Tucked away, at the end of a leafy driveway, is a typically Kentish house. Its fish-scale hanging tiles are that particularly rich orange-red that produces a sentimental glow in the heart of almost every Kent resident (though perhaps it is especially strongly felt by those who have escaped here from London).

The substantial kitchen, complete with Belling warm cupboard (above, to the far right of the image), the number one item on Sophie and Nick’s wedding list

The substantial kitchen, complete with Belling warm cupboard (above, to the far right of the image), the number one item on Sophie and Nick’s wedding list

Cappuccino the dog’s room, covered in a rather fantastic dog-print wallpaper!

Cappuccino the dog’s room, covered in a rather fantastic dog-print wallpaper!

The walls of the hallway are smothered in the flowers and butterflies of an exuberant Nina Campbell wallpaper

The walls of the hallway are smothered in the flowers and butterflies of an exuberant Nina Campbell wallpaper

Sophie’s use of pattern is bold and assured. The curtain fabric, generously draped in the drawing room, is by Colefax & Fowler

Sophie’s use of pattern is bold and assured. The curtain fabric, generously draped in the drawing room, is by Colefax & Fowler

The drawing room is furnished with family pieces, but also items found locally. Sophie had the carpet specially made and then sourced the rest of the fabrics for the sofas and chairs

The drawing room is furnished with family pieces, but also items found locally. Sophie had the carpet specially made and then sourced the rest of the fabrics for the sofas and chairs

The drawing room is furnished with family pieces, but also items found locally. Sophie had the carpet specially made and then sourced the rest of the fabrics for the sofas and chairs

The drawing room is furnished with family pieces, but also items found locally. Sophie had the carpet specially made and then sourced the rest of the fabrics for the sofas and chairs

The dining room, decorated with lanterns from Morocco, and a mirror from India. Both were found when Sophie went on buying trips for Liberty

The dining room, decorated with lanterns from Morocco, and a mirror from India. Both were found when Sophie went on buying trips for Liberty

A broad staircase has its original Regency banisters. Sophie has painted them in Farrow & Ball’s ‘blue-green’ to match the rest of the wooden panelling

A broad staircase has its original Regency banisters. Sophie has painted them in Farrow & Ball’s ‘blue-green’ to match the rest of the wooden panelling

The walls of the attic playroom are papered in another fabulous wallpaper aptly featuring clouds

The walls of the attic playroom are papered in another fabulous wallpaper aptly featuring clouds

the children’s bedrooms

the children’s bedrooms

the view from the wonderfully private and cosy en suite, a couple of steps down from the guest bedroom

the view from the wonderfully private and cosy en suite, a couple of steps down from the guest bedroom

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether
  • styling: Lucy Fleming

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