Wealden Times | WT171 | May 2016 | Restoration & New Build supplement inside

Above: A wall of bespoke wardrobes with mirrored and lattice-work doors in the dressing room was beautifully crafted by the couple’s carpenter, Robert
and fits perfectly with the property’s 20th century, Arts & Crafts aesthetic. Hiding any clutter, they are also eminently functional too
“This room is probably most similar to the way that
we decorated our house in Clapham”, Victoria says. “We
use it often for entertaining and it’s perfect for having
drinks. We recently went to the London Gin Club, where
all kinds of botanical gins are served in huge goblets
with long shavings of cucumber and plenty of ice. It’s
absolutely delicious, so now I always serve it like that.”
Further along the hallway is the drawing room, which
features another handsome Andrew Martin sofa flanked
by a pair of French Provencal-style sofas from OKA
with a huge buttoned OKA ottoman between them. At
the other end of the room, a traditional billiard table,
commissioned by the couple from Brunswick & Co has
proved a useful addition for David and popular among
visiting friends. A pair of French tub chairs that once
belonged to Victoria’s grandfather sit either side of the
window overlooking the garden, and on a mercury
glass and metal console table from OKA, a collection
of silver and glass objets are carefully grouped.
On the wall above, a fine arrangement of framed
prints of speckled bird’s eggs from King’s Court Galleries
complement the group of botanical illustrations
that frame the fireplace on the opposite wall.
Up the main stairs, the dominant feature is a huge,
early 19 th century map of Surrey bought at Ardingly
Antiques Fair that includes the area where David and
Victoria’s house is sited. Further up on the landing,
a pair of carved French chairs upholstered with a
fresh Sanderson green fern fabric were inspired by the
ferns that naturally grow and fill the front garden.
An antique crystal chandelier with unusual damsoncoloured
drops was a present from David to Victoria and
provides a delicate contrast to the dominant green theme
of the map and fern prints on the walls and upholstery.
“It’s a simple trick really, but adding a marble top to a piece of furniture
immediately places it in a more luxurious bracket,” says Victoria.
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