a place where she could both live and run her life-coach training business, Simply Changing, from. ‘Even though the property was in a terrible state and…

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1 LILAC LIGHT Matthew Williamson glass table lamp, £80, Debenhams 2 BLOOMING BEAUTIES Vintage-style orchid framed prints, £325 for six 14 x 17in pictures, The Farthing 3 BERRY TASTY Polka tiered porcelain cake stand with beech stem, £85, Annabel James 4 SHADES OF VIOLET Bespoke shutters in Lavender, from £320sq m, Shutterly Fabulous 5 PURPLE PEW Chloe chair in Grape, £295, Within 6 LOUNGE IN LAVENDER Filippa Polly cushion cover in fawn, £28, Broste 7 BLACKBERRY FLAVOUR Halvåtta milk jug, £24, Clippings 8 EYE-CATCHING HUE Julian Chichester Regency long wave cabinet, £4,543, The Longest Stay 9 FLORAL SHADES Faux hydrangea flower, £4.95 per stem, Berry Red…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached 1930s house LOCATION West Sussex ROOMS Sitting room/ kitchen-diner, family room, study, cloakroom, four bedrooms (two en suite), bathroom, summerhouse PURCHASED 2008 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived near Calais in France, in a modern house close to the beach,’ says Sue. DECORATING TIP ‘Choose soft summery fabrics for a Scandinavian feel’ INSPIRATIONS ‘I love subtle shades against a pale backdrop for a splash of colour’ An instant decision to put in an offer on a 1930s house in a pretty Sussex village paid off for Sue Wilkinson and her husband Tim. ‘The moment I stepped inside, I knew it would be ideal for our growing family as it had a lot of potential,’ says Sue. ‘It was on…

DISTINCTIVE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Art Deco 1920s detached LOCATION Belfast ROOMS Hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, playroom, three bedrooms, bathroom, self-contained floor with sitting room, study, utility room, two bedrooms, bathroom PURCHASED 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in New York,’ says Fiona. DESIGN TIP‘Shop around to get an interesting mix of furniture and accessories for your own eclectic scheme’ Fiona Kennedy’s interiors style was inspired by the artistic energy and diverse design influences she absorbed while living in New York. ‘I spent six years there with my husband David, and I thrived on the vibrant lifestyle,’ she says. ‘I’m very arty, so I loved exploring galleries and yard sales.’ Luckily, Fiona channelled this inspiration into her husband’s former home in Ireland. ‘We moved back in…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Two-storey farmhouse, built in 1862 LOCATION Portballintrae, Northern Ireland ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, snug, utility room, five bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom PURCHASED 2010 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We’ve moved numerous times within this area, but we built our last home ourselves,’ says Shirley. DESIGN TIP‘Enlist the skills of a good quantity surveyor, especially if you’re renovating an old home – this will help keep the project on budget’ Cycling along the coast one day in a seaside village in Northern Ireland, a ‘For sale’ sign almost made Shirley Bonnar and her husband Brian fall off their bikes. ‘We’d always loved this house, but had never seen it on the market,’ says Shirley. Unfortunately, the property was out of their budget but the estate agent promised…

NEW-BUILD HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Contemporary detached LOCATION Cumbria ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, snug, studio, shower room and gym, utility room, five bedrooms (three en suite), dressing room, bathroom BUILT IN 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before here, we lived in a townhouse close by,’ says Julie. Julie and David Cox have a special bond with Southeast Asia having spent the best part of 20 years living there. So when they decided to build their own home in coastal Cumbria, naturally most of their Eastern belongings came with them. ‘David’s work as a chartered engineer gave us the opportunity to live in three major cities with access to amazing shops, where we bought some beautiful pieces of furniture,’ explains Julie. ‘One of our favourites is our four-poster bed from Hong…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Semi-detached Edwardian house LOCATION Surrey ROOMS Sitting room, kitchen-diner, utility room, study, cloakroom, three bedrooms, bathroom PURCHASED 2007 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in Kingston in a three-bedroom semi-detached Victorian house,’ says Liz. When looking for a larger family home, Liz and Mark Daborn were sent the details of a house, but disregarded it. ‘It was completely out of our price range,’ explains Liz. ‘But we took a look at the insistence of our estate agent.’ Once inside, the couple fell in love with the large spacious rooms and the tall ceilings. ‘We were determined to have this house, so we bargained hard and, luckily, we got it.’ In dire need of renovation, the property had been poorly modernised. There were chocolate brown carpets throughout which…

DISTINCTIVE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Converted Georgian stable and coach house LOCATION Dublin ROOMS Sitting area/ kitchen-diner, five bedrooms, two bathrooms PURCHASED 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We also own a redbrick Victorian house in the suburbs,’ says Simon. FAVOURITE ITEM ‘I love the dining table. It’s huge, impossible to damage and can be used for food prep, kids’ projects, as an artist’s work table, and just about anything else – it also easily seats 10 people’ AGeorgian former stable for sale on a quiet Dublin street instantly caught the eye of serial renovator Simon Carthy while looking for a new home for himself, his wife Jo and daughter Freja, 4. ‘Although the upstairs had been residential, the ground floor had been a workshop, gallery, then latterly a café,’ he says. ‘I…

