Cinematic, dramatic, palatial… it’s hard to know where to start describing the bold interior style of this historic building and family home, inspired by the films of Jean Cocteau – and Hammer horrors.

It was Valentine’s Day when fashion designer, Kim Denman, then living in Los Angeles, received a call from the owner of the house that she had fallen head over heels in love with in St Leonards-on-Sea several years previously.

TEST The lower ground-floor bedroom is Paul’s bass-playing retreat. The bed and side table are attributed to Augustus Pugin, Paul covered the walls in fabric from Wayward using a staple gun

The lower ground-floor bedroom is Paul’s bass-playing retreat. The bed and side table are attributed to Augustus Pugin, Paul covered the walls in fabric from Wayward using a staple gun

TEST The wallpaper in the bathroom is from Vintage Bird

The wallpaper in the bathroom is from Vintage Bird

TEST Paul and his builder installed the claw-foot bath

Paul and his builder installed the claw-foot bath

TEST

TEST The bespoke kitchen has a central island where Kim displays her charity shop and boot fair mix and match plates

The bespoke kitchen has a central island where Kim displays her charity shop and boot fair mix and match plates

TEST The ground floor cellars with a workshop at the back

The ground floor cellars with a workshop at the back

TEST Kim’s collections in the bathroom

Kim’s collections in the bathroom

TEST The seating area off Kim’s boudoir. The caryatids – one on either side of the door – were from Architectural Salvage Brighton

The seating area off Kim’s boudoir. The caryatids – one on either side of the door – were from Architectural Salvage Brighton

TEST The bedroom fireplace

The bedroom fireplace

TEST The master bedroom is a gorgeously glittering boudoir of a room, which Kim refers to as ‘my own mini-Versailles’

The master bedroom is a gorgeously glittering boudoir of a room, which Kim refers to as ‘my own mini-Versailles’

TEST The enormous chandelier in the dining room is from Hastings Antiques Centre in Norman Road, St Leonards. The table was bought at an auction and the chairs from an antiques shop in Hastings Old Town. The gingerbread reindeer are from Judges Bakery, also in Hastings Old Town

The enormous chandelier in the dining room is from Hastings Antiques Centre in Norman Road, St Leonards. The table was bought at an auction and the chairs from an antiques shop in Hastings Old Town. The gingerbread reindeer are from Judges Bakery, also in Hastings Old Town

TEST The lamp was made from a 1920s candlestick, bought in LA and likely to be from a Hollywood film set. The lilies are from Shimizu Flowers in Hastings

The lamp was made from a 1920s candlestick, bought in LA and likely to be from a Hollywood film set. The lilies are from Shimizu Flowers in Hastings

TEST A tiled entrance porch leads out to the garden, with a bandstand-style summerhouse

A tiled entrance porch leads out to the garden, with a bandstand-style summerhouse

TEST

The organ was a birthday gift

TEST A cosy sitting room off the master bedroom

A cosy sitting room off the master bedroom

TEST In the hallway, two religious statues, originally from an Irish convent. Kim gave the organ to Paul as a Christmas present

In the hallway, two religious statues, originally from an Irish convent. Kim gave the organ to Paul as a Christmas present

TEST Paul designed the curtains and Schiaparelli pink festoon blinds behind them. The gilt pelmets are from Hastings Antiques

Paul designed the curtains and Schiaparelli pink festoon blinds behind them. The gilt pelmets are from Hastings Antiques

TEST The corridor from the staircase to the living room on the second floor. The wallpaper is from Vintage Bird

The corridor from the staircase to the living room on the second floor. The wallpaper is from Vintage Bird

TEST The drawing room. The wallpaper is by Shand Kydd from Vintage Bird in Hastings Old Town

The drawing room. The wallpaper is by Shand Kydd from Vintage Bird in Hastings Old Town

Building Connections

After nearly a decade of planning, Dominic and Eve were finally given permission to convert a pair of derelict barns, linking them together to create one very beautiful dwelling Words: Jo Arnell Photographs: David Merewether The story arc of an...

Change it up

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Cut to Fit

Deborah Harrison downsized to a three bedroom house, which she renovated and reconfigured, reinstating the original Victorian features and editing family heirlooms to suit her new home and lifestyle “As William Morris says, ‘Everything has to be beautiful or useful,’”...