Wealden Times | WT178 | December 2016 | Interiors supplement inside

Previous page: In the book room, a roaring fire in the perfect fireplace to hang the family stockings
Above: The mural in the entrance hall was painted by Sue Fields
Sometimes, it’s easier to describe something by describing
what it’s not. This house, down a rough farm track
near Staplehurst, is not a show home, neither is it a
designer home full of the latest interior trends. It’s not bling
and doesn’t have electric gates with an intercom where visitors
have to request permission to enter. For all these reasons,
what it is, is a truly special family home – and one where
the current family intend to stay for the foreseeable future.
This family, made up of Tim and Eve – plus three grownup
children and three grandchildren who regularly come to
stay – has already lived here for 23 years and has no plans
to move. “We were living in Frittenden,” says Tim, “which
we just adored, and weren’t thinking of living anywhere
else.” Then one day, a brochure came through the door
from a local estate agent, with the details for this house.
“I thought ‘it’s not in Frittenden. I won’t even bother
looking at it’, and put the brochure in my bag before
driving over to my business partner’s house.” Having spent
the journey thinking about the weatherboarded farmhouse
and 12 acres of land, Tim couldn’t help but tell his
83 wealdentimes.co.uk