Innehållsförteckning för January 2017 från 25 Beautiful Homes

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Mid-terrace townhouse LOCATION North London ROOMS Sitting room/study, kitchen-diner, three bedrooms, two bathrooms PURCHASED 2000 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in a Victorian flat in northwest London,’ says Ursula. When architects Ursula and Alex Tucker outgrew their townhouse in northwest London, they took some drastic action to create more space. ‘This used to be a five-bedroom house,’ says Ursula, ‘but it felt a little cramped and the garden was small, so it was never a brilliant family home.’ To make the existing layout more efficient for themselves and their children, Charlie, now 4, and William, 1, the couple decided to turn the ground floor into a self-contained flat to rent out. They would keep the top two floors, adding a new level for…

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A five-bedroom Victorian townhouse LOCATION South London ROOMS Sitting room, kitchen-diner, office, five bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms PURCHASED 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We moved from a four-bedroom Victorian house nearby,’ says Nikos. During the renovation of Nikos Koulouras’ Victorian house in south London, some neighbours reportedly described it as looking like a set from an old cowboy film. ‘Just the front façade remained and behind, nothing but air,’ recalls Nikos. That was the most drastic stage of the rebirth of this family home. But far from seeing this as a negative, Nikos viewed the structural overhaul as an opportunity to rethink the interior. ‘The previous owners had lived there for more than 40 years and had taken out the original features,’ he says. ‘We…

DISTINCTIVE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Edwardian terraced house LOCATION South London ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner/sunroom, utility room, cloakroom, five bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom PURCHASED May 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We used to have a two-bedroom flat in south London,’ says Hannah. Having outgrown their Clapham flat, solicitors Hannah Roberts and her husband Harry Jupp were eager to take on a bigger project. ‘There weren’t many places left in London where we could afford to buy a house,’ admits Hannah. ‘So it made sense to look in an up-and-coming area like Tooting, where there was lots of investment going on.’ After much research, they came across a five-bedroom Edwardian terraced house they could afford and snapped it up. ‘We knew we could add value by updating it,’ says Hannah. For…

UNIQUE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Cotswold stone Methodist Chapel LOCATION Gloucestershire ROOMS Hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, snug, cloakroom, two bedrooms (both en suite) PURCHASED 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived briefly in a new-build in Swindon, but wanted a more village-style life,’ says Jonathon. Jonathon Welbeck-Pure and his husband David Emms moved from their London mews house to a new-build in Wiltshire in search of more room and a quieter life. However, the estate they bought on expanded much more than they had anticipated, prompting a new property search to escape the sprawl. This led them to a pretty Methodist chapel, built in the early 1800s, in a Cotswold village, which Jonathon fell in love with. ‘David thought I’d lost my mind when I talked about converting it into…

Adding interest to an interior need not be confined simply to fabric and furniture updates. Displaying a collection of objects or artwork is a great way to bring a truly individual touch to your scheme. Whether it be heirloom china, or vintage glassware, the impact lies in the way you arrange the objects. Strength in numbers Grouping items together creates wow factor, which would be lost if they were displayed disparately. Using books is an easy way to add style to a scheme. Organising books by the colour of their spine, for instance, will look sophisticated and streamlined, and displaying them in height order is also pleasing to the eye. Create collections of varying heights on a console, tabletop or mantelpiece – vintage candlesticks look great when grouped together. The…

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Part of an Edwardian mansion LOCATION Surrey ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen, library, cinema room, cloakroom, gym, five bedrooms (two en suite), bathroom PURCHASED 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We bought the house after returning to the UK from a two-year stint in New York,' says Joy. After working as a commissioning editor in financial publishing for five years, Joy Archer made a big decision to retrain as an interior designer. ‘I’m very creative and also passionate about business, so it made sense to combine those two elements,’ she explains. Soon after completing her training at KLC School of Design, Joy and her partner Gareth Colin stumbled across a renovation project in Surrey. ‘The property had great potential, but it hadn’t been touched in 50 years and…

