Your Home – August 2019

http://www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk August 2019 81

REAL HOME

Feature

Jane Bowles

Photos

Colin Poole

For stockists see page 120

COME ON IN...

WE ARE Christina Dickinson, an interior

designer and artist, and my husband Nigel,

who works for a charity. We have three

grown-up children. We also have a

cross-breed dog called Dora.

OUR HOME IS A two-bedroom

maisonette apartment on the sea front in

Exmouth, Devon, built around 1840.

MY TOP TIP Is pick your palette and keep

your colour scheme simple. Choose three

main colours and use them throughout your

home – it will make the space feel larger.

TO RELAX I love to go for great long walks

on the beach, drinking in the fresh air and

fabulous coastal views. I also enjoy painting

in acrylics – there’s something very calming

about working with colour on the canvas.

I AM INSPIRED BY France, where I lived

for ten years, and I’m constantly inspired by

the French way of decorating, with its painted

furniture and linens, soft chalky colours and

light-filled interiors.

MY BEST BUY IS The pale turquoise

metal garden chairs which we use in our

kitchen-diner. We bought them for only

£15 each in the B&Q sale.

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

The soft-white

walls and large

mirrors make the

living room feel more

spacious. The grey

striped sofa from

Furniture Village,

and co-ordinating

cushions add to the

coastal vibe. ‘The

Victorian fireplace is

an original feature,’

says Christina

Christina found

the old teak shutters

in a junk shop and

gave them a coat

of paint to create

a French vintage

look. The colourful

painting is by local

artist Tina Stokes

A space-saving sliding glass patio door leads directly on to the balcony which overlooks

the sea. This is Christina’s favourite place to sit and relax at any time of the day. The sailing

boat curtain fabric is by Clarke & Clarke

Painting dark wooden pieces,
like the sideboard and wooden
shutters, with a coat of
whitewash gives them
instant vintage style.

Good idea!

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Storage

Study

Kitchen

Dining

area

Lounge

Ensuite

Bathroom

Hall