wealden-times-wt194-april-2018-garden-supplement-inside

GARDEN Supplement inside

Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes

PRICELESS

APRIL 2018

Designers and makers of handmade kitchens

The difference is in the detail

Please call for a brochure or visit our showrooms

Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart

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Tel: 01732 762682

81 Calverley Road

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2UY

Tel: 01892 520730

www.rencraft.co.uk

01580 291221 jminteriorsuk.uk Biddenden Showroom

MINTERIORS

JFine hand crafted kitchens and bespoke furniture

20 Grosvenor Road | Tunbridge Wells | TN1 2AR

T: 01892 547 132

www.tunbridge-wells.home-design.schmidt

5 High Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3EB

01580 715144

Email: kld@kingsfords.net www.kingsfords-solicitors.com

We offer an excellent, swift and friendly service.

Conveyancing - Wills & Estates - Commercial Law -

Matrimonial Law - Prenuptial Agreements - Litigation -

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Conveyancing Services from £550.00+VAT

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Lasting Power Of Attorney (LPA's) from £250.00+VAT

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Litigation Solicitor from £200.00+VAT

Matrimonial Solicitor from £150.00+VAT

We will always try and match any quotation

Kingsfords Solicitors Limited registered office address 2 Elwick Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PD

Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority 621466

KingsfordSolicitorsWT186.indd 1 24/07/2017 16:55

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wealdentimes.co.uk

TotalQualityMaintenanceWT192.indd 1 15/01/2018 12:20

Contents

April 2018

124

LATER LIVING STYLE

Maggie Alderson finds the best

of retirement properties

APRIL NOTEBOOK

Wealden events to take

note of this month

FAMILY FAVOURS

Interior designer Alexis Wylie

rejuenvates a family home

117

124

137

FLOOR PLANS

We take a look at three

fabulous flooring trends

RAIN OR SHINE

Kate Watts combats

April showers in style

SOAP STARS

Jo Fairley is bringing

back the bar

157

161

167

148

SPICE IT UP

The Bell in Ticehurst’s head

chef spices things up with

South American flavours

LET THE CHILDREN SPEAK

Hilary Wilce on the importance of

helping children find their voices

WHAT’S ON?

Events to keep you busy this month

GET THE LOOK

Inspiration for how to emulate

Alexis Wylie’s unique style

141

SPRING INTO SUMMER

Strictly no scalpels in these

summer-ready solutions

173

COMPETITION

Win a dazzling pair of

diamond earrings

INTERIOR DIRECTIONS

The details that will bring

your home bang up to date

145

A YEAR OF WELLNESS

Eminé Rushton begins her Year

of Wellness with a cleanse

174

FABLES FROM THE FARM

Jane Howard warmly welcomes

new arrivals to Coopers

115

COASTAL HAVEN

Kathryn Flett loves the lack of

cliché in this maritime cottage

GET THE LOOK

Ideas to try from Marta

Nowicka’s style sheet

147

148

NATURAL WISDOM

Yoga, skin treats and priceless

advice from a wellbeing guru

FROM AN ENGLISH GARDEN

Aaron Bertelsen of Great Dixter’s

simply beautiful recipes

Published by JPS Media Ltd. Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF

Telephone 01580 714705 Email info@wealdentimes.co.uk Visit wealdentimes.co.uk

necessarily those of JPS Media Ltd.

GARDEN

SUPPLEMENT

34 pages of

flowers, veg,

hens, lawns and

expert advice on

outdoor living

After page 158.

Gardens

A Wealden Times Supplement

Sponsored by

HARPERS AND HURLINGHAM

INTERIORS & SOFT

FURNISHINGS

Interiors are close to our hearts here at

Wealden Times and we’ve hand-picked a

collection of makers and collectors to

showcase their products at the fair! See

wealdentimes.co.uk/events for the full list.

Gardens

Where better to find glorious plants and

outdoor accessories than in the ‘Garden of

England’ amongst the formal borders of

the Hole Park Estate? See page 158 for this

month’s Garden Supplement and keep an eye

out for some of our fabulous exhibitors!

Don’t miss...

The Fenwick Beauty Hub will feature

a range of complimentary treatments

from brands including Charlotte Tilbury,

Dermalogica and Clarins. Plus, throughout

the three days there will also be talks and

workshops from Kiehl’s, Aveda, Caudalie

and many more still to be announced!

Design & Planning

Restoration

New Build

Barn Conversions

Extensions

Joinery

COX

Developments

(Charing) Limited

www.coxrestorations.co.uk

www.coxdevelopmentscharing.co.uk

NATIONAL AWARD WINNER COX DEVELOPMENTS

(CHARING) LIMITED – BEST SMALL DEVELOPMENT

For a free consultation please contact: 01233 714950

www.coxrestorations.co.uk

Established 1986

Over 30 years of inspiration

Everything for your home

• Traditional Hand-Made

English Furniture

• Contemporary Furniture

• Upholstery

• Lighting

• Accessories

• G i ft s

High Street, Tenterden. 01580 764481

tenterdenhouseinteriors.co.uk

The Kitchen is the Heart of Your Home

See how we can transform your home today www.bentonskitchens.co.uk canterbury@bentonskitchens.co.uk

Showroom: 17 Maynard Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3RH Telephone: 01227 767576

Sourdough School...

Both beginners and more advanced bakers can learn the lifelong

skill of baking bread, sourdough, pasta, pizza and/or sweet-dough

at Canterbury Baking School. At their Sourdough classes on

Monday 2, Sunday 15 and Sunday 22 April, students will make

two different starters and learn to develop, shape and adapt a

variety of different sourdough breads. The usual entry price is

£165pp but Wealden Times readers can claim £10 off when

you quote Wealden10. For details and booking email vicky@

canterburybakingschool.com or visit canterburybakingschool.com

April

notebook

Exhibitions & events

near you this month...

Mechanical Cabaret...

Cabaret Mechanical Theatre comes to Hastings

for the first time with an unmissable exhibition

of mechanical moving toys and inventions. From

Thurs 15 March to Sun 15 April Hastings Pier

will be home to works by renowned artists Paul

Spooner, Keith Newstead, Ron Fuller, Peter

Markey, Matt Smith and Carlos Zapata as well as

creations by members of the Craftivist Network, a

consortium of local community organisations. For

more information visit hastingspier.org.uk

Circus Fun...

Prepare to be amazed this Easter bank holiday

weekend as Leeds Castle’s spellbinding outdoor

show, Tarzanna, presents a playful aerial theatre

show where children can learn circus skills

including the trapeze and tightrope! For the rest of

the school holidays, seek out clues hidden around

the Castle grounds on a fun quest for children

of all ages. This will be running from Friday 30

March to Sunday 15 April and more information is

available online at leeds-castle.com

Flower Crowns...

Those looking for a fairy-tale addition to their

wedding outfits can learn how to make this

‘must-have’ floral accessory on Friday 20 April

at Blooming Green in Maidstone. Using freshly

picked flowers and foliage from the Blooming

Green flower plot, Jen will show you how to

make anything from simple flower-girl circlets

to abundant bridal crowns. All materials and

homemade refreshments provided. Find out

more at bloominggreenflowers.co.uk

Heritage...

Heritage and vintage vehicles are driving over for

another year at the Kent Showground as the Heritage

Transport show aims for a record of 800 vehicles in

its ninth year. On Saturday 7 April you can expect

the South East Bus Festival, trade stands, autojumble

and a farmer’s market all celebrating heritage and

vintage vehicles including cars, buses, motorbikes,

steam and tractors. Find more details online at

kentshowground.co.uk/heritage-transport-show

Garden History...

On Thursday 19 April at 11am garden historian

Stephen Harmer will be walking visitors to

Sissinghurst Castle through the history of the

formal gardens, exploring how poet and novelist

Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold

Nicolson shaped the garden we know today, and

the influence of other gardens and people such

as Hidcote Manor and William Robinson. Go to

sussexcountrygardener.co.uk to find out more.

Tulip Season...

20,000 tulips will be in bloom in Hever Castle’s

stunning grounds this month. Visit from

Wednesday 18 to Friday 27 April to indulge in

a tour with head gardener Neil Miller, visit the

Italian Garden’s kaleidoscopic display by the lake,

and venture inside the castle to learn about the

flower’s history and view in-house florist Pamela

Brise’s striking floral displays. Go to

hevercastle.co.uk for more information.

41 wealdentimes.co.uk

The Furniture Event

20% off *

furniture orders

PLUS 10% OFF * INTERIOR DESIGN

ORDERS AND SERVICES

‘Fairbanks’ in Leoni Velvet Topaz

*Exclusions may apply, Please ask in store for details.

Thursday 22nd March to Saturday 21st April

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Is Under New Family Ownership

Gold, Diamond Jewellery &

Prestigious Watches Purchased For Cash

Pre-owned Antique Timeless

Family Owned

96 High St, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6JB

Telephone 01580 763 155

www.whitesjewellers.co.uk

info@whitesjewellers.co.uk

35 St Leonards Rd, Bexhill-on-Sea TH40 1HP

Telephone 01424 211 835

www.thomasfrenchjewellers.com

thomas.frenchjewellers@gmail.com

RDO

Kitchen Studio

Offering the

combination of

contemporary

and classic kitchen

design using fine

furniture made

in England by

www.rdokitchenstudio.co.uk info@rdokitchenstudio.co.uk

Bancroft Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7RP 01737 240403

BE INSPIRED AND

CHALLENGED /

SHORT COURSE

PROGRAMME

A selection of inspiring short courses from

our summer programme. Study for personal

interest or self-development, among

like-minded people and without assessment.

Art Collecting and Collectors

Study day Sat 7 July 10.00-16.00 £42

Paul Klee: ‘taking a line for a walk’

6 weeks from Tue 5 June 11.00 - 13.00 £90

Empowering Images:

Tudor to Jacobean Portraiture

4 weeks from Thurs 7 June 10.30-12.30 £60

The Cold War in Literature

6 weeks from Fri 8 June 10.30-12.30 £90

How to listen to

JS Bach’s Church Cantatas

Study day Sat 7 July 10.00-16.00 £42

For the full programme, more information and

to book your place: www.kent.ac.uk/tonbridge

POSTGRADUATE

LEVEL

TASTER COURSES

TONBRIDGE

These small group, non-accredited courses are designed for anyone

with the passion and motivation to develop their knowledge at an

advanced level. They can be studied for pleasure or as an indication

of your suitability for a postgraduate programme.

ArT HISTory

Beyond Beauty: The Weird and the

Wonderful in Art Practice and Theory

4 weeks from Weds 20 June 11.00-13.00 £135

CrEATIvE WrITIng

Writing Historical Fiction

3 Saturdays 12 May; 9, 30 June 10.00-16.00 £250

LITErATurE

100 years of Women’s Suffrage: Celebrating

a Century of British Feminist Literature

5 weeks from Sat 4 May 10.30-12.30 £170

For more information about these courses and

to book your place: www.kent.ac.uk/tonbridge

university Centre Tonbridge, Avebury Avenue, Tn9 1Tg

01732 352316 tonbridgeadmin@kent.ac.uk

Just a few minutes’ walk from Tonbridge railway station and the High Street

At Krieder we produce furniture of beauty, rich in quality and daring in

combination. We spend time understanding the needs of our clients, to enable us

to create the most effective and usable products at a surprisingly affordable cost.

To discuss your ideas contact us today 01892 619721

Showrooms in TONBRIDGE | TUNBRIDGE WELLS | LONDON

www.KRIEDER.COM

Editor’s

Letter

write this with sunshine pouring in through the window

of the Wealden Times offices, wearing three less layers

of clothing than were necessary even last month.

Spring really is here. And what better way to embrace

this most glorious time of new sproutings and

beginnings than getting out into the garden? Our

annual gardens supplement is chock full of ideas and

practical expert advice to inspire and guide you.

And continuing the horticultural theme, we’ve also

got exciting news about the Garden Hub at the

Wealden Times Midsummer Fair in June (which

can never come around soon enough for me).

Among the brilliant speakers this year, you will have the

chance to meet the real David Archer. Yes, that David

Archer - or at least the actor who plays him, the fabulous

Tim Bentinck, who will be talking about his new book

Being David Archer. (Shall I say it again? David Archer!)

With any luck that will be a gorgeous sunny summer

day, meanwhile – embracing April’s rainy reputation

- our fashion editor Kate Watts has chosen the best of

the stylish new generation of waterproof jackets which

keep the wet out without making you feel like a boilin-the-bag

curry – or look like a train spotter.

Enjoy your Wealden Times.

Wealden Times Team

Editor ....................................................................................... Maggie Alderson

Editorial Assistant ........................................................................Rebecca Cuffe

Digital Editor ...................................................................................Emily Pavey

Fashion Editor ................................................................................... Kate Watts

Design .........................................................................................Powerful Pierre

Design Team ..............................................................................Anthony Boxall

Rob Cursons

Freya Bruce

Tanya Goldsmith

Managing Director ........................................................................ Julie Simpson

Commercial Director ............................................................... Colin Wilkinson

Sales Team ................................................................................ Hayley Biddulph

Sarah Norwood

Nick Robinson

Distribution ....................................................................................... Kate Watts

Wealden Times Events Team

Sales Account Manager ...................................................................... Joy Adams

Jude Brown

Show Director ................................................................................. Flo Simpson

Local solicitors

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Company and commercial law

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Buss Murton Law LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership No OC345994

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47 wealdentimes.co.uk

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For a brochure or home consultation call 01797 366895

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Where to find your copy of

Call 01580 714705 to find your nearest distributor of

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LenleysWT194.indd 1 05/03/2018 10:54

wealdentimes.co.uk

Family favours

A lovely family home which had got a bit lived in, was brought

back to peak condition by interior designer Alexis Wylie

Words: Maggie Alderson Photographs: David Merewether

53 wealdentimes.co.uk

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KSEHomeImprovementsWT183.indd 1 21/04/2017 17:52

Previous page: Ally commissioned bespoke bookshelves to create a focal point in the sitting room. The walls are painted in Farrow &

Ball’s Varta, to add a splash of bold colour. Above: the oak sideboard used to be in the kitchen, but Ally thought it deserved a grander

location. The chairs and sofa are from Furniture Village – to save money to spend on the bookshelves

The Weald of Kent is a very special part of the world,

with its beautiful rolling landscape peppered with

postcard-worthy villages – and an unusually high

volume of dream homes in ideal family proportions.

