Wealden Times | WT162 | August 2015 | Wedding supplement inside

This page: The office. Star of the show is a truly superb white leatherVarier ‘Orange Peel’ chair where the couple can take it in turns to relax andenjoy the stunning westerly view down from the top of Goudhurst hillthe home we wanted in one of the most attractive villages in theWeald – and to save a glorious old building in the process.” Therewas a slight problem in that the couple were busy renovatinga property in Rochester but when they found that the chapelwas going up for auction, they couldn’t let the chance slip by.For some time the local residents had been fearful about thefate of the building and what might replace it so when theyheard Nick and Sonja’s plans the couple found they had solidlocal support for their project. “When we presented our plansto the Parish Council, neighbours even came along to voicetheir approval – and that surely must be some kind of first.”The couple both like minimalist living so, with just empty spacebefore them, they could plan exactly the home they wanted – wellalmost. “The broad concept is minimalist but we didn’t want togo too far out of respect for the building, says Nick, “and in anycase there were some glorious features we wanted to conserve.”Needless to say, at the top of this list were five spectacularwindows that have poured light into this space since 1878and which the couple were determined to keep. “We actuallyhad to reinstate one of the five arched windows to be as theoriginal design.” Says Nick. “This was necessary becausethe church had replanned the internal space in the 1960swhich had in turn required the main entrance door to bemoved from the southern elevation to the western side.”However, windows like these have always created problemsfor developers of churches and chapels looking to create 77 www.wealdentimes.co.uk