Surrey Homes | SH29 | March 2017 | Fashion supplement inside

Above: Nicola didn’t want a typical blue and white striped seaside
house, but did want a rustic feel, with a nod towards the location
Left: The simple floor treatment has proved to be a godsend too, as it
is very easy to sweep out the main by product of seaside living – sand
jelly moulds, and a huge old ginger beer keg has made a great
lamp base. Nicola also makes decorative and functional use of
all sorts of things that many of us would overlook – the old
rowlocks from her grandfather’s boat and an animal feeding
trough are put to good purpose in the utility room. “I collect
things.” she says simply, showing me a nostalgic collection
of postcards from old Camber. A long row of antique ginger
beer bottles and some colourful vintage children’s books and
annuals have all been used together to help create a theme. “I
wanted to create that ‘lashings of ginger beer,’ old-fashioned,
seaside holiday/adventure feel,” she says. Nicola obviously
has an eye for a find, but I am beginning to wonder whether
her garage might not be more of a giant warehouse.
The seamlessly retro theme continues upstairs, where the
bathrooms are simply and effectively decorated with subway
tiles. Nicola has turned old wash stands into functioning
basins and then carefully added vintage accessories. It is the
charming details that immediately soften what could have
been stark, functional rooms into bright and welcoming
spaces. The bedrooms have been treated in a similar
uncomplicated way and the understated scheme is a great
backdrop to the quaint finds and harmonising colour accents.
There are lots of excellent design tips to be picked up
81 wealdentimes.co.uk