English Home

THE ENGLISH HOME 53LEFT In the ‘greenbedroom’, Frenchantique furniture hasbeen arrangedagainst a backgroundof wallpaper by GP &J Baker, though theSolomon’s Sealdesign has now beendiscontinued. Thechampagne-colouredbed quilt is by Malini.BELOW The greenbedroom’s en suitehas been fitted withsanitaryware fromBathstore.com. Thewindow shutters weresupplied by Hillarys.been a farmhouse in leafy Surrey. “We had beenhoping to move for a while, to somewhere deeper inthe countryside,” recalls Carol. The couple were drawnto the South West, as Peter’s family hails from theregion, but it was Hannah, their daughter, whodiscovered that the villa was for sale. “We came to seeit, and liked it because it isn’t a chocolate-box-prettysort of place; more a rustically elegant house. It has afew quirks and interesting nooks and crannies. Also,it feels down to earth around here. We feel part ofa real community,” emphasises Carol.The villa was in good condition when they arrived,with many of the original period features – such as thefireplaces, window shutters and ceiling cornices – stillintact, so the couple let the interior embrace them fora while before they began to put their own stamp on it.The huge drawing room at the front of the house isthe undeniable star of the show, containing threefloor-to-ceiling windows allowing floods of daylight.The fine marble fireplace is prominently positioned,installed beneath a fabulous plaster ceiling adornedwith a deep ornamental cornice reminiscent of layersTEH UK DEC15 HOUSE - Richards.indd 53 23/10/2015 12:57