Innehållsförteckning för January 2018 från 25 Beautiful Homes

Over the next few weeks of celebrations, our home will be at the heart of everything we do, and the memories will be with us for a long time to come. For our children, they will always remember where they left carrots for the reindeer, where the tree stood and that magical sense of anticipation on Christmas Eve. For some, this time of year will see the completion of a house move or an extension, so it will be the first festive period spent enjoying your new space. In January, I like to start thinking about what I want to achieve in the house and garden over the coming months. In reality, if I wrote down all my projects and looked back through them at the end of the year,…

The early signs of Fi Parker Cole’s destiny as a property dealer came to light when she was a teenager: while her friends were rummaging through dress racks, she spent her Saturday mornings in Habitat. After she married Rob, those early purchases found a home when they bought their first flat in south London. Fourteen years and five house moves later, the couple spotted a large country property with lofty ceilings for sale in the Kent countryside. ‘It was the kind of home that Rob and I have always wanted,’ says Fi. ‘We found it after months of searching when we were about to throw in the towel. Most houses in Kent are low-beamed cottages so finding a place like this is extremely rare.’ The one-time merchant’s house is…

Time wasn’t on Diane and Matt Hill’s side when they decided to buy their first home. ‘We were rushing a little, as I was four months pregnant with our second daughter, Bonnie,’ Diane explains. The house was opposite a park with a loft, garage and large garden, but hadn’t been touched since it was built and needed a huge amount of work. DIY demons The sale was completed in November 2014 and with their baby due in February, Diane and Matt had the house rewired the day after completion. ‘We upgraded the plumbing, opened up the space downstairs and installed garden doors,’ says Diane. But this was the only work done by professionals. ‘Everything else was up to us.’ At evenings and weekends, the pair lifted carpet, sanded floorboards and…

Discovering that the house you have fallen for has a room big enough to fit your vintage Knoll marble-topped dining table might not be reason enough to put in an offer, but it was certainly a factor for Samantha and Toby Treadwell. Having committed to buying a home in a London neighbourhood that they were not familiar with, the thought that their classic Sixties table would finally have the space it deserved went some way towards calming their pre-purchase nerves. ‘The property was such an impulse buy,’ says Samantha. Spotted by Toby while idly browsing online one evening, the couple could not believe how pretty it was. ‘Toby was so smitten with it that he came and woke me up insisting I look at it,’ she recalls. The Treadwells may…

Having already undertaken two major house renovations, plus a relocation to the countryside and back again, Judith De Meester was happily ensconced in her stylish terraced home near Brussels. But then, her husband, Gregory, announced he had seen his dream property for sale – just around the corner from their home. ‘I couldn’t believe it,’ recalls Judith, owner of concept store Bazaar Trend Lab in Brussels. ‘We’d already relocated once and come back and now my husband wanted to consider moving again. It took some time to convince me, but I understood that by renovating dilapidated houses and selling them for a profit, we could afford to buy a bigger property with a large garden. Furthermore, what really clinched the deal was that I was promised a sewing room.’ Despite…

FEATURE ANN BROAD | PHOTOGRAPHY COLIN POOLE Louisa and Colin Gillespie’s search for a family home with large bedrooms, a spacious garden and ample living space, led them to a Thirties property in southeast London. ‘The area we were considering buying in just wasn’t in our budget,’ says Louisa, ‘but one day, purely by chance, we were driving south of the river and came across a location that we simply hadn’t thought of before.’ Fortuitously, a four-bedroom property caught their attention and before they knew it, they were moving in. ‘When we bought the house, it had unsightly carpet, painted sponge-effect decoration, pine kitchen units and secondary glazing,’ says Louisa. Initially, the couple thought that with two small children, Scarlett, then three, and Saffron, two, they would live with the…

This house felt as though it was waiting for us,’ says Lucy Abercrombie as she describes viewing it for the first time with husband Patrick Keese. ‘It was a real “wow” moment when we opened the huge double doors to the sitting room.’ The vast empty space was filled with light from generous windows framed by patinated mirror panels, along with soaring pillars and an imposing fireplace. In the middle of the room stood a dusty baby grand piano. ‘It was pure theatre, and we were totally captivated,’ recalls Lucy, who co-owns a small theatre company, Sleepless Arch. ‘We hadn’t been serious about moving, but when we walked in there was no going back. That night, we were working out our budget.’ Built as a family home by the eminent…

1 LIGHT THE WAY Pendant light, £539, Davey Lighting 2 NAVY BASE Nest of tables, £79, Marks & Spencer 3 BALL OF FUN Lantern, £10 for three, Talking Tables 4 ALL TIED UP Emerald grosgrain ribbon, £5 for 5m, Nancy & Betty Studio 5 THREE GREEN BOTTLES Vintage green vases, from £45 each, Raj Tent Club 6 SOFT TOUCH Mohair throw, £90, Bronte By Moon 7 PILLOW TALK Draycott cushion, £50, John Lewis 8 PLUSH PERCH Goldfinger velvet lounge chair, £1,950, Jonathan Adler 9 INTO THE BLUE Aegean sea vase, £12, Curious Egg 1 0 COVER OF DARKNESS Plushious velvet bedspread, £320, The French Bedroom Company…

