Past & Present

Sue and Rob Lewis swapped their home in France for a characterful rustic hideaway big enough to accommodate the whole family at this time of year

when Sue and rob Lewis moved back home after some years of living in France, it seemed the perfect time to buy a picturesque cottage in Sussex. ‘as soon as we set eyes on this one, we were smitten,’ says Sue. ‘in some ways it had a French feel,’ she adds, pointing out the round tower. ‘we also liked the Tudor-style features – the arched windows with leaded lights, the big fireplaces and the characterful nooks.’

Undaunted by the discovery of asbestos ceilings, plus plumbing and wiring in need of a major overhaul, the couple worked out a plan to brighten the dark interior and increase the size of the kitchen and dining room. ‘we extended backwards and swapped the position of these rooms, creating a view of the terrace from the kitchen,’ explains Sue. ‘But our best decision was to replace the steep stairs for an elegant design – these are now the focal point of the drawing room, where we hold parties. This space is particularly special at Christmas.’

The couple were keen to modernise without compromising the character of the house. ‘ we wanted to respect the ideas of the original architect, reginald Fairfax wells, who built around 70 wells cottages in the area during the 1920s, mainly for his Bohemian friends,’ says Sue. ‘The wooden beams in the drawing room were beautiful but dark. we kept them, and decided to lighten the grain by having them sandblasted. Upstairs we painted the beams instead, for a softer effect.’

Sue worked on colour schemes with local interior designer Lynne Holmes. ‘Lynne was

brilliant at sourcing. She was great fun and also lived in a Wells cottage, which helped.’

The house does not lend itself easily to contemporary styles but Sue has managed to mix old and new. In contrast to French-style patterns in the guest bedroom, she also found fun wallpapers, such as the flamingo design, for the master bedroom. However, the tenor of the house remains traditional, and is the perfect backdrop to classic festive decorations.

‘Rob does all the cooking while I focus on decor,’ says Sue. ‘I like a richly decorated mantelpiece, a bushy tree, plenty of garlands and an ivy-twined banister.’ For Sue and Rob, the Christmas season kicks off with a drinks party, before the family comes over. ‘We have three grown-up children with babies,’ says Sue. ‘Our dining table extends to seat 16 for Christmas lunch. I love it when the house resounds with the peal of children’s laughter and the clink of glasses.’