ART & CRAFT
Helena Barrowcliff’s family home is decorated in gentle colours to showcase a collection of paintings and heirlooms, as well as her own lampshade designs
Twenty years ago, Helena and Peter Barrowcliff made the decision to leave London for peaceful Dorset and, before long, they had found a neglected Victorian house set in rolling countryside. ‘It was a substantial building, which was handsome rather than pretty,’ says Helena. ‘It needed a huge amount of work, but the location was very special and there was potential to put down roots, make it a home and give our four children an idyllic rural upbringing.’
Gradually, the couple renovated the property, reorganising the rather haphazard layout to improve the flow and make it more practical for family life. They rewired, replumbed and decorated, then upgraded the bathrooms and kitchen. All the rooms are generously proportioned and wide picture windows bring commanding views of the countryside into the ground-floor space. A modern fireplace, designed by Helena, is the focus of the sitting room. ‘It’s an imposing feature, but it had to balance the scale and height of the room,’ she says. ‘I think it’s important to go with what works in a space rather than trying to fight it.’
Helena’s interest in interiors and her artistic eye – she has been a successful knitwear designer and now creates bespoke
decorative lampshades, (tmolighting.com) – is reflected in the decor. The look she has created has grown out of her eclectic taste, as well as her confidence in combining different styles, rather than following trends. Easy-on-the-eye background colours allow the furniture and accessories to take centre stage. ‘The walls are traditional lime plaster, so we had to work with specialist lime-based paints, which naturally produce a soft, chalky effect,’ explains Helena. ‘The colours aren’t necessarily exciting in themselves, but there’s always an element of red in them for warmth, and they’re a great foil for everything else that’s happening in the rooms.’
Much of Helena and Peter’s furniture has been collected over the years, so heirlooms and antiques sit alongside high-street pieces, while the homely sofas and chairs are piled with brightly-patterned cushions. As the couple are keen art collectors, the house resembles a gallery with pictures filling every wall, alongside ceramics, sculptures, textiles and Helena’s own stylish lamps.
The children have mostly flown the nest now, but the house is still unmistakably a lively family home full of character and personal touches. ‘ We wanted a place we’d grow into rather than grow out of, and that’s exactly what we’ve got,’ says Helena.