UNIQUE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Terraced villa, built in 1904 LOCATION West London ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, utility room, cloakroom, three bedrooms, three bathrooms PURCHASED 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before here, we lived in a large apartment nearby,’ says Louise. DESIGN TIP ‘When you’re deciding on a colour scheme, you can often find inspiration by opening your wardrobe. By decorating using the hues you love to wear, your house will always be a delight to come home to’ Given the trend for downscaling and decluttering, Louise Matthews’ decorating approach is refreshingly different. ‘I wanted our home to be a feast for the senses, so forget “less is more” – I always think “more is better”,’ she says. But when moving to her west London home, many months…

UNIQUE HOME TRUTHS  THE PROPERTY Stone barn, built in the 1400s LOCATION North Yorkshire ROOMS Sitting/dining room, kitchen, utility room, study, galleried reading room, two bedrooms (one en suite), plus a two-bedroom guest cottage PURCHASED2011 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a terraced house nearby,’ says Annie. Annie and Ken Stirk nearly overlooked a 15th-century barn in Brandsby, North Yorkshire during their search for a new home. On paper it looked too small, but visiting the historic building soon revealed its potential. ‘We saw the four beautiful oak trusses and thought, ‘wow’, recalls Annie. ‘Then we crossed the courtyard and were pleasantly surprised by the old wood store and outbuildings.’ As well as realising that they could build on the footprint to create a study and utility room – the couple…

INSPIRING home truths THE PROPERTY Grade II listed Arts & Crafts villa, built in 1903 LOCATION Cheshire ROOMS Hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, attic room PURCHASED 1997 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before we bought this place, we lived in a small three-bedroom 1960s house nearby,’ says Hayley. Viewing a run-down home that required a huge number of urgent updates would put most people off buying it, but not Hayley Trenholm and Brian McCabe. ‘When we were house hunting, our son Henry was two, so finding a place close to good schools in this part of Cheshire was our top priority, and we knew this was a respectable area,’ says Hayley. ‘We were competing with many parents of the same mindset, so it was a case…

1 UPON REFLECTION Biba Toulouse dressing table and mirror, £698, House of Fraser 2 ILLUMINATING IDEA Constance table lamp, £476, 4Living 3 CRYSTAL CLEAR Eichholtz Kasbah oval medium chandelier, £770, Sweetpea & Willow 4 LET IT SHINE Chikla crackled silver hurricane lamp, from £39, Lizard Orchid 5 GLOW IN STYLE La Collezione Merkur three-arm candelabra, £345, Ziggiziggi 6 YOUR ROUND Round drinks trolley, £325, MiaFleur 7 SILVER SERVICE Acorn stows in hammered stainless steel, from £25, In-Spaces 8 SILKY SHIMMER Riviera duck egg cushion, £35, Fable 9 BOTTLE IT UP Glamour decanter with ring stopper, £58, Artisanti 10 SLEEK SEAT Signature lounge chair, £5,660, the Barbara Barry Collection at Baker Furniture…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY 18th-century farmhouse LOCATION Brabant, the Netherlands ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen, study, utility room, bedroom, bathroom PURCHASED 1974 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in an apartment nearby,’ says Leny. FAVOURITE ROOM ‘I love the sitting room, as it’s so bright and peaceful, plus the mixed textures of the floor tiles, wood beams and stone walls give the room a cosy feel’ Most homeowners would be prepared to work hard to create their ideal place, but very few would be willing to put in as much time and effort as Leny and Harrie Eltink. Having always dreamt of moving to a cottage in the countryside, the Dutch couple searched for three years before they finally found an old cotter’s farm in the…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian terrace LOCATION Southwest London ROOMS Sitting room, kitchen-diner, TV room/guest suite, library, study, cloakroom, two bedrooms (both en suite), dressing room PURCHASED 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before this, we lived in a 1930s terrace nearby,’ says Alison. After passing a Victorian terrace in a quiet enclave in Chelsea for the last 20 years, Alison Papworth always had an inkling that one day, she, her husband and her son, Sebastian, 19, would live there. ‘I’ve been going to the local Lots Road auctions ever since I can remember, and I would often park outside this property and I loved its distinctive appearance,’ says Alison. ‘It was my dream home, and when I noticed it was for sale, I just had to have a look.’ The house…

NEW-BUILD HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Self-built detached cottage LOCATION Surrey ROOMS Hall, sitting room/ kitchen-diner, utility room, cloakroom, two bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom BUILT IN 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before this place, we lived in a three-bedroom house also in Surrey,’ says Yolande. DESIGN TIP ‘In a small space, try restricting pattern to maintain a calm and uncluttered feel’ When Yolande and George Hesse decided to downsize from their three-bedroom home in Surrey, they had their heart set on a vibrant village nearby, where they could enjoy a blend of town and country living. ‘It has an art school, a theatre, hospital, plenty of gastropubs and restaurants, and a farmers’ market once a month,’ says Yolande. ‘Plus, you can get around on a bike.’ The couple were already…