This house is one of them. Set along a country lane with

views from the back over a pond (and a swimming pool) to

farmland and the rise of the High Weald in the distance. On

one snowy morning visit, a robin red breast perched on the

hedge, as if positioned by a stylist, with the winter silhouettes

of trees against the sky beyond like a living Ravilious painting.

It’s a magical spot.

The house is equally blessed, a perfect combination of cosy

beams – and no fewer than three inglenook fireplaces – with

Victorian and 21st century additions which allow that modern

ideal of lateral space. The kitchen melts into the dining area

and on again to the sofas in the family snug.

It also has that lovely circular flow, which always makes a

house feel happy. You can walk round clockwise starting from

the hall, past the cloakroom, into the snug, through the arch

to the dining area, right turn into the kitchen and then back

out to the hall.

There are also various sets of French windows, so you can

pop in and out at different places, or if you wanted to get

away from everyone, there is an elegant sitting room off the

other side of the hallway.

But while the bones of the house are perfectly arranged

55 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above and left: These chairs which had belonged to homeowner

Jo’s mum, were looking a bit tired, but reupholstered with two

old Mexican blankets Ally found in the big clear out, they are

now the focal point in the hall – and a very handy place to hang

a handbag

for family life, there was a time when the hectic demands of

that very set up had taken its toll.

With three kids growing up through the stages of school life,

with associated sports equipment littering the place up and an

owner with a demanding career in town, the loveliness of the

house had begun to feel rather lost under the tide of life.

Owner Jo had put in the dining room extension that so

brilliantly links the kitchen and the snug when they moved

down to Kent 14 years ago. Then after that output of cash

and energy, she was happy to let things be for a while and

postpone decorating and refurnishing, but when her oldest

child was heading off to university she decided it was time to

bring the house up to date with their lives.

That was when she decided to call in a professional and on

the recommendation of friends got on the phone to interior

designer Alexis (Ally) Wylie, who lives a handy ten minutes

away. “Ally will sort you out,” she was told by happy previous

clients – and they were right.

wealdentimes.co.uk

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ATING

COMPANY: Sussex Stone & Ceramic DATE: 13 March 2018

COMPANY: Sussex Stone & Ceramic ...from a hinge DATE: to to a complete 13 March makeover

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Right: Looking from the cloakroom hallway, through the hall,

down another passage and on to the sitting room Below: the

snug – with one of the three inglenook fireplaces in the house.

The painting over the mantle is by Cranbrook-based artist Sandy

Dooley. All the curtains and blinds on this floor are in the same

fabric from Bell House Fabric and Interiors. Ally covered the

small chair on the right with a patchwork quilt which had been

made by Jo’s mother

Using one fabric for the curtains and

blinds throughout the ground floor unites

the layout, giving the space a chic, pulledtogether

look which makes you wonder

why on earth we fuss about putting

different patterns in every room

59 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Above: Ally had the dresser made to replace the dark wood dresser she moved to the sitting room and to reflect the kitchen’s

contemporary country style. Baskets and apple crates are her favourite tools for keeping clutter organised

61 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: Jo put in the dining room extension which joins up the kitchen and the snug, when she first moved in 14 years ago,

combining the beams of the original 16th century cottage with a light airy modern feel. The glorious four-oven Aga, was already in

place

Ally first visited at the end of September, had her swat team

on site by November and then it was six weeks hard slog to

have it ready for Christmas.

“I was hanging pictures on December 23rd…” she says.

But that was the fun end of the project, which started with

three skips outside, with Jo determined to clear out all the

stuff they didn’t need any more.

“Jo was ruthless,” says Ally. “We had a system: in the skip, or

to the side of the skip. The next morning, if it was still on the

ground next to the skip it went into the skip. The house looks

twice the size now we’ve cleared it out.”

And while Jo was determinedly getting rid of unwanted

belongings – and local charity shops had a bonanza from

it – Ally was at work organising the interior starting with the

entrance hall, which had been ‘a lost space’.

She created a deep cupboard at the back of it, fitted out

with apple crates, each with one family member’s name on it,

as their designated space to stash their stuff between outings.

No more hallway clutter.

She was also on the hunt for family pieces that could be

given a new lease of life. The two chairs now in the hall had

belonged to Jo’s late mother and inspiration struck when Ally

spotted some bold Mexican blankets and rescued them from

the skip.

“They’d been on the floor for years,” says Ally, “and looked

seriously past their best, but I had them dry cleaned and they

came up beautifully.”

The chairs were transformed and what had seemed like

rubbish, was upcycled and given a whole new lease of life.

Also pressed into service was a trove of fabrics Jo found

stored in a cupboard. A lovely patchwork quilt, which had

been made by her mother for the babies’ cradles, was used to

reupholster two chairs, one in pride of place in the snug as a

lovely daily reminder of granny.

Another great find was bolts of African printed fabrics,

brought back from Tanzania by the family, which Ally had

made into piles of brightly coloured mixed cushions and

upholstery, creating a vibrant theme which runs through the

house.

This unifying technique is also used across the curtains

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63 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Above: The main change Ally made in the dining room, was to turn Jo’s table round, so it leads on invitingly from the kitchen. Ally

had Jo’s existing dining chairs recovered in a mix of prints to contrast the graphic design of the curtains and blinds

65 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: The copper-lined pulley light over the dining table is by Original BTC (it was a bargain Ally found under the discontinued

clearance table.). The leather club chair was a family favourite. Ally gave it new life with cushions covered in vibrant African fabrics

brought back from Tanzania that turned up in Jo’s clear out

and blinds on the ground floor which are all made of the same

material – an Ikat-style print from Bell House Interiors in

Cranbrook, which is very wide, so economical to use.

It’s an idea which would never have occurred to me – I

was almost shocked at the concept – but once you see it in

place, using one window treatment fabric throughout unites

the layout, giving the space a chic, pulled-together look,

which makes you wonder why on earth we fuss about putting

different patterns in every room.

This is a perfect example of the kind of savvy Ally has

gathered in her nearly 30 years of experience as an interior

designer, working for eight years for South Africa’s doyenne

of the profession, before returning to continue her trade in

London, where she still does big projects, and then 15 years

ago moving down to Kent.

Another cheeky little solution learned from those years of

experience was her treatment for the less than lovely radiators

all over the house. Rather than replace, she disguised them.

“We covered them with latticed box radiator covers, but the

trick is, before you put the cover on, you paint the radiator

charcoal grey, so you can’t see it through the air vents.”

It works like magic and the box covers also created useful

– and once again, unifying – shelves, perfect for grouping

displays of ornaments and mementoes, many of which had

been languishing in cupboards.

It was with such individually small, but very effective en

masse details, rather than any big structural building work,

that Ally helped Jo transform the house.

“It turned out the whole place needed rewiring, which was a

pain, but it gave us the chance to put sockets where we needed

them, which is so important and you have to do it first before

you plaster, so it can all be made good afterwards.”

With a chunk of the budget taken up by such invisible

works, there was less left for decorating and Ally had to be

very creative.

“The first thing I do is always a floor plan. I draw every

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67 wealdentimes.co.uk

DavidCarpenterWT194.indd 1 20/03/2018 12:19

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Above left: Ally has used the same curtain fabric upstairs in a different colourway. The chair is a Dunelm find, with one of Ally’s

signature cushions covered in fabric from an old grain sack. Ally urged Jo to buy the beautiful armoire to give the room a focal point.

Above right: In one of the children’s bedrooms, Ally had the headboard upholstered in the grain sack fabric, to set off the mixed

prints of the cushions

room, to scale with a pencil and ruler – I don’t use a computer

program – then I measure all the furniture you are going to

keep and cut it out with graph paper to see how it all fits.

Then I use one colour of PostIt notes on the existing furniture

and another to indicate pieces which need to be sourced.

“You keep a record of those measurements in a notebook,

then if you wake up in the morning and want to go and do

a little impulse buy, you know what sizes will fit and you can

shop with confidence.”

Another of Ally’s techniques is to bring furniture into the

body of the room. A common mistake ‘civilians’ make is

to push it all against the walls to maximise the space in the

centre, whereas in fact, if you articulate it with furniture a

room will actually look bigger – and more appealing.

The two sofas in the snug, which Jo already had, were

recovered and restored with new seat cushions.

“Channelled feather cushions,” says Ally firmly, “it is

essential they’re channelled, or you are constantly heaving the

cushions out to plump them up.”

One sofa was re-covered in taupe devoré velvet, the other

in wool blanket plaid in complimentary tones. Both sit away

from the wall, the velvet one in front of what appears to be a

bespoke shelving unit.

“It’s IKEA,” says Ali, grinning. “I had the carpenter build a

plinth to raise it up, so it appears to be built in.”

Probably the simplest change Ally made and one of the most

transforming, was in the dining area. She turned the table

around, so it is now sitting alongside the French window,

69 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above left: A chair in a spare bedroom recovered with a patchwork quilt made by Jo’s mother. Above right: Ally had bookshelves

built in the guest cloakroom and papered the walls with Jane Churchill’s March Hare wallpaper in the stone colourway

not pointing out into it and back into the snug.

You can see immediately what a difference this would

have made to the flow of energy, with the length of the table

stretching out appealingly from the vantage point of the

kitchen and just inviting you to sit down.

The biggest makeover was to the sitting room, in its almost

separate wing, which had become one of those dumping

ground rooms you can close the door on and forget about.

Jo’s extensive collection of was scattered around the house

in “random stand-alone bookshelves” as she puts it, so Ally

commissioned some shelves as the focal point on the far wall

of the room, framing the piano which all the family play.

“I wanted to make this the special room,” she says. “As it’s

at the other end of the house from the high traffic rooms I

thought we could have a little bit of fun with a big pop of

colour, although it is still a calm haven, opening onto the

garden.”

The result is an elegant room, with a great sense of occasion

conveyed by her choice of Farrow & Ball’s marvellous peacock

green Vardo. And you’d never guess that all the furniture in

there, apart from the antique sideboard, which Ally pinched

from the kitchen (replacing it with a bespoke dresser) is

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McAllister Thomas Half Page 2.indd 1 07/03/2018 10:25

Above: This chair was a wedding present to Jo’s parents. “It was very comfortable but not very cool,” she says. “Ally had it painted

white and covered in African fabric – transformed!”

73 wealdentimes.co.uk

“I spent two hours with each of Jo’s children so I could understand what

they liked and wanted, so they would each have an individual space”

from Furnitureland – and on sale too.

“Saving money on the furniture paid for the bookshelves

and to decorate the whole room,” she says.

Upstairs, Ally concentrated on giving each of the children

the room they really wanted.

“I spent two hours with each of them, so I could understand

what they liked and wanted, so they would each have an

individual space.”

The result is three very individual rooms, all featuring

elements of the African fabrics and combinations of cheap

and cheerful shelves and wardrobes, raised up on Ally’s clever

plinths so they reach up to the ceiling and appear built in.

Like the rest of the house the bedrooms are a combination

of utility, flair, and professional nouse, with personalisation

and a clear affection for the owners. The result? One perfect

family dream home. Made to measure.

