Innehållsförteckning för Apr-2018 från 25 Beautiful Homes

Looking through this issue, I can see the colour blue has been used in many hues, from deep and moody shades to light, fresh tones. Of course, blue has featured in design schemes for many years, particularly coastal-inspired looks, but now it seems to have gained in popularity, whatever the style of the interior. The use of strong shades of blue seems to have started on kitchen units, as in Louise and Gary Hall’s converted barn on page 95, but they’re also popping up on walls and accessories, as with Petra Postmus’ Dutch townhouse on page 14. Perhaps what I like most about blue is that it can be used as a dark neutral, and combining it with other shades, such as soft yellows and pale pinks, can prevent it…

After a visit to the Palace of Versailles in France a few years ago, Dutch interior designer Petra Postmus honed her decor style. ‘I fell for the interiors of the Petit Trianon,’ recalls Petra, ‘and I realised this classic style is what I favour, albeit mixed with modern influences. I love the idea of transforming a home into a little château.’ The late 19th-century townhouse that Petra shares with her husband, Martin, is located in Utrecht, a city she describes as ‘a smaller version of Amsterdam, with its canals and a medieval town. I can get everywhere on my bike.’ When the couple bought the property, in 2011, they didn’t have far to move. ‘We were living seven doors down the street in a tiny 75-square-metre house,’ says Petra. ‘This…

Laura Westendorp tried to erase the thought that she might have made a terrible mistake as she gazed at the crack on the facade of her newly bought townhouse in a brick-fronted terrace in the medieval Dutch town of Harderwijk. ‘Lots of people had looked at the place but decided against buying it because they were worried that there might be some structural damage,’ she explains. But Laura and her husband Nick, who are both designers, thought its potential was worth the risk. The facade proved repairable, but that was only the start of Laura and Nick’s quest to rekindle their new home’s lost charms. Built for the officers of the nearby barracks, the property had most recently been used as a dental surgery. Laura recalls her first glimpse of…

When Nellie Shepherd and Andrew Charlton decided to move from Cheshire, they had their hearts set on Cornwall, but found nothing on the market to inspire them. ‘My mother lives in the Peak District so we changed direction and began to look north instead,’ says Nellie. Eventually, spotting a remote 17th-century farmhouse surrounded by unspoilt countryside, Nellie says her heart skipped a beat. DESIGN ADVICE ‘In an old dark property, it really is worth sandblasting the beams. Even though it creates a lot of dust, it has a wonderful effect’ ‘The old farmhouse was set on a remote hill at the end of a one-mile drive in five acres of meadowland,’ she explains. ‘Inside, the house was full of character, with several unspoilt period features, including beamed ceilings,…

This house enchanted me from the moment I first saw it,’ says Megan Collinge of the elegant period home she and her husband David share in the Lancashire countryside. ‘You drive up from a lane and can only see the back wall of the building. You don’t get the full picture of how stunning the property is until you swing into the drive.’ David had already lived in the house since 1991. When he and Megan decided to get married, they looked around the Ribble Valley for a place together but couldn’t find anywhere as nice as David’s home. ‘Eventually I told him I’d happily live here, if he didn’t mind,’ says Megan. After Megan moved in, the couple, who are both directors at fabric specialist Ian Mankin, carried out…

Sasha de Gale and her husband Will had been keeping their eyes on a pair of derelict cottages on a private estate in their village for ages before they finally came up for sale. ‘The cottages were in a sorry state having been empty for years and had been rented out before that,’ says Sasha. ‘The walls were damp and the buildings were uninhabitable. So the first thing I did was seek advice from an architect, as the properties were in a conservation area.’ Plans were drawn up to reconfigure the cottages into a flexible, open-plan family home for the couple and their daughter, Sienna, 12. With Sasha project-managing the renovation work herself, her building team began by stripping out walls and ceilings before damp-proofing the house. ‘It was exciting…

