Love & honour

The Broadfields were determined to update their elegant Victorian villa to suit modern living, but without overwriting its natural character

Living room

Built-in shelving, painted to blend into the walls, makes the family’s books the star of this space. ‘This is our “grown-up” room where we entertain or spend quiet time together,’ says Alice.

BUY THE KEY PIECES

Chedworth sofa, £2,500, Vanessa Arbuthnott. Cushions in Carnival, £125m, Christopher Farr

Alice and her husband had admired this house for many years, so when it came on the market at the same time they started looking for a larger property in 2014, it felt like fate. ‘My husband was keen to move to the country, and I’m a confirmed townie, but this house offered us the best of both worlds,’ says Alice. ‘It had the feel of a country house, with a wide, gravel drive and a huge garden – a rarity for a house like this – but is a five-minute walk from the town centre and ideally located for schools.

‘The house was owned by the parents of one of my sister’s friends and I think that helped us as potential buyers,’ says Alice. ‘Many of the houses on this road have been converted into flats, but they knew we would keep it as a family home and love it as much as they had. The property had large, well-proportioned rooms with original marble fireplaces, pull-up shutters, elaborate plasterwork and sash windows, but while it had been well maintained, it did need updating. The kitchen was too small for the size of the house, so we extended it by knocking through into the adjoining sitting room and fitting French doors that lead to the garden. New electrics, a boiler and radiators were fitted, and the three bathrooms were all updated. We also turned a spare bedroom into another bathroom.