2019-08-01_25_Beautiful_Homes

masterbedroom

Upholsteredina restful

greyandbeautifullydressed,

thebedcreatesthefeelofa

boutiquehotelroom.

Bed,priceonrequest,

Greer Beds

ensuite

Anickeltubsittingon

parquetwood-effect

tilesisthefocalpointin

thisspaciousbathroom.

Bateauxbath,from

£6,000, Catchpole & Rye

maddie’s

bedroom

Alexdesignedhereldest

child’sbedroomsoit

wouldgrowwithher.

BarnebyGatesAllStar

wallpaperinGunmetal,

£87 a roll, Bear René

country | 25bh

for stockistsGo to whERE to Buy

intobathrooms,changinga 10-bedroom,two-bathroom
propertyintoonewithsevenbedroomsandfivebathrooms.
notlongbeforemovingtothecountry,alexgaveup
herjobinmarketingtospendmoretimewiththechildrenand
shehasalsorelishedhavingthetimetobehandsonwhenit came
tothedesignchoicesforthehouse.‘i havea backgroundinart
andi reallyenjoyedgettingcreativeagainwiththehouse,’she
says.‘i wanteda mixofmodernandtraditionalthemes.i went
throughdozensofmagazinestocreatemoodboardsandi kept
referringtothesetocreatea lookandfeelforeachroom.starting
withthekitchen,i thenworkedthroughtherestofthehouse to
makesurethateachspaceflowednaturallyintothenext.’
Whenit cametolighting,wallpapersandfabrics,however,
alexfoundthesheerchoiceoverwhelming,sosheenlistedthe
help of nicola oaten at bear rené interior design. ‘nicola is the

sister-in-lawofa friendandi initiallyconsultedwithheron

lighting,’saysalex.‘shewalkedaroundthehousewithmeand

gavemesomeideasforjoinery,butwhatshereallyhelpedme

withwasbuying.shetookmetothedesignCentreChelsea

Harbourandintroducedmetolotsoffabriccompanies

i hadn’tknownaboutorwouldhavebeentoointimidatedto

havegoneintoonmyown.shehelpedbringeverythingtogether.’

Withtheinteriorfinished,alexturnedherattentiontothe

outside,installinganelegant,mosaic-tiledswimmingpooland

creatinganinvitinginformalseatingareasurroundedbya mix

offormalandrelaxedflowerbeds.‘Weloveit herenow,’shesays.

‘ioftenwanderaroundthehouse,enjoyingthefactthat

it’ssomethingi’vecreated.Whenpeoplecomeandstayhere,

theyteaseusthatit’slikebeingina boutiquehotel.i suppose

it is – but it’s one that we’re lucky enough to call home.’

25bhAuGuSt 2019| 99