HEIRS TO THE TONI&GUY HAIRDRESSING EMPIRE PIERRE AND LILIA MASCOLO INVITE US INTO THE SPECTACULAR MANOR THEIR FAMILY BUILT IN THE SURREY HILLS

It's difficult to imagine that on the plot of land where the spectacular Summerdown Manor now stands, there was once a modest 1970s bungalow.

Razed to the ground a few decades later, it was replaced by a dazzling family residence, a testament to the vision of its Italian owners.

Toni Mascolo, the hairdresser and multi-millionaire businessman who created the Toni & Guy empire with his brother Gaetano, bought the land in the Surrey Hills in 1997.

His wife Pauline set about designing their dream home, which has evolved over the years to become a gathering place for friends and family.

Enter through the double front doors and the stage is set with a cavernous hallway, complete with sweeping marble twin staircase leading to ten bedrooms.

On the ground floor are two conservatories, two family rooms, a drawing room, a dining room, a snooker room and a music room, decorated in a distinctive Italianate style with columns and arches, friezes and gilt-framed mirrors, ornate furniture and shiny marble floors, mostly imported from Italy. Across this sparkling surface tip-tap three dogs - Roger the rescue chihuahua, pomeranian Baba and Mr Mooch - who bark excitedly as they welcome HELLO! to their home.

Hot on their heels are their owners, Lilia and Pierre Mascolo, who, along with the rest of the family, are frequent visitors to the house, where Pauline, 78, still lives.

She met Toni in 1963 as a teenager when she worked as an assistant in his first salon in Clapham.

He died in 2017 and his image-in the form of photos, painted portraits and even a bust - fills the rooms.

"Before he died, they were nearly 50 years married," says Pierre, 45, of his parents as he settles into a silkupholstered armchair over lunch.

"They were together since she was 15 years old and he was her best friend. When he died, a lot of people said: 'You should take some of the pictures down, to help you get over it.' Actually, I think she put up more and blew them up bigger."