Address Book:

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Offering a complete service

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Louis De Poortere scarlet rug

£139 Modish Living

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Stoneware espresso mug in

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lecreuset.co.uk

Pink moroccan cushion

cover £20.99 Neema Crafts

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Norfolk dresser £549

The Painted Furniture Company

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Anderson mango wood bench

£199 Made made.com

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White cotton scribble stripe

blanket £145 Bohemia Design

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Stefania desk chair

£1,000+VAT Oficina Inglesa

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Brooklyn outdoor rug in teal

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drink on offer. There is something for everyone, from

enticing homemade treats to mouth-watering sausage

rolls and local ice cream sellers…

Very Very Vanilla Jelly

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Artisan Jellies

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Rendang curry mix

£5.95 each,

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Alsop & Walker

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Ardine filets with Nice

olives, £4.80, Claude &

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Caramelised Onion

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£3.00, Dine Thyme

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Interior

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House Doctor

coon sofa in black

rattan £662 Lagoon

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Rattan armchair

£395 Cuckooland

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£75 and headboards

£60 Ikea ikea.com

Hanging rattan

bowl chair £540

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White rattan bed

£1,355 The French

Bedroom Company

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Patterned hanging

bowl chair £625

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Long oval

lampshade £175

Abode Living

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Black firefly chandelier

£235 Respire Living

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Wire pendant light with

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Lenleys lenleys.co.uk

Rattan bar stool £260

Smithers of Stamford

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lamps from £22 Ikea

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seat cushion £675

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Handwoven dark

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chair £300 Lagoon

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Untitled-4 1 29/09/2017 08:57

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Stone Street • Cranbrook • TN17 3HF

AquariusSoftFurnishingsWT194.indd 1 16/03/2018 EverndenInteriorsWT194.indd 12:31

1 08/03/2018 16:20

FABRIC,

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1 07/03/2018 10:17

Printed velvet

Making the most luxurious of fabrics sing

Quill Velvet in cobalt

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designersguild.com

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Sophy Velvet £156

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Forest orchids cushion £45

The French Bedroom Co

frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

Floral velvet chair

£1729.00+6 mtrs of

fabric Rume rume.co.uk

Maroque Lazurite printed

velvet £144/m

Black Edition

blackedition.com

Florenza Graphite fabric

Designers Guild £205/m

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Paradisa ‘Daley’ cockatoo

lampshade spruce green,

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fabric £120/m

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Union Jack sofa £1499 The

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Saleem leaf pattern

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Bloom Velvet Black available

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Round ancient

pattern £17.99/m

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Floral damask

fabric £17.99/m

Yorkshire Fabric

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Espinillo velvet cushion

£69 Clarissa Hulse

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Khayma Fairfield pale

grey rug £310 Modern

Rugs modern-rugs.co.uk

Shimmer rug in

oyster from £69.99

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Louis De Poortere

fading world rug

in blue night £139

Modish Living

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Order Grey rug

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Ivory and charcoal

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Belle wool rug with

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Eastern palace mint

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Atelier note rug

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Luxe berber rug £349

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St Martins Pastels

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FourLimesDesignWT194.indd 1 12/03/2018 RectoryInteriorsWT182.indd 15:39

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Let’s design together

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wealdentimes.co.uk

SofasAndStuffWT194.indd 1 07/03/2018 17:15

Brass details

Touches of the metal of the moment bring any room bang up to date

Linea gold trinket box

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Gubi brass base multi

lite pendant £507

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Eichholtz Messina

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Marilyn velvet

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Newton bedside

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Main floor lamp

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Osaka sofa from

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Brown leather accent

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Bouffant twist stool £120

The French Bedroom Co

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Finger filodrendon wall

hangings £31 BoConcept

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Lex table lamp in

bali brass £234

Elstead Lighting

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Manhattan tray from

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Orla Kiely ceramic

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Teal flower wall plate

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Tivoli three seater sofa

kingfisher Velvet Walnut

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Self green micro fibre

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Dragon fly

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Vintage ship clock

£78 Curated Living

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Terrazzo cushion

cover in menthe

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Cheese plant print

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Plant appliqué

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Velvet upholstered

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Rose bush canvas £135

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Green accents

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HUUTT-WT193.indd 1 13/02/2018 StaggsCornerWT194.indd 10:19

1 15/03/2018 16:43

Distinctive Interiors & Design. Specialists in handmade curtains, blinds, shutters, upholstery and soft furnishings

Situated just off the High Street www.skinnersoftunbridgewells.co.uk

6 Castle Street, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1XJ Tel: 01892 532003

Email: sarah@skinnersoftunbridgewells.co.uk *Ordered in March/April 2018

89 wealdentimes.co.uk

SkinnersWT193.indd 1 13/02/2018 14:45

SPRING BED LINEN

DESIGNS FROM HARLEQUIN

Spring is here and it’s a time for new beginnings, when we feel full of purpose and excitement for the

season ahead; a time to cast away the old and bring in the NEW. What better place to start than the

bedroom. The bedroom is your sanctuary, where you can find peace and tranquillity after the stresses

of the day. A room that can both calm the mood and lift your spirits.

Whether you are looking for cool and contemporary designs or something more vibrant, full of colour

and pattern with a fun and playful twist, Fenwick has it all! And we have great delight in introducing

to you the latest designs from Harlequin for spring. Come and see the beautiful selection of bed linen

with co-ordinating cushions and throws to make your bedroom complete.

We are here to inspire you!

HARLEQUIN | POSTELIA

Exhibiting an exotic mix of

sea-plants swaying over the

fabric, the all-over duvet cover

design combines line drawings

with whimsical watercolour plant

designs with a plain reverse on

100% cotton sateen. Accessorise

the look with the velvet cushion in

lagoon blue with an embroidered

feather motif.

DOUBLE DUVET COVER £105

KINGSIZE DUVET COVER £120

OXFORD PILLOWCASE £25

CUSHION 40x60cm £50

HARLEQUIN MOMENTUM

COLLECTION | MAKRANA

Makrana features an all-over

marble pattern with beige

highlights with a moonstonecoloured

plain on the reverse.

The co-ordinating cushion is

appliqued with a metallic string

design and produced on a

linen/cotton mix fabric.

DOUBLE DUVET COVER £95

KINGSIZE DUVET COVER £110

CUSHION 40x50cm £50

THROW 170x220cm £195

ROYAL VICTORIA PLACE TUNBRIDGE WELLS KENT TN1 2SR | 01892 516716 | WWW.FENWICK.CO.UK

HOME ACCESSORIES

Discover what’s NEW on the 1st Floor at Fenwick Tunbridge Wells. This season we are introducing

a range of contemporary furniture pieces that will complement your home; from console tables, coffee

tables and armchairs to statement mirrors and lighting to create the perfect ambience in any room.

The spring season is looking bright at Fenwick!

LEAF PRINT | CHAIR £230

BALLOON | HANGING SHADE

This balloon shape and sprayed

fabric strands ensure a soft shadow

is cascaded around the room £39

LEAF PRINT | STOOL £40

CROSS | FLOOR LAMP

A beautiful and statuesque

floor lamp in natural

hardwood, great for rooms

with a little less headroom

H162 W40 D40cm £135

ENSO | MIRROR

Injecting a touch of zen-like

calm into any interior, this

beautifully made mirror

comes complete with a neat

wooden hanging peg

H87 W60cm £195

TENBY | CONSOLE TABLE

The perfect proportions of the console will make

it a welcome addition to many a home £275

TOTEM | HALL STAND

Stylish and practical, the stand has

pegs to hang your coats and slatted

shelves for storage £425

The stand shown has additional

storage and a bench should you want

a seat while you get your footwear

on, these are sold separately

TENBY | OVAL COFFEE TABLE

An alternative shaped coffee table with

finger jointed oiled oak top £325

Leaf print chair from Kaemingk, all other products from pr home.

ROYAL VICTORIA PLACE TUNBRIDGE WELLS KENT TN1 2SR | 01892 516716 | WWW.FENWICK.CO.UK

Coastal

haven

This old coastguard’s cottage is gloriously

free of all those corny seaside decor

clichés thanks to interior architect Marta

Nowicka’s sophisticated vision

Words:: Kathryn Flett

Photographs: David Merewether

Styling: Helen Bratby

wealdentimes.co.uk

93 wealdentimes.co.uk

1978 | CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS | 2018

London . Tunbridge Wells . Oxshott

0333 011 3333

Previous page: The dining table is medieval. It was given to

Marta’s father, an architect by a client in lieu of fees. Marta

deliberately exposed the brickwork around the fireplace to reveal

the building’s fabric. The mirror is from McCully & Crane in

Rye This page: the kitchen has an industrial feel with stainless

steel appliances. The drawer unit is from IKEA

Occasionally, even the most stylish seaside holiday

rentals succumb to coastal clichés. If it’s not wallto-wall

tongue-and-groove it will be the pots

of beach stones and assorted weather-beaten flotsam and

jetsam by the front door—just below the storm lantern.

There may also be jaunty blue-and-white striped roman

blinds and a porthole mirror in the bathroom. Then, of

course, there will be more pictures of boats than you can poke

an oar at.... Oh, and while we’re at it, a pair of old oars above

a fireplace festooned with old fishing nets is pretty much

seaside interiors’ answer to the country pub’s horse brasses.

Rest assured, as a seaside dweller of thirteen years standing I

have been guilty of more than a few of these decorating clichés

but now I’m also a qualified interior designer I recognise

that the trick is to successfully acknowledge a building’s

sense of place — and allow it to retain its integrity —

95 wealdentimes.co.uk

Savouring the architectural

quirks of a family home that was

built primarily for the business

of coastal defence, not pleasure,

Marta retained as many of the

original features as possible

Curtain, blind and soft furnishings

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LilyMatthewsWT189.indd 1 10/10/2017 12:57

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97 wealdentimes.co.uk

RobinsonWatersWT155.indd 1 09/12/2014 ConceptsWT193.indd 14:40

1 15/02/2018 16:11

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Previous page: The clock in the

sitting room was found in South

Kensington on one of Marta’s

father’s sites This page left: The

salvaged shutters are French.

Marta put them in to suggest a

window where there isn’t one. She

also wanted to have French things

in the house to reflect Rye’s status

as a Cinque Port Below: Marta

left the patina of old paint on the

main staircase, as part of the story

of the house

without letting that dictate the terms of engagement.

It’s a balance which is pulled off quite beautifully by

the interior architect Marta Nowicka at her holiday-let

coastguard’s cottage at Jury’s Gap — a weather-swept

stretch of coastline between Camber and the MOD

shooting range at Lydd, close to Romney Marsh. This, of

course, isn’t the tastefully manicured seaside of counties

further west; it’s a thoroughly no-nonsense and in-yourface

variety of seaside and as such it isn’t for everyone.

Marta, a Londoner, fell in love with the area by accident,

finding her way to the East Sussex and Kent coastal borders

via friends who had property there. Alerted to the existence

of the striking row of four-storey Victorian coastguard’s

cottages inhabited by similarly creative owner-occupiers, she

bought the one at the end, closest to the sea, in 2009 with

a legacy from her late father, and renovated it with love,

before moving in with her young son, now a teenager.

“Obviously he never visited, but many of my father’s

99 wealdentimes.co.uk

This page: Fresh paint on the chimney breast in the westfacing

single bedroom sets off the untreated walls on either side. The

window looks out onto Rye Harbour. The curtain fabric is from

Vintage Bird in Hastings

objects are here, so I feel the house is very much of him.

These days all the coastguard’s cottages here are holiday

lets, however at that time, just a few years ago, there was

still a resident community of mostly artists and writers.

My son was at school in Ashford and so we basically

just battened down the hatches here. It was magical.”

It was also, one may say, quite brave. Though glorious

from spring through to autumn, in winter it will come

as no surprise to learn that this stretch of coast can be,

at best, bracing. I live 30 minutes to the west along

the same coast, in Hastings and St Leonards, and I’m

used to what we call the “Lid-On” months, when

the weather hits the shoreline with a vengeance.

There’s a romance to it, for sure — and the ozone blast

of seaside living is wonderfully cobweb-busting—however,

when I visit Marta’s house on a bleak, nearly spring

morning, I’m struck by the bravery of being a newly-single

mother living here with a young child. However, after

even a few minutes in her company you are struck by the

sense that Marta is a woman who makes things work and,

as she says, “it worked very well for us, for a while.”

It’s not hard to see why. Savouring the architectural

quirks of a family home that was built primarily for the

business of coastal defence, not pleasure, Marta retained

wealdentimes.co.uk

100

We can produce made-to-fit Glass Balconies I Mirrors I Glass Shower Screens I

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Kitchens

Bedrooms

Studies

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traditional handmade furniture

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Woodwork 1-2 WK.indd 1 08/02/2018 12:27

101 wealdentimes.co.uk

WoodworkWT193.indd 1 19/02/2018 15:08

Back From Black

Beam Renovation Ltd

Renovating Beams Since 1997

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BackfromBlackWT193.indd 1 05/02/2018 12:59

5 th Year Anniversary

KARENS FOAM STORE

AND BESPOKE SEWING SHOP

Upholstery tools

Tacks, Cotton, Felt, Hessian

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Camper van/caravan

139 CAMDEN ROAD

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E: Karensfoam@outlook.com

wealdentimes.co.uk

102

KarensFoamStoreWT191.indd 1 14/02/2018 16:11

This page: The staircase from the ground floor up to the

first floor. The rope handrail is a subtle nod to the maritime

connection of the cottage

as many of the original features as possible, including

the coastguard’s gun cabinet by the front door; these

shores, after all, have long been a smuggler’s beat and

the coastguards would often have had their work cut out

dealing with looters in the aftermath of shipwrecks.

Indeed, the entire area is one of dramatic extremes and

stark contrasts; from the dunes and romantic white sands at

Camber you are just a few minutes’ drive from the isolated

weather-beaten bluff of Dungeness — which is not only one

of the largest shingle landscapes in the world but one of the

few nature reserves graced by a hulking power station (not to

mention blessed with very fine fish and chips, at The Pilot).

Inland, the 100 square miles of Romney Marsh — all big

skies and brooding landscapes, embracing woodland, wetland,

sand and shingle and thirteen beautiful medieval churches —

is no less intensely atmospheric. This is, in short, a corner of

the country that attracts escapists, from near and far, opening

its arms to visitors now as easily as it once put up defences

— nearby, there are numerous frontline relics of conflicts

ranging from the Napoleonic wars to the Battle of Britain.

Perhaps the most enduring metaphor for the contrasts of

this fascinating area is the 28-mile Royal Military Canal which

was built as a defence against Napoleon in the early 1800s,

scything through the landscape from Hythe to Rye which,

these days, is an important nature reserve for migratory birds.

Though Marta fell in love with the romance of all this

immediately — ‘it seemed to attract so many of my kind of

people’ — her architect’s eye also meant that pretty should

occasionally outweigh pragmatic. The empty house was

in a desperately unloved state bordering on the derelict.

“It had been vandalized and there was graffiti

everywhere. The bathroom had been smashed to pieces

and radiators pulled off the walls…” which would have

been sufficient to put off most people. Luckily, Marta

not only had a vision of what it could become but could

see that the ‘bones’ of the building were strong.

“There is a vernacular Victorian ‘coastguard’s

cottage’ design you will find all over the country,

as though there was a government blueprint.”

All it would take to bring the house back to life, she

surmised, would be… a total refurb and a lot of visual TLC.

