Wealden Times | WT181 | March 2017 | Fashion supplement inside

This page: In the master bedroom, dark dressers are filled with
sea shells: “In the Victorian era people liked to collect shells, and
they used to put them in cabinets of curiosity. We put cabinets
like that together.” The bright modern painting (above) was part
of a job lot, that used to belong to Adam Faith, sold as part of
his estate when he died
acquired some rather special items, from rather special
people. The master bedroom suite illustrates perfectly a
mix of modern and antique, everyday and otherworldly.
On one wall is a large abstract and colourful oil painting.
“We bought the picture as part of a job lot of paintings
that used to belong to Adam Faith,” says Paul. My eyes
are also drawn to two metal and glass occasional tables at
the foot of the bed. “They used to belong to Sir Norman
Hartnell, the Queen’s dresser. He designed the Queen’s
wedding dress and coronation gown. They were from his
original Bruton Street studio where most of the royals went
to get dressed and a lot of stars as well. We have a picture
of Merle Oberon stood next to one of them,” says Paul.
A dressing room, which is next to the master
bedroom suite, was created by a carpenter friend of the
couple. Standing on and inside a display cabinet by
the window, are spats and boots, which also belonged
to the famed couturier: “We don’t wear them! I don’t
think they would fit! We just thought they were a
nice thing to have in a dressing room,” says Paul.
A dressing room is certainly a very civilised thing to
have... as is a master bedroom with two en suite bathrooms.
I ask if this helps them avoid arguments? “I don’t like
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