open to ideas
Buying an East Sussex cottage was a dream come true for one woman, who couldn’t wait to transform its poky interior
Long before she bought it, Jenny Ruffy used to admire this 18th-century cottage in East Sussex as she rode past it on her horse. ‘It caught my eye,’ she recalls. ‘It’s one of a pair of workman’s cottages and I kept thinking how beautiful they were.’
For many years, Jenny and her husband, David, had lived in southeast London, where they raised their now grown-up daughter, Charlotte. Today, they divide their time between the two properties, spending the lion’s share at the cottage. ‘I’ve been coming to this part of East Sussex since I was 16, when I first kept horses here,’ explains Jenny. ‘Then, seven years ago, I bought another horse as I was keen to come down here more often, having made friends in the area over the years. The next step was to find a base.’
What particularly appealed to Jenny and David about the house was its village location. ‘ We have a fantastic pub, a shop, a bakery and even an art gallery, and we can walk to everything,’ says Jenny, who bought the cottage at a property auction. ‘It was nerve-racking to say the least,’ she recalls. ‘I took my twin sister and a good friend along for moral support. I had to go slightly over the price I’d planned to pay, but it proved well worth it.’
The place was in desperate need of renovation, with Jenny describing it as having been ‘messed about with’. It had been extended with a poorly insulated structure and the only bathroom was downstairs. A close friend provided the vision for the new extension and layout. ‘He’s a singer, and though he doesn’t have any architectural training, his ideas were amazing,’ says Jenny. ‘The house now miraculously opens up, like a Tardis.’
These changes were extensive and entailed creating a larger rear extension with bifold doors, which lets the light flood in and opens the main living space up to the garden. A side return enabled the addition of a cloakroom and utility room, while upstairs the couple gained a small third bedroom, as well as a family
bathroom and en suite. The work, which was undertaken by a local builder, took just under nine months to complete.
During this time, Jenny amassed pieces bought on trips to her favourite antiques haunts in Hastings and London’s Crystal Palace, as well as items found on ebay. ‘The decorating process was a bit organic – I bought a few pieces and was given others by friends,’ says Jenny. ‘I like an eclectic feel, with a mix of old and new.’
David was happy to let Jenny make the key design decisions. ‘He trusts me and likes what I do,’ says Jenny. ‘I don’t enjoy being on computers whereas he’s Mr Internet, so he was fantastic at sourcing pieces, as well as contacting ebay sellers. We played to each other’s strengths.’
At the heart of the open-plan living space is the kitchen, which was made by a local joiner to Jenny’s design and is fitted with iroko worktops salvaged from an old school science lab. ‘I love the fact that the names of pupils are carved into the surfaces,’ says Jenny, whose background as a caterer means that this area gets a great deal of use. ‘I like to cook and I can put all the food out on the central island. This space works really well for parties.’
With the exception of the guest room, where a botanical print on a feature wall adds an unexpected burst of exuberant pattern, the walls throughout the interior are pale, ranging from soft white shades downstairs to pale light blues in the main bedroom. ‘I think that the neutral palette brightens the house and is easy to live with. It also allows me to show off the various pieces I’ve found,’ says Jenny. ‘It’s a wonderfully light, calm home that’s an absolute joy to come back to. Every time I walk in, it still takes my breath away.’
design tip‘ Only buy things you really like and want to keep – that way, you will ensure every bit of your home is loved and used’