One might expect a house belonging to both a film and television set designer and a professional gardener to be well-presented, and Derek and Tony’s Regency town house in Hastings does not disappoint.

The bathroom: a handsome 18th century chair in the corner is actually a French commode!

The bathroom: a handsome 18th century chair in the corner is actually a French commode!

In the kitchen Derek and Tony wanted things to be freestanding

In the kitchen Derek and Tony wanted things to be freestanding

Derek constructed the walk-in pantry shelves from scrap wood

Derek constructed the walk-in pantry shelves from scrap wood

Above the Belfast sink, a small group of glass vases hold single unusual specimens chosen by Mao at Shimizu Flowers in Hastings Old Town

Above the Belfast sink, a small group of glass vases hold single unusual specimens chosen by Mao at Shimizu Flowers in Hastings Old Town

An Aga was installed to warm things up

An Aga was installed to warm things up

The couple discovered a boxed-in fireplace and Derek made a new metal canopy for it from an old metal street sign

Up the second flight of stairs you arrive at the master bedroom

Up the second flight of stairs you arrive at the master bedroom

The master bedroom has wonderful sea views

The master bedroom has wonderful sea views

The final flight of stairs lead up to the attic room

The final flight of stairs lead up to the attic room

The sitting room. Offcuts from an elm tree have been used to make a shelf on one wall, supported by legs made from silver birch logs.

The sitting room. Offcuts from an elm tree have been used to make a shelf on one wall, supported by legs made from silver birch logs.

The windows in the attic room give it the feel of a giant lantern. Here, Derek works from a sleek 1950s desk and keeps a large collection of art books. On one wall there are more of Derek’s mesmerising seascapes

The windows in the attic room give it the feel of a giant lantern. Here, Derek works from a sleek 1950s desk and keeps a large collection of art books. On one wall there are more of Derek’s mesmerising seascapes

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

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