‘I have come down in the world,’ says former House & Garden UK editor Susan Crewe.
I used to live on the top floors of my London house, with a garden on the roof, and now my flat is on the ground floor, with a tiny garden leading off the sitting room. To be honest, I was getting a little weary of lugging suitcases and shopping up the stairs, and it was a chore taking compost up to the roof terrace. I am getting older and one day I hope to be really old and old people last longer if they do not fall down stairs. So I decided to sell the top floors and use the proceeds to pull apart the ground floor and reassemble it. My daughter had the foresight to marry a brilliant architect and I have the good fortune to have a cousin who is a brilliant decorator and also a dear friend, so choosing whom to enlist on the project was not a problem.
It might have been risky to work with relations and friends, but we were clear about costs and responsibilities from the start and set up a buffer zone between client, architect and decorator.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Family First
Surrounded by mountainous terrain and a coniferous forest, Studio PLOW ensured this family home embraces its habitat, while offering a cosy and inviting family refuge
Close to home
While the sparrows flock to Europe in search of warmth in the winter, locals know that hiding in plain sight are hideaways ranging from safari stays to country cabins - that highlight the best parts of the cooler, quieter months of the year.
Simply STYLISH
A stylish update on decorating your home or redesigning your architectural space this winter
Night at the MUSEUM
In a collaboration between Investec Cape Town Art Fair and the Mount Nelson Hotel, Anelisa Mangeu has curated her second exhibition titled An Endless Night' celebrating the synergy between these landmark spaces
NATURAL HABITAT
Surefire tips to wow and whimsy with Dulux Colour of the Year 2023 Wild Wonder™
Earth BOUND
Adam Court, director and designer at OKHA reveals the innermost workings of his creative mind and design process
DOUBLE TAKE
Part getaway, part meeting space, this Chelsea apartment by Hubert Zanberg Interiors hits every note for an out-of-town client
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Situated at the top of the iconic One&Only Cape Town resort, this penthouse boasts some of the best views of the Mother City
CALL TO NATURE
The gardens and ephemeral planting palettes at Sterrekopje healing farm in Franschhoek are as much a reawakening of the senses as they are a connection to nature
the SOFT LIFE
From lush gardens to sumptuous interiors, this beautiful home designed by Simone Katherine Interiors is all about comfort and a big focus on family