Nicky Willis had always felt drawn to the houses that line the High Street in the pretty Sussex village of Cuckfield. Brought up not far away and educated locally, she knew the area well and had pointed out the attractive homes to her husband. One, in particular, caught her eye. Built in 1871, from golden Wealden sandstone, it had the added bonus of an adjacent shop that formed part of the property. 'I showed it to my husband and told him, I love that house."
A few years on, in 2015, the couple started searching for a new home and couldn't believe their luck when they discovered the same property for sale. The shop was rented by an optician, and the entire building was in dire need of attention, but Nicky was undeterred. The shop was the pull. I thought the time was right. I was dabbling in antiques dealing, and my son had started school, so I had time available.' With a background in textile design, Nicky traces her interest in antiques to her childhood.
'My mother had an amazing collection of Mary Quant clothes. She always bought old furniture, and painted and scraped it. When I was at school, I didn't want to wear anything new. I always loved anything decorative and floral and I remember going to Scotland, aged 18, and buying a Clarice Cliff tea set from a flea market.' In her art student days, Nicky's passion grew.
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
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
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
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
Collecting Dioramas MINIATURE WORLDS
From elaborate taxidermy museum displays to humble folk art creations, a diorama can transport us to another time and place
Pride of place LEEDS CREAMWARE
In its heyday the pre-eminent rival to Wedgwood's Queens ware, Leeds creamware is still much revered by collectors for its understated elegance
Bohemian Rhapsody
An exuberant approach to decor, with rooms enveloped in colour and pattern, has brought this historic home merrily into the 21st century...
THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME Rory Hutton
The accessories designer on his love of silver spoons and Sévres porcelain
European HERITAGE B&Bs
Is there anything more inspiring than staying somewhere that's both beautifully stylish and imbued with history? Rhiannon Batten explores five gems across Europe, from Sweden to Spain...
STAR SALES
A Hitchens painting, a museum-quality teapot and a Parisian chocolate box are all top of the lots
Textile designs by artists
Influential 20th-century fine artists and sculptors, from Picasso to Barbara Hepworth, gained additional status as textile designers until decline set in during the 1970s
Period DRAMA
A painstaking renovation has brought this 1725 former Huguenot silk weaver's house in London's Spitalfields back to life
An artist's RESIDENCE
Rustic details and a restrained palette lend a sense of simplicity to this lovingly restored Friesian bakery
Carefully Curated LIVING
This lovingly restored Gustavian manor has become both home and showroom for its owners, Maria & Jan Åke, who deal in European antiques