Large-scale patterned wallpapers and hand-painted murals can transform the atmosphere of any interior space. Whether you are opting for a striking feature wall, a subtler pattern across four walls or detailing for defined areas such as chimney breasts, consider how painted sections and mouldings will work with your overall design. These decorative finishes require plenty of planning to successfully realise the look. The personal touch Why not commission a mural artist to create a bespoke design? Look at a range of artists’ portfolios and websites to find a style that you like. Or get the look of a mural by using a wallpaper, choosing large, distinctive patterns to add a touch of drama with a more uniform finish. Digital printing techniques mean that wallpapers can now be customised with different…

Whether you are restoring original features in a period property or adding a contemporary twist, enhancing your home’s architectural elements adds instant character and individuality. Back to basics Restoring original features can be costly, so focus on structural elements, such as doors, windows and floors, as these will be noticed more than ceiling roses and mouldings. Original floors can be revived by sanding and varnishing, while damaged boards can be moved or replaced. Victorian mosaic and encaustic floor tiles are often expensive to repair but specialist manufacturers, such as Original Style, have a range of affordable reproductions. Specialist craftsmen can restore sash windows and stained-glass, while mouldings and ceiling roses should be restored by a skilled plasterer. For a truly authentic look, research the origins of your home. If your…

Design ideas WOOD STORE WALL A woodburning stove or open fire is more than just a source of heat, it’s also the focal point of a room. Functional and beautiful in equal measure, Cathy and Sam Dean have created a unique feature wall for storing fire wood in their sitting room. Not only is it functional, it’s also a real design element, adding definition to the space. Neatly stacked wood creates a warm, natural feel and is a great way to introduce texture. The Deans have cleverly created a pair of stylish, back-to-back L-shaped compartments to hold their logs. The black frame of the storage area echoes the stove, while the wood contrasts beautifully with the dark chimney breast. A palette of natural tones in the rest of the room…

Relocating from a West Sussex town to the Wiltshire countryside proved a life-changing experience for Carol and John Paul. The couple hoped for a secluded spot close to family, but finding the perfect plot was more difficult than expected. ‘We planned to buy some land and then approach developer Peter Walker of Templeton Walker to build our dream home for us,’ says Carol, ‘but we looked for ages without finding anything suitable.’ However, the couple overcame their disappointment when they discovered that Peter had an interesting project in the pipeline. Keen to investigate, they visited the Wiltshire site and found outbuildings on an old farm that were to be converted to create six new homes. ‘The location was great and as soon as we viewed the plans for this place…

Converting a barn lets you create a home far larger than a typical family house. You can have dramatic double-height living spaces, quirky features such as galleried landings, plus more private spaces for bedrooms and snugs. Barn conversions also offer scope for using innovative building materials and the freedom to invent a unique space. Planning your project Thanks to changes in government legislation in 2015, agricultural buildings permitted to be converted for residential use now include Dutch and pole barns, as well as timber, brick and stone constructions. To find a barn to convert, check with your local authority if planning permission has been granted for barns in your area. Contact estate agents and search specialist websites, such as barnsetc.co.uk and plotfinder.net. Once you have found a suitable building, appoint…

For Alex and Graeme Ellisdon, the couple behind luxury leather goods and homeware company Osprey London, creating their family home has been a long journey. It was 15 years before Alex could describe their Grade II-listed barn, coach house and surrounding buildings in rural Hertfordshire as ‘fairly sorted out’. But the sensitively converted home and rich yet relaxed interiors were worth the wait, and now provide the perfect backdrop for a festive season spent with loved ones. ‘Our friends thought we were mad to take this place on,’ says Alex, ‘but Graeme and I were able to envisage how it could turn out.’ The property, a Victorian former cart shed bought by the couple 22 years ago, was derelict, full of junk, old farming machinery and resident bats. Its unique…

A Abode Living abodeliving.co.uk Adventures In Furniture aif.london Alexander & Pearl alexanderandpearl.co.uk All Floors Express allfloorsexpress.co.uk Al Murad al-murad.co.uk Amara amara.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Anna Cox Cushions annacoxcushions.com Anna French annafrench.co.uk Annie Sloan anniesloan.com Anthropologie anthropologie.com Ao.com ao.com Arthouse arthouse.com Artisans of Devizes artisansofdevizes.com Atkin and Thyme atkinandthyme.co.uk Atrafloor atrafloor.com Audenza audenza.com Avoca avoca.com B B&Q diy.com Barker & Stonehouse barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Barneby Gates barnebygates.com Bathstore bathstore.com Bazaar Trend Lab bazaar-trendlab.be Beacon Hill beaconhilldesign.com Benchmarx benchmarxkitchens.co.uk Benjamin Moore benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Benuta benuta.co.uk Best Tile best-tile.co.uk Better Bathrooms betterbathrooms.com Block Design blockdesign.co.uk BoConcept boconcept.com Bolia bolia.com Brix Brocante brixbrocante.dk Bronte by Moon…

