Country Pleasures

Nicky Willis relocated to the picturesque village of Cuckfield, West Sussex, to create a tranquil home alongside a stylish shop filled with tempting antiques and bespoke furnishings

- JANET GLEESON

Nicky Willis had always felt drawn to the houses that line the High Street in the pretty Sussex village of Cuckfield. Brought up not far away and educated locally, she knew the area well and had pointed out the attractive homes to her husband. One, in particular, caught her eye. Built in 1871, from golden Wealden sandstone, it had the added bonus of an adjacent shop that formed part of the property. 'I showed it to my husband and told him, I love that house."

A few years on, in 2015, the couple started searching for a new home and couldn't believe their luck when they discovered the same property for sale. The shop was rented by an optician, and the entire building was in dire need of attention, but Nicky was undeterred. The shop was the pull. I thought the time was right. I was dabbling in antiques dealing, and my son had started school, so I had time available.' With a background in textile design, Nicky traces her interest in antiques to her childhood.

'My mother had an amazing collection of Mary Quant clothes. She always bought old furniture, and painted and scraped it. When I was at school, I didn't want to wear anything new. I always loved anything decorative and floral and I remember going to Scotland, aged 18, and buying a Clarice Cliff tea set from a flea market.' In her art student days, Nicky's passion grew.