A childhood love of horses led Jenny and her husband Dave to look for a home near to where they stabled their horse in the Sussex High Weald. After much searching, they finally found the perfect project – transforming a semi-detached Victorian cottage into an effortlessly stylish abode.

TEST There is nothing twee about this stylish home which is filled with decorative items and mementos from around the world as well as practical touches such as a professional range cooker. This orderly sink area is across the room from the main food prep area, which has its own ‘island’ and boat-galley sink

There is nothing twee about this stylish home which is filled with decorative items and mementos from around the world as well as practical touches such as a professional range cooker. This orderly sink area is across the room from the main food prep area, which has its own ‘island’ and boat-galley sink

TEST The back of the house has been knocked through to create a huge bright, open-plan kitchen and living area

The back of the house has been knocked through to create a huge bright, open-plan kitchen and living area

TEST The ‘new’ room has a distinctly 70s feel, with McIntosh sideboard and lamps and Robin Day sofas

The ‘new’ room has a distinctly 70s feel, with McIntosh sideboard and lamps and Robin Day sofas

TEST A mosaic made from fragments of crockery, called simply ‘Amy’ takes pride of place in the kitchen /living area

A mosaic made from fragments of crockery, called simply ‘Amy’ takes pride of place in the kitchen /living area

TEST Retro lamps contrast with a vase of pretty cottage garden flowers and an elegant heron sculpture

Retro lamps contrast with a vase of pretty cottage garden flowers and an elegant heron sculpture

TEST At the opposite end of the open plan living area, the 70s theme is continued with a McIntosh extending dining table with Robin Day armchairs at either end. The lamp above the table is an Italian classic which fits in perfectly with the pared-back modern look of the room

At the opposite end of the open plan living area, the 70s theme is continued with a McIntosh extending dining table with Robin Day armchairs at either end. The lamp above the table is an Italian classic which fits in perfectly with the pared-back modern look of the room

TEST Open shelving is practical – as well as displaying the couple’s collection of kitchenware, cookbooks and artwork

Open shelving is practical – as well as displaying the couple’s collection of kitchenware, cookbooks and artwork

TEST Being a caterer, Jen had very firm ideas of how she wanted the kitchen area to look and function so she designed the layout and then used Hastings craftsman Mark Tomlinson to make the units using Iroko wood sourced from school science labs

Being a caterer, Jen had very firm ideas of how she wanted the kitchen area to look and function so she designed the layout and then used Hastings craftsman Mark Tomlinson to make the units using Iroko wood sourced from school science labs

TEST The cosy ‘snug’, with open fire, which is just off the front hallway

The cosy snug, with open fire, which is just off the front hallway

TEST Shades of white and grey in the snug and stairwell reflect natural light

Shades of white and grey in the snug and stairwell reflect natural light

TEST Up the stairs – painted very simply in white Annie Sloan furniture paint – you come to a wonderfully light and airy landing with raised and vaulted ceilings and home to another stunning mega light fitting – this one from Ikea

Up the stairs – painted very simply in white Annie Sloan furniture paint – you come to a wonderfully light and airy landing with raised and vaulted ceilings and home to another stunning mega light fitting – this one from Ikea

TEST The primrose yellow guest bedroom at the front of the house

The primrose yellow guest bedroom at the front of the house

TEST A pretty basin area in a compact washroom just off the landing

A pretty basin area in a compact washroom just off the landing

TEST The main bedroom at the back of the cottage has wonderful views out over the garden to the fields beyond

The main bedroom at the back of the cottage has wonderful views out over the garden to the fields beyond

TEST The bedrom is decorated in very simple and restful tones – pale walls and floorboards, curtains made from linen tablecloths found at a Portuguese street market

The bedroom is decorated in very simple and restful tones – pale walls and floorboards, curtains made from linen tablecloths found at a Portuguese street market

TEST The view into the pretty en suite

The view into the pretty en suite

TEST A spacious spare room is decorated in a relaxing combination of white and green, with a Victorian style metal bedstead as the focal point

A spacious spare room is decorated in a relaxing combination of white and green, with a Victorian style metal bedstead as the focal point

TEST Jen fell in love with Fired Earth’s wallpaper ‘After Eight’ which she has used on the feature wall and chimney breast at the foot of the bed

Jen fell in love with Fired Earth’s wallpaper ‘After Eight’ which she has used on the feature wall and chimney breast at the foot of the bed

TEST The cloakroom, just off the hall, is painted in Little Greene’s ‘Delicate Blue’. The tiles above are Victorian, while the murals painted around them are by Lucinda Bothwell, a local artist

The cloakroom, just off the hall, is painted in Little Greene’s ‘Delicate Blue’. The tiles above are Victorian, while the murals painted around them are by Lucinda Bothwell, a local artist

TEST Murphy’s Navajo saddlery hangs in the hallway alongside a framed photograph of John Lennon

Murphy’s Navajo saddlery hangs in the hallway alongside a framed photograph of John Lennon

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether
  • styling: Jane Howard

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