Since bathroom suites are generally sold in collections that are either traditional or modern, it is hardly surprising that many homeowners start their renovations believing they have to choose one route or the other. In reality, mixing designs up, as Ann Marie has, can produce softer, more interesting results. Divide and conquer Rather than attempting an even division, which can result in a bathroom with a split personality, or worse, a really forced decor, interior design experts recommend a 60/40 divide, either way. Deciding whether old or new should dominate can, of course, be a simple matter of preference, but it’s popular to take design cues from your property’s heritage. Let traditional fittings take the lead in a period home, and minimalist designs in a modern build. Play on contrasts…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A stone cottage built in the mid-18th century LOCATION Cornwall PURCHASED 2006 ROOMS Hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, study, conservatory, four bedrooms, two bathrooms PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in an early Victorian house in Richmond,’ says Joanna. At this time of year, when Joanna and Harry Smith’s extended family arrive at their Cornish cottage, there’s always a big and impressive tree to welcome them, twinkling away in the conservatory at the end of the hall. ‘I absolutely love decorating the house for Christmas and I like to have it all ready for when the family gets here,’ says Joanna, an interior designer. ‘My children are grown up now and they have children of their own, but you can still see the excitement on their…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Top-floor apartment in 18th-century house LOCATION Copenhagen ROOMS Hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen-diner, four bedrooms (one en suite), family bathroom LEASED 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in a smaller rooftop apartment nearby,’ says Tine. As dusk falls on a chilly December evening in central Copenhagen, Tine Hertz and Christian Gregersen’s apartment, with its lit fire and twinkling Christmas tree, is a cosy place to be. The impressively proportioned rooftop flat is part of a Rococo-style building in historic Frederiksstaden, a district characterised by its wide streets and elaborate architecture. But this jewel was more of a diamond in the rough when the couple first viewed it. ‘The interior required lots of attention, including replacing the kitchen and reconfiguring the layout,’ says…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY 1970s low-built townhouse LOCATION Northwest London ROOMS Sitting room, dining room/kitchen, day room, utility room, cloakroom, gym area, three bedrooms (two en suite), dressing room, shower room PURCHASED 2010 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a big Victorian villa in north London,’ says Lauren. Lauren Kilgour didn’t have to look too hard for her new home – she had known the area for more than 20 years and loved its location. But, she was not initially enamoured of the 1970s design of the house. ‘I thought this style was rather brutal,’ she admits. ‘But then I decided there was something very original about it.’ The previous owner had lived in the house for over 30 years, so a complete makeover was on the cards, and Lauren…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Regency villa, built in 1836, divided into two semi-detached properties in the 1950s LOCATION Kent ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, family room, four bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom PURCHASED 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a manor house just around the corner,’ says Alie. Alie and Nigel Carter bought their home in Kent as a stopgap, but then filled it with colour, art and family memories. ‘It had such lovely dimensions, high ceilings and lots of light, that we decided to stay here,’ says Alie. With their sons Freddie, now 25, and Caspar and Julius, both 23, coming and going from university, the couple started with the boys’ rooms and the bathroom. Next, they added a kitchen and a family room in the basement. ‘Then…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached house, built in 1997 LOCATION Oxfordshire ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, utility room, cloakroom, five bedrooms (two en suite), two bathrooms PURCHASED 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I was living in a two-bedroom apartment nearby,’ says Mark. Not many people can claim to have found their dream home while out walking the dog, but that’s exactly what happened to Mark Gibbins. ‘Back in 2013, I used to walk past this house every day with Saffron, my border terrier,’ he explains. ‘I watched the builders working on the kitchen extension and, although I wasn’t officially house-hunting, I’d been thinking that I needed more space. So, when I saw that the house had come on to the market, I decided that I really ought to go…

UNIQUE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Country house, built in the 1850s LOCATION North-central France ROOMS Sitting room, dining area/library, kitchen, family room, six bedrooms (two en suite), two bathrooms, guest cottage PURCHASED 2009 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in a house dating back to the 1800s,’ says Brendan. Tucked away in a garden filled with rose trees, it isn’t difficult to understand why this French country house caught the eye of Brendan and Véronique Culligan. ‘The building is very appealing, and it’s situated in an incredibly peaceful hamlet, a short drive from the Champagne vineyards,’ says Brendan. Originally from Ireland, Brendan moved to France 24 years ago and met Véronique, who is French, in Paris. The pair lived there for a number of years before settling down in…

