DEVON COUNTRY HOUSE

Luxe furniture in rich tones brings the neutral decor to life

Your

first glance around this old house in devon will probably take in the rich colours and sumptuous textures of the exotic rugs and smart upholstery, all the unusual cushions, plus the vibrant artwork and ornate antiques. But look beyond to the bones of the house and you’ll notice all of these pieces sit against a fairly simple, off-white backdrop. ‘I love changing things around to celebrate the seasons,’ says the property’s owner Karen cummings, a dentist who is masterminding her transition into a design career. ‘having a neutral colour palette means you can do this very easily.’

Karen, who was born in Glasgow, her husband, John, and their two now grown-up daughters, Georgina and harriet, moved into the house in 2002, and Karen immediately began renovations. As a gift to herself for her 50th birthday a few years ago, the former Army officer transformed the sitting room with some British-made furniture and accessories, mementos from travels overseas, ideas from her favourite interiors magazines and the quirky pieces that show her fun side. ‘I try to buy as much as I can from local suppliers and craftspeople,’ she says, ‘and when I visit my friends in Glasgow, I often do a bit of shopping up there, too.’

With Karen’s obvious talent for sourcing interesting objects to create stylish yet laid-back interiors, it comes as no

What makes this house a home… ‘If there’s frost on the ground outside but the whole family, including the dogs, are gathered around the log fire, we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else’

surprise that she’s had a fair bit of practice over the years. ‘I first met my husband as a fellow officer in Berlin, just as the Wall was coming down,’ she says. ‘John and I lived in lots of different houses all over the world, which we knew would only be temporary, but I insisted on making each one feel like home, adding personality to those bland, magnolia-painted properties with art and accessories.’

the couple may have had a quick turnaround on those early marital abodes, but they had a fair bit longer to think about how they would transform the house they now call home – for John, it’s the second time around.

‘this is where I grew up,’ he says. ‘My grandfather bought the original 400-year-old part of this house in the twenties, and he extended the modest two-up, two-down dwelling to create a six-bedroom country house. It was later handed down to my father, but when he passed away, my mother no longer felt comfortable living here, so Karen and I decided to take it on.’

‘We’d already left our Army life behind and were living with the girls in a lovely cottage nearby,’ says

Karen, ‘but we couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to transform the home that held such special family memories. After every visit, John and I would dream about the house, how we’d freshen up the dark seventies interior and open up the kitchen into

What we love about living here… ‘this is such a spacious, comfortable home surrounded by beautiful countryside, yet we’re a stone’s throw from really good road links to major cities’

a spacious, modern family room.’ the kitchen was extended to include a cosy, informal seating area and a dining area.

With military precision in the planning, it took the couple just three months to complete that initial phase of the renovation. ‘We had plenty of time to come up with ideas, so it was just a case of putting them all into action,’ says Karen, ‘then we could get back to enjoying family life together, appreciating the outdoors, walking, cycling and breathing in the fresh devon air.’

clearly, Karen has been very happy to adopt this county as her home, and it’s even helping her to develop her passion for interiors into a new career. ‘I love making people look great and thus making them feel better about themselves, but dentistry is incredibly demanding physically so I know I can’t continue forever, which is why I’m going part-time – to allow me to transition into interior design.

‘I’ve met so many people who need help to fall in love with their homes again. I love this house now, and it makes me incredibly happy to know that everyone who comes through our door – family, friends, clients and colleagues – is warmly welcomed here. I believe that’s something we should all feel about our home, so I’m definitely looking forward to the next chapter of my life in this lovely old house.’

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CUMMINGS & TOMKINS, VISIT CUMMINGSANDTOMKINSINTERIORS.CO.UK.

Kitchen Locally made units and a workbench-style central island lend a country feel to this room. Units, island, Colystock Kitchens. Units in James White; island in Stiffkey Blue, both Farrow & Ball. Terracotta flooring, Original Style.

Kitchen Karen stylishly displays her love of pattern and wildlife. Blind, pelmet, Capuchins by Sanderson, Style Library. Scroll lamp is similar, Blue Isle. Walls painted in Oxford Stone, units, in James White, both Farrow & Ball.

Hallway The kitchen door, with the original Twenties servants’ bells above, leads to a hall featuring a painted skull by Karen’s artist brother, Douglas Moffat. Skull, Skulldouggery. Similar chair, Denbigh, Laura Ashley. Similar footstool, Red Tribal, Myakka.

Dining area Karen opted for a classic chunky wooden dining set. Similar table and chairs, The Oakloft. Cockerel artwork, Penelope Timmis.

Sitting area Walls were knocked down to create a spacious kitchen-diner. Mirror, Jasper Jacks. Cupboard, in Parma Gray, Farrow & Ball.

Main bedroom A painted skull by Karen’s artist brother, Douglas Moffat, hangs above the bed. Skull, Skulldouggery. Queen Bee cushions, Helkat Design. Walls, painted in Elephant’s Breath, Farrow & Ball.

Exterior In front of a thatched Twenties summer house stands a sculpture commissioned by the couple to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in 2016. It was made by local craftsman Peter Stratton at Garden Quirks, who also landscaped the area.

Guest bedroom Karen added mismatched lamps and antler artwork for a modern twist. Similar bed frame, Eliza, Laura Ashley. Leggy Flamingo lamp (on drawers), Graham and Green.