Wealden Times | WT264 | May 2024 | Love Your Home Supplement inside
The lifestyle magazine for Kent & Sussex - Inspirational Interiors, Fabulous Fashion, Delicious Dishes
The lifestyle magazine for Kent & Sussex - Inspirational Interiors, Fabulous Fashion, Delicious Dishes
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
This page: A cosy single guest bedroom<br />
doubles up as a work space. The orange<br />
table lamp is by Artemide<br />
meant that the house is effectively<br />
on two levels, making the layout<br />
interesting and characterful and<br />
effectively creating two separate<br />
living spaces. “It’s south facing and<br />
there’s a lovely pool just outside,<br />
so it’s a nice entertaining space.”<br />
We head up to the spacious dining<br />
area situated in the middle of the<br />
house. Painted white with exposed oak<br />
beams, the large dining table, original<br />
brick floor and a huge inglenook<br />
fireplace make this room feel warm<br />
and bright. “The floor’s very practical,<br />
I really like it,” she says, “and would<br />
definitely put it into another house.”<br />
These features have immense character<br />
and help to make this central section<br />
into the heart of the house. “We<br />
have lovely candlelit dinner parties<br />
in here,” says Emma “and we’re right<br />
next to a pub, too. The footpath next<br />
to the house leads to the communal<br />
orchard and to the woods. You can<br />
walk up to Benenden through there.”<br />
The other rooms and the stairs<br />
to the top floor lead off from here.<br />
Through one door there’s a very useful<br />
office and downstairs cloakroom,<br />
and at the other end, another door<br />
opens into the sitting room. There are<br />
elevated views out across the orchard<br />
from in here, because it is effectively<br />
on the first floor. There’s a double<br />
aspect and the walls were originally<br />
painted white, so it was very bright.<br />
Although Emma is keen on light and<br />
airy spaces, she felt that a sitting room<br />
needed to have a more cosy atmosphere<br />
and painted it dark grey/green.<br />
“The kitchen is sunny and light and<br />
contrasts well with the sitting room.<br />
I love this dark colour now too – it’s<br />
Squid Ink by Paint & Paper Library.<br />
We installed the fireplace and put in<br />
the shelves to make it cosy. I changed<br />
the lighting in here too – it’s all side<br />
lights because of the ceilings.” As with<br />
many vernacular houses, the ceilings<br />
are low, but this is a bonus if you’re<br />
creating a snug, tucked away feel. <br />
59<br />
priceless-magazines.com
Change language