Despite how wonderful a property is, or how idyllic its setting may be, there comes a time in the lifespan of a home when the rooms no longer serve the needs of its owners. That was the situation Sean and Kim Parrott found themselves in after seven years of living in their Regency property in the Test Valley. ‘When we moved in, the house hadn’t been touched for ages,’ says Sean. ‘The kitchen was cut in two by a central chimney, so we got rid of this and then knocked other rooms through to make a larger kitchen. We renovated one wing of the property and decorated the rooms of our sons Jono, now 19, and Benjy, 17, but otherwise did very little work to it.’ Three years ago, the…

1 SUGAR SNAP Madeline pink pendant light, £150, Debenhams 2 HOP TO IT Ceramic rabbit white ring plate, £4, George Home 3 RETRO MIX Swan retro stand mixer, £79, Ao.com 4 HIDDEN TREAT Champagne egg, £27, Hotel Chocolat 5 SITTING PRETTY Whitstable floral seat pad, £25, Joules 6 ON A PLATE Truly bunny paper plates, £3.99 for 12, Lakeland 7 CANDY COOL Alana velvet shell back chair in Dusty Pink, £130, Argos 8 SPOT ON Rainbow Dots jug, £35, Emma Bridgewater 9 ROOM TO BLOOM Cotton four-seater Cambridge sofa, £998, DFS…

DECORATING ADVICE ‘Put together a pared-back palette of harmonious neutral tones that will complement the furniture and fixtures of the house’ Orla Lyons can certainly vouch for the fact that home is where the heart is. The Dublin property that she shares with her partner Glen Meade holds a wealth of memories, because she lived here from the age of four. ‘I grew up in this house along with my brother and sister,’ explains Orla. ‘My parents bought it just over 30 years ago and after a period living in the UK, we returned to it in the early 1990s.’ A classic, square new build of that era, the property benefited from some initial tweaks. Orla’s late mother, Imelda, an interior designer, decorated throughout. ‘It looked very different…

Carefully chosen materials for the Chadds’ home enable it to sit discreetly in its environment, as it resembles outbuildings from the road. Wherever you are planning to site a property, the key to its success is ensuring the design marries well with the surroundings. Nod to the past A good architect will probably reference vernacular architecture in their design for your home. This could be its shape – perhaps a nod to a longhouse in Suffolk, for example – or materials, or both. ‘There is a reason that some houses are still standing 100 years on, while others have not survived – vernacular architecture is successful because it stands the test of time,’ notes Andrew Whiting of HÛT Architecture. ‘We try to favour local materials, as they tend to weather…

Marcus and Elisabeth Holmgren’s Swedish home pays homage to modern style. As proprietors of Malmö Modern – an emporium dedicated to contemporary design – they have filled their home with a museum-worthy collection of design objects. FAVOURITE SHOP ‘Our own store, Malmö Modern, of course – since we only sell pieces of furniture that we like, the stock perfectly reflects our own taste’ The couple bought this HultsfredsHus in 1999. Built in 1964, it is located just outside central Malmö, and belonged to Marcus’s grandparents. For Marcus, it holds many fond memories of his childhood and also that of his young daughters Lo, 13, and Märta, 7. With its original features largely intact, it is the ideal setting for the pair’s furniture collection, which has a strong Sixties influence. In…

Sailing by glacial fjords, snow-peaked mountains, waterfalls and charming coastal villages is a phenomenal experience, which is why we have joined forces with Norway’s award-winning travel operator Hurtigruten to offer 25 Beautiful Homes readers this 12-day cruise, described by Lonely Planet as ‘the world’s most beautiful voyage’. You will sail from the UNESCO-listed port of Bergen to Kirkenes and back, cross the Arctic Circle twice and experience the magical ‘midnight sun’. July’s long, light days are one of the best times of year to see Norway’s stunning coastline. In addition, you will be joined by TV presenter Julia Bradbury, who will give an exclusive talk, as well as join you for a special excursion to admire the Norwegian countryside and visit the beautiful medieval church of Trondenes and Hinnøya Island.…

Investors advise buying the worst property on the best street, which is what Paul Almeida and James Lunt did when they found a period house that was split into bedsits. ‘The property had been on the market for a decade,’ says interior designer Paul, who owns online retro store Almeida Interiors. ‘It was a wreck, but when I saw the sun streaming through the bay window into the front bedroom, I was sold.’ Luckily, product manager James was also won over by the location. ‘I knew instantly what walls had to come down, but it was hard to see through the decor and layout, so I had to ask James to trust me,’ says Paul. With three bedsits on the first floor and two on the ground level, four months…