1 CHILL-OUT SPOT Primrose Hill large sofa, from £993, Sofas & Stuff 2 A SHADE DIFFERENT Bloomingville bamboo floor lamp, £95, PAD Lifestyle 3 RUSTIC RELIC Birch branch hanging tree, £44, Nordic House 4 SIDE SHOW Normann Copenhagen large Tablo table, £365, Nest 5 EASY DOES IT Perth cushion in light grey, £49.50m, Ian Mankin 6 SPOON FEED Sheesham salad servers, £15, Nkuku 7 WHITE FANTASTIC Etched Berber rug, £345, Olli Ella 8 NATURAL PAUSE Pitaya two-seater bench, £459, Maisons du Monde 9 WOVEN WONDER Ashcroft large basket, £76, Neptune…

When you meet Nina Thomasen Jensen, designer and owner of home accessories company Eden Outcast, you understand why the Danes are the happiest people on earth. Not only does her family dance around the tree on Christmas Eve, singing carols in traditional Danish style, but she is a great believer in the popular concept of hygge. Nina’s decorating mantra is ‘Follow your heart’. Every piece in the home she shares with her husband Lars and their daughter, Anine, has a personal story and the renovation itself was a family affair, undertaken by Nina and her father. The couple’s home in the coastal town of Kolding was previously three flats. ‘The ground floor had a kitchen, small bathroom and bedroom,’ says Nina, ‘all that is now the kitchen. We tore down…

After several years of renting, Alistair Tooth finally found a project that convinced him to take his first step on the property ladder. When a converted magistrates’ courthouse near his former rental home in west London came up for sale, he knew it was the right time to invest in a property with a difference. ‘I loved the exterior – the red brick architecture would always catch my eye as I drove past,’ says Alistair, ‘then one day I saw the building was being developed and I knew that was where I wanted to live.’ The courthouse had been bought by property developers, who converted it into six new ‘shell’ houses. They gutted the building, putting in new floors and a new roof, then sold them on with residential planning…

Looking for more space, actress Zannah Hodson and her husband, actor Ruben Crow, decided to leave their London flat with their two small children, Wilfred, then five, and Raphaella, three, for a new base in Brighton. ‘We were attracted to the area’s creative community and the lifestyle,’ says Zannah listing some of the writers, artists, actors, film-makers and dancers who reside nearby. ‘Everyone leads the life they choose and it’s the kind of place where you could walk out into the street in your dressing gown to buy a newspaper and nobody would notice.’ Within the couple’s budget was the choice of a townhouse or a spacious single-storey flat. They ended up buying an Edwardian apartment in a handsome mansion block. ‘We felt it would be cosy and conducive to…

Leoma Harper had no plans to move from the Victorian home she shared with her husband Gary and one-year-old daughter Alexa in southwest London. So when Gary suggested relocating to a quieter area, Leoma had one stipulation. ‘It had to be a period property,’ she says. ‘I love old houses for their space, character and wonderful features, especially high ceilings.’ The couple considered various options, but it wasn’t until they viewed a detached, three-storey Victorian villa just across the Thames from Hampton Court Palace, that Leoma started to get excited. ‘It was in a peaceful position, but very convenient,’ she explains. ‘The previous owner had lived here for many years, so the house had been well-looked after. I knew it was an amazing find, so we decided to go for…

Black shower Forget chrome, black is the new look for bathrooms and Adeline Scott has installed a dramatically dark shower fitting. Echo the look with Nendo’s Axor Lamp Shower with shower arm, £2,415, Hansgrohe. Smart white table linen The Betsys’ crisp white tablecloth is a true classic. For similar, consider the Linen Look tablecloth in Natural, 229x137cm, £38, Lakeland. Console table A gold and glass console table with interlocking hoops looks perfect against Zannah Hodson and Ruben Crow’s panelled wall. Recreate this look with the Etienne console table in antique brass with a glass top, £399, Atkin and Thyme. Ornate mirror An elaborate wall mirror takes centre stage in the Gillespies’ sitting room. For an equally ornate design, try the hand-carved Jade mirror in gold leaf finish, £2,520, Oficina Inglesa.…

French flea-market finds and family treasures form the basis of Maria Brix’s individual decorating style, which is ideally suited to the elegant, high-ceilinged apartment that she and her husband Jakob moved into a decade ago. Their apartment is in Frederiksberg, known as the Paris of Copenhagen. Dating from the 1920s, the Art Deco building in which it is housed was created for ministers in the Danish government who needed somewhere to stay while visiting from their constituencies in other parts of Denmark. ‘I instantly loved the daylight flooding in from the huge windows – it reminded me of Paris – and the tall, three-metre-high ceilings were a huge attraction,’ says Maria. ‘The apartment had been beautifully renovated by the previous owners, with many original details intact. They had paid great…