Do people find houses or do they find us? By any yardstick, the story of how artist Victoria Threlfall came about hers is fortuitous. Married and living in Brixton with four young children, the urge to give her girls the freedom of the country upbringing that she had so enjoyed became overwhelming and so began the search for that rural idyll. 

TEST the sitting room is a very peaceful room decorated in pale yellows and eau de nil. The puppet theatre has seen many memorable productions over the years

the sitting room is a very peaceful room decorated in pale yellows and eau de nil. The puppet theatre has seen many memorable productions over the years

TEST the curtains in the sitting room were designed by Victoria and one of her daughters hand painted the lampshade, both combining to give a very ‘Charleston’ effect

the curtains in the sitting room were designed by Victoria and one of her daughters hand painted the lampshade, both combining to give a very ‘Charleston’ effect

TEST a selection of the girls‘ paintings in the playroom decorate one end. The ‘Botticelli’ and ‘Gainsborough’ portraits are particular favourites

a selection of the girls‘ paintings in the playroom decorate one end. The ‘Botticelli’ and ‘Gainsborough’ portraits are particular favourites

TEST the fuschia and tangerine tones thrash it out for riotous supremacy in the playroom and someone has done a splendid job turning a dustbin into a laundry bin

the fuschia and tangerine tones thrash it out for riotous supremacy in the playroom and someone has done a splendid job turning a dustbin into a laundry bin

TEST the kitchen, once a collection of smaller rooms and now dominated by a bottle green Aga, has been opened up to create a light and airy dining area. Victoria designed the dining table and then spray painted the chairs in a selection of peacock blues, emerald greens and turquoise

the kitchen, once a collection of smaller rooms and now dominated by a bottle green Aga, has been opened up to create a light and airy dining area. Victoria designed the dining table and then spray painted the chairs in a selection of peacock blues, emerald greens and turquoise

TEST

TEST

TEST the blue and green glass chandelier adds a flash of brilliance in contrast to the lavenders and limes which work really well together to create a cool and restful bedroom

the blue and green glass chandelier adds a flash of brilliance in contrast to the lavenders and limes which work really well together to create a cool and restful bedroom

TEST the light and airy barn at the bottom of the garden has been renovated to create the perfect artist‘s studio

the light and airy barn at the bottom of the garden has been renovated to create the perfect artist‘s studio

TEST soon after Victoria copied this painting by Veronese at the National Gallery it was removed for cleaning and returned, far brighter than the Threlfall version

soon after Victoria copied this painting by Veronese at the National Gallery it was removed for cleaning and returned, far brighter than the Threlfall version

TEST rust red banisters work very well against the oatmeal tones and tie together all the passages and landings in this higgledy-piggledy house

rust red banisters work very well against the oatmeal tones and tie together all the passages and landings in this higgledy-piggledy house

TEST just one of the vegetable patches that are dotted around this very productive garden

just one of the vegetable patches that are dotted around this very productive garden

TEST the kitchen opens out onto a sun-drenched terrace crammed with pots of rosemary and lavender

the kitchen opens out onto a sun-drenched terrace crammed with pots of rosemary and lavender

TEST while Victoria considers her wild flower meadow very much ‘work in progress’, to the uninitiated it looks like perfect English countryside

while Victoria considers her wild flower meadow very much ‘work in progress’, to the uninitiated it looks like perfect English countryside

TEST these brand-new chicks enjoy breakfast on the terrace with views over the garden to the studio beyond

these brand-new chicks enjoy breakfast on the terrace with views over the garden to the studio beyond

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether
  • styling: Julie Simpson

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