The House That Rocks

Transforming an impressive, seven-bedroom Victorian property in Dorking wasn’t without its challenges, but the result is a stunning family home that has had the interiors world raving

- Zoe Richards

When Philippa McFarlane and her husband Al first saw Sandrock House in 2012 after a two-year search for their next property, they knew it had stacks of potential.

Philippa was captivated by the character and period features in this already imposing Victorian seven-bedroom family home. Describing its condition as “perfectly functional but a little tired”, she says: “We were immediately drawn to the original fireplaces and cornicing, plus its grand proportions. The rooms felt so big, but mainly we fell in love with the welcoming soul of the house.”

Already Dorking residents – Al had grown up there and Philippa moved to the area when they got together – the couple were also attracted by the short walk into town. With an appetite for a project, the pair wasted no time in getting stuck into the structural and cosmetic overhaul, which would take the best part of the next seven years. Philippa had always had an eye for interior design, having studied for a degree in interior architecture in her late teens, and her natural instinct for interiors and styling was ever-present. But it was a passion that had been largely left on the back burner until the renovations at Sandrock House took off.

Describing her style as timeless but eclectic, Pinterest became a “full-blown addiction” as Philippa gathered inspiration for the décor by looking through thousands of images.