Carole Salter and Colin Wright were not looking to move, but when Carole passed this house and saw the For Sale board she felt an instant attraction. ‘I just liked the style and had to see it,’ she says. ‘I took my daughter Jenna, who’s an architect, and we recognised it had potential.’ Working together, Carole, Colin and Jenna run a sales and letting agency called The Living Room, so they know how to make the most of a property. Nevertheless, Carole and Colin were happy in their rental home in Cardiff Bay. ‘We thought when we did buy again it would be in Hertfordshire, which is where Jenna was brought up,’ says Carole, ‘but I fell in love with this place and Colin realised it was special, too, so…

Although the Twenties home that Laura Spivey and Craig Chambers had chosen was in dire condition, the pair were seduced by its spacious plot. Impressed with the football pitch-sized garden, they knew they could adapt and extend as their family grew. Despite the disrepair and the poky galley kitchen, the couple were sold on the property. ‘The house had been vacant for some time and it wasn’t in the best state,’ says Laura. ‘A wet room had been created in the conservatory, which we quickly ripped out, and the walls were yellowed from nicotine. Craig later told me that he had found mice, too.’ The couple spent four years renovating one room at a time before their son, Rory, was born in 2014. This included knocking through to the dining…

A  Abigail Ahern abigailahern.com Affordable Art Fair affordableartfair.com Aga agaliving.com Alexander & Pearl alexanderandpearl.co.uk Alistair Taylor-Young thelittleblackgallery.com Almeida Interiors almeidainteriors.com Alternative Flooring alternativeflooring.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Ambiente Direct ambientedirect.com And So To Bed andsotobed.co.uk Angel & Boho angelandboho.com Anna Cox Interiors annacoxcushions.com Ao.com ao.com Argos argos.co.uk Arnold Interiors arnoldinteriors.co.uk Aspace aspace.co.uk Aston Matthews astonmatthews.co.uk Atlantic Shopping atlanticshopping.co.uk B  B&Q diy.com Barker & Stonehouse barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Bathstore bathstore.com Bear René bearrene.com Beldi Rugs beldirugs.com Bella Baby bellababy.ie Bell & Blue bellandblue.com Benchmarx benchmarxkitchens.co.uk Benjamin Moore benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Billie Dainton billiedainton.com Birdie Fortescue birdiefortescue.co.uk B-Line b-line.it/en Bohemia bohemiadesign.co.uk Bridgman bridgman.co.uk Brissi brissi.com Buster+Punch busterandpunch.com C  Cabbages & Roses cabbagesandroses.com…

When Tricia and John Tallon decided it was time to downsize from their large family home, the options were not promising. Many of the properties they viewed came with large gardens that would require time-consuming maintenance. Plus, Tricia was keen on finding a distinctive property, so when a converted threshing barn came on the market, she was intrigued. ‘Most of the houses we had looked at up to that point were quite conventional, but this place combined historic character with clean lines,’ explains Tricia. ‘It offered the best of both worlds.’ Situated in Hampshire and overlooking unspoilt countryside, it had been immaculately converted by a developer. The high-vaulted ceiling and old beamed framework contained an open-plan layout, with a kitchen linked to a dining area, sitting room and hall, making…

When Boo Craig-Wood discovered a Victorian terraced house in a small market town, she knew that it would be the perfect place to downsize to, along with children Bob, 15, and Isla, 13, plus Irish Terriers Bridget and Mary. ‘I grew up in the country, but living in a small town with shops nearby has its advantages,’ says Boo, an interior designer and homewares shop owner. ‘This house inspired me the moment I saw it and despite its dilapidated appearance, I knew I could create a new home for the three of us. As a single mother, I needed to make life easier and live close to schools, friends and work.’ Although the bones of the building were sound, the decor was very dated and the house needed renovating. ‘The…

