![]() MAY WE SUGGEST: A seventeenth-century rectory rebuilt after a devastating fire ‘The house has many levels, creating an element of the unexpected,’ she says of the airy rooms, which are laid out in a surprisingly modern way. A new veranda, which was added a few years ago at the back, looking out over the walled garden, helps to streamline the different architectural styles. A refurbished 17th-century coach house, which once sat alongside the house is now attached via a corridor. ‘It winds its way round in a charming fashion,’ she says. Constant renovation over the centuries has kept it young, its dignified 17th-century proportions – combined with various architectural add-ons from then until the present day – giving the property a labyrinthine feel. Its interesting layout is far from a symmetrical dolls’ house format. It was love at first sight.’Įmma’s gift for styling, affinity for interiors and burgeoning love of the countryside make her house spirited as well as beautiful. She paints an idyllic picture: ‘The owner came across the field with his three dogs, carrying logs in his arms, and there was a fire burning in the sitting room, which had a pretty pale pink sofa. She admits feeling a slight reluctance, but any hesitation was quashed when she saw the former rectory for the first time. As a former fashion editor who spent most of her childhood in London – with an interlude in West Sussex in her teens before she returned to the city aged 17 – this was a big step. ![]() Her husband was originally from the area and the couple were keen for their children to experience growing up with space and nature. The story of Emma’s own house started 10 years ago, when she moved with her husband and two children from north London, where they had lived for five years, to Sussex for a quieter, more rural life. Sometimes it takes time to find just the right thing.’ For her, homes are all about layering decoration is a labour of love. ‘It is about living somewhere and adding to it gradually. Emma likes materials to look as though they have been there for years and is not someone who will settle for quick, easy solutions. ![]() Much more than straightforward decoration, the furniture, textiles and lighting she thoughtfully selects – in her own home as well as for those of clients – feel contemporary, yet timeless. Emma Milne-Watson has a talent for bringing out the innate beauty of rooms and appreciates the distinctive ambience that develops after living in a property for a while. When we speak of character in terms of interiors, it generally links to personal objects that mean something to the homeowner, and it is often the result of taking one’s time to make considered decisions about decorating schemes and all the individual pieces within them.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |