2019-08-01_Homes_&_Antiques 2

‘Istruggledtochoosejustoneset,so

weendeduporderinga selection,’

Alisonsays.

Nowthatthehouseiscomplete,

StephenandAlison’sfutureplans

includetheintroductionofa shepherd’s

hutforvisitors,anda greenhousefor

vegetables.Inadditiontoclassesin

embroidery,wreath-making,

lampshade-makingandquiltingthat

sherunsfromhergardenstudio,

Alisonisplanningtoopena cafeinthe

garden.(Seethismonth’s‘10Ways’

feature,startingonpage92,formore

ideasforoutdoorrooms.)Throughout

theyear,walkersandcyclistsexploring

theJohnMuirWaypassthehouseand

she’ssurethatthey’dappreciate

somewheretostopforteaandcake.It

seemsthat,despitetheirbidtoescape

thenoiseofthecity,lifeat the Mells’ is

in fact far from quiet.

ABOVEThefront

gardenis a work

in progress,and

futureplansinclude

a greenhouse,a

shepherd’shutand

a tearoom.RIGHT

Alisonat thedoorto

herstudiowithRufus

the cocker spaniel.

Alisonholdsregularcrafting

classesin herworkshop.The

vintageBrookeBondsignis

from JaneR Designs.

HOMES Collectors’ Coage

90 Homes & Antiques August 2019