GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Once Alex and Steve Coomer had swept away the cobwebs from their dilapidated house, they could see the potential for a fantastic family home
Alex and Steve Coomer decided to move out of London for the great schools on offer in and around Sevenoaks in Kent. They rented a converted stable in the area with their children, Edie, 15, and Bertie, 13, while they searched for a new home. ‘We wanted a project,’ says Alex. ‘Ideally, we were looking for a Victorian property, but found the housing stock very different to the capital.’
Despite having driven past their current home several times, Alex had never given it much consideration. ‘There was a For Sale sign outside, but I dismissed it as the property was not what I thought we were looking for,’ she explains. However, after a few months of unsuccessful viewings, Alex and Steve decided to take a look.
The house was in a dilapidated state but in a good location and well within budget. ‘It had barely been touched since it was built and felt like a museum,’ says Alex, ‘ but I could see the potential for a brilliant family home.’
Planning permission for a complete overhaul was slow to be granted and the builders were hampered by terrible winter weather. ‘Fortunately, we were not living in
the property so the builders were able to strip the inside back to its shell, ready to start laying foundations for the extension once the planning permission came through,’ says Alex.
The builders removed the wall between the small galley kitchen and dining room, and extended the space into the garden. During the work, a parquet floor was uncovered in the hall. ‘ We were so excited and knew that it would make an impressive entrance,’ says Alex. Upstairs, the only change was to add an en suite to the master bedroom.
Once the renovations were finished, Alex made a start on the décor. ‘I like simple, uncluttered schemes, so I tend to choose calming background colours,’ she explains. A palette of greys was used throughout the house, with warm tones creating an elegant yet cosy feel in the sitting room, and cooler shades giving a relaxed mood in the master bedroom. Alex introduced pops of colour on fabrics and a mix of textures to add interest.
Although the house is now finished, there is still one item on the couple’s wishlist. ‘This is a busy household with two teenagers,’ says Alex. ‘ We’d love to add a garden studio for the children to hang out in.’