Making a home a true reflection of oneself takes patience and vision, says designer and maker Kathy Crisp. And her home, a pretty Victorian redbrick villa in Sussex, which she shares with her partner Russell Sherry, is testament to their creativity and dedication.
The house was in a sorry state when they first saw it back in 2003, yet the building's sense of history really appealed to the couple. They found themselves drawn to the stories of the previous occupants, in particular Mr Charles Mathews, who established a small nursery business that he ran from the house and the surrounding land. He later founded a chapel from which Kathy's business, Chapel House Studio, takes its name. 'We have some wonderful old photographs of Edwardian workers picking asters here,' says Kathy, who is a keen gardener and passionate dahlia grower. She particularly delights in the fact that the double cellar beneath her home was once used to store dahlia tubers.
From the outset, Kathy and Russell were determined to tackle the restoration of their home slowly and thoughtfully, in order to preserve the period details and honour its history. 'We've shown respect for its original features, all of which have been left in situ,' says Kathy, of the work they have done. When it came to furnishing their home, the couple, who are not fans of buying new, preferred to trawl auctions and antiques shops for pieces to complement furniture passed down from their families. The kitchen cupboards are a case in point. Spotted on eBay, Kathy revamped them with a fresh coat of paint and a new worktop, which she commissioned from Earthy Timber, a local company.
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Denne historien er fra September 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.
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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