Living room Artwork casually placed on slender wooden shelves and a row of vintage terracotta pots filled with scented lavender create a relaxed country feel. Marnie sofa in Malachite linen; Song sofa in Sunstone linen, Maker&Son
Exterior With its elegant facade and woodland setting, Kemps House is an enchanting sight. Topiary trees line the path that leads to the front door
AT HOME WITH
Owner Alex Willcock lives here, with his children Felix, Coco, Song, Otter and Hero visiting at weekends. Alex runs Maker&Son, a luxury furniture business, with his son Felix Conran.
Property A Grade II-listed house dating back to the 1660s, with six bedrooms.
The idea of a comfortable life in the country may conjure up a quaint rural idyll and a slower pace of life. For cabinetmaker and furniture designer Alex Willcock, 16 years of family life in Kemps House, a Grade Il-listed property in rural Sussex, proved instead to be the catalyst for a new business venture - one that has put any notion of a gentler pace of living firmly on the back burner.
'In many ways, the house is the third founder of Maker&Son, laughs Alex, referring to the luxury furniture brand that he created with his eldest son, Felix, which purports to make the comfiest sofas in the world. 'Comfort has always been a real priority to us as a family, and it's the house that has enabled this way of life and given birth to all that we do.
Having returned to the UK from a stint in Australia, where he met Felix's mother, Sophie Conran, Alex headed the creative, buying and marketing departments at The Conran Shop before launching his own design agency in London. Kemps House was the perfect retreat at the end of a busy day.
Esta historia es de la edición May 2022 de Country Homes & Interiors.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 2022 de Country Homes & Interiors.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Sowing the seeds for a life of abundance
The perpetual rhythm of planting, tending and harvesting brings a feeling of hope and fulfilment to Diana Yates, and it extends beyond her Greenfields garden to all of her life
Cabin fever
Offering cosy, doll's house-sized country retreats, cabins combine modern comforts with an immersive experience of nature
'Building boats has become my passion'
Wooden boat builder, Obioma Oji
Cover-up job
Durable and decorative, cladding is a brilliant way to protect your home's exterior without compromising its aesthetics
Flights of fancy
Replace or refurbish your staircase and you'll elevate the appearance of your home at every level. Here are the steps to take...
TRUE BLUE
A firm favourite for decorating, blue is one of the most restful, mindful shades in the colour spectrum. Stylist and interiors expert Sara Bird shares how to use it in your country home
COUNTER INTELLIGENCE
Practical and inspiring ideas for selecting the best kitchen worktop for your space
A GARDEN GLOW-UP
As late summer days begin to shorten, extend your time outdoors with a blend of practical and decorative lighting
TRÈS BELLE
Sharon and Tony Dallas have turned their dilapidated Grade II-listed house in Essex into an enchanting home with a considered colour palette and French treasures galore
HOME AT LAST
Having often walked past their dream property over the years, Rich and Emma Proud finally became its owners and turned it into a comfortable home for three generations of their family