Wealden Times | WT259 | December 2023 | Christmas Supplement inside

This page: The galley kitchen and bathroom are in the extended part of the house and reach down the garden. “We use the
breakfast bar quite a lot,” says Hannah, “it’s a nice alternative to the dining room and it’s a fun, characterful space.”
It’s really light and bright.” Hannah
has used simple window treatments
to enhance this airy brightness.
A reclaimed rectory table sits in the
centre of the dining room. “It had
years and years of built up stains on
it,” Hannah explains, “it’s beautifully
solid, but a bit trad and heavy. Our
joiner curved the edges, sanded it
back and used a seal of white Danish
oil, which gives it a contemporary
feel – and being in the middle of the
house we’re operating around it. It’s
amazing that it became so light. Old
oak quality is so much better – there’s
a beautiful grain, but uncovering it
can be an unpredictable process.” This
is something that Hannah is more
than aware of when helping clients
to source furniture and architectural
objects. “It’s nice to have a oneoff
piece,” she says, “buying and
re-imagining vintage pieces – reusing
them again – is important. You have
to have an environmental conscience
in any business. It also means that,
especially when working with tighter
budgets, you can achieve a unique
look. It can be much more enjoyable
and clients end up with something
that’s really special or a vintage piece
imbued with stories,” she says, adding:
“It can be hard – and sometimes
expensive to replicate that with new.”
Upstairs in the main bedroom – a
pared back, serene room – the walls are
Portland Stone Light and are a great
background for the full length curtains,
which are the focal point of the room,
like a golden waterfall. There is an
understated feel in here – it is calm,
bright and uncluttered. At the front of
the house, this restful room faces east,
so the morning light, even if the sun
isn’t shining, is aptly framed with gold.
Somehow Hannah and Jack have
managed to squeeze a shower room
in between the two bedrooms, so
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