Wealden Times | WT197 | July 2018 | Interiors supplement inside

This page: The spare bedroom has views over the Old Town.
The grey curtains are from Marks & Spencer
personal interior design style.
“I had help with the nuts and bolts of the building
work,” she says. “My uncle develops property and
was able to help with structural changes, but the
vision is mine, along with the decorative aspects.”
She ‘happened’ upon the cottage when she was
viewing another property in the same area. “The house
I had been looking at was too small, although I loved
the location, so I was really lucky to spot this cottage
which had literally just gone on the market.”
Not only was it the perfect location, it had the double aspect
and generous gardens front and back. Kismet also played a
part. Like Melanie, the previous owner, Jean Howell, was also
a textile designer and accomplished artist, and had bought the
house from a fishing family who had lived there for 30 years.
“It felt right that I was taking over from Jean,” she adds and
once she had made the decision, there was no going back.
“I did have a few anxious moments. Although the
property had been chopped about over the years –
the main part is Georgian, with a Victorian addition
and a 60s extension – the building was listed.”
Luckily, her uncle came to the rescue and was
able to smoothly navigate the necessary planning
permission required. The first and most major
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