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Stone-built Cotswold cottage, dating from 1850 LOCATION West Oxfordshire ROOMS Hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, garden room, cloakroom, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, shower room PURCHASED 1999 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I lived in a larger property in a nearby village before,’ says Chris. LAST WORD ‘We are in a beautifully unspoilt village that has a real heart and very active community – we consider ourselves extremely fortunate to live here’ When Chris Burton first saw her cottage in West Oxfordshire, it was considerably smaller than it is today. ‘The house was in such a lovely location and, although not very big, it was perfectly formed,’ says Chris. ‘At the time I was single and I felt it had everything I was looking for, with one bedroom,…

UNIQUE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Terraced workman’s cottage, built circa 1900 LOCATION Paris ROOMS Hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, studio, two bedrooms, bathroom MOVED IN 2010 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before here, we lived close by in Les Yvelines,’ says Stephanie. Five years ago Parisian Stephanie Rottée-Lesné and her husband Romain realised that they needed a home to suit their busy lifestyles. ‘I spend my days transforming the weird and the wacky into contemporary homewares with a retro feel,’ explains Stephanie. ‘So we started looking for somewhere that could accommodate a studio office where I could work from home.’ The couple and their daughter Satine, 10, instantly fell in love with the classic charm of a 1900s cottage in a suburb in Paris. ‘The house benefits from the advantages of city…

UNIQUE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY 18th-century detached stone and cob cottage LOCATION North Cornwall ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, snug, utility room, three bedrooms (one en suite), dressing room, two bathrooms PURCHASED 2009 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, I lived in a 300-year-old thatched cottage in Devon,’ says Jacqueline. When a cottage in a familiar hamlet in North Cornwall came onto the market in 2009, Jacqueline Bolt was desperate to buy it. ‘I lived in the area as a child, and my mother and siblings are all still there. So I’ve known the property all my life, and grew up with the three sisters who owned it,’ she explains. ‘I had always admired the house because it’s so quintessentially Cornish, and the timing of its sale couldn’t have been better…

Design ideas STRIPED STAIRCASE Colin and Mairead Wendel have injected personality into the heart of their stylish Victorian home by painting their wooden staircase with smart blue stripes. Fresh and bright, this style recreates the look of a conventional stair runner. The same effect can be easily achieved by using floor paints. Here, the stairs were painted in an off-white shade, then using masking tape to mark out the area, smart grey-blue stripes have been applied. To bring the look together, the bottom larger steps have been painted in a complementary tone of grey. Painted floors and stairs are good-looking, affordable, hardwearing and low maintenance. Any chips that appear over time can be retouched with floor paint. BANISTER SUPPORT The staircase is often the first thing people see when they…

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian terraced house LOCATION West London ROOMS Dining/sitting room, kitchen, utility room, wine cellar, playroom, five bedrooms, two bathrooms PURCHASED 2007 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we had an apartment in a mansion block in Kensington,’ says Molly. When New Yorkers Molly and John Curtin decided to build a ground-floor extension and redecorate their west London home, they wanted colours and themes inspired by the people, places and things they love most. ‘We considered not just how we wanted the house to look but how we and our children Charles, 6, and Ellie, 3, wanted to feel in it,’ says Molly. ‘Some of our happiest times have been summers on Cape Cod, and I also love flowers, so when it came to decorating, I chose…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Converted 1950s bungalow LOCATION Hertfordshire ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner/family room, playroom, utility room, cloakroom, three bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom, garden study PURCHASED 2008 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a Victorian terrace in London before this place,’ says Kelly. When Kelly Sparkes and her husband Dominic began searching for a family home, they were keen to find a place they could put their stamp on. ‘We’d been looking at flats in London, but then my sister recommended a property she’d seen in the same Hertfordshire village where my parents and sisters live,’ says Kelly. ‘As soon as we saw it, we decided to take the plunge and move to the countryside.’ The couple loved the spacious rooms and the large garden but were less…

DISTINCTIVE home truths THE PROPERTY Four-storey townhouse, built in 1897 LOCATION The Hague in the Netherlands ROOMS Sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, playroom, four bedrooms, two bathrooms PURCHASED 2011 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in a period ground-floor flat nearby,’ says Hedda. DECORATING TIP ‘Use professional decorators and good quality paint, as it really makes a difference – water-based types are great for children’s rooms’ When Dutch couple Hedda Pier and Michiel Lenstra went in search of their first family home, they were smitten by a 19th-century townhouse in The Hague. The four-storey property had previously been commercial premises and had changed guises over the years, from a grocery shop to a doctor’s surgery. ‘We were looking for something we could transform,’ says Hedda. They also needed…