FUTURE PERFECT
There is plenty of room for a young family to grow inside this Cambridgeshire detached
There are not many house hunters who hit the jackpot straight away, but in the case of interior designer Jenny Ballantyne, the very first property she viewed had everything she was looking for. With a generous garden, large bedrooms for Harry, 9, and Molly, 4, and a location right between countryside and village, this Cambridgeshire house ticked every box.
‘We’d outgrown our previous home, which was a semi on a high street,’ says Jenny. ‘And this property, built 15 years ago, had so much potential, with a sunny aspect and a summerhouse in the garden.’
Though Jenny’s husband Iain, a quantity surveyor, was not as keen to move initially, he soon realised that this house was too good to give up. When the family moved in, they replaced a kitchen window with full-length glazed doors, transformed the garage into a playroom and made the summerhouse useable all year round. And when it came to the decor, Jenny was inspired by their regular trips to Cornwall. ‘I wanted to give our home a permanent holiday feeling,’ she explains. ‘So blue became the obvious colour, imbuing the house with an airiness and a subtle coastal theme.’ This is seen clearly in the kitchen and utility room. ‘In some ways, it was a bold choice,’ says Jenny, ‘ but choosing this statement blue has added impact.’
Function is just as important as form in this house and every space has been created
with communal living in mind. The kitchen island allows Jenny to keep an eye on the children while she cooks, a reading nook in the sitting room invites relaxation while still being in the thick of things. And a blanket box in the master bedroom provides the perfect spot for the children to watch TV so that the family can relax together on weekend mornings. ‘It was important to create a multifunctional home rather than one with separate rooms for different uses,’ explains Jenny.
Having two young children has not stopped Jenny indulging in her passion for fabric and pattern. The wallpapers she has chosen add a softening touch – from the boat-themed design on the landing and the bird motif in the master bedroom to Harry’s Cath Kidston car print. ‘It’s all about balancing a pleasing scheme with practicality,’ reflects Jenny.
Adding character to her home has also opened new doors for Jenny, who used to work in human resources and has recently started an interior design company. ‘My career gave me a gift for connecting with people,’ she explains, ‘while decorating my home has lead to a passion for interiors. Launching the business enabled me to combine both those skills.’ And she is sure that the key to a happy home is filling it with the people and objects you love the most. ‘If I can help others to achieve that result with as much success as we have,’ Jenny says, ‘I’ll be very happy.’