SEASIDE CHARM

Michael and Olivia Costello's 18th-century Georgian townhouse has been thoughtfully renovated with a nod to nostalgia, along with interesting contemporary twists

- KAREN JENSEN-JONES 

Whether it's admiring the sunrise through the original Georgian windows, drinking their morning tea on the beach, or enjoying local fish and chips by the wood burner in winter, Michael and Olivia Costello are embracing life just a stone's throw from the Kent seafront in the heart of Deal's old town. A lengthy search eventually led to the purchase of a four-storey, listed Georgian townhouse in a sought-after location with exceptional sea views.

'My childhood memories are in Deal, as my grandmother lived here and it's where my parents met,' explains Michael, the owner of an advertising agency, whose wife Olivia is a travel writer. I've always loved the houses on the seafront and even though Deal's been through a regeneration, it has managed to keep a lot of its heritage and the atmosphere of an old seaside town.'

The house was in good repair when the couple bought it, but their plan was to create a more colourful, vibrant home filled with artwork and treasures from their travels abroad. Under the guidance of interior designer Susan Venn of Susan Venn Design Studio (susanvenn.com), the transformation took a year to complete and has resulted in a refined yet understated décor with contemporary twists, always maximising the outlook to the sea.