Having studied interior architecture at Kingston

University, Marta founded her own successful practice

in 2004, after a period in partnership at another firm

and as a course leader in interior architecture at

103 wealdentimes.co.uk

This page: The house had been vandalised before Marta bought it, the bathroom smashed to pieces, so she had to put an entirely new

one in. She panelled it with horizontal tongue and groove to make it feel warmer and put in a freestanding bath as that is what would

have been there before

wealdentimes.co.uk

104

See potential.

Realise the vision.

Open Morning

Come and see the difference

Thursday 3rd May

9.00 am – 12 noon

Contact our Registrar for details:

registrar@dulwichprepcranbrook.org

dulwichprepcranbrook.org

ENSOR

interior design

DulwichPrepWT194.indd 1 06/03/2018 14:36

fabrics & wallpaper • curtains & blinds • headboards & upholstery • lighting • home accessories

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Showrooms in Frant, nr Tunbridge Wells and Cuckfield, nr Haywards Heath

105 wealdentimes.co.uk

EnsorInteriorDesignWT191.indd 1 07/12/2017 17:20

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YourPrivateDriverWT193.indd 1 09/02/2018 16:49

Quality glass

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Shower screens/cubicles

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Mirrors inc. antique

Balustrades/balconies

Horticultural/restoration

Supply of:

Windows, doors & conservatories

wealdentimes.co.uk

106

CPGlassWT194.indd 1 08/03/2018 17:01

The cottage’s warm

homeliness – squidgy leather

armchairs in front of roughand-ready

open fireplaces

– combines with touches

of genuine glamour

This page: In the East facing double bedroom, Marta stripped

off the old wallpaper and liked the distressed plaster beneath it so

much she decided to keep it. She has had the 1950s wicker chair

for many years. The French painter’s ladder was found at Wish

Barn Antiques in Rye

London Metropolitan University. She fast became a go-to

architect for the generation of artists known as the YBAs,

designing projects for Gavin Turk, Gillian Wearing and the

contemporary art dealer Karsten Schubert, among others.

Originally, at Jury’s Gap, there was no view from the

single-storey ground floor kitchen extension in order to

protect the building from the full force of the weather —

that is, until Marta created a big picture window above the

stainless-steel work surfaces, sink and the large range.

“And there’s no extractor, though there probably

‘should’ be,” she shrugs, smiling. However, this really isn’t

a ‘should’ kind of house… “so we just open the door.”

Next to the kitchen, Marta added a spacious wetroom

and downstairs loo. The coastguards may not have

bothered, however modern weekenders “want to be able

to shower off the sand and the salt straight away.”

Surprisingly, even on the day I visit — alluring skies

and biting winds over the desolate landscape — the

house is filled with light. You can easily imagine freerange

kids and barbeques against the backdrop of sun

107 wealdentimes.co.uk

This page: Looking from the East facing bedroom onto the landing with the ladder steps going up to the attic bedroom

and sea and… an MOD firing range (note to would-be

guests: if the proximity of barbed wire and the occasional

rat-a-tat of working firearms scares you more than it

thrills you then this may not be your kind of place).

The cottage’s central staircase leaves walls free for the

windows and many of the rooms are double aspect.

Even with the predominantly white palette, it’s still a

surprisingly warm and welcoming space, even in winter.

There are five spacious bedrooms which sleep eleven when

the house is full, making it affordable for big groups of

friends or families at a rate starting from £300 per night.

Two of the bedrooms are on the lower ground floor

and are, again, surprisingly light with, I note, windows

perfectly positioned for smaller guests to clamber in

and out of very easily during games of hide-and-seek

— “I suspect there is a lot of that,” agrees Marta.

There are two further bedrooms and a family bathroom

on the first floor, while the bedroom for which I imagine

wealdentimes.co.uk

108

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at home design appointment

Call 01622 718 987 SLIDEROBES.CO.UK

3c Deacon Trading Estate, Aylesford, ME20 7SP

Television Re-imagined

Designed · Created · Installed

- visit our showroom -

The Pantiles Coach House , London Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5BF

info@josephmccarthy.co.uk

www.josephmccarthy.co.uk

01892 527528

PassionMediaWT194.indd 1 05/03/2018 JosephMcCarthyWT194.indd 14:40

1 12/03/2018 10:31

A NEW PALETTE COLOUR OF PALETTE 180 COLOURS FOR 2016 - AVAILABLE - NOW IN STORE

IMAGE SUPPLIED BY PAINT & PAPER LIBRARY

109 wealdentimes.co.uk

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1 09/03/2018 14:23

ADVERTISING FEATURE

The Benefits of Bespoke…

Rencraft has been designing and making kitchens in Kent for over 37 years.

Here’s why they believe the difference is in the detail…

John Stephens, Managing Director

of Rencraft, explains “We make

all our kitchens and furniture in our

workshop just outside Sevenoaks

and we take great pride in the care and

attention to detail that we put in to every

single design we do. The craftsmanship

we offer can’t be recreated on a factory

production line. Here, every cabinet is

built by hand, every solid wood cutlery

insert is made to order and every larder

cupboard is kitted out in a way that is

personal to you. The end result is a

kitchen that is functional, beautiful and

built to stand the test of time.”

While Rencraft takes great pride in

offering a more traditional approach to

manufacturing, its designs are far from

old-fashioned.

John adds “We’ve invested in the latest

Computer Aided Design programmes to

provide our clients with an insight in to

what their finished kitchen will look like.

Our designers focus on layout, interiors

and practical considerations, as well

as materials and finishes. Our bespoke

approach means that even awkward

spaces can usually be worked around

and we can also draw upon our years

of experience to offer guidance on

everything from worktops to appliances

and storage solutions.”

The team are delighted to have had their

efforts recognised by others within the

industry, with one of John’s designs being

announced as a finalist in the prestigious

2018 KBB Retail & Design Awards.

“To have one of our designs recognised

in this way is a great achievement,”

says John “but nothing compares to the

great feedback we get from our clients. I

know people who have had our kitchens

for upwards of 20 years, and they are

still happy with them. That’s the real

compliment, that’s the buzz, and that’s

why we’ll never compromise on the quality

of what we do.”

To fully appreciate what Rencraft can do

for you, simply visit their website

www.rencraft.co.uk or make an

appointment at one of their showrooms.

Rencraft can be found at

Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart,

Sevenoaks TN15 0ES

Tel: 01732 762682 or at

81 Calverley Road,

Tunbridge Wells TN1 2UY

Tel: 01892 520730

This page: Marta created a new double bedroom

in the eaves of the house, large and airy with

light pouring through Velux windows, accessed

by this ship-like ladder

dice need to be rolled, or straws drawn,

is the large Velux-windowed airy-yetcosy

double tucked up in the eaves.

Marta created the room from scratch

(“there was a lot of insulation and glazing;

this is a house which may look ‘easy going’

but because of its position also needs a

lot of maintenance”) and it is reached by

a ship-like wooden staircase that makes it

unsuitable for the very small or elderly.

Here, floor to ceiling tongue-and-groove

cladding creates a genuinely romantic whiteon-white

den; seaside escapism as it should

be played. Never mind Camber, up here you

can squint and imagine yourself pretty much

anywhere from Corfu to Cape Cod. No

wonder that in 2014 the house was voted No7

in The Guardian’s Top 100 seaside rentals.

Elsewhere, the cottage’s warm homeliness

— squidgy leather armchairs in front of

rough-and-ready open fireplaces, beds

made for bouncing as well as dream-filled

sleeping — combines with touches of

genuine glamour… Yes, that is a Bridget

Riley print in the dining room, which

also boasts a chandelier the likes of which

Victorian coastguards could only dream.

If, however, your idea of the perfect coast

is to be found in Cornwall or California, it’s

unlikely that this little spot — geographically,

it’s ‘Camberness’ — will also be your idea

of fun. However, for those of us who both

love and live in the area the more subtle

attractions are precisely what appeal.

Marta also remains passionate about the

spot where Kent collides with East Sussex;

her recent redevelopment of a 1950s St

John’s Ambulance station situated in the

centre of historic Rye attracted a great deal

of interest, with TV appearances and features

in Grand Designs magazine and is also

111 wealdentimes.co.uk

Never mind Camber, up here you can squint and imagine

yourself pretty much anywhere from Corfu to Cape Cod

available as a holiday let among the portfolio of properties

designed or selected by Marta at domstayandlive.com —

dom being the Polish for ‘home’, referencing her roots.

“It’s a go-to website for people wanting to rent unusual

and contemporary spaces to live or holiday in, or even buy.”

Meanwhile, the coastguard’s cottage at Jury’s Gap is

today pretty much exactly as it was when Marta and her

son were in situ. However, this is far from being a house set

in aspic. In fact, this sense of a home having been curated

for others to enjoy is precisely the reason the space doesn’t

come across as yet another cool-but-soulless holiday let.

Instead, this quirky and authentic seaside cottage wears

its heart on its sleeve, feeling as warm and welcoming

(yes, even in January) as any loved and lived-in family

home. And that’s precisely where the cliché ends.

Read more about Kathryn Flett’s interior practice at

luxeforlife.com

Address Book:

To rent the cottage contact DOM Stay and Live

marta@domstayandlive.com 07949 564550

domstayandlive.com

Mccully & Crane 27 Cinque Ports Street, Rye

mccullyandcrane.com

Pale and Interesting 21 Mermaid Street, Rye

paleandinteresting.com

Vintage Bird 48 High Street, Hastings

Wish Barn Antiques Wish Street, Rye

wealdentimes.co.uk

112

No more draughty, rotten,

inefficient sash windows

Winner

The Worshipful Company

of Tylers and Bricklayers

Triennial Award 2017

“The highest standard of craftsmanship and roof

tiling seen in the long history of the awards”

– Bob Allies (Chairman of Assessors)

Using revolutionary 10mm thick

double glazed units we can retro

fit sash windows, retaining the

original appearance but with

the benefits of double glazing.

Improve insulation

Save money on heating bills

Call 01892 532273 for a

FREE site survey & quote sashwindowheritage.co.uk

Photo Claire Banks

For free quotations and professional advice

01797 270268 or visit www.kentpegs.com

SashWindowHeritageWT187.indd 1 15/08/2017 KarlTerryWT186.indd 15:18

1 19/07/2017 15:56

HAND

CRAFTED IN

TBF

ENGLAND

●TRADITIONAL

EST 2003

●

RB E S P O K E F U RN IT U

monarchoak

Oak Frame Buildings

Over 50 years’ experience making oak frame buildings

KITCHENS

BEDROOMS

& BATHROOMS

01892 723083

www.traditionalbespokefurniture.co.uk

The Old STableS, CryalS rOad, brenChley, Tn12 7aW

• Garages

• Garden Rooms

• Complexes

• Gazebos

• Bespoke Buildings

01323 765410 Quality in its finest form

www.monarchoak.co.uk

113 wealdentimes.co.uk

TraditionalBespokeFurnitureWT194.indd 1 16/03/2018 MonarchOakWT147.indd 09:52

1 15/04/2014 15:06

35 Monson Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1LS 01892 517986

www.edneyandedney.com

Rudyard table lamp £118

Dar Lighting darlighting.co.uk

Swoonworthy wood effect tiles

£18.95/m 2 Walls and Floors

Ltd wallsandfloors.co.uk

5 Hook antique rack £33.99

Ian Snow iansnow.com

Get

Look

the

Black and gold moving gears

clock £115 Alexander & Pearl

alexanderandpearl.co.uk

Large distressed blossom

canvas £175 The Farthing

thefarthing.co.uk

Rustic metal bar stool, £74.50

The Farthing thefarthing.co.uk

Burghley chair £1519

Darlings of Chelsea

darlingsofchelsea.co.uk

Aged zinc florist’s vase £10.50

The Farthing thefarthing.co.uk

Reclaimed wood chest of

drawers £415 Modish Living

modishliving.co.uk

Oak towel rail £94 Lime

Lace limelace.co.uk

Mogg Zio Tom sideboard

£3560 Go Modern Furniture

gomodern.co.uk

Vincent Sheppard garden

lounge chair £419 Lagoon

vivalagoon.com

115 wealdentimes.co.uk

Floor plans

All kinds of wooden floors, encaustic tiles and neutral coir-style

carpeting are still gorgeous and desirable flooring choices, but

there are lots of fun new trends for covering the ground beneath

our feet. Even some we thought we’d never like again - wood

effect tiles and patterned carpet - look fresh and exciting in

contemporary interiors

Herringbone

All kinds of surfaces, from wood to ceramic and

vinyl tiles look fresh laid in this jazzy pattern

1. Goodrich Espresso Oak £79.95/m 2 Woodpecker Flooring

woodpeckerflooring.co.uk, 2. Lexington Bianco £55+VAT/ m 2 The Stone

Tile Warehouse thestonetilewarehouse.co.uk 3. Amtico Herringbone

flooring from £50/m 2 Dewitt Floors dewittfloors.co.uk, 4. Reclaimed

wood effect floor tiles £19.95/m 2 Walls and Floors wallsandfloors.co.uk

5. Haven wood tiles £32.95/m 2 Walls and Floors wallsandfloors.co.uk

6. Paintwash white tiles £3.17/tile Tile Mountain tilemountain.co.uk

7. Little wood blend tiles £25.99/m 2 Tile Mountain tilemountain.co.uk

8. Herringbone marble polished brick tiles £9.95/sheet Walls and

Floors wallsandfloors.co.uk 9. Tavola tiles £10.99/m 2 Tile Mountain

tilemountain.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

at CLARK’S

Carpets and fine floor coverings

STONE FLOORING SPECIALISTS

Our comprehensive range of wall and floor tiles

are especially sourced to offer excellent value.

Natural Stone, Encaustics, Porcelain

and Mosaic ranges on display

Expert advice and installation service available

Rug shown Farrago Gold

140x240 was £305 now £274.50

The most

comprehensive

rug show rooms

open in Clark’s

of Canterbury

and Clark’s of

Whitstable.

