Country_Homes_and_Interiors_-_November_2019

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A

millhousetuckedawayina ruralvalleyjust

threemileswestofDartmouthanda quick

walktothepicturesquebeachofBlackpool

Sandsbecamea boltholeescapefrom

LondonlifeforTanyaBird.It provedtobeanidyllic

spotforherandherthreesonstoenjoyholidaysaway

fromthecity,withallthefreedomaffordedbythe

country-meets-seasidelocation.‘Itwasa magicalplace

fortheboystogrowup,’shesays‘Surroundedbythe

sea,theywouldspendhoursswimming,sailingand

makingcamps.Alltheirchildhoodsummerswere

enjoyedhere,aswellasChristmasandEasterbreaks.It

hasalwaysbeenverymucha homefromhomeforus.’

Fastforward 17 yearsandtheboys,nowyoung

adults,areatdifferentstagesinlifeandfamilytrips

tothemillaresavedfora fewpreciousweekseach

year.‘Thetimefeltrighttorenovatethemillandtorent

itoutasa holidayletbetweenourvisits,’saysTanya.

'I approachedUniqueHomeStaysandtheysuggested

a coupleofdesignerstohelpmemanagetheprocess.’

Afterinitialmeetings,TanyacommissionedSiobhan

Haylesandworkedcloselywithheronallelements

ofthetransformation.‘Siobhanhasanincredibleeye,

bothcreativelyandpractically,andreallyhelpedto

realise my vision. I had strong initial thoughts about

ATHOMEWITH...

OwnersBusinessadviser

TanyaBirdboughtthemillin

2002 asa holidayhomefor

herfamilyofthreeboys,whoare

allnowgrownup:Rory,23,

Jamie,19,andGuy,17.

HouseA 400-year-old

five-bedroommillhouse

inDartmouth,Devon.

KitchenThesturdyrange,

stylishhangingpendants

andpatternedtilesadda

senseofdrama.Similar

range, Aga.Lights,

AgapanthusInteriors.

Similartiles, Bert & May

COUNTRY HOMES & INTERIORS 39