When Nicole Phillips was pregnant with her first child, Elizabeth, now 17, the nesting instinct quickly kicked in. ‘My husband Richard and I realised that we needed a bigger house and soon discovered that his boss was selling his rental property,’ explains Nicole. ‘We went along for a viewing and although the cottage was picturesque, tucked away in a pretty West Sussex village, the interior was a little tired. But when I saw the large kitchen with its stunning range cooker, I thought, “This is it!”’ As the house had been rented out for 10 years, it needed lots of TLC, so before moving in, the couple repainted throughout and replaced the old carpets. They then turned their attention to creating a nursery. ‘Upstairs, two of the bedrooms were interconnected,…

Elegance is what I aimed to achieve,’ says perfumier Rupert Landendinger of his apartment in Copenhagen. But then, elegance is what he is accustomed to. His childhood was partly spent in a Bavarian castle where his grandparents lived, leaving him with a lasting love of high ceilings, mouldings and beautiful views. So when he first arrived in the Danish capital, he immediately fell for the grand 18th-century Rococo district of Frederiksstaden, and was enchanted by the notion of one day living there. Eight years later and after 12 months of apartment hunting, Rupert was just about to give up when he viewed one final property in the area. ‘As soon as I opened the door, I thought, This is what I want,’ he says. ‘The most fantastic thing is that…

Emma White admits to having wanted a project when she and her partner Shan bought this house in south London. ‘The purchase took a year and was a complicated process that in the end went to sealed bids,’ she says. But despite the stress, they persevered and were able to do exactly what they planned. ‘We were keen to get our teeth into the work, and we did!’ The property had not been lived in since the Eighties, which was when the previous owner had passed away. ‘Apparently, he had three wives and lots of children, and had arranged the house so each family lived on a separate floor,’ says Emma. ‘So, there were three sets of utilities coming in, three bathrooms and three kitchens. In fact, three of pretty…

Design ideas LOWER CABINETS Instead of running a cabinet across the large window in their kitchen, Douglas Carson and Rosaleen Crushell have lowered the unit underneath the window. As well as providing extra seating, this clever design idea means the eye can fully appreciate the original sash window and the view without it being obscured. Bespoke cabinetry fits perfectly and in an intentional move, wall cabinets have been eschewed in favour of a more open look. The all-white decor and pale painted floorboards help to maximise the natural light that floods into the space. For a seamless finish, wooden worktops have been chosen to link in with the staircase. BUNKS WITH DOORS Children spend a lot of time in their bedrooms so the space should be bold and colourful –…

Feeling courageous, Miranda Vedral bought a property that ‘needed everything doing to it’ instead of the one next door, which she could have moved into straight away. In hindsight, Miranda says it was the right choice, although with two-year-old twins and a newborn, she had to stay in her old home for a year while the new place was reworked. Her best design decision was to lower the level of the living area beside the kitchen. ‘It’s great to look down on a view, and friends like to gravitate to the elevated kitchen area,’ she says. ‘I think the spilt-level format was vital. Without it, the kitchen space could have felt a little subterranean.’ Inspired by a picture in a book on Belgian interiors, Miranda designed the Thirties industrial-style doors…

Compact living is on the rise, particularly for city dwellers and first-time buyers. But small-scale living need not be a disadvantage: small homes are easy to lock up and leave; they are also more affordable to heat and easier to clean than larger homes. The key to making a limited space work, however, is planning. Maximising space Think about how to tweak a layout to gain extra space: a cloakroom or office can be made beneath the stairs; bedroom walls can be moved a fraction to create a tiny en suite; or a new mezzanine floor can be installed in a room with very high ceilings. Fitted furniture will come into its own in small rooms – note the bespoke banquette in Charlotte’s home, enabling her to squeeze in a…

Sam Smith and her partner Tom had recently settled into their newly renovated property with their daughter Aiofe, three, and Tom’s children, Theo, eight, and Lena, six, when they spotted a much larger house a few streets away. ‘We had made our old house lovely, but I thought we’d benefit from a larger garden and more space,’ says Sam. ‘One day we drove down this road and saw a terrace of amazing double-fronted houses, one of which was for sale. Tom called the agent and, 10 minutes later, we were inside one of them.’ The couple’s offer was quickly accepted, but moving into their new home wouldn’t prove to be as swift. Previously converted into flats, it had been derelict for a decade. The former owner had begun to convert…