Wealden Times | WT180 | February 2017 | Wedding supplement inside

over the rooftops is amazing...” His enthusiasm is infectious.
I sit in one of two leather chairs by the living room
window. “They were found for us by a lady in St Leonards
who has a shop called Sideshow Interiors. We were after two
perfect chairs, but they needed to feel loved, worn, and very
gentlemanly... We saw these and just fell in love with them.”
The large Edwardian sofa next to my seat they found in a
skip in Leytonstone, East London, where they used to live.
There is no overarching theme to this room, it’s just
a mix of eras, styles and hand-picked objects – one or
two of which are very ‘of the moment’; think taxidermy,
retro drinks trolleys and a touch of macrame, in the
form of a bright yellow hanging basket. “We did a course
last year. I think the one in the bathroom is probably
stronger in terms of the look – that one’s David’s. I cut
the ends too short on mine!” says James, modestly.
So, what’s the key to this effortless, organic style? “More
people are mixing period pieces and styles and creating
their own look. We buy things we really love. As you walk
through the house you’ll see pieces from East Germany, we
have Danish pieces of furniture, Victorian pieces, French
painted cupboards. The eclectic mix is there but the way it’s
styled should feel a little bit calmer.” It’s not a house that
feels cluttered or cramped, despite its relatively small rooms.
Even the darker basement and ground floor rooms feel
artfully composed and relaxing spaces to spend time in.
To appreciate the contrast in decor and natural light – as
well as the view of the sea – we head up to the studio on the
top floor. “This is one of our favourite rooms,” says James.
“We sit up here, we chat about creative stuff, look at the view
and it gives you that lovely calm feeling.” Next to the window
is what appears to be a well-upholstered, firm sofa. It is in
fact a 1950s, East German sofa bed. “In the summer we pull
the window up... You can just lie here – or I’ll just drift off
in the afternoon. I’m an early bird, so I get up at six, go for a
walk with Cooper. By about three o’clock, it’s time to relax!”
Simply furnished, the other walls are taken up by a
book‐case – in front of a glass-topped desk – and a plain
wall with a rudimentary fireplace. “The fireplace was covered
over, but we knew there was something there, so we made
a hole ourselves.” The space, where a fireplace should go, is
stacked with logs. “We didn’t want it to feel too polished.
The fireplace is a work in progress... as is the whole house.”
Unlike the rooms on the lower floors, James and David
have used a lighter palette on this floor. The walls in the
studio are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Parchment, the doors
in French Grey and floorboards in Pavilion. An ethereal lamp
hovers behind the armchair in which James sits: “It was a
gift from two of our closest friends, Andrew and Pip, who
own the shop Le Chien et Moi in Nottingham. It’s Danish,
very early 50s, but otherwise we know very little about it.”
Rather than nodding off in the calm of the top-floor studio,
it’s time for our tour to continue. Next door is the sparkling,
1930s-feel bathroom, with marble-effect tiling and huge
old bath with wood-panelled sides painted, as are the
This page: The staircase that winds up through the house is used
to display more of the couple’s finds
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