WEST SUSSEX RECTORY

Bake Off’s Miranda Gore Browne and her husband edward fulfilled a dream By transforming a thirties red-brick rectory into a Georgian-style family home

How a tired Thirties house was transformed into an elegant, Georgian-style home

If there was an award for the most dramatic house façade transformation, it would surely go to Miranda and Edward Gore Browne. ‘We simply couldn’t find a Georgian property within our budget, so we decided to create a lookalike,’ says Miranda, who readers may remember for her appearance on The Great British Bake Off. What they won’t have seen is her talent for doing up houses, which she and Edward have honed over the years. ‘This is the fourth house we have renovated together,’ she says.

It all began when Miranda was taking a walk with her son, Thomas, and noticed a breathtaking view of the South Downs from the boundary of a Thirties rectory in a pretty West Sussex village. ‘I discovered the house overlooked the church where EH Shepard, the original illustrator of the Winnie-the-pooh books, is buried. My children love Winnie-the-pooh and one of my passions is bringing children’s literature alive by making recipes inspired by the stories, so I was instinctively interested.’

Miranda and Edward’s first attempt to buy the Old Rectory failed. ‘Then, three years later, the house went on to the market without us noticing,’ says Miranda. ‘Happily, a friend alerted us.’ Having already viewed dozens of houses without finding their Georgian forever home,

What makes this house a home... ‘Happy times, good food and making new memories with family and friends’

they put in a bid, despite the offputting dark red brick façade and surrounding forest of 100ft Leylandii trees.

with typical enthusiasm, they began collecting practical design ideas. ‘we must have leafed through dozens of books on Georgian architecture and found many more ideas in interior design magazines and web pages,’ says Miranda. Local architect tom Freeborough helped them deliver their vision. ‘the house was originally built in the thirties by the church to be rented by the local vicar, and was fairly characterless and basic. Inside was a warren of small dark rooms with tiny windows.’

the couple began by opening up vistas from the house, taking down the Leylandii trees and brambles, which obstructed the view of the south Downs and the pretty 16th-century church. Next, they commissioned local woodman Ben Law to build a treehouse that kept the children happy while the builders took the house apart. Most significantly, they re-orientated the house by adding an extension, with three tall arched Georgian windows and a door onto the garden. this became the new kitchendiner – now the most loved room in the house. ‘this was a major success,’ says Miranda. ‘It has become the heart of my work life, and as a family we really live in this room. the arched windows cost a fortune but they fit

perfectly and introduced the Georgian style we wanted.’ several elements, such as the tumbled limestone floors, were chosen to simulate the look and feel of an older property, and old wooden doors were sourced from a local reclamation company. All the doors are different sizes and the openings were built to fit them.

Gradually, what had been considered one of the most unattractive façades in the village was transformed. the red brickwork was rendered, a Georgian-style front door and porch installed and new rectangular sash windows were repositioned. to further achieve the authenticity of an 18th-century property, Miranda even blocked up a ‘window’ next to the front door. ‘Not a real window, of course,’ she explains, ‘but a reminder of the 18th century window tax that forced some owners to block up a window. It is a great touch and fools many people.’

Having spent most of their budget on the build, as well as good quality curtains and beds, Miranda worked her magic on the interiors by shopping at car-boot sales, junk shops, flea markets, ebay and Ikea. An eclectic mix of old signs and paintings gives the home character and, together with the time-bending renovation, adds up to the perfect ingredients for a showstopping house.

What we love most about living here... ‘The light, space and lovely surrounding countryside, with the sea, beach and harbour so close’

Living room Miranda has introduced symmetry with the sofas and added faded floral fabrics. Bespoke sofas, Balmain & Balmain. Curtain fabric, Hatley Rose by Cabbages & Roses. Rabbit cushion fabric, Hip Hop by Peony & Sage.

Kitchen This is where Miranda runs The Kitchen School, hosts creative workshops, makes videos and develops new recipes. Cabinets, Chalon. Bar stools painted in Middleton Pink, Farrow & Ball.

This zesty lemon and poppy seed cake is taken from Miranda’s recipe book Bake Me A Cake As Fast As You Can.

Exterior The patio makes the perfect spot for alfresco entertaining. Striped Cornishware, TG Green.

Main bedroom A brass antique bed adds period charm and Miranda has enhanced the country feel with a rose theme. Cabbages & Roses Hatley Rose bedlinen, John Lewis. Walls painted in Pink Ground, Farrow & Ball.

Exterior Miranda’s vegetable garden is circled by lupins, sweet peas and hollyhocks.