2019-06-01 25 Beautiful Homes

T

akingona majorrenovationwithtwoyoung

childrenanda babywasa bravemoveforClaire

Foxandherhusband,Mike.‘Wesawthishouse

andknewthatwecouldtotallytransformit,’says

Claire.‘It’sourthirdbigproject,andit’ssomethingthatI

lovedoing.’So,in2017,whileonmaternityleavefromher

jobasa businessdirector,Clairebegantomanagethebuild.

Thehousewasa warrenoftinyroomsondifferentlevels

whenthecouplefirstviewedit.‘Therewerelotsofissuesto

address,’saysClaire.‘Therewasa tinygalleykitchenthat

couldonlyfitoneperson,andthebasementwasdividedinto

twobedrooms,oneofthemreallysmallanddark.And

whoeverlivedherepreviouslyhadbeena hugefanofthe

colourblue– carpets,walls,younameit,it wasallblue.’

ClaireandMike’sfirstdecisionwastoextendintothe

gardentocreatea largekitchenanddiningspace.They

opted to turn the basement into one large bedroom suite,

1 Kitchen

‘thisbrightnewspaceworks

perfectlyforus.thecabinets

werewellpricedandi added

brasshandlesandtapsfora

bitofwowfactor,’saysclaire.

Shake-stylecabinetryand

appliances,£8,000,Magnet.

Graniteworktop,£2,800,

Granite & Marble UK

2&3sittingroom

theglassbalconyareawith

relaxedseatingisa great

success.oneofclaire’smany

ampersandsignsisdisplayed

ona vintagesideboard.

Glassbalcony,£602,London

GlassCentre.Finda UFOClub

postersignedscreenprint,

£275, V&A Shop

1

2

128 | 25bhJUne 2019