25 Beautiful Homes February 2021

Some people are calling it ‘the race for space’. There is no denying the data, which shows a surge in demand for country houses of all sizes. But here at 25 Beautiful Homes, we’ve particularly noticed a trend towards modern country style, whatever the location of the property. Shaker-style kitchens, stone flooring, eclectic furniture – even urban homemakers are introducing rustic touches to create a more homely feel. This issue is full of sensational ideas, whether you live in a 1930s semi, a cute thatched cottage or a statement new build. My favourite feature is Mary and John Mulryan’s pub conversion in south London. Bare brickwork, relaxed furniture and natural materials are used to great effect. If you are passionate about home style, subscribe to save 50% off the news-stand…

LESSON LEARNT ‘Think outside the box – moving the staircase instantly created our snug’ Lucy Wright and her husband Chris were living in London when they decided to move to the country. ‘We wanted a better way of life for our children,’ says Lucy. ‘We settled on Hampshire as we had friends in the area and there were good schools nearby for our two children.’ For the couple, the property’s appeal was instant. ‘It’s so pretty and it’s way bigger inside than it looks from the outside,’ says Lucy. ‘We adored the original features like the wooden beams and windows and the kitchen had a lovely cosy feel. We also liked the location – it’s in an idyllic village with a nice pub and lots of families around. The house was…

When Alex Gale and Jojo Donnelly viewed a spacious 1930s rental property in Surrey, they knew it would make an ideal family home. Now they just had to secure it. ‘This house was the first one I viewed,’ says Jojo, ‘but because we were both estate agents at the time, I had seen a million and one houses, and I knew exactly what I wanted. The location was brilliant and it had the potential to create a side, rear and loft extension.’ When they found themselves up against four other offers, and then in a contract race with another buyer, Alex and Jojo drew on their professional expertise. ‘We used all our knowledge to speed up the process, and we managed to exchange within four weeks,’ she says. ‘Even though we…

An Anglo-American-Middle Eastern fusion characterises the Hopkins family home – all thanks to Dana’s Iranian heritage and upbringing in the USA, William’s travels and the years the couple spent living in Dubai. When they decided to move to London and renovate William’s mews maisonette, they wanted to work with an architect and an interior designer who appreciated their eclectic style and a personal recommendation led them to Robert Wilson from Granit Architecture + Interiors. ‘We liked Robert from the start and we were delighted when he was able to visit our Dubai home while over on a conference,’ says Dana. ‘He needed to understand the importance of the art and furniture we’d collected over the years in order to help us concentrate everything down into a smaller house.’ William had owned…

If ever there was an example of successfully transferring large-scale living into a small-scale space, it’s the cleverly reformatted apartment of interior designer Clare Morton. Three years ago, she downsized from a house in Essex to a first-floor Victorian flat in northeast London – and hasn’t looked back. ‘I was on the hunt for a roomy two-bed, which would allow me to comfortably store a large collection of clothes and shoes,’ she says. ‘This flat was decoratively underwhelming, and only had one bedroom, but its generous proportions were appealing.’ However, it was only after living there for a month or two that Clare unlocked the secret to making the most of the space. ‘On my first viewing, the agent had made a throwaway comment about relocating the kitchen to the sitting room…

With a growing family, Susie and Pablo Davidson knew it wouldn’t be long before they’d need more space. ‘I adored our last home, which was also a Victorian property, but it was tall and skinny with a tiny garden,’ says Susie. ‘With two daughters, Ottilie and Bella, we knew it was time to spread our wings.’ At the top of their wish list for their next property was proximity to the girls’ school and more space – both inside and out – for the girls and their cockapoo, Tottie. ‘As with my last home, I also wanted a project and to return an older house to its former glory,’ she says. The place they found was pretty much perfect. ‘It’s on a lovely light street and the garden faces west,’ says…