10%OFF

ALL RUGS

Canterbury: 12 Roper Road, CT2 7EH. 01227 788588

Whitstable: 89 High Street, CT5 1AY. 01227 772774

www.clarkscanterbury.com

THE STONE TILE WAREHOUSE

Visit our Warehouse-Showroom Unit 10, Integra ME,

Bircholt Road, Parkwood, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 9GQ

01622 679157

www.thestonetilewarehouse.co.uk

thestonetilewarehouse

stonetileware

Orlestone Oak

ClarksRugNationWT194.indd 1 06/03/2018 SouthernAdhesivesWT194.indd 16:13

1 07/03/2018 14:46

Tailor-made Oak Joinery and Oak Flooring

OAK

ORLESTONE

OAK

ORLESTONE

OAK

ORLESTONE

SOLID OAK fLOORING

PRE-fINISHED & DISTRESSED fLOORS

NEW SHOWROOM DISPLAYS

OAK STAIRCASES & WINDOWS

OAK DOORS AND PORCHES

OAK DECKING & BEAMS

www.orlestoneoak.co.uk 01233 732179

SHOWROOm Open mOnday tO FRiday 9am-5pm, SatuRday 9am-12pm

wealdentimes.co.uk

118

OrlestoneOakWT167.indd 1 02/12/2015 11:42

Terrazzo

This tutti frutti flooring inspired by Venetian

pavements is an architects’ fave when poured in place

but also comes in tile form

Quality

hardwood floors

supplied & fitted

by craftsmen

1 2

Showroom: The Barn, Main Road, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 6EE

For a free no obligation estimate call us on 01959 563063

visit our website: www.dbwf.co.uk

5 7

Mulberry Flooring Ltd

DavidBrownWT194.indd 1 20/03/2018 15:11

An independent family run business.

Offering an impressive range of rugs, carpet & hard

flooring including: Roger Oates, Crucial Trading,

Alternative Flooring & Many more.

8 9

1. Ofelia rustic porcelain floor tile £28.99 Tile Mountain tilemountain.co.uk 2. Lime terrazzo

approx. £54.50+VAT/m 2 In Opera in-opera.co.uk 3. Kaleo terrazzo cement tile from £75.44/

m 2 Terrazzo Tiles terrazzo-tiles.co.uk 4. Verde Alpi approx. £54.50+VAT/m 2 In Opera in-opera.

co.uk 5. Francesca terrazzo cement £72.11/m 2 Terrazzo Tiles, terrazzo-tiles.co.uk 6. TE007

Diespeker £85/m 2 diespeker.co.uk 7. GV terrazzo cement approx. £54.50+VAT/m 2 In Opera

in-opera.co.uk 8. Alameda cement tile £75.44/m 2 Terrazzo Tiles terrazzo-tiles.co.uk 9. Snow

field £85+VAT/m 2 The Stone Tile Warehouse thestonetilewarehouse.co.uk

Visit our lovely showroom at

137 High Street, Hythe, Kent CT2b 5JL

Telephone: 01303 262580

www.mulberryflooringltd.co.uk

119 wealdentimes.co.uk

MulberryFlooringWT193.indd 1 07/03/2018 14:24

Perfectly patterned

We’re used to pattern in rugs, but now it’s looking good again in fitted

carpet - geometric, floral, stripe, or plaid (like at Balmoral)

3 4

6 7

1. Bloomsbury Summer Breeze RRP £59/m 2 Ulster Carpets ulstercarpets.com 2. Crucial Trading 100% wool

Biscayne carpet £65/m2 Dewitt Floors dewittfloors.co.uk 3. Braeburn Myrtle RRP £74/m 2 Ulster Carpets

ulstercarpets.com 4. Blue baroque carpet £39.99 Carpetright carpetright.co.uk 5. Beaumont Turtle Dove RRP

£79/m 2 Ulster Carpets ulstercarpets.com 6. Gleneagles Carpet £29.99 Carpetright carpetright.co.uk

7. Colombus Greek Key carpet £29.99 Carpetright carpetright.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

120

Coban Rugs

Unique handwoven rugs and runners

07769 800321 cobanrugs.com

GET INSPIRED by...

FREE *Delivery and

personal expert advice

FREE *Delivery and

personal expert advice

FREELANDS TILES

Bringing style to a tile

Open 7 days a week

124-126 London Road,

Dunton Green, Sevenoaks,

Kent TN13 2UT

Tel:

Open

01732 days

459 week

765

sales@freelands-tiles.co.uk

124-126

Open 7 days

London

a week

Road,

Dunton

124-126

Green,

London

Sevenoaks,

Road,

Kent

Dunton

TN13

Green,

2UT

Sevenoaks,

Kent TN13 2UT

Tel: 01732 459 765

sales@freelands-tiles.co.uk

Tel: 01732 459 765

sales@freelands-tiles.co.uk

FREELANDS

TILES

Bringing style to tile

Bringing style to a tile

Latest ideas for

interior floors & walls

Latest ideas for

interior floors walls

interior floors & walls

www.freelands-tiles.co.uk

CobanrugsWT194.indd 1 13/03/2018 FreelandsTilesWT194.indd 16:27

1 19/03/2018 12:26

New showroom

now open and a

5% discount

on all Amtico Floors

purchased with this

DeWitt Floors

Brand identity CMYK

An enduring collection, rich with rustic textures and embosses

that perfectly suit modern and traditional homes, with a 0.7mm

wear layer.

Dewitt Flooring (UK) Ltd

9 High Street,

Lenham, Maidstone

Kent ME17 2QD

01622 858940

info@dewittfloors.co.uk

Primary Colour Palette.

Colour swatches are for

guidance only.

Secondary Colour Palette.

Colour swatches are for

guidance only.

C67 M61 Y50 K32

121 wealdentimes.co.uk

C15 M41 Y10 K0

DewittFlooringUKLtdWT194.indd 1 19/03/2018 10:38

SPRING EDIT

The spring/summer collections at Fenwick have landed with an array of uplifting and joyful

colours, from sugared almond pastels to all the colours of a rainbow. Yellow mania continues, but

now with a warmer softer tone. Millennial Pink looks like it here to stay but this season it has a rival,

Lilac; a light purple with a twist. Crinkle silks and linen mixes will create light and shade, and

shape will come in the form of opposites; from soft ethereal layering to strong clean lines with sharp

detailing. Our buyers have travelled far and wide to find product that is quite unique, to inspire our

customers and offer a point of difference, beautiful designs not found everywhere on the high street.

Here is our spring edit, pop into store to discover so much more!

©2018 EILEEN FISHER INC.

FENWICK | CANTERBURY 01227 766866 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS 01892 516716

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL STORE FOR AVAILABILITY | WWW.FENWICK.CO.UK

Rain or shine

With wet weather gear the choice used to be stay dry – or stay stylish, but high tech

fabrics and a new generation of labels have combined the two. Bring on the rain!

We would like to thank the team at Hastings Pier for allowing us to

photograph at this iconic location. For more information on the history

of the pier or upcoming events visit hastingspier.org.uk

Photographs: David Merewether

Styling: Kate Watts

Model: Ella Parsons

Make Up: Natasha Valerie Makeup natashavaleriemakeup.com

wealdentimes.co.uk

124

125 wealdentimes.co.uk

Ilse Jacobsen raincoat, £230, Travelling

Bazaar travelling-bazaar.com; denim jacket,

£38.49, Gap at Ashford Designer Outlet

ashforddesigneroutlet.com; printed jumpsuit,

£165, Bod & Ted, bodandted.co.uk;

rust leather clogs, £119, Kitty Clogs

Sweden kittyclogssweden.co.uk

First Page: Soft trench, £99, French Connection at Ashford Designer Outlet, metallic biker jacket, £59, Guess at

Ashford Designer Outlet, frayed hem jeans, £27.99, Gap at Ashford Designer Outlet, leather bag, £89, Jaeger at Ashford

Designer Outlet ashforddesigneroutlet.com; longline shirt, £110, Bod & Ted, bodandted.co.uk; garnet leather clogs, £125,

Kitty Clogs Sweden kittyclogssweden.co.uk. This page: Trench, £149, Jaeger at Ashford Designer Outlet, high waist

trousers, £20.99, Gap at Ashford Designer Outlet ashforddesigneroutlet.com; embroidered hooded sweatshirt, £85, Odyl

odyldesign.com; leather trainers, £90, Travelling Bazaar travelling-bazaar.com

127 wealdentimes.co.uk

Left: Ilse Jacobsen raincoat, £115, Travelling Bazaar travelling-bazaar.com; silk drop waist dress, £215, Bod & Ted, bodandted.co.uk;

D&G sunglasses, £140, Sunglasses Hut at Ashford Designer Outlet, transparent bag, £23, Fiorelli at Ashford Designer Outlet

ashforddesigneroutlet.com. Right: Packmack, £79, Fenwick Tunbridge Wells fenwick.co.uk; Ray Ban sunglasses, £127, Sunglasses Hut at

Ashford Designer Outlet ashforddesigneroutlet.com

wealdentimes.co.uk

128

cashmere and silk knitwear

Ladies Shopping Event

Wednesday 25 th April

5pm–8pm

Enjoy champagne

and canapés while

browsing the new

collections.

Complimentary

gift bag with every

purchase.

23 High Street, Tenterden TN30 6BJ

Telephone 01580 761222 Shop online at www.cashara.co.uk

Hawkhurst-No6 The Collonade Rye Road Kent. TN184ES

01580 752118

Rye- No12 High Street Rye East Sussex. TN317JF

01797 224369

Lewes -27 High Street Lewes East Sussex. BN72LU

01273 480896

Come to Charing for White Vanilla

CasharaWT194.indd 1 12/03/2018 CordeliaJamesWT193.indd 16:30

1 06/02/2018 17:10

Our new range of White Vanilla styles plus our core

fashions in cotton, linen and silk have arrived. We’ve

added great accessories to complete the look.

While you’re here, explore the rest of Charing and have tea at

Mulberry’s, choose some great cards and gifts from our friendly

Post Office, or hop along to the butchers for a juicy steak.

Opening Hours: Tuesday—Friday 10.30am—5pm

Saturday 10.30am—3.30pm

44 High Street, Charing, Kent TN27 0HX 01233 714689

LINDAPOPEOPTICIANS

FACEBOOK.COM/LINDAPOPEOPTICIANS

WWW.LINDAPOPEOPTICIAN.CO.UK

RYE ROAD • HAWKHURST

TELEPHONE 01580 753744

129 wealdentimes.co.uk

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1 15/03/2018 12:58

Over 45 years experience

specialising in coats of arms

With over 10,000 coats of arms, crests &

monograms seal engraved since 1970

18 carat

signet ring

seal engraved

dressing undeniable beauty

35 High St,

Cranbrook

www.odyl.co.uk

01580 714907

9 carat white

gold cuff link,

3D engraved

coat of arms

Rodney J Rigby F.I.P.G

Goldsmith & Designer

Hand & seal engraver

Handmade signet rings, cuff links

& bespoke 3D blazer buttons

in gold, silver & platinum

T: 01892 724951 info@rodneyjrigby.com

Untitled-3 1 13/02/2018 OdylWT194.indd 16:30 1 12/03/2018 16:57

THE GORGEOUS NEW

HOLLYWOOD EDITION

STROLLER

www.littlepoppets.co Telephone: 01732 456497

142 St Johns Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3PF

wealdentimes.co.uk

130

LittlePoppetsWT193.indd 1 19/02/2018 14:45

Ilse Jacobsen raincoat, £160, Travelling

Bazaar travelling-bazaar.com; star print

neck scarf, £4.50, cross body bag, £19,

M&S at Ashford Designer Outlet,

patchwork denim dress, £75, French

Connection at Ashford Designer

Outlet ashforddesigneroutlet.com

Insane in the Rain jacket, £95,

American Vintage t-shirt, £45,

Paige Hoxton jeans, £275, Fenwick

Tunbridge Wells fenwick.co.uk;

garnet leather clogs, £125, Kitty

Clogs Sweden kittyclogssweden.co.uk;

backpack, £40, French Connection

at Ashford Designer Outlet

ashforddesigneroutlet.com

wealdentimes.co.uk

132

STYLISH SHOES FOR STYLISH FEET

The

Amazing

Lavender

Sisters

Beautiful boutique set in the

Sussex countryside, stockists

of premium womenswear.

Mama B, Lauren Vidal,

Eden Rock, Ruga and Foil.

We also have a wide range

of accessories, bags and

shoes, with an unusual line

of jewellery for all occasions.

Telephone 01825 791792

theamazinglavendersisters.com

The Courtyard, Trading Boundaries,

Sheffield Green TN22 3RB

Open 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri

11am-5pm Sundays & Bank Holidays

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133 wealdentimes.co.uk

No37-WT194.indd 1 09/03/2018 14:17

Raincoat, £95, Cashara,

cashara.co.uk; cashmere

slogan jumper, £195, stripe

trousers £115, Bod & Ted,

bodandted.co.uk

Entre Nous Lingerie

4 London Rd, Westerham, Kent TN16 1BD

01959 563975 entrenouslingerie.co.uk

Open 10–5 Mon–Sat

Ranges include:

Elomi

Maison Lejaby

Fantasie

Wacoal

Freya

Lepel

Triumph

80% of women wear the wrong size bra.

Come and be fitted by bra specialists catering for

larger cup sizes, in a friendly, relaxed environment.

