Surrey Homes | SH95 | December 2022 | Christmas Supplement inside

Up a couple of steps
is a contemporary
kitchen with a dark
blue and bright
yellow theme. Across
a bare brick wall
is an enormous
vintage Bovril sign,
in just those colours.
“Another eBay
find,” says Imogen
This page: Imogen came up with
the brilliant idea to use an old pan
stand to tidy and store the outdoor
furniture cushions when not in use
She’s an interior designer really, but doesn’t know it.”
The artworks and decorative items throughout the building
are similar to those sold in Ashbees 100 – the former butcher’sshop-turned-gallery
– so guests who like what they see can
often find something similar to purchase. Or, if they really like
an item in The Playhouse, Justin has been known to sell it, and
replace it with something stocked in the shop. “We should do
more of it… but to me, that approach can be a bit tacky. If
our guests are paying a certain amount per night, I don’t want
to be pushing them to buy what they see. The most we do is
leave out a business card for the shop, with a discount offer.”
Planning constraints, although restrictive as far as the outside
of the building was concerned, have not interfered with the
interiors and it’s clear from the vibrant graffiti-style artworks
by Drew that Justin and Imogen’s creativity has been able
to flow freely. Drew, a local artist and owner of Brewhouse
Salvage, not only supplies the shop but his bright, modern
designs can be found in every room of The Playhouse.
Another friend, Jane, has also been a huge help. “My Mum’s
a hoarder, and had so much stuff – I used to sell it in the
shop,” says Justin. “But one day I had so much stuff I ended
up putting a skip out the front of the building. People were
like ants, just coming and taking stuff. And one of the people
was Jane, who asked if she could take a frame. She came in
the shop a week later and got chatting. She’s now best friends
with Imogen.” As well as running Peartree Framing, Jane has
helped with soft furnishings, sourcing – and bright ideas.
One such idea includes repurposing an original wooden
door as the kitchen table top – with a glass panel on
top for functionality and a contemporary edge. “We’ve
tried to keep as many original features as possible,” says
Imogen, “even if that means removing and restoring them,
before repurposing and/or repositioning them.” Another
example includes some rustic wooden brackets, which
would have been used to tether livestock, which are fixed
on the wall by the front door to act as coat hooks.
41 priceless-magazines.com