25 Beautiful Homes March 2021

This issue’s theme is feel-good style. From the calming hues and organic textures of our cover story, an Edwardian barn in West Sussex, to the joyful use of colour in designer Elizabeth Hay’s Singapore villa, we focused our edit on uplifting spaces with ideas to steal. Whether you are considering an entire remodel or working up a mood board for one room, you will find inspiration to help you make your home a sanctuary, which is more important than ever right now. And remember, a subscription to 25BH is the most affordable and convenient way to enjoy this magazine. From next month, I am handing over the writing of this letter to the Houses Editor, Fiona Mace, who has long been curating the selection of beautiful projects. I am really looking…

To realise the potential of their house, with its large garden and established trees, Charlene and Ruan Oberholzer knew that a top-to-toe renovation was the only way to create the home of their dreams. ‘The original property, a farmhouse built in 1949 in the style typical of the area, was cold and dark. It had little windows, two bedrooms, one bathroom and a small living space,’ says Charlene. ‘We decided to keep the existing shell to preserve its heritage, but demolish the internal walls to create an open-plan space that would focus on the garden. We also wanted to build a new hallway and an extension for the bedrooms.’ Charlene called in architect Nadine Engelbrecht, who specialises in sustainable architecture. But the work wasn’t all plain sailing. ‘The existing roof trusses…

Moving back to England after some years spent living in France and Spain meant Victoria and Angus McSwiney had distinctly European tastes when it came to searching for a new home. ‘As soon as we saw it, we were drawn to the imposing Parisian feel of this period north London apartment,’ says Victoria. ‘We understood how the space could be revitalised and a third bedroom incorporated into the design.’ The couple were attracted to the work of Robinson van Noort (robinsonvannoort. com), an interior architecture and design practice co-founded by Alister Robinson with his wife Carolyn van Noort in 2001, and commissioned them to help achieve their aim. ‘The planned transformation involved stripping the single-floor, Victorian Villa conversion apartment back to its bare bones, ready to reconfigure and totally renovate,’ says…

Jason Rowlands and his partner Craig Morley took their design cues from a favourite haunt when they moved into their two-bedroom garden flat in London. ‘We normally like socialising in small groups, somewhere cosy, rather than going to big, glitzy places,’ says Jason. ‘Soho House captures a warm, personal feel with its mix of eras and styles – without being over-stylised – and we wanted to bring that feeling to our home.’ Buying the garden flat was an easy move for Jason and Craig, as they’d been living in the top-floor flat of the converted property. However, they were in the middle of buying a four-bed Victorian terrace when they heard their neighbour wanted to sell. ‘The terrace was tall and narrow with a small garden, whereas the flat had gardens…

When Chloe Roberts and her husband Adam were house-hunting in east London, they wanted a property they could adapt to their changing needs. ‘We were planning to start a family and wanted this move to be for the next 10 years,’ says Chloe, who you can follow on Instagram@cactusandcandles. ‘We saw it needed a fair bit of work and investment, as the layout and decor didn’t work for us, but we’re not averse to a project.’ The couple had originally planned to live in the property for a while before beginning the work, but then fate took a hand. ‘Within a fortnight of moving in, I discovered I was expecting our son Hector, now three, so we had to get started on the changes,’ says Chloe. The couple promptly engaged architect…

This Victorian terrace in west London is the fourth property Polly Ashman and her husband, Matt, have renovated and for Polly the project proved the impetus for a complete change in career. ‘We’ve worked with the same building company, Lofty Creations, on all of our houses and after this project they asked me if I would like to join them to head up the design side of their business,’ she recounts. ‘I’ve been part of the team for a year now and I absolutely love it.’ DECORATING ADVICE ‘Paint the upper and lower halves of walls in two different colours – we did it in our boys’ room’ Polly’s passion for interiors is evident throughout the home she and Matt share with their two sons, aged four and two. The pair have…