Wealden Times | WT214 | December 2019 | Guide to Christmas supplement inside

This page: The marble fireplace in the elegant drawing room is new
but follows a simple Victorian design and, like all the carefully chosen
pieces in the room, sits peaceably amongst a mix of old and new
Stepping into the house via the
old stable yard, I am struck by a
sudden pang of storage envy. Facing
the back door, panelled doors stow
all manner of outdoor paraphernalia,
and a bespoke shoe and boot rack
organises all footwear. A bench with
further storage, provides an essential
seat for the putting on and taking
off of Wellies. Toby explains that
renovating houses in London has
taught him the useful discipline of
using every centimetre when designing
a room. “I don’t like wasting space.”
Toby and Megan kept the kitchen
in its original position resisting the
temptation to knock through into
what is now their dining room.
“The main reason was the
dining room fireplace,” points
out Toby, which backs on to
the kitchen. “We couldn’t move
it, which would have meant
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