Wealden Times | WT181 | March 2017 | Fashion supplement inside

This page: A door from Martin’s Jack and Jill bathroom leads
into one of the guest bedrooms. Even a bust on the windowsill
has been generously adorned with shells
careful curation. Pale painted furniture, including Frenchstyle
chairs and commode, as well as another bespoke
upholstered headboard offer a simple backdrop to some
seriously ornate French church candelabra, wall sconces
and an imposing classical bust. “We collect quite a lot of
church relics,” says Paul, “from Portugal, Spain and France
– they tend to decommission their churches as they had so
many of them, so there is a ready market for church relics.”
Over a surprisingly rustic bare-brick fireplace hangs a large
starburst mirror. “We buy them from antique auctions.
That one is mid 20th century I believe,” says Paul.
As well as this guest room, there is also a guest suite
in the old part of the house – which can be reached
by a secret door on the central stairway. It comprises a
bedroom, bathroom and anteroom which Paul uses as an
office. “The guest suite is handy when we have friends
visiting who have children, as they can use the anteroom
as well” says Paul. The bedroom area, compared to the
rest of the house, has a relatively low ceiling with an
ancient beam across. Fortunately, five sash windows help
to keep the room lovely and light, as does the muted
decor: “The whole house is either Cornforth White
or Lamp Room Gray by Farrow & Ball,” says Paul.
The ‘Whistle’ lettering on the wall, reminiscent
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