72 | 25bhJ u ly 20 19
home truthsuniquet h e P r o P e r t Y
thatchedcottage,builtin1800s
L o c At i o neastSussex
rooMshallway,sittingroom,
diningroom,kitchen,snug,four
bedrooms,bathroom
PurchAseD 2009
PreViousProPertY
‘I waslivingmainlyina regency
flat in brighton,’ says Sara.SaraMilner’sprettycottage
withitsgothic-stylewindows
andsilverythatchwouldnot
lookoutofplaceamongthe
pagesofa fairytale.AndSarais thefirst
toadmitthatwhensheinitiallysawthe
placeshenowcallshomeshegotswept
away,lettingherheartruleherhead.‘I
thoughtit wassosweet,butit wastotally
impractical,’shesays.‘I didn’tthink
abouttheupkeepofthethatchorthe
woodedareabehindthehouse.’
In2009,Saraviewedthehouse
withherthenpartner,theyputinan
offerandit wastheirs.‘Therewereblack
beamswithmagnoliapainteverywhere
becauseit wasbeingrentedout,’shesays.
Circumstanceschangedwhenthe
couplesplitupbutSaradecidedto
makeit herfull-timehomeandshe
quicklyputhermindtorenovating.
WhenSaramovedinshehadthe
cottagedamp-proofcoursedaswellas
replasteredandredecoratedinsideand
out.Shealsohadtheridgeofthethatch
replaced.‘I didn’tknowanythingabout
thatchedpropertiesbefore,butyou
havetogettheridgedoneevery 10 years
andthewholethatchreplacedaround
every 30 years,costingabout£15,000,’
saysSara.‘Also,therearespecificclauses
inmyhomeinsurancepolicy.For
example,I’mnotallowedlogburnersas
theheatinthefluecancausea fire.’
Inside,thepropertyhasa bright
yetcosyfeel.Sarahadmostofthedark
beams lightened and has cleverly mixedSNUG
Colourandcosinesscombinehere.
Velvetchairs,ryeAuctiongalleries.
Mustardvelvetarmchair,£499,
Atkin and thyme, is similarKITCHEN
Sarakeptthekitchenasit was,but
updatedthewallswitha lickofpaint.
wallspaintedinoffwhiteestateemulsion,
£46.50 for 2.5l, Farrow & ballSITTINGROOM
Sarahasbroughttheroomtolifewithher
mid-centurystylefurnitureandpopsofcolour.
leathersofaandcoffeetablearevintagerobin
Dayforhabitat;Indivblackleathersofa,£2,528,
boConcept,hasthesamelook.oilpainting
by local artist Nick Archer