Surrey Homes | SH110 | March 2024 | Kitchen & Bathroom Supplement inside

This spread: The classic Mary Isobel William Morris wallpaper
reflects the period of the property without overpowering the cosy
living room. The Aissa Sofa Bed is from Sofa.com in Dusty Rose
Cotton Matt Velvet. The iron fireplace was bought from Cast
Iron Fireplace and is styled with precious family heirlooms
The kitchen: A bank of white cupboards and a white worktop
break up the pink kitchen, keeping it fresh Below left: The pantry
Photograph:
Anna Stathaki
good to have had involved conversations beforehand
about my wish list, likes and dislikes, tastes and
preferences. For example, the fact that I didn’t want
bifold doors in the extension, wanted a dog bath in the
utility room, wanted a pantry and so on. The build took
nine months and Slightly Quirky supported me all the
way from the big structural decisions to little lampshades
choices. They were not only instrumental in what was
purchased but also what was kept. I was insistent about
keeping the piano and there were other things I loved,
but couldn’t fit in and they were hard to let go of –
Slightly Quirky were very empathetic about all that. It
is very difficult to be ruthless and bold about your own
things. With their support I figured out what worked
and what didn’t, for example my original 1920s Bergère
chairs fit perfectly by the large windows to the garden.
We chose a fabric for the curtains with Chinese figures
on to reflect the carvings on the arms of the chairs.”
Whilst making decisions about family heirlooms
inherited from her parents, Deborah further appreciated
the quality of the craftmanship of their era, and wanted
to instate that in the house and showcase things that had
been in the family in an authentic Victorian setting.
This is apparent as soon as you come to the elegant
front door – the last element to be replaced – which
was carefully chosen to include authentically geometric
stained glass panels in original Victorian designs. It is
painted the same encompassing Little Greene Hicks Blue
as the hallway, which unifies the look. The tiled flooring
also gives a nod to the era whilst keeping the overall
finish fresh, despite dark blue lower walls. “We wanted to
open up the space in the hall to make it feel bigger,” says
Deborah. “Caroline suggested the patterned tile would
add a depth to the space as well as having a heritage feel.”
The William Morris Mary Isobel wallpaper sets
the scene in the living room, opening up the space
whilst being containing. More than anything,
Deborah wanted the front room to be cosy around
the reinstated fireplace. The choice of the neat two
seater sofa and love seat in sumptuous dusty rose
velvet also enhances the intimate atmosphere.
“I had to be convinced about the plain brown
curtains, but now I can see how they work well in
contrast with the surrounding pattern,” she says.
The hallway continues into the central part of the
house, which had previously been a featureless open
space, used as a dining room. “Firstly, structurally we
took out the existing fireplace and had a door put in
place where a window had been, so that you could go
from the garden straight into what would become
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