LIGHT & SHADE These artists designed their Kent home to make the most of the sun

The Warings had to get creative when it came to decorating their north- and south-facing rooms

When living in London with two young children – Poppy and Finn, now 20, and 17 – started to feel claustrophobic, artist Annie Waring and her art director husband decided they wanted a more rural lifestyle. ‘Geoff works in the capital, and Charing Cross is his nearest commuter station,’ explains Annie, ‘so we looked at town options along that rail line, and chose Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Our house sold quickly, so we were in a hurry to find a new home, but there was nothing we liked about this Edwardian property, except that it was in the right area.’

Although in good structural order, the interior was dated, with avocado bathrooms and carpets with swirly patterns. But the couple remained undaunted. ‘The fact that it still had original features, including untouched fireplaces, was a positive for us,’ reflects Annie. ‘We knew that we could

improve on what was already there, and I was very keen to get started, ripping up the carpets before the removal van had even arrived. I decided I’d much rather live with bare floorboards,’ she laughs.

Annie soon realised that her new home was a house of two halves. ‘The front is flooded with light, but the rear is north-facing and felt much darker and cold looking,’ she says. ‘I soon learnt the colours I need to use to make these areas feel cosier.’

The rooms are furnished with items the couple have acquired or inherited over the years. ‘ We’re not ones for coordinating, and never buy furniture to create a theme,’ explains Annie. ‘I’m a still-life painter and so I’m always grouping china or ceramics together. Every few months, I’ll ring the changes and introduce a different collection. The interior reflects our life, so you’ll find things we picked up on a holiday in Cornwall or a Clarice Cliff pot that my grandmother bought in the 1930s. The age of the house lends itself to handmade furniture.’

Building a large open-plan kitchen-diner has provided a new layout that works well. ‘ We knocked a series of smaller rooms into one and built an extension 10ft into the garden,’ explains Annie. ‘I wanted a kitchen that was minimal in style, and we built a chimney canopy to have a strong focal point. Using crackle-glazed tiles gives the cooking area an aged appearance and character, which is sympathetic to the house.’

Renovating different rooms in stages over the course of 12 years has meant the Warings’ period home has evolved with their family. ‘It’s such a fantastic experience to transform a property,’ reflects Annie. ‘The house isn’t a classic Arts & Crafts style, but it is of that era and I think we’ve stayed true to its original design.’