Swimwear, nightwear, slippers & gifts.

the Italian Wardrobe

2-4 Castle Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1XJ

01892 514143 www.theitalianwardrobe.co.uk

Dominic Walmsley

jewellery

EntreNousLingerieWT194.indd 1 13/03/2018 ItalianWardrobeWT194.indd 16:22

1 21/03/2018 15:26

Dazzle Collection

Philosophy Di Lorenzo

Alice & Olivia

Rebecca Taylor

Milly

Rixo

Perseverance

AG jeans

MiH jeans

360 cashmere

Duffy

Velvet

Parajumpers

Munthe

18ct yellow gold dazzle ring £1,860

3 The Square • Riverhead

01732 779 555 • www.dominicwalmsley.com

Est London 1991

CleverDresser

01732 453 002 www.thecleverdresser.com

6 Bank St. Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1UW

135 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Concept

Hair

salon

50 High Street, Tenterden 01580 762 564

Book online at www.williamcharleshair.co.uk or through our facebook page

Beauty

Soap stars

Josephine Fairley washes her hands of liquid soap in those

environment-wrecking plastic bottles and goes back to the

good old bar variety

I’m all for life’s small pleasures. A delicious

cappuccino, enjoyed while gazing at a beautiful

view. Dancing around the kitchen, cooking dinner

to a favourite Madeleine Peyroux album. Or a new

bar of soap: fresh, fragrant, the beauty equivalent of

a brand new notebook, or crisp clean sheets.

And you know? I absolutely never take it for granted.

A couple of decades ago I went to Romania with The

Body Shop’s Anita Roddick, to visit the orphanages she

was sponsoring. One night, we drove around the nearby

villages giving away bars of soap from the back of a Body

Shop truck – almost triggering a stampede, because

it turned out: there’d been no soap in that part of the

country for 10 whole years. Gulp.

So I’m delighted that proper bar soap,

eclipsed for virtually a generation by hand

and body washes in pump-action plastic

bottles, is making a comeback.

Banho citron

verbena soap £14

Liberty London

libertylondon.com

And those bottles are one

of the main reasons I’m

glad about this shift.

Increasingly (thanks largely

to David Attenborough…)

we are all starting to think

about the catastrophic

environmental impact

of single-use plastics -

and the bottles which

hand and body washes

come in are some of

the worst offenders.

The components in

them can feature

several different

types of plastic

and sometimes a

metal spring, as

Chypre cedar

poinsettia soap £14

Liberty London

libertylondon.com

“We are all starting

to think about

the catastrophic

impact of singleuse

plastic bottles”

well, which

makes them

Luxury Soap

Collection £40 Floris

florislondon.com

challenging to recycle. In landfill, these hard

plastics will take thousands of years to break

down, so switching to a product where the only

packaging is a piece of paper or simple cardboard is a very

simple step to take to cut down on plastic wastage in your life.

Another reason to shift back to the kind of soap

our grannies used – and which has been traced back

as far as ancient Babylon 5000 years ago – is that it

doesn’t contain any of the increasingly controversial

ingredients which are found in the liquid kind.

Liquid soaps contain sulfate foaming agents, triclosan and

formaldehyde, all of which have been linked to health issues –

too complex to go into here, but very much worth Googling.

And I have another personal reason for

loving old-fashioned bars of beautifully

fragrant soap: I like to store them in drawers

where they make my underwear, knits and

bed linen smell pretty. Another advantage

of this is that if you keep them for a while

they harden off and will last longer, rather

than turning to pulp in your soap dish.

Which is something you may need

to invest in again – or possibly for the first time – if

you’ve been using liquid soap. I like to hunt out pieces

of vintage china and moulded glass to keep my soap in,

but I’ve noticed Zara Home do particularly good soap

dishes, a nice new accessory for your bathroom.

There are countless fabulous soaps, out there, but I

thought I’d share my favourites. So if you’re in the mood

for a new bar, after this, get in a lather over these.

Little Soap Company Natural Olive Oil Bar Soap, £2.95

(littlesoapcompany.co.uk). Little Soap Company create

artisan-style soaps in the Cotswolds, literally - the business

began on the founder Emma Heathcote-James’s kitchen

table. This one uses organic extra virgin olive oil, as

simple, but effective, as soap gets and the olive oil ensures

it’s not drying. Ideal for the touchiest skins. (I find that

some artisan hand-made soaps go squishy very quickly,

but Little Soap Company’s are more resilient.)

137 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Beauty

Fox Trot violet

soap £9.50

Fragrence Direct

fragrancedirect.co.uk

of cedarwood), zesty citrusverbena

Banho, or – when

I can find it – the powdery,

violet-scented Fox Trot.

Liberty carries a wide selection,

including some amazing gift sets.

Fragonard Le Jardin de Fragonard Perle

de Thé Soap, £7.95 (Marks & Spencer

beauty departments and on-line). I’m

crazy in love with Fragonard soaps,

Claus Porto Soaps, from around

£15. These are fabulously packaged,

with eye-catching vintage designs

– and smell equally ravishing.

They’re made in Porto, the

Claus is actually the name of the

German founders, who started

the company in 1887. There are

dozens of soaps in the range, any

of which I’d gladly receive as a gift,

but if pushed to choose favourites,

I’ll opt for Chypre, (a stunningly

sophisticated fragrance, with whispers

which you can watch being made,

if you visit the classic perfume

house’s museum, in Grasse. The

soaps look like porcelain treasures,

embossed with different designs,

in this case, an Indian-inspired

Paisley design on a soap that’s gloriously

jasmine-scented. They do another range

that you can only buy in their stores (I

always stock up in Paris), which look

like exquisite cameos. Great gifts, these.

Chanel No.5 The Bath Soap, £22.

What can I say? The ultimate luxury. My

bar of this scented my underwear gloriously for

Le Jardin de

Fragonard Perle de

Thé Soap £7.95

Fragonard

www-uk.fragonard.

com

months before I finally began to use it; the trail of Chanel

No.5 that it leaves on the skin is really quite impressive.

Bamford Mini Pebble Soap Set, £32. A fab gift (um, to

yourself?), this brings together all three soaps from the

Oxfordshire-based natural beauty brand of which I’m

becoming an ever-more-ardent fan. The scents are rose,

geranium and jasmine, and the very pleasing, hand-friendly

shape is taken from a heart-shaped pebble found on the beach.

L’Occitane Bonne Mère Honey Soap,

Natural olive

oil bar soap, £2.95

Little Soap Company

littlesoapcompany.

co.uk

£5.50. Many of L’Occitane’s

divine soaps are made

using the traditional

Marseilles soap method.

For a mega-swoon, check

out the soaps in their new

Regent Street flagship

store. A must-visit destination

for your next beauty pilgrimage to London

Geranium &

– although this particular choice is a webonly

option, fabulously scented with honey,

rhubarb soap £9

Soap Co

which also has a skin-softening action.

thesoapco.org

Soap Co. Geranium & Rhubarb, £9. Last

autumn I visited the Soap

Co. factory in Walthamstow,

and have been giving their products to

friends ever since. Soap Co. is a new

and very chic venture within a longestablished

charity project offering

employment to blind and otherwise

disabled people and those with mental

health challenges. It’s as heart-warming

as beauty gets, frankly, but the reasons to

buy their soaps (and the rest of the range)

go beyond philanthropy; the range offers

great smells and textures. Here, a coldpressed

soap hand-made from olive oil,

organic cocoa butter, borage and calendula,

and with the loveliest of fragrances.

Floris Luxury Soap Collection, £40.

The soap-lover’s ultimate dream: a beribboned

gift box showcasing six of the

long-established Jermyn Street perfumery’s

most-loved soaps, including White Rose,

Stephanotis, citrusy Cefiro, Lily of the Valley,

Edwardian Bouquet and Rose Geranium – a

movingly nostalgic fragrance, for me, as it was

the scent of my father’s shaving soap, and one which has

been known to make me cry. Yup, that. From a soap.

For daily health and beauty updates from Josephine Fairley,

visit beautybible.com and for all the latest in the fabulous

world of perfume look at perfumesociety.org

“Another reason to shift

back to the kind of soap our

grannies used is that it doesn’t

contain any of the increasingly

controversial ingredients

found in the liquid kind”

139 wealdentimes.co.uk

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wealdentimes.co.uk

140

StonerockDentalPracticeWT194.indd 1 16/03/2018 13:00

Beauty

Spring into

summer

Start getting your body holiday

ready now with non-invasive beauty

treatments to leave you smooth, slim

and sleek – strictly no scalpels!

Alevere weight loss system – Health and Aesthetics, Godalming

If you find before and after weight loss pictures fascinating

– take a look at the ones on the Health and Aesthetics

website. Men and women of various ages who have lost up to

ten stone each on the Alevere system in a matter of months,

not only look astonishingly better, in much nicer clothes –

they all seem so much happier. It’s really inspiring.

But while the aesthetic side of things is great, what’s more

important is that this is a medically based weight loss system,

with very significant health benefits. It’s not just about inches

lost; clients shed that very hard to shift visceral fat, around the

organs, which is so damaging to health, putting you at much

greater risk of getting cancer, among other serious conditions.

The medically supervised weight loss system is based on a

guided protein-rich food programme designed to stablilise

blood sugar so the body achieves and then stays in the crucial

fat-burning ‘ketosis’ state, with weekly health checks and

blood tests to ensure safety.

Clients also have regular Medi Contour ultrasound

treatments, to break down that really dangerous organ fat,

plus Body Analysis, which gives a detailed picture of body

composition. Seeing fat percentages turning steadily into

muscle is very encouraging.

Hannah Betts - Practice Manager and Aesthetics Therapist

What is the nicest things clients say to you after reaching

their goal weight? “They feel like their life has completely

changed. When they tell you that previously they couldn’t

play with their children and now they can keep up with

them, it does make you gulp a little bit ...”

Why do you think the system achieves such amazing

results? “It’s the combination of all the different elements,

but really it’s about attitude. They think they’ve tried

everything and then this starts to work and they feel so

proud of themselves. They also say how helpful all the

encouragement at the clinic is.”

What would you say was the most common amount of

weight people come to you to lose? And how long does it

take? Some are dangerously overweight, but even people who

only want to lose a stone can do it, as long as it’s to get down

to a healthy BMI. A woman on average loses a stone a month

and a man on average a stone and a half.

Are there any other therapies you suggest having to

complement the Alevere system? CoolSculpting is excellent

for removing those stubborn subcutaneous fat bulges which

stay even after a client has lost the visceral fat and reached

their target weight.

Find out more about the Alevere weight loss system,

CoolSculpting and Body Analysis from Health and Aesthetics

in Godalming. They are having a CoolSculpting Event on

20th April with live demonstration, personalised treatment

plans and amazing discounts on the day. 01252 933133

healthandaesthetics.co.uk

141 wealdentimes.co.uk

CoolSculpting – Illuminate Skin Clinic, Kings Hill

Never again do you need to be tempted to look at those

weird online ads which promise to tell you ‘Seven foods

never to eat to lose belly fat…’.

Now you can get rid of those maddening pockets of

flubber that just won’t shift no matter how much you diet

and exercise by having them - literally – melted away by the

CoolSculpting procedure. While lying down. No wonder

CoolSculpting is the world’s number one non-invasive, nonsurgical

fat-reduction procedure. No scalpels, no sucking

tubes and no revolting tanks of extracted fat…

The system was invented by two scientists at Harvard

University who observed that some children got dimples in

their cheeks after eating ice lollies. They investigated and

developed the process of freezing and eliminating small

pockets of fat cells into a safe and effective fat-zapping

treatment, approved by America’s very strict FDA.

Faye Taylor: Medical Aesthetician

How does it work? “It uses a process called Cryolipolysis

to apply targeted cold to small areas of unwanted fat via a

handheld device applied by the therapist. The controlled cold

temperature freezes and damages the fat cells, causing the fat

to be expelled through the body’s lymphatic system.”

How long does each treatment take – and how long does

the effect last? “Depending on how many cycles you have,

each cycle carried out is 60 minutes. The overall result from

the treatment is permanent.”

How many treatments does it take to remove, for example,

a double chin? “Everyone is different with their body shape

so we take this into consideration in a consultation. On

average it is normally one treatment per area.”

What parts of the body can it be used on? “The abdomen,

flanks – sides of body between the hips and ribs - outer

thighs, inner thighs, bra fat, back fat, banana roll (underneath

the buttocks), arms and under the chin.”

Are there any pre-existing conditions that make it

unsuitable to be used? “If there has been any recent surgery

or there is scar tissue it would be necessary to wait six months

before treatment. Any patients with chronic pain, sensitivity

to cold, or anxiety disorder can still be treated, however they

may experience more discomfort during the treatment. We

also don’t treat pregnant woman, because there hasn’t been

any research yet to show it will not harm the baby.”

Does it hurt? And do you have to rest after? “When

the applicator is applied to the skin you may feel slight

discomfort due to the vacuum suction, where we are drawing

the fat cells into the applicator, and the first 10 minutes of

freezing. The next 50 minutes of the treatment is relaxing.

Afterwards, you can carry on with your everyday routine

including going to the gym.”

Does the fat area come back if you put weight on? “Once

the fat cells are removed from the treated area they will not

return - and if you put weight on it will go to another part of

the body. However, if you returned to having a poor diet with

lack of exercise, then remaining fat cells in the treated area

may multiply.”

Illuminate Skin Clinic 01732 647007

illuminateskinclinic.co.uk

IPL laser hair removal – Purenique, Hawkhurst

Shaving, waxing, threading, those terrible smelling

creams…? Forget them all. Superfluous body hair

and all its associated inconvenience can become a distant

memory.

All it takes is an obligation-free complimentary

consultation to make sure you have a sufficient contrast

between body hair colour and skin tone (most people

do) for the treatment to work and to assess the area to be

treated – then you’re off. And so is that maddening hair.

