WE LOVE OUR LIGHT, SUNNY HOME
A DEVON PROPERTY THAT’S BEEN GIVEN A COLOURFUL MAKEOVER
When Charlotte Kalen and
Ian Beards Got Married For The Second Time, They Wanted A Fresh Start On The Home Front Too. “we Both Loved Devon, So It Seemed Like The Logical Location To Look For A Home,” Says Charlotte. After Many Months Of Searching, The Couple Found The Perfect Property – A House Built
From Two Victorian Cottages Knocked Together, Nestling In A Leafy Hamlet Just 10 Minutes’ Drive From The Coast.
Despite The Fact That The House Needed Lots Of Work, Ian And Charlotte Lost No Time In Making An Offer. “ian And I Are Experienced Renovators So We Could See Beyond The Dark And Dated Interior, And We Knew The House Had Bags Of Potential,” Says Charlotte. “it Had A Lovely Large Garden And Conservatory, Plus Plenty Of Room For Both Ian And Myself To Work From Home, And For Friends And Family To Come And Stay, So It Ticked A Lot Of Boxes. Our Offer Was Accepted The Very Same Day.”
A Top Priority For The Couple Was A Large Kitchen-diner And, As The House Had A Separate Kitchen And Dining Room When They Bought It, They Decided To Tweak The Layout To Suit Their Lifestyle. “i Wanted Our Home To Feel As Light And Spacious As Possible, So All The Dark >>
WOODEN COTTAGE-STYLE BEAMS HAD TO
GO,” SAYS CHARLOTTE. “WE ALSO REMOVED INTERNAL WALLS AND ENLARGED TWO BEDROOMS TO LIGHTEN UP THE SPACE. WE SPENT ONE WHOLE SUMMER LIVING IN THE CONSERVATORY WHILE THE BUILDERS TOOK OVER THE HOUSE.”
NINE MONTHS LATER, WITH THE BUILDING WORK COMPLETE, IT WAS TIME TO DESIGN THE DECOR. “I’M AN ARTIST BY PROFESSION, SO I SAW THE HOUSE AS THE MOST WONDERFUL BLANK CANVAS,” SAYS CHARLOTTE. ‘‘I’M CRAZY ABOUT COLOUR AND DECIDED TO PAINT OUR KITCHENDINER IN SUPER-BRIGHT YELLOWS AND GREENS. USING LIGHT, BRIGHT COLOURS WILL ALWAYS MAKE YOUR HOME FEEL LIGHTER AND SUNNIER, EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER.” CHARLOTTE ALSO LOVES TO UPCYCLE AND PAINT OLD FURNITURE. “I LOVE GIVING VINTAGE CUPBOARDS AND CHAIRS A NEW LEASE OF LIFE BY PAINTING THEM – IT’S FUN AND ECO-FRIENDLY,” SHE SAYS. “OLD DINING TABLES CAN BE BROUGHT BANG UP TO DATE USING SCAFFOLDING BOARDS, ONE OF MY FAVOURITE DECORATING TECHNIQUES.”
DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, CHARLOTTE SPENDS MANY HAPPY HOURS IN THE GARDEN, AND ENJOYS GROWING SUMMER FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS. “EVEN WHEN IT RAINS, WE CAN STILL ENJOY THE GARDEN – WE SIMPLY MOVE INSIDE TO THE CONSERVATORY AND ENJOY THE GLORIOUS VIEWS. THIS REALLY IS THE PERFECT HOUSE FOR SUMMER.”
STYLISH HAVEN
WHITEWASHED WALLS, ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY LOCAL ARTISTS, RETRO FURNITURE AND TEXTILES GIVE CHARLOTTE AND IAN’S SITTING ROOM A LAID-BACK, ARTY VIBE. “IAN AND I LIKE TO COLLECT PAINTINGS BY LOCAL ARTISTS,” SAYS CHARLOTTE.
THE ART DECO CHAIR WAS INSPIRED
BY A DESIGN BY SONIA DELAUNAY,
AND THE PICTURE OVER THE FIREPLACE WAS PAINTED BY CHARLOTTE’S FRIEND, SOMERSET ARTIST FAY HUTCHCROFT.
SUMMER FLORALS CHARLOTTE HAS FILLED THE SPACIOUS CONSERVATORY WITH POTTED GERANIUMS AND OTHER SUMMER FLOWERS, CREATING A TRANQUIL GREEN OASIS OVERLOOKING THE GARDEN. THE FLORAL ARMCHAIR ECHOES THE SUMMERY THEME: DESIGNER GUILD’S MASSON FUCHSIA FABRIC IS SIMILAR. FIRED EARTH’S CLASSIC HANDMADE TERRACOTTA FLOOR TILES ARE A CLOSE MATCH FOR THESE FLOOR TILES.
SHADES OF SUMMER
PAINTING UPCYCLED FURNITURE IN BRIGHT ZINGY COLOURS IS A HALLMARK OF CHARLOTTE’S DECORATING STYLE. “IT’S A GREAT WAY TO GIVE YOUR HOME A REALLY PERSONAL FEEL,” SHE SAYS. THE VINTAGE CHAIR WAS RE-COVERED IN COORDINATING LIME AND FUCHSIA FLORAL FABRIC DESIGNED BY CARINA HÄGG AND CAME FROM AFFÅR IN SEATON. THE LARGE PAINTING WAS ALSO PAINTED BY CHARLOTTE.
RELAXING RETREAT
CHARLOTTE DREW INSPIRATION FROM
HER SCANDINAVIAN ROOTS BY DECORATING THIS GUEST ROOM WITH STRIPY CURTAINS, PAINTED WOODEN FURNITURE AND A WOODEN FRAMED BEDSTEAD. “I MADE THE NAVY TICKING CURTAINS FROM FABRIC I INHERITED FROM MY GRANDMOTHER,” SHE SAYS. THE ANTIQUE BLUE PAINTED CHEST WAS BOUGHT ON A TRIP TO SWEDEN.
COLOURFUL BATHROOM
CHARLOTTE ENJOYS MIXING VINTAGE PIECES AND ANTIQUES WITH CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE AND
FITTINGS, AND CHOSE A FRESH, SUMMERY YELLOW AND GREEN TONED COLOUR SCHEME FOR THE MAIN BATHROOM.
THE GRESPANIA TURKANA LIMON FLOOR TILES WERE BOUGHT AT TILE TRENDS OF EXETER. CHARLOTTE FOUND THE
CORNER CUPBOARD ON A TRIP TO
SWEDEN AND REPAINTED IT. W&H
“I love giving cupboards a new lease of life by painting them” “Don’t be afraid to mix up different styles and textures”