Having resolved a disjointed layout, Alison Nicholls’ next task was to introduce colour and a sense of fun to her home
Alison Nicholls is the first to admit that she and her husband, James, made some mistakes when they embarked on building a new home in the Suffolk countryside 15 years ago. ‘There was originally a Sixties bungalow on the four-acre plot, which we decided to demolish, but we were faced with tight planning rules,’ Alison explains. ‘The design was a compromise as it needed to look like a farmhouse attached to barn-type dwellings. We also had to excavate at the back of the house to gain a full second storey while keeping the roof height the same.’
What the couple and their architect devised was a large, horseshoe-shaped layout that wrapped around a courtyard. ‘When we finally moved in, in 2006, we quickly realised that we were only really using one wing of the house, where the kitchen was situated,’ recalls Alison, who has three grown-up daughters from a former marriage, as well as a 12-year-old daughter, Charlotte, with James. ‘We had a large playroom and study but because it was at the opposite end of the house to the kitchen, the girls never went there,’ she adds.
Denne historien er fra April 2019-utgaven av 25 Beautiful Homes.
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Denne historien er fra April 2019-utgaven av 25 Beautiful Homes.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
NATURE'S colour scheme
Interior designer Charlotte Thomas has transformed a centuries-old country house into a haven of charm, with hues that are in harmony with her personality
SPECIAL BLEND
Marcus and Eliza Waring’s captivating new build combines modern style with Georgian charm
Southern belle
Interior designer Michael Mitchell breathed new life into y a home in South Carolina with colour, art and antiques Lan
LOFTY AMBITION
Bespoke joinery and a light palette were used to maximise the space in this cosy bedroom under the eaves
Modern CLASSIC
Interior designer LeeAnn Baker has infused this elegant new-build waterfront home with a sense of history and a welcoming atmosphere
European VIBES
Italian and French mid-century pieces, exquisite marbles and a calming palette of blues and greens lend an international flavour to a historic apartment in Stockholm
A return to grandeur
An extensive remodel has given this 1990s home fabulous character, with designer Jeffrey Neve’s eye for fresh colours softening the space
SHEER GLAMOUR
Eleanor and Ollie Bowmer gave their new en suite the five-star treatment with luxe finishes and a statement bath
Relaxing RUSTIC
Designer Claire Garner has concocted a warm and welcoming interior scheme that perfectly complements the oak beams of this modern Tudor-style home
The little house of CALM
Sue and Jonathan Eley turned a timber cabin in a beautiful secluded New Forest setting into a luxurious country escape