Surrey Homes | SH17 | March 2016 | Fashion supplement inside

Above: The central oak staircase was only half built when the family bought the house but is now an intrinsic part of the four-storey home –
linking three of the four floors. A glass cupola over the stairwell throws light into all of the rooms that lead off this impressive space
own paintings, a Native American headdress sitting on a
Russian Samovar and a carved whale from Mozambique
are among a wonderfully eclectic collection that all display
so well on one of many Georgian tip-top tables sourced
with the help of local antique dealer Camilla Samengo.
When they bought the house, all the kitchen had was
marble floor tiles (not what Sarah would have chosen but
replacing them was not a priority), plumbing and exposed
electric wiring along the side walls and services for an anticipated
island in the middle of the room. With three large
and growing boys, Sarah decided not to have an island as it
seemed to take up too much space, so she bought a clever
unit on wheels that holds lots of useful kitchen kit but can
be wheeled out to create a much larger room at times like
Christmas when there are lots of people around. One side
of the kitchen now has a run of black off-the-shelf units
with a big range cooker and the other has bespoke stainless
steel units that subtly match the black side but are really
stylish and original. A 1960s leather sofa from Gorringes
in Lewes is the perfect place to flop under the window
Leading off the hall at the other end of the house is the
drawing room. Originally two rooms, the Smiths had the
dividing wall removed and two doors made into one to
create a really splendid light filled room – that is big enough
to accommodate their baby grand piano. A simple black
fire basket within a classic marble surround looks especially
striking against the chimney breast painted in almost black
Farrow & Ball. Russian icons meet Staffordshire cricketers
on the mantelpiece and work perfectly together in stylish
détente! The curtains at this end of the room which were
With only twelve weeks, four floors, seven bedrooms and not a light switch or tap
in the building, Sarah knew she had to think big, but keep it simple
83 www.wealdentimes.co.uk