Kimberley Brook – salon owner

What kind of laser do you use? We use the Lynton

Lumina system, medically graded laser equipment, as used

by the NHS, with a gold standard treatment protocol.

How long do the results of laser hair removal last? The

results vary, but permanent reductions in hair growth are

seen in the majority of people. The more treatments you

have, the greater the chances of you achieving longer hairfree

periods. Treated follicles may re-grow hair though

and repeat sessions will likely be needed in the future to

maintain hair free results.

How many treatments does it take for a really good

result and can everybody have it? It varies, but typically

six or more treatments are needed. Most people are suitable

for treatment, although best results are achieved with

clients who have fair skin and dark hair, as dark hair has

a high concentration of melanin. Grey/white hair has no

melanin so is not suitable for treatment.

Does it hurt as much as waxing? Treatment sensation

varies but is often described as “a flick of an elastic band”.

Typically no anaesthesia is required and most clients

describe the discomfort as moderate and tolerable.

Are you doing any pre-summer packages? We are offering

a Summer Body permanent hair removal package, with a

course of six treatments for underarm, bikini line and half

leg (lower or upper) for £1500, which is over £600 cheaper

than getting them done separately.

Find out more from Purenique, Hawkhurst 01580

753383. Book your Free consultation online at.

purenique.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

142

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In June 2017, Paul even completed

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Non-invasive treatment solves

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Paul Bowman has always lived an

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business, and loves the physical

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and pains go with the territory,”

Paul explains, “but gradually as I

got older, low back pain started to

become a real problem, and about

three years ago I was referred

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The scan revealed two compressed

and bulging discs in Paul’s lower

spine. “Back then, I was just

about managing,” says Paul. “My

back ached quite a lot, and I was

losing some of my mobility.”

Things steadily got worse, and

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“The sciatica was shooting down

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Paul decided to take matters into

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“I made an appointment with

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gentle treatment on the IDD

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Because of the severe nature of

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Wellbeing

A Year of Wellness

The last thing our bodies need when it’s still cool and damp is a

brutal detox with raw food that is hard to digest, much better work in

harmony with your body and the season says Eminé Rushton

April: A gentle cleanse

Detoxes are big business. Pills,

oils, scrubs, masks, juices...

add the word ‘detox’ to the Dlabel and you have people clamouring

to purchase the promise of ‘purifying’

their bodies and shifting weight, while

clearing skin and boosting energy levels

in the process.

As a holistic therapist and student

of Ayurveda, I don’t believe that any

one of us needs to actively detox. We’re

in possession of some hugely effective

in-built detoxification organs and

mechanisms, from our small intestine

and liver, to our kidneys and

skin and what best benefits

our bodies (and minds and

spirits while we’re at it), is

a gentle, seasonal, bodysupporting

cleanse.

As spring arrives

many of us feel the

shift quite naturally,

as the mood lightens, the body

feels more vital and the urge for

fresh, vibrant green foods takes

hold. This is the ideal time to

work with your body, to help clear

winter’s ‘leftovers’.

In Ayurvedic terms, there is often a

build up of damp, cold energy in the

body after winter and it is helpful to get

things moving, before the spring cough

and cold can take hold (which is simply

nature’s way of getting excess mucous

out of the system).

I begin with Weleda Birch Juice,

£10.95 (weleda.co.uk), an allnatural

age-old tonic that

supports the body’s inbuilt

cleansing processes, taking it

with warm water, in

the morning.

“Steer away

from raw juice

and foods until

the weather is

properly warm”

Dry body brushing is also very helpful

at getting the lymph moving, flushing

out any small pockets of toxicity, which

can build up in the adipose tissue. Begin

with the soles of the feet, then work up

the calves, thighs and buttocks before

going down the arms, back and gently

over the chest and tummy.

A generous dousing of oil on the skin

should follow. In Ayurveda, organic

sesame oil is considered wonderful for

heating a system, while organic coldpressed

sunflower oil is good for all body

types and conditions. Massage in well.

Given that spring

in England is still cool

(and often wet), make

daily food decisions that

support the body, based

upon the weather, mood

and appetite – and steer

away from raw juice and

foods until the weather

is properly warm. It takes a fair bit

of digestive energy to break down

uncooked roughage and fibre and if

the immune system is flagging, you can

actually deplete yourself further.

Cold mornings are amply warmed

with steaming porridge, served with

seasonal stewed fruit and cinnamon.

Cook some linseed into the oatmeal to

get the bowels spring-cleaned

too. Warmer days can support

raw, live yoghurt eaten at room

temperature, delicious with

homemade granola.

If it’s cold outside, cook up

the season’s first spring greens

with cinnamon, ginger and

garlic for stews and warm

salads, or whizz into a soup

that will warm up the innards.

Eminé Rushton is Wellbeing Director-at-Large at Psychologies magazine, and

co-founder of the conscious living blog, The Balance Plan, balanceplan.co.uk

As our bodies start

to shift into spring, it’s

also important to support the

process with at least eight glasses of

warm, filtered water daily. Herbal teas

count toward your intake. Naturally

detoxifying nettle, burdock, elderflower

and fennel, are just the ticket.

And fennel being perfectly in season

in spring, is also an ideal cleansing

veg. Try baking it with fish, for lunch

or dinner, too. Great spring herbs

that support the inner cleanse include

chervil, tarragon, rosemary and mint.

Bake, cook, garnish with them and

you’re getting extra flavour, with

antioxidants to boot.

And no spring awakening would be

complete without a thought for the

quality of our breath. Lungs can take

a bit of a battering over winter, with

perpetual central heating inside, and

gale-force winds out, so work to open

them up with breath-led yoga. And

in this glorious season of renewal, just

get outside a bit more, for brisk walks

and gentle jogs, through parks and

woodland.

Feed your soul

In Grow, Cook, Nourish bestselling cookbook

author and legendary cook Darina Alllen draws

on more than 30 years’ experience gardening

at her Irish home Ballymaloe to explain not

only how to grow and cultivate, but to cook

inventively and excitingly with home-grown

produce – great if you have a glut.

With over 500 recipes, this enormous

book will likely stay in our family

for generations. An instant classic.

Grow, Cook, Nourish Kyle Books

£30. Read more about Darina

Allen at ballymaloe.ie

Credit: Evans Amos, Freeimages.com/Karl Mooney, John Evans, Sarah Williams, Jozef Szoke

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Wellbeing

Natural wisdom

Nutritional therapist Henrietta Norton, of Wild Nutrition

supplements, shares the practices and resources that support her in

her busy life as a mother and businesswoman

Henrietta Norton is the co-founder

of the trailblazing supplements

brand, Wild Nutrition, which uses

a special ‘Food-Grown’ process that

guarantees maximum beneft. Having

suffered with chronic and debilitating

endometriosis throughout her 20s,

she was told she would never have

children. Determined to overcome her

condition, she sought out a nutritional

therapist who specialised in female

health, before going on to train herself.

Now, as a mother of three, product

formulator and practising therapist, she

is dedicated to helping other women

turn their health around too.

What one piece of seasonal wisdom

helps you in April?

“Walking in nature. This helps me all

year round, in a different way each

season. In April, I find it immensely

uplifting and cleansing.”

Which area of self-care do you never

skimp on?

“The quality of my food. As a society

we have to take more responsibility

and be aware of the way our food is

produced and grown, on a nutritional,

environmental and spiritual level.

A great inspiration for this is Satish

Kumar’s book Soil, Soul and Society.

We are lucky to have great local meat,

veg and fruit suppliers. For cupboard

staples I use my local health food store

Charlotte’s Cupboard. This is a brilliant

packaging-free food delivery service. You

provide your own containers and pay by

weight.” charlottescupboard.com

What’s cooking in your kitchen this

month? “I am getting very creative with

vegetables. Spring greens, chard and

courgettes are being lightly fried with

fresh herbs (whatever is in the garden),

garlic, lots of lemon juice and zest,

generous portions of virgin olive oil,

cracked pepper and rock salt. This is

either a wonderful meal in itself or as

an accompaniment to pasta, rice or

fresh fish.”

Is there one book that taught you

something amazing about life – and

made you better at living it?

“Without doubt Limitless Sky by

David Charles Manners (who,

coincidentally, happens to be a

Wealden dweller) which describes the

true story of a young man who on

a chance meeting in Nepal, begins

an inspiring, enlightening personal

journey facilitated by a Nepalese

Shaman in the Himalayas.”

What always makes you smile?

“My children. They bring a lot of

other faces too....but without fail,

many smiles each and every day.”

wildnutrition.com

Give your skin a treat

Are you starting to think about that spring clean yet? Not just the

house, it’s also the perfect time to spring clean our skin with a face

mask. Taking an extra 10 minutes, even once a week, can give skin

time to renew and regenerate, revealing your spring glow.

To achieve this, we tried Freyaluna’s Bright & Beautiful

Brightening Face Mask, full of natural ingredients designed to

reduce inflammation, hydrate and improve circulation to the skin

surface. The active combination of rosehip, coffee and turmeric

feed the skin with vitamin C, stimulate and heal. The powder

formation is great as you can tailor this mask to suit your skin

type, mixing with aloe vera gel for spot-prone skin, or a few drops

of a facial oil for an extra moisture boost.

Relax with the mask on for 10 minutes and remove in

circular motions with warm water and a muslin cloth,

to add gentle exfoliation.

Freyaluna Bright & Beautiful Brightening Face

Mask costs £8 for 10g packet or £25 for a 40g jar.

freyaluna.co.uk (review by Kate Watts)

Eminé says:

Try this in April

Practising yoga has become the

healthy, spiritual foundation of

my week. When I can’t get to my

regular classes at the brilliant

Kingdom Yoga in Penshurst,

I turn to my online teachers,

at Movement for Modern

Life. Via their videos, I

practise yin yoga, yoga

nidra and hatha

yoga, dependent

on my needs of the

day all in the comfort

of my bedroom while my children sleep.

Bliss ! movementformodernlife.com

147

From an

English

garden

Vegetable gardener and cook at Great Dixter,

Aaron Bertelsen has written a cookbook which

celebrates the link between the plot and kitchen

so precious to the garden’s iconic creator, the late

Christopher Lloyd

Words: Aaron Bertelsen Photographs: Andrew Montgomery

Food

Beet top and feta tart

Serves 8 Prep time: 15. Cooking time: 50-60 mins

Beetroot tops are often ready in the spring before the spinach

and chard, which is what gave me the inspiration for this tart.

They have a nutty, earthy flavour and are also good eaten on

their own as a steamed or boiled vegetable. I love this tart so

much that I cook and freeze the leaves for use all year.

Rhubarb tart

Serves 8 Prep time: 15 mins plus chilling Cooking time: 45-50 mins

Spring rhubarb is wonderfully pink and tender, so you can

dispense with the poaching step and put it straight into a pastry

case, with a little brown sugar before putting it in the oven. The

sugar caramelizes to give an almost toffee-like flavour. Eat hot or

cold. Either way, it goes well with cream, custard or ice-cream.

• Oil or butter, for greasing

• 1 quantity chilled

shortcrust pastry

• flour, for dusting

• beet tops (greens) from

8 plants, rinsed and

chopped

• 175 g/6 oz feta cheese,

diced or crumbled

• 300 ml/10 oz

(1¼ cups) crème fraîche

• 3 eggs

• 100 ml/3½ fl oz

(scant ½ cup) milk

• salt and pepper

1Preheat the oven to

180°C/350°F/Gas Mark

4, placing an oven rack in

the lower part of it. Grease

a 30-cm/12-inch loosebottom

tart pan. Roll out

the pastry (dough) on a

lightly floured work surface

until it is large enough to

line your tart pan.

Put the beet tops

2 (greens) into a pan with

just the water that clings to

them after washing. Cover

with a lid, cook over low

heat for about 5 minutes

until wilted. Let cool, then

drain and spread over the

bottom of the pastry case

(shell). Sprinkle with the

feta.

3Put the crème fraîche,

eggs and milk into a

bowl and beat together.

Pour this mixture into the

pastry case and season with

salt and pepper. Place on a

baking sheet and bake for

40–45 minutes until just set.

Take the tart out of the

4 oven and carefully slip

off the outer ring, leaving

the tart sitting on the base.

Return to the oven on

5 the baking sheet for

another 5–10 minutes so

that the sides get really crisp.

• Butter, for greasing

• 1 quantity chilled sweet

shortcrust pastry

• flour, for dusting

• 1 kg/2¼ lb rhubarb,

chopped into 5-cm/2-inch

pieces

• 2 tablespoons demerara

(turbinado) sugar

• 120 g/4 oz (½ cup) caster

sugar, plus extra for

sprinkling (optional)

1Preheat the oven to

190°C/375°F/Gas Mark

5, placing an oven rack in

the lower part of it. Butter a

25-cm/10-inch loose-bottom

tart pan.

2Roll out the pastry

(dough) thinly on a

lightly floured work surface

and use to line the prepared

pan. If using spring rhubarb,

arrange it in the pastry case

(shell) and sprinkle with the

demerara (turbinado) sugar.

If not using spring rhubarb,

put the caster (superfine)

sugar and 200 ml/

7 fl oz (¾ cup) water into

a pan and stir together over

medium heat until the sugar

dissolves. Bring to a gentle

boil, then add the chopped

rhubarb and simmer for 1

minute – you don’t

want it to lose its shape.

Drain the rhubarb, then

arrange inside the pastry case.

3Place the filled case on

a baking sheet and bake

on a low oven rack for 40

minutes. Take the tart out of

the oven and carefully slip

off the outer ring, leaving the

tart sitting on the base.

4Return to the oven on the

baking sheet for another

5–10 minutes so that the sides

get really crisp.

