2019-07-01_Your_Home

June 2019 75

REAL HOME

Feature

Victoria Jenkins

Photos

William Goddard

For stockists see page 120

COME ON IN...

WE ARE Lucy and Ben Parsons, respectively

an art advisor and an art dealer, with our two

children Kitty, six, and Tilo, two, plus Spooky,

the black cat.

OUR HOME Is a detached three-bedroom

house built in 1973 in a village in Oxfordshire.

MY STYLE IS Contemporary with a bit of

mid-century thrown in. I like to mix new and

old to make the house feel more lived in.

I WOULD CHANGE The kitchen – we

hurried to install something and chose not

to spend much money. One day we’ll have a

space that flows better.

THE BEST THING ABOUT LIVING

HERE The people in our village are amazing,

welcoming, warm, interesting and very kind.

We really landed on our feet here.

WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE Because

the garden is very spacious. I grew up with a

large garden and fields to play in, and wanted

the same for my children.

NEXT TO DO Is the garden. We took

out several old and struggling plants. It’s

a blank canvas now which is both exciting

and daunting.

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

The kitchen opening was
widened with the intention
of putting in double doors,
but the couple left the
space open-plan.

Good idea!

Installing their Rais

wood-burner was their best

idea as it’s clean burning

with zero emissions.

Good idea!

The Rais

wood-burning

stove is

from Robeys

Fireplaces in

Derbyshire,

chosen for its

clean-burning

credentials.

It rotates so

the family can

see it from

the dining or

sitting room

They chose a cork floor as it’s warm

underfoot and cheaper than underfloor

heating. ‘It’s easy to clean, essential

with two children,’ says Lucy. The

IKEA oak-fronted cabinets are teamed

with Artisau wall tiles from Topps Tiles

which have a handmade look

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Kitchen

Hall

Hall

Bedroom 1 Study

Dining

room

Lounge

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 4

Bedroom 3

Utility