2019-06-01 25 Beautiful Homes

arts and crafts conversion (^) | 25bh
F
ionaHarkin-Woodandher
husbandSamwerelivingina flat
inLondonwhentheydecidedthey
neededmorespace.Unfortunately,
movingupthepropertyladderinthecapital
wasn’tviable.‘WevisitedRyeonesummer
andfeltathomethere,’saysFiona,whothen
spottedanArtsandCraftspropertyforsale,
designedbyarchitectHoraceFieldandonce
ownedbymembersoftheTatefamily,of
Tate&Lyle.‘I cametoseeit withmymum
andbeforeI hadevenbeenupstairs, I knew
Iwantedtoliveinit,’shesays.
Thepurchasewentthroughsmoothly
in2014.‘Welivedinthehousefora year
beforewedidanythingtoit,’saysFiona.
‘Thekitchenhadstriplights,thewiringwas
allovertheplaceandwekeptfindingdead
mice.Mymumhelpeduspaintthewalls
white,butthatwasaboutit untilwebegan
renovatingattheendofthatyear.’
Sadlyforthecouple,therewasemotional
turmoillooming.‘Webothcommutedto
Londonfora yearafterthemovebutI was
strugglingtogetpregnantandmymumwas
undergoingtreatmentforcancer,soI decided
totakethreemonthsoff,whichalsoletme
overseetherenovationofthehouse.Within
amonth,I waspregnant,’saysFiona.
‘Wecalledina localbuildingfirmand
redecoratedthetoptwofloorsinlate2014 ,
usingmyfurniture-designerdadtodothe
joinery,’saysFiona.Onthefirstfloor,they
knockedintotwostorecupboardstomake
a Victorian-stylebathroomwithbeautiful
monochrome tiling. They then turned the
landing
Originalwindowsanda sweeping
staircasemakethisanimpressivespace.
TrytheErcolOriginalsChairmakerschair,
£905,Heal’s.Contemporarywalllightwith
ribbed Upton glass shade, £165, Fritz Fryer
SiTTingROOM
Richjewel-bluetonescreateanopulentfeel.
TheLunapendantlight,£311.98,Clippings,
is a goodalternative.Cushions,from£41each,
Plinth Home at Marsha By The Sea
KiTCHEn
acollectionofbrightenamelware
createsa fundisplayhere.
SimilarMoomintableware,from
£8.50, Muurla at Trouva