Surrey Homes | SH61 | November 2019 | Gift supplement inside

This page: The drawing room is a masterful mix of pattern –
wallpaper, upholstery, rugs, cushions all different, yet perfect together
complemented by a built-in wooden bed achieved using one
of Ally’s signature techniques. The wooden base was sourced
online and then carefully adapted in situ under the window,
adding a bespoke upholstered headboard and bookshelves.
The raised bed idea evolved after a family trip to India when
a welcome day off was spent reading in a similar style window
seat. After experiencing this nurturing spot the brief was to
recreate it and it works brilliantly in this compact space.
At the top of the house one of the bedrooms was
updated with an African theme – a style close to Ally’s
heart having spent her twenties-plus there – because
one of the sons is currently living in East Africa.
The scheme, with walls in Farrow & Ball’s warm
fawn Mouse’s Back, has a masculine appeal with a
faux fur throw on the bed and leather knobs on the
built-in wardrobes – created using Ally’s buy-thencustomise
technique again. This time two cupboards
have created a niche just right to fit a sofa into.
The padded headboard is in an Andrew Martin
striped fabric, finished with suitably butch and manly
studding. A bright kilim cushion – one of many Ally
cannot see without plumping, as we tour the house –
in complementing colours and two orange and white
lampshades from the brilliant lighting website, Pooky,
add just the right touches of stronger colour.
85 surrey-homes.co.uk