Surrey Homes | SH15 | January 2016 | Health & Beauty supplement inside

Above: The cosy attic bedroom, with a newly fitted en suite is reached via
steep ‘paddle stairs’, as sometimes seen on yachts Right: Ascending and
descending the stairs takes some practice
it looked like a pub fireplace, with a large metal hood, and
horse brasses all around,” says Dean. “We had a guy remove
the hood, and hide it in the space above the fireplace,
but we didn’t know if the fire would draw properly. We
decided it was worth a try, and that if it didn’t work, we’d
put in a wood-burner. But it burns a treat.” The fireplace
features firedogs, bought this year from an antiques market
in Montpellier, France, while the fireback is one of several
purchases from Symonds reclamation yard at Bethersden. It
is a fitting focal point for the living room, which contains a
mixture of antiques, many of which were bought from the
renowned antiques dealer, John Bly, as well as replica pieces
skilfully made by the Headcorn carpenter, Tim Smith.
A rustic wooden door to the right of the fireplace leads
to the dining room and the stairs. The dining room is
furnished with dark, period furniture – almost all from their
former home – including a refectory table and ladder-back
chairs from about 1780.
Despite the care that has gone into sourcing these
antiques, this is no showroom – and the room is regularly
used for lively dinner parties. A large, seemingly old,
maritime painting along the side wall gives a nod to
the couple’s sense of fun: “I said to the artist, Donald
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