A fresh LEASE OF LIFE
In her 19th-century home, fashion designer Gayle Wailes has countered rustic, upcycled pieces and quirky details with a grown- up colour pale e and an eye for symmetry
As an art student, I was interested in shape and form and o en found that older pieces of furniture have a more thoughtful design aesthetic,’ says Gayle Wailes of her enthusiasm for upcycled and vintage furniture. ‘Since then, I’ve always enjoyed collecting unusual items for the homes that I’ve lived in. When I moved here with my husband Richard and our two children, I transported just a few of our most treasured items and shopped for furnishings that would suit the Georgian proportions of the house.’
Skilful Upcycling
The overall look is elegant and polished but, look closely and, throughout
‘Older pieces of furniture have a more thoughtful design aesthetic. I’ve always enjoyed collecting unusual items for my home.’
the interior you can spot Gayle’s quirky upcycled touches. The French sofa in the family room is actually a single bed, bought for £ 20 from eBay, while a smart Fortnum & Mason hamper has been ingeniously turned into a co ee table, with the addition of an antique pine door resting on top (both pictured on page 68).
Elsewhere, a kitchen table with its legs trimmed becomes a co ee table and a reclaimed door has been treated, bleached and waxed and is now a striking headboard (shown on page 74). ‘ I’m a huge fan of Newark Antiques & Collectors Fair and always return to the same few traders. A couple of them are Dutch and seem to specialise in the reclaimed, distressed look that I love. I also scour auction sites and keep my
‘I’m a huge fan of Newark Antiques & Collectors Fair and always return to the same few traders who specialise in the distressed look that I love.’
eyes peeled for local bargains too,’ says Gayle.
Space to Socialise
It was the elegant proportions of the rooms, arranged over four !oors, that drew Gayle to the house in Stamford, Lincolnshire, four years ago. ‘ I loved the !exibility of the space. With two teenagers and lots of visitors, rooms on several di "erent !oors seemed like a great opportunity,’ she says. As well as the potential that the house suggested, the couple fell for the views over the surrounding countryside and the fact that the property wasn’t overlooked. On the downside, it had been rented out for the best part of a decade, meaning there were considerable – and not very exciting – renovations to carry out.
‘I’m drawn to neutral and grey colour schemes – especially for an older house like this. These shades look elegant and work well with the light.’
Once these were out of the way, Gayle – who works as a fashion designer – could begin to !ex her design muscles.
Her work has undoubtedly been a key in !uence for both her approach and her style when it comes to decorating. To collate her initial ideas she creates mood boards containing fabric swatches, paint samples, images of furnishings and accessories, all carefully annotated, like mini works of art in themselves. Balance is a key part of Gayle’s look, too. ‘ It was only recently that a visitor pointed out that I use a lot of items in pairs. I hadn’t realised how
important a sense of symmetry is to me, but it’s de" nitely something that comes from my background designing clothes,’ she says.
Rather than diving straight into the fun task of redecorating, she waited several months: ‘ I didn’t want to rush into decisions about the interior until I had developed a sense of how we might use the space,’ she says. Eventually, she decided on a room-by-room approach, beginning with the si# ing room. ‘ I thought a darker shade on the walls would work in here as the room is south-facing with plenty of light,’ she says. A pair of smart velvet sofas, stripped oak !oorboards and the beautifully restored "replace draw upon the grand Georgian tradition of a si# ing room on the "rst !oor with an updated, less formal and more contemporary style.
The si# ing room set the tone for the rest of the house, where walls have been painted in an understated natural pale#e – the perfect backdrop for Gayle’s upcycled vintage furniture. ‘ I’m drawn to neutral and grey colour schemes – especially for an older house like this. I feel that these shades
Gayle’s rustic, upcycled pieces are balanced by graceful chandeliers, muted colours and the generous proportions of the house.
look more elegant and also work be!er with the light and the older furnishings,’ she says.
Gayle’s patient and thought-through process has clearly paid o". Her rustic, upcycled pieces are balanced by graceful chandeliers, muted colours and the generous proportions of the house. Working on the interior was a project that she relished, and it shows. ‘ We always have lots of guests of all ages and everyone says that they feel comfortable here, which is the best compliment that I could receive.’