DISTINCTIVE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Stone cottage, built in 2010 LOCATIONVictoria, Australia ROOMS Sitting room, kitchen, pantry, dining room, laundry room, study, four bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms, study area, cinema room, outside cloakroom PURCHASED 2009 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a house in a suburb nearer Geelong,’ says Joanne. Joanne Auld and her husband Tim spent months searching for the perfect spot on which to build their dream family home for themselves and children Tom, 18, Izzy, 14, and pet poodle Coco. ‘We searched everywhere, from coastal areas to inner city blocks,’ says Joanne. They were living in a leafy town in the state of Victoria when they came across a piece of land that had been used for grazing. ‘We were excited by the idea of a…

Nothing beats the appeal of a glowing stove on a chilly night. And, with excellent eco credentials, a variety of fuel options and a wide range of styles from minimalist to traditional, there’s a woodburner to suit every interior. Light my fire As well as adding a focal point to a room, contemporary stoves are increasingly energy efficient. Whichever appliance you opt for, your first step will be to measure the room in order to ensure you install the correct size stove. As a general rule, for every 14 cubic metres of space, you will need approximately 1kW of heat output to achieve a room temperature of 21 degrees. Stoves can burn wood, wood pellets or coal, although wood remains the most popular choice. The latest ranges incorporate the Cleanburn…

UNIQUE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY 1970s terraced house LOCATION South London ROOMS Sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, three bedrooms, bathroom PURCHASED 2006 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before I bought this house, I had a small one-bedroom flat nearby,’ says Snowden. There is a story behind every object in designer Snowden Flood’s south London home, from a 1940s Suzani bedspread she found in New York, to a framed front cover of the New York Journal from April 1912, reporting the sinking of the Titanic, and written by her journalist grandfather. It was Snowden’s love of pieces with a story that sparked the idea of her business – she designs and makes high-quality souvenirs. Home for Snowden and her son Orphy, 13, is a 1970s house in Brixton, purchased a decade ago. ‘I love the…

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Grade II listed house, built in 1800 LOCATION Leicestershire ROOMS Hall, drawing room, sitting room/kitchen-diner, dining room, utility room, playroom, cinema room, six bedrooms, six bathrooms PURCHASED 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in a modern house close by,’ says Celia. Celia and Ed Grayson never do things by halves, so when they heard about a large but dilapidated property that had come onto the market, they saw it as a challenge they simply couldn’t resist. It would be a fantastic opportunity to restore the building’s impressive character while breathing fresh life into its big, empty spaces. A Grade II listed manor in the Leicestershire countryside, dating from 1800, the place had been empty for years. From the 1970s onwards it had been…

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Semi-detached, built in 1907 LOCATION North London ROOMS Hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, office, utility room, five bedrooms (one en suite), dressing room, three bathrooms PURCHASED 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I lived with my three children in another Edwardian semi just four miles away,’ says Stephanie. ‘This is our first home all together.’ Stephanie Spero has made some big moves over the years – from her native Australia to Hong Kong and then to the UK. Her most recent relocation to an Edwardian semi in north London may have been a much smaller distance but it was just as major, as it is her first home with partner Joe Hutchinson. When the pair decided to buy a place together, the main requirement was that their…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Terraced house, built in 1900 LOCATION West Yorkshire ROOMS Sitting room, kitchen, cellar, three bedrooms, bathroom PURCHASED 2010 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We both lived with our parents before we bought this, our first house,’ says Alexa. Two things strike you when you step inside Alexa Kerr and David Oakley’s Victorian terraced house, high on a hill in Halifax. First, the vibrant colour scheme and second, a plethora of intriguing antiques and vintage pieces. ‘The whole house is decorated with pre-loved items I’ve found,’ says Alexa. A yellow-and-blue palette unifies the interior. Blue hues feature on the walls, in the furnishings, and in well-chosen accessories – a group of glass vases in the bathroom, a tin sign and enamel salt container in the kitchen. Alexa has even…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Semi-detached villa, built in 1911 LOCATION Hove ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner/family room, dining room, utility room, cloakroom, four bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom PURCHASED April 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We moved from a Victorian terrace also in Hove,’ says Susie. When Susie Strachan and her husband Stu first viewed a semi-detached Edwardian villa a stone’s throw from Hove seafront, they knew it could make the perfect home. ‘We didn’t want to spend too much, and we definitely weren’t expecting to buy a house of this size,’ says Susie. ‘But we realised it was a fantastic opportunity.’ The house was split into two flats, which meant two separate sets of negotiations, but the sales went through six months later. The couple vowed to carry out the…