Where Old Meets New

Claire McFadyen has achieved the perfect blend of vintage pieces, modern touches and lush greenery

- Kay Prestney

Now home to Claire and Jamie McFadyen and their two daughters Maisy, nine, and Mollie, seven, this property began life as kennels for the surrounding estate where the hunt dogs lived with their master. As you enter the Victorian house through the porch, a black dog-shaped plaque offers a clue to this former use. ‘We love interiors with a sense of history,’ says Claire, who runs Louisa Grace Interiors with husband Jamie. ‘Our business involves sourcing and selling vintage pieces that tell a story and we wanted this to be reflected in our home as well.’

In many homes, visitors are greeted with the sight of coats and shoes, but here you are immediately transported into a welcoming room reminiscent of the ‘salons’ of times past. To avoid the entrance feeling like a walk-through space, Claire has created areas of interest from a beautiful vintage sofa to an antique cupboard with a display of fascinating pieces, such as stunning butterflies in an old bell jar and a dried wreath, which bring a feeling of nature to the room.