2019-06-01 Country Homes & Interiors

FEATURE

VIVIENNE AYERS

PHOTOGRAPHS

POLLY ELTES

wascompletedin 2011 andthefamilyenjoyedtheir

newhomeforthenextfiveyears,untildisasterstruck.

‘SteveandI wereonholidaywhenwegota phonecall

fromourson,Josh,totellustherehadbeena fireinthe

house.It wasa verytraumatictime,butwecountedour

blessingsaseveryonewassafe.Thefireitselfwasn’tthe

mainproblem– it wasthesmokedamage,’saysAmanda.

‘Everythingwasstainedblack.It wascompletedevastation.’

Thefamilyhadtoliveina hotelforsevenmonthsbefore

theycouldmovebackintowhatwasessentiallya building

site.‘Thefirehadstartedintheglazedfamilyroomso

everythinghadtobetakenbacktothebrickworkin

thereandthedoubleglazingallneedtobereplaced.’

Luckily,Amandawasabletosalvagethekitchen

cabinets.Shechosetopainttheislandinanaubergine

shadetoadda touchofdramatothespaceandcarried

thisaccentcolourthroughouttherestofthefamilyroom,

too.Nowlotsofnaturalwood,quirkypatchworktilesand

softwoolupholsteryindamsonshadesgivethe open-plan

spacethemoderncountrylookshefavours.

‘It’sa lovelyhomeandweappreciateit allthemore

sincethefire.Whenwefirstmovedbackin,it felta bit

likea showhome,butnowthatit’sbeenlivedinfor

a little while, it’s really comfortable and very us.’

ExteriorA glazed
pergolameansthedeck
canbeenjoyedwhatever
theweather.Diningset,
Oceans Rattan Furniture

GardenTheaddition

ofa benchmakesthe

mostofthisplant-filled

corner.Similarbench,

Teak Bench Company

Visit...‘HengistburyHead

(visithengistburyhead.co.uk)forfar-

reachingviewsacrossChristchurch

Harbour,MudefordSpitandoverto

theIsleofWightandOldHarryRocks.

Aftera cuppaamongthebeachhuts,

catchthelongferrybackuptheriver

toexploremoreofChristchurchtown.’

Shopat...‘No 64 BiscuitHouse

(01590643765, no64.co.uk)

inMilford-on-Seaforgorgeous

Scandi-chichomeware.’

Goforamealat...‘TheJetty

(01202400950,thejetty.co.uk)in

Christchurchfora gourmet,

harbour-side treat.’

ON OUR DOORSTEP

DORSET TOwnHOUSE