Nestled in the heart of Surrey, the home of Nicky Rampley-Clarke and his husband, John, is a testament to the harmonious blend of personal heritage, classic design and a passion for creating spaces that reflect the lives of its inhabitants. As a renowned interiors and lifestyle writer, Nicky has channelled his expertise from his years writing on interiors and design for the likes of The Times and the Daily Telegraph, into every corner of the couple’s beautiful home.

Nicky and John purchased the house in Kingswood just as the first UK lockdown began, which was an intense and challenging experience. “We moved during that first week,” Nicky recalls. “It was incredibly stressful, but having that unexpected time and space really gave us the opportunity to think about what we wanted for the house.” What the couple found was a neglected 1940s property, with later extensions and additions, desperate for some love and style input.

Beige walls and worn carpets defined its previous aesthetic, far away from the vibrant home it would eventually become.
The refurbishment of the house was a five-year journey, with every detail carefully considered to reflect both Nicky’s family past and his and John’s refined sense of style. One of the standout rooms within the stunning, light-drenched house, is the elegant blue sitting room, where tradition and modern sensibilities meet.

Inspired by the duck egg blue shades often found in traditional drawing rooms, Nicky used a satin finish for the walls – a daring choice in an era where matt finishes have dominated for so long. “Everyone’s into that flat matt look,” he explains. “But I wanted something with more light and reflection and so I have opted for satin finishes in most of the house.”

Adding character to the once-beige sitting room was a priority. Dark wood floors, which Nicky feels are warmer and more welcoming than some of the lighter woods currently on the market, offer an extra layer of texture within the room, complementing the wall panelling that the couple added.

The inclusion of antique mirrors within some of the panelling creates a depth of light and shadow, bouncing brightness around the room and creating a sense of both patina and glamour.
The room, although spacious, is also a cosy haven with timeless furniture, including bespoke sofas gifted to the couple by Nicky’s father.

The furniture reflects a classic colonial style, enhanced by natural textures such as bamboo and rattan, antique ceramic planters and ginger jar lamp bases in white and blue, which are peppered throughout the room. Despite the design headache of having several doors all within one room, Nicky feels that what had been an awkward room is now a space that is chic and highly adaptable, especially when the couple are entertaining.

The colonial aesthetic continues into the rest of the house, with a nod to the grand five-star hotels in India, Africa and the Caribbean, yet thoughtfully adapted for modern living in the UK. The couple’s attention to detail is evident in the thoughtful use of texture and pattern. In the hallway-turned-bar, the original stone floor has been covered with a sisal rug. “This was a bit of a lost space and didn’t really work for me, I felt it was too big to be just a corridor, so we felt a bar would bring it to life!”

A rattan and dark-stained wood bar and matching stools sit side by side a vintage bamboo planter’s chair, its pink banana plant print upholstery evoking the timeless glamour of the Beverly Hills Hotel. Paired with a striking Barbados poster and prints that reminisce of past holidays, the space feels like an exotic retreat within the home. “Your house should feel like the best of a holiday,” Nicky muses. This philosophy permeates his interior design choices where each room is crafted to offer comfort, style, and a little escape from the everyday.

One of the standout rooms is the couple’s dining room, an elegant extension that floods with light from oversized arched windows. It was this room that originally sold the house to Nicky and John. The high ceilings and expansive glazing make it an ideal winter retreat – perfect for soaking up the sunlight while staying cosy indoors.

For birthdays and at Christmas, the dining room becomes the centre of festivities, with its opulent chandelier and de Gournay-inspired panels, the trellis wallpaper, one of a selection of stunning Cole & Son papers that have been used within the house, adding yet more grandeur.

The chandelier, which was ‘an absolute steal’ from Soho Home during a Covid sale, and the rattan lampshades from India Jane, bring a contemporary yet timeless feel. For Nicky, it’s all about striking the right balance between the traditional and the modern – rich textures, patterns and unique accents add both warmth and personality.

The kitchen is a wonderful blend of style and practicality. While the original cabinetry was left intact, Nicky and John gave it a facelift with a fresh spray coat of paint and added new more textural knobs and handles from Buster + Punch. The island’s surface was updated with a sleek pale Carrara-look stone, adding brightness and contrast to the space.

An antique mirror splashback behind the hob echoes the mirrors in the living room, creating a cohesive visual thread throughout the house. High-end touches such as the Murano glass pendant lights from Soho Home and Philippe Starck ghost chairs and table lamps elevate the space, while modifications – like the built-in seating area in the bay window, offering a further dining area – enhance its functionality.

“It’s a light-filled space where we spend most of our time,” Nicky says, “and we wanted it to feel like the heart of the home.”
Not one to shy away from bold choices, Nicky injected yet more colour and pattern into unexpected spaces. The pantry, with its high-gloss red cabinetry and red toile wallpaper, is a hidden gem off the kitchen. The room serves both as a practical storage space and a playful design statement.

Similarly, the downstairs cloakroom is another room where Nicky has dared to be bold. Inspired by his favourite restaurant, The Beach House in Marbella, it features a stunning fish-patterned wallpaper that brings a splash of Mediterranean chic to the otherwise very English country home.

Upstairs on the landing Nicky has opted for a soft pink satin wall colour, with white panelling – mirroring downstairs – below the dado rail. A sisal carpet runs throughout the upstairs floor, again giving the sense of coherence to the house. “We used the same pink in our old house and we had so many compliments, it just works so well.

It’s a Dulux colour called Caribbean Dawn and it’s a really great subtle pink tone. I wanted the upstairs of the house to be a bit calmer, still with colour, but just softer.”
Across the four bedrooms and bathrooms, bespoke panelling and tongue and groove detailing have been paired with signature wallpapers, to provide a backdrop to Nicky’s subtle interplay of antiques and vintage hand-me-downs.

Higher end pieces of furniture and lighting from the likes of Oka and Sophie Conran are matched with more cost-effective finds from Wayfair and Dunelm. The skill, as ever with pairing high and lower end pieces, is how it is presented. Nicky has mastered this art. “I like a sense of opulence,” says Nicky.

“Even in the smallest of the bedrooms or bathrooms, I never want to scrimp, or for it to feel like it’s lacking in a sense of grandeur.” As with downstairs, Nicky has balanced the charm of a luxury hotel with the comforts of a residential home.

The stunning home that Nicky and John have created is a true reflection of the couple’s personal experience, family heritage and creativity. It’s a space that feels both luxurious and yet entirely liveable, with thoughtful nods to tradition, bold design choices and an unwavering focus on creating a welcoming atmosphere.

As an interiors writer with many years of experience, Nicky knows too well that true style is about more than following trends – it’s about crafting a home that truly tells a personal story.

“I don’t know where we will go to next, as we hope to move soon. It’s been a really fun journey creating this home, it’s a house filled with so much fun and a lot of joy, which I hope another family will love as much as we both have.”

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Keep up to date with Nicky’s latest editorial projects and press cuttings at nickyrampley-clarke.com and on Instagram @the_house_of_rampleyclarke