WENDY NICHOLLS
It’s hardly surprising that Wendy Nicholls fell in love with her country house. It’s in an idyllic setting, surrounded by an acre and a half of garden, with a gate leading to the 14th-century village church next door. Since Wendy, who is head designer for Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, moved in about six years ago, she decided against making any major alterations, apart from repainting. ‘Every single room had a feature wall – the guest room had a terrifying wallpaper of tropical birds and flamingos,’ says Wendy. However, she did focus on her bedroom. Three rooms were converted to form a bedroom, dressing room and bathroom. Wendy has a flat in London, but spends every weekend in the country, ‘For me, it really is worth the two-and-a-half-hour drive,’ she says. ‘Increasingly, I find it very difficult to leave each week.’