SITTING ROOM
Pink and blue are a theme in
Michelle’s display of artwork and
make the grouping look cohesive.
Habitat’s walnut wooden tripod
floor lamp base, £170, is similarhome truths
THE PROPERTY
Terraced house, built in 1850
L O C AT I O N East Sussex
ROOMS Sitting room,
kitchen-diner, breakfast
room, studio, four bedrooms,
two bathrooms
PURCHASED 2013
PREVIOUS PROPERTY
‘We lived in a two-up-two-down
in west London,’ says Michelle.FAVOU R I T E RO OM ‘The kitchen is where we hang out
W
hen Michelle Kreussel
and her husband Wojtek
Godzisz decided to swap
their two-up two-down
property in London for a larger home by the
sea, they were also seeking a completely new
lifestyle. ‘When we walked in, I just knew
this was the house for us,’ says Michelle. ‘It
had the right flow and proportions and we
loved the original features.’ The Victorian
terrace, set across five floors, was previously
rented out, so it was in a neglected and
run-down state. But it retained its period
fireplaces and cornicing and the largewooden double doors dividing the kitchen
and sitting room were an appealing feature.
The couple took their time renovating
the key rooms, to create a family home for
daughters, Penelope, four, and 18-month-old
Beatrix. ‘The bones of the house were in
good condition but the basement was
uninhabitable, with no plumbing or
electricity,’ says Michelle. ‘When we saw it,
we knew we could turn it into a work area.’
Michelle and Wojtek have given the
interior a contemporary style full of
character inspired by its seaside setting.
The floorboards were sanded and oiled112 | 25bH auGuST 2019