2019-07-01_Country_Homes_Interiors

LIVINGTHEDREAM

MovingfromLondontoDorsetgave

ClaireBowmantheopportunity

toreturntoherroots

Whatdidyouloveabout

yourcountrychildhood?

‘Havingthefreedomtogooffand

playintheriverandmeadows.We’d

packupjamsandwichesandour

fishingnetsandbegoneallday.Now,

FloraandI willgoforpicnics.We

recentlydiscovereda fieldof

sunflowers– it waslikestepping

intoa sceneinProvence.’

Whatchildhoodactivities

doyourecreatewith

Flora?’Weheadtothecoastat

thefirstopportunity.Werecently

boughta seakayak,whichreminds

meofchildhoodboatingexpeditions.’

Howhasitbeen

rediscoveringthearea

throughadulteyes?

‘Iprobablyneverfullyappreciated

thecountrysideasa child,butnowI

oftenstopthecartoadmiretheview.’

poorconditionwhentheyboughtit,butClaireand

Davidcouldseepastthedatedwoodchipandorange

pine,recognisingitspotential.‘Thehousehadgood

bonesandwewantedtoputourownstampona place

ratherthanbuysomewherealreadydone,’saysClaire.

TheylivedwithClaire’sparentswhiletheworkwas

carriedout,withDavidtakingontheroleofproject

manager.Improvementsincludedupgradingthe

kitchen,wheretheypainstakinglylaida composite

blueliasflagstonefloorwithanauthentic,rusticpatina;

installinga newbathroom;strippingandsandingall

thefloorboardsanddecoratingthroughout.Theyalso

installedtwonewwindowsintotheendgable,updated

theplumbingandwiringandaddedsoundproofing.

‘Thewallswerepaperthin,’saysClaire.‘However,

therewasnoneedtoalterthelayoutorinstallan

extension,sowedidn’tdoanythingtooradical.’

Theirhomeis nowa pleasingblendofidylliccountry

cottagestyleandmodernsimplicity.‘Wedidn’twant

togototallyrusticandaimedtoreplicatesomeofthe

elementsofourLondonhome,likethebookshelves,

whichwehadmadebya localcarpenter,’saysClaire.

‘Aftermuchprocrastination,wedecidedtopaintthe

brick chimney breast in the living roomwhite,

LivingroomFora

rustictouch,trypainting

oldfurniture,likeClaire

hasthecoffeetable.

Coffeetablepaintedin

Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball

>

dorset Cottage