Slide the tart onto a plate and

sprinkle with caster sugar,

if desired. Let cool to room

temperature before serving.

149 wealdentimes.co.uk

DEEP IN THE KENT COUNTRYSIDE YOU

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AnnoDistillersWT193.indd 1 22/02/2018 11:59

Wine tasting club

wealdentimes.co.uk

150

FizzOnFootS41.indd 1 28/02/2018 14:14

Frozen pea and mint pesto

Makes 3 small jars Prep time: 10 mins. Cooking time: 5 mins

An excellent item for your storecupboard (pantry), pesto is great

for using up gluts of produce. This recipe is perfect

for using up any forgotten peas in the freezer, and it is a real

taste of summer, which I hanker for in the winter. It is

delicious with pasta, adding a real depth of flavour.

• 250 g/9 oz (about 2 cups)

shelled fresh or frozen

peas (about 900 g/2 lb in

their pods)

• 2 fat cloves garlic, finely

chopped

• 50 g/2 oz (about ⅓ cup)

pine nuts, toasted

• 50 g/2 oz Parmesan

cheese, chopped into

small chunks

• good handful mint leaves

• 6 tablespoons extra virgin

olive oil

1Cook the peas in a pan

of boiling water for 2–3

minutes, until just tender, then

drain and refresh in cold water.

Drain again and pat dry.

2Tip the peas into a blender

or food processor and add

the remaining ingredients.

Pulse very briefly, until

everything is roughly chopped.

Don’t overdo it – the mixture

should still have some texture.

3To store, put into a tightly

lidded container, cover the

surface with a little more olive

oil and store in the refrigerator

for 1 week, or freeze in plastic

food bags for up to 1 month.

151 wealdentimes.co.uk

26 Maytham Road • Rolvenden Layne • Kent TN17 4NP

Telephone 01580 241837 • www.eweandlamb.co.uk

Situated in the idyllic Kent countryside,

off the beaten track with a cosy

and relaxing atmosphere.

Whether it’s a meal with loved ones or a

business lunch, catch up over a glass of Chablis

or pint of Harveys. You are always welcome.

We pride ourselves on home cooked local produce with

a new lunch and main menu for the Spring season.

Nothing beats a log fi re and a freshly cooked meal.

All wines are available by the glass and with

over 20 choices, there’s something for everyone.

We off er a variety of both vegan and vegetarian dishes.

Around the world at the Ewe and Lamb.

Every Monday night we travel and sample a delight from a

different country. Phone now to book your seat with us.

Park Farm Butchers & Graziers

Where Quality Comes Naturally

EweAndLambWT194.indd 1 21/03/2018 18:35

Lowest food miles, for miles around!

From our traditionally managed farm

here in Hawkhurst, we produce free range, grass fed beef, lamb

and pork, reared on home grown cereals. We are Farm Assured

and our livestock are reared in harmony with the countryside.

TAKING ORDERS FOR EASTER

FROM OUR FARM

· 21 day matured Sussex beef · Free range Berkshire Pork

· Quality Romney Lamb

HOMEMADE

· Burgers · Dry Cured & Oak Smoked Bacon

· Chipolatas & Sausagemeat · Sausages · Cooked Hams

FRUIT & VEGETABLE SELECTION - LOCAL & SEASONAL

The Colonnade, Hawkhurst, Kent

Tel: 01580 753558

www.parkfarmbutchers.co.uk | email: parkfarm3@btconnect.com

wealdentimes.co.uk

152

ParkFarmWT194.indd 1 21/03/2018 18:22

Food

Beetroot chutney

Makes 5kg/11lb Prep time: 30mins. Cooking time: 1 ¼ hours

Chutney is a great way of using up gluts of produce – we often

have lots of beetroot in the garden at Great Dixter. This recipe

is courtesy of Mary Coward, mother of Tom Coward, head

gardener at Gravetye Manor.

• 1 kg/2¼ lb Bramley

(Cortland or Granny

Smith) apples, peeled,

cored and sliced weight

• 2 kg/4½ lb raw beetroot

(beet), peeled and

roughly chopped

• 1 kg/2¼ lb (about 6

cups) soft light brown

sugar

• 450 g/1 lb (3 cups)

sultanas or golden raisins

• 3½ tablespoons salt

• 1 tablespoon ground

ginger

• 1 small onion, finely

chopped

• 500 ml/18 fl oz (2 cups)

malt vinegar

1Put the apples into a

heavy pan with a little

water, cover and

cook gently for about 10

minutes until soft but not

mushy.

2Add all the remaining

ingredients to the pan

and boil for 1 hour or more,

until the mixture thickens

and erupts in small craters,

like lava in a volcano.

Spoon into warm,

3 sterilized jars, cover with

a double layer

of greaseproof (wax) paper,

then seal tightly, label and

date.

The chutney can be eaten

immediately, although I

think it’s best stored in a

cool place and enjoyed after

a year.

Pickled pears

Makes 3 x 450g/1lb jars Prep time: 15mins. Cooking time: 20mins

It was my friend Tom Coward, head gardener at Gravetye

Manor, who first introduced me to this lovely preserve. There

are lots of recipes for pickled pears, but some take up to a week

to prepare. This version can be made in an evening, and I have

found the results to be just as good, though they are best left for

a month before eating so that the flavours can really penetrate the

fruit. Use pears that still have some bite, but not so much that

you cannot get your teeth into them, and make sure you reduce

the liquid well to intensify the flavour. The pears go really well

with blue cheese.

• 900 g/2lb pears, peeled,

cored and sliced

• 425 ml/14½ fl oz (1¾

cups) apple cider vinegar

• 450 g/1 lb (2 cups) caster

sugar

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 10 cloves

• thumb-size piece of stem

ginger, sliced

1Put all the ingredients into

a pan with 850 ml/1½

pints (3½ cups) water and

cook slowly until the pears

start to soften, but only just

(about 10 minutes). You want

them to retain a bit of bite.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer

the pears to a colander and set

aside to drain.

2Meanwhile, increase the

heat under the syrup left

in the pan and boil rapidly

for 15 minutes, or until it has

reduced by about a third and

thickened slightly.

3Pack the fruit into warm,

sterilized jars and pour in

enough hot syrup to cover.

Seal immediately and store for

a month before eating.

153 wealdentimes.co.uk

Brewery Tours

FAvershAm Kent

01795 542016

WWW.SHEPHERDNEAME.CO.UK

Makes 30-40 slices Prep time: 20 mins.

Cooking time: 2 ½ hours

This is my grandmother’s recipe, so very special to me. The cake

is intensely fruity and moist. I sometimes make it in the evening,

turning the oven off after two and a half hours and leaving it in

the oven overnight so it has time to settle. In an airtight container,

wrapped in greaseproof paper, it will keep for months.

• 1 kg/2¼ lb (10 cups)

mixed dried fruit, plus an

extra 50 g/2 oz

• (½ cup) each of sultanas

or golden raisins and

currants

• 12 pitted prunes, chopped

• 1 x 400-g/14-oz can

sweetened condensed milk

• 225 g/8 oz (2 sticks)

butter

• 1 tablespoon black treacle

Nana’s fruit cake

(molasses)

• 1 tablespoon golden syrup

or corn syrup

• dash vanilla extract

• dash brandy

• 350 ml/12 fl oz (1½ cups)

water

• 50 g/2 oz (½ cup) flaked

(slivered) almonds

• 1 slightly heaped teaspoon

bicarbonate of soda

(baking soda)

• 1 teaspoon mixed

(apple pie) spice

• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 300 g/11 oz

(scant 2½ cups) plain

(all-purpose) flour

• 1 slightly heaped teaspoon

baking powder

1Preheat the oven to

140°C/275°F/Gas Mark 1.

Line a 23-cm/ 9-inch square

cake pan with parchment

(baking) paper. Put the dried

fruit, prunes, condensed milk,

butter, treacle (molasses),

syrup, vanilla and brandy

into a pan. Add the water

and bring to a simmer for 5

minutes.

2Let cool slightly before

stirring in the almonds,

bicarbonate

of soda (baking soda) and

spices. Finally, incorporate

the flour and baking powder

a bit at a time, stirring well

between each addition.

3Pour the mixture into the

prepared pan and bake

for 2½ hours. Turn off the

oven and leave the cake in

there to settle – I usually do

this overnight. The

following day, turn

it out and store it

as described in the

introduction.

The Great Dixter Cookbook is published by Phaidon £24.95. Wealden Times readers can buy it with a 30% discount

and free UK shipping, using the code DX30 at phaidon.com/dixter offer open until 25 June. Aaron Bertelsen is

appearing at The Garden Hub at the Midsummer Fair, see page 22 in the Garden Supplement.

155

At Your Service

Extraordinary food and a

warm welcome guaranteed

Book a table: thebellinticehurst.com or 01580 200300

www.thebellinticehurst.com

BellinTicehurstWT194.indd 1 12/03/2018 BullAtBenendenWT194.indd 17:07

1 19/03/2018 12:30

The George Inn

High Street, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5AW

01580 880315 www.thegeorgerobertsbridge.co.uk

Delicious freshly

cooked local food

Bar, Restaurant

& Rooms

Come and spoil your

loved ones with us

Easter Weekend

Sunday 1 st April

Forthcoming Events

Live Music

Sunday 29 th April

Big Royal Bash

Saturday 19 th May

wealdentimes.co.uk

156

GeorgeInnRobertsbridgeWT194.indd 1 21/03/2018 15:17

Food

Spice it up

Chef Oscar Fonseca Volknar is adding South American

flair to the food at a classic British venue

The most British of institutions, a

country inn, in a perfect English

village –- The Bell in Ticehurst,

may not be the place where you would

expect to find dishes influenced by the

cuisine of the ancient Inca empire.

But without changing the core values

of this much-loved venue, Colombianborn

head chef Oscar Fonseca Volkmar

has introduced a sprinkling of South

American spice, taking traditional

British dishes and reinventing them with

the influence of his own heritage cuisine.

The chorizo Scotch eggs recipe below

has become a classic on the Bell menu.

Other dishes with Oscar’s southern

hemisphere touch include ribeye steak

served with chimichurri, a sauce of finely

chopped parsley, minced garlic, olive

oil, oregano, and red wine vinegar.

Calves’ liver is marinated and cooked

using the traditional anticuchos method

of grilled skewered meat, which can

be traced back to the Inca empire.

At pudding time there is caramelised

banana, served with banana ice cream,

almond and coconut crumble and

dulce de leche. So Scotch eggs to

start, steak, then crumble… a classic

British menu, with a cheeky touch of

South American flair. Estupendo!

Chorizo scotch quail eggs

with guacamole

Makes 12 portions

For the scotch eggs

• 250g cooking Spanish chorizo

• 100g Cumberland sausage meat

• 12 quail eggs

• 2 eggs lightly beaten

• 100g plain flour

• 100g panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

• Vegetable oil for deep frying

For the guacamole

• 4 large ripe avocado

• 4tbs chopped fresh coriander

• 3tbs chopped jalapeño chillies (seeds

and membranes removed)

• 4tbs chopped red onion

• 4tbs cored, seeded, and finely

chopped plum tomato

• 4tbs lime juice

• Drizzle of rape seed oil

• Salt & pepper to season

Scotch eggs

To make the chorizo and sausage

1 meat casing, chop and dice the

cooking chorizo really fine. Meanwhile

heat a little bit of oil in a heavy based

pan over a medium heat and sauté

the chorizo until the oil and fat from

the chorizo starts to render making

sure it does not start to caramelise.

Take off the heat and allow to cool.

Place the sausage meat in a food

2 processor (if you don’t have one you

can do this with your hands, in a bowl)

with the cooled chorizo and pulse until

the two meats are well combined. Place

in a container and put it in the fridge.

the quail eggs, pierce the base

3For of each egg with a pin (this makes

the eggs easier to peel later on). Bring 1

litre of water with a dash of vinegar to

the boil over a medium heat. Add the

eggs and cook for 2 minutes and 20-25

seconds, depending on the size. Remove

and refresh in ice water for 10 minutes.

Carefully peel the eggs, place in

a container and refrigerate.

Pre-heat the oven to 180c.

4Split the chorizo and sausage mixture

into 25g balls and flatten each

ball between the palms of your hands

into a ½ cm thick round patty. Place a

quail’s egg in the centre of a patty and

carefully wrap the meat mix around the

egg to enclose completely. Repeat the

process with all the remaining eggs.

3Arrange 3 bowls in a row,

to separately hold the flour,

beaten egg and panko.

Roll the scotch eggs in flour, then

dip in the beaten egg and then roll

in the panko breadcrumbs. Repeat

the process till all the eggs are

completely covered in breadcrumbs.

Fill a large heavy-based saucepan or deep

fryer with oil and heat up to 180c.

Deep fry the scotch eggs in batches

till golden brown, drain on a paper

towel and place in the oven for 4

minutes. Take out of the oven, cut

in half and sprinkle with sea salt.

Guacamole

mash the avocados in a

1Gently bowl until chunky but smooth

then drizzle over the rape seed oil.

Fold the coriander, onion, jalapeño

and tomato into the mixture. Stir in

the lime juice and adjust the seasoning

with salt and pepper to taste.

In the restaurant we serve these

on deep-fried tostadas (see

photo), but they are also delicious

served with warmed tortillas.

The Bell, Ticehurst TN5 7AS

01580 200300 thebellinticehurst.com

157 wealdentimes.co.uk

ADULT

POTTERY

CLASSES

at our beautiful

new studio

NEW!

Children’s

Pottery

Classes

Visit www.theceramicstudio.me.uk or

call 01892 725329 / 07970 340989

HONONTON FARM, FURNACE LANE, BRENCHLEY TN12 7BX

Gardens

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