Bold type
Homes & Antiques|September 2023
Textile designer Zoe Davis and her husband James have transformed their Grade II-listed farmhouse with vibrant hues and vintage finds
AMY MAYNARD
Bold type

The Davis family were living in a converted barn in East Sussex when they began to consider how they could make their lifestyle more sustainable. It was a wonderful home for young kids, with a huge open-plan space for them to run wild in,' says Zoe, who runs a textile business, Zobo Designs. But we were keen for a project." 

The first property that Zoe and her husband, James, looked at was a Grade II-listed, six-bedroom farmhouse with outbuildings a few miles away, near Ticehurst. The couple viewed a fair few other houses, but ended up coming back to the farmhouse. 'It was more work than we had considered, but it just felt right,' says Zoe. In July 2015, the property was theirs, and they moved in with children Oli, now 15, Freya, 13, and Sam, 10.

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.

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.

MORE STORIES FROM HOMES & ANTIQUESView all
Lisa Coppin
Homes & Antiques

Lisa Coppin

The Cotswold Company’s chief creative officer shares the pieces that mean so much to her

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
TRAVEL
Homes & Antiques

TRAVEL

Six of the best pineta, plus a festive trip to Covent Garden. Review of The Orange, Belgravia by Katie Pike, travel stories

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE
Homes & Antiques

OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE

Stumbled upon by chance, this ingenious material was a more affordable option than solid silver, and well-preserved examples are particularly desirable today

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
Merrily on high
Homes & Antiques

Merrily on high

Summoning servants since the 1700s, bell boards create instant English country-house style (even if you don't have any servants). Emma Longstaff dons her pinny

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
Let it snow
Homes & Antiques

Let it snow

Nostalgic, magical and highly collectable, snow globes are curious objects of wonder that never fail to instil joy

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2024
Velvet Crush
Homes & Antiques

Velvet Crush

Once the preserve of the wealthy, velvet finally touched all levels of society, thanks to advances in its production process

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
Celebrating in the Stable
Homes & Antiques

Celebrating in the Stable

Antiques dealer Julia von Hülsen specialises in Gustavian pieces - all of which look perfectly placed in her German home

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Homes & Antiques

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Victorian toy theatres charming and exquisitely designed miniature worlds have inspired theatre royalty for decades. Today, the tradition is being kept alive by a small but talented network of makers

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2024
NICHOLAS LEES
Homes & Antiques

NICHOLAS LEES

The ceramic artist talks to Dominique Corlett about new ways of working with clay and blurring the edges of solid objects

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024
Candy CHRISTMAS
Homes & Antiques

Candy CHRISTMAS

Pastel hues, vintage decorations and bowls of sweet treats: the festive run-up is gloriously joyful at Bettina Færgeman's historic Copenhagen apartment, where there's an emphasis on entertaining...

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024