Back To Life

Alison Smith has revived this historic house by deftly mixing colour and pattern with its period features

- Emma J Page

Seasoned renovator Alison Smith has never been afraid to roll up her sleeves, so the prospect of starting work on a historic country house in the middle of winter didn’t faze her. ‘My husband and I completed the purchase during a chilly December, and we were so keen to spend the night here that we camped in the annexe in our ski gear,’ she smiles. ‘I remember answering the door to carol singers while wearing wellies and Marigold gloves.’

In its heyday, this was a prominent hunting, shooting and fishing estate, but it had long since fallen into disrepair. ‘The plumbing, electricity and heating didn’t work and the house hadn’t been upgraded in decades,’ says Alison. ‘But it had a wealth of period features, including wood panelling, parquet flooring, mullion windows and marble sinks.’ The couple, both lawyers, knew that with plenty of imagination and a sympathetic approach, they could revive the listed home for themselves and their three teenage children, plus golden retriever Eddie.