BRIGHT & breezy

Diana and Andy Irving set out to recreate American East Coast living at their Merseyside home, with spectacular results

Call it fate if you like, but in 1997, during a meandering road trip through New England, everything fell into place for us,' says Diana Irving.

It was here that she and husband Andy discovered Marblehead, the pretty seaside town that would make a lasting impact on their future. 'We fell in love with the place, its style and architecture,' she says. 'We even named our interior design and build business, Marblehead Home, after it as a reminder of how beautiful places have the power to transform lives.' Since then, the Irvings have always favoured Victorian and Georgian properties, living in a characterful period barn conversion until their latest move to a new build. 'This place, at less than 20 years old, was pretty soulless, but it had good bones, a restful sense of flow and we liked the fact it was low-maintenance,' explains Diana. Most importantly, it was the perfect canvas for the breezy, American East Coast style they'd fallen for some 25 years previously.