Wealden Times | WT165 | November 2015 | Gift supplement inside

Above: A rustic stripped-wood table sits in the corner of the large kitchen-cum-dining room, with side cupboards painted in a strong blue to complement the
colour of the ‘unfitted’ kitchen Above right: A dried Allium schubertii seed head, that Francine adorned with glass beads, hangs in the front porch
Those who believe that the Arts and Crafts movement
came to an end in the early 20th century have
obviously not been to Francine Raymond’s house
on Joy Lane in Whitstable. An appropriate address for
such a joyous home, this ‘chalet house’, built in 1906
by a Swedish sea captain, epitomises the movement’s
principle that designer and maker should be one and
the same. At least it does now, thanks to Francine.
Originally an unremarkable suburban house, built
in the ubiquitous Arts and Crafts style it has – over
five years – been transformed into a unique, stylish
and inspiring family home. Francine bought the house
from the sea captain’s granddaughter, and the house had
remained relatively unchanged since the day it was built.
“I was looking for a smaller house than this, with a
large garden, but in the end I had to make a decision,”
says Francine who moved from a much-loved family
home in Troston, Suffolk, to be nearer to her sons Jacques
and Max. “I’d helped Jacques and his wife Saskia look
for a home in Whitstable, and thought that it looked
like a nice place to live. I lived in the middle of nowhere
in Suffolk – whereas here you can walk everywhere.”
Francine didn’t find what she was looking for but was
able to see the potential in her current home. “My son
Max couldn’t see what I saw in the place – but he loves
it now.” Max, who lives in London, is a regular visitor
and Jacques and his young family live walking distance
away. Jacques, who is project manager at Moosejaw
Woodworks, also played a major part in rebuilding
the house, creating a bespoke ‘unfitted kitchen’ for
his mother and many other carpentry features.
The first thing Francine did when she bought
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