Joanna Osborne and Orlando Gough’s Brighton home is a classic late Regency gem. Icing sugar white with a wrought-iron and zinc fan-like canopy over its upper ground floor bow window and balcony, its decorative flourishes epitomise the early 19th century style of the resort so famous for the pursuit of pleasure. 

The kitchen has wooden cupboards on two sides, painted in Fired Earth’s Carbon Blue, an almost charcoal-like dark blue/grey, but with its high ceiling and enormous windows, the stormy intensity of the colour doesn’t detract from the airy feel that prevails

The kitchen has wooden cupboards on two sides, painted in Fired Earth’s Carbon Blue, an almost charcoal-like dark blue/grey, but with its high ceiling and enormous windows, the stormy intensity of the colour doesn’t detract from the airy feel that prevails

On the first floor landing a large painted French armoire, packed with books, has had its original panels replaced with chicken wire

On the first floor landing a large painted French armoire, packed with books, has had its original panels replaced with chicken wire

The drawing room is home to several sofas and chairs in the room, including a rather ornate French wooden one that has only been upholstered on its seat, leaving the wooden structure at the back completely open like vertebrae of a skeleton

The drawing room is home to several sofas and chairs in the room, including a rather ornate French wooden one that has only been upholstered on its seat, leaving the wooden structure at the back completely open like vertebrae of a skeleton

The drawing room is painted in a gentle blue-green. “The colour was dictated by the rust red of the fireplace,” says Joanna. “It’s called liver and bacon marble, apparently, and it’s not an easy thing to complement.” To the left of the fireplace stands Dominic Gubb’s ‘milkdog’ sculpture

The drawing room is painted in a gentle blue-green. “The colour was dictated by the rust red of the fireplace,” says Joanna. “It’s called liver and bacon marble, apparently, and it’s not an easy thing to complement.” To the left of the fireplace stands Dominic Gubb’s ‘milkdog’ sculpture

The open back of the ‘skeletal’ French sofa means that it doesn’t block the view from the entrance of the room to the fireplace and so despite being a substantial piece of furniture, it has a lightness and quirkiness. “Some of my son’s friends are appalled that we’ve never covered it, and can’t understand it, but I like it that way,” grins Joanna

The open back of the ‘skeletal’ French sofa means that it doesn’t block the view from the entrance of the room to the fireplace and so despite being a substantial piece of furniture, it has a lightness and quirkiness. “Some of my son’s friends are appalled that we’ve never covered it, and can’t understand it, but I like it that way,” grins Joanna

An extravagantly styled Rococo console table with a marbled paper top stands against the wall opposite the fireplace but above it and to the side there are bold, contemporary paintings

An extravagantly styled Rococo console table with a marbled paper top stands against the wall opposite the fireplace but above it and to the side there are bold, contemporary paintings

The Rococo console table

The Rococo console table

In the far corner of the master bedroom a circular wooden table supports a fantastically ornate dressing mirror that is decorated with swags of carved ribbons and roses and flanked by a pair of cherubs

In the far corner of the master bedroom a circular wooden table supports a fantastically ornate dressing mirror that is decorated with swags of carved ribbons and roses and flanked by a pair of cherubs

The family’s dog, Nell, spreads out on the pale green carpet

The family’s dog, Nell, spreads out on the pale green carpet

The master bedroom’s iron and brass bed is simply dressed with blue and white striped cotton and plain white linen

The master bedroom’s iron and brass bed is simply dressed with blue and white striped cotton and plain white linen

The bathroom on this floor. The wallpaper is a duck egg blue and charcoal grey damask style pattern from Laura Ashley and sets the tone for the space

The bathroom on this floor. The wallpaper is a duck egg blue and charcoal grey damask style pattern from Laura Ashley and sets the tone for the space

The guest bedroom with its unusual curved wall. The wallpaper featuring a tiny spot pattern with a border print suits the rather Victorian atmosphere of the room with its iron bed, oriental rug and bamboo dressing table

The guest bedroom with its unusual curved wall. The wallpaper featuring a tiny spot pattern with a border print suits the rather Victorian atmosphere of the room with its iron bed, oriental rug and bamboo dressing table

Orlando and Joanna’s son’s room is painted a deep aubergine purple

Orlando and Joanna’s son’s room is painted a deep aubergine purple

The ‘baroque’ bathroom features bright red walls accented with black and white chequered tiles

The ‘baroque’ bathroom features bright red walls accented with black and white chequered tiles

Joanna’s workroom. The walls are lined with shelves and dressers that are almost overflowing with design and sample books and cones of yarn in varying shades and textures

Joanna’s workroom. The walls are lined with shelves and dressers that are almost overflowing with design and sample books and cones of yarn in varying shades and textures

Joanna's workroom is at the front of the house and the bow window allows plenty of natural light

Joanna's workroom is at the front of the house and the bow window allows plenty of natural light

Huge French windows open out from the kitchen onto a decked verandah and overlook a paved lower terrace that is stylishly planted with old-fashioned roses, lavender and neatly trimmed box and bay

Huge French windows open out from the kitchen onto a decked verandah and overlook a paved lower terrace that is stylishly planted with old-fashioned roses, lavender and neatly trimmed box and bay

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

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