preserving the past
Original Tudor and Georgian architecture share equal billing in a characterful Kent farmhouse
House hunting was not easy for Julia BrendelLee and Gerry Lee when they decided to move from Surrey to Kent seven years ago. ‘Having young children, Alex, now 13, and Mia, 12, we were on a strict timetable of completing the school drop-off in Surrey, driving down to Kent where we could view a maximum of three properties, then racing back to Surrey in time to collect them,’ recalls Julia.
But the couple’s efforts eventually proved fruitful. ‘It was a coincidence that we came to visit this house,’ says Julia. ‘One of our other viewings was cancelled and we thought we would use the time to see another property, not really thinking much of it. But the second we saw this place, we just knew it was our future home. We couldn’t believe that for the price, which in Surrey would hardly buy us a proper house with an annexe, we could afford all these beautiful buildings with an acre of land, an orchard, a play area for the children, a vegetable garden and outbuildings.’
This house could not be more different from the family’s previous home. ‘Our last place was a new build – it was spacious and modern but simply lacked character,’ recalls Julia. ‘It didn’t matter how much we tried to pour some individuality into it, the house never felt quite right. But this one has soul and a big personality, and is packed full of original features. Through the beautiful woodwork, exposed beams and brickwork, you can tell that the property has been skilfully crafted. It feels solid and unbreakable, yet charming and homely at the same time.’
Although part of the house is Georgian, its origins are Tudor, and it has a wonderful feature that shows where one era starts and the other ends. ‘The glass window between the hallway and the dining room acts as
a historical divide and is one of my favourite features in the house,’ says Julia. ‘It also allows more light into the building and makes the adjoining kitchen feel more spacious.’
With the property in such a good state of repair, the only alterations Julia and Gerry needed to make were cosmetic. ‘The previous owners had used the house as an escape from London and spent 10 years renovating it,’ explains Julia. ‘They had used the best materials and didn’t take any shortcuts, so when we moved in, all we had to do was redecorate.’
Their first task was to paint the walls. ‘The existing furniture can sometimes dictate a colour scheme, so I went for strong contrasts in some rooms and a more subtle palette in others,’ says Julia. ‘The sitting room is naturally light and bright, so I wanted to keep that airy atmosphere with lots of neutral colours, off-whites and shades of grey, and bring in accents of colour through cushions and books. And as we didn’t need much light in the bedrooms, I was happy to use darker wall colours. They work as the perfect background for the artwork we have and other bold and vibrant accessories, such as the gold cushions.’
Julia has always had a passion for interiors and furniture. ‘I like my house to reflect who we are as a family – we love different cultures, for example, and always bring home souvenirs from our trips abroad,’ she says. ‘I also love drama and theatre, strong contrasts and playing with textures and colour, which is reflected in my work as a textile designer. Overall, though, I think creating a mood is very important in an interior – I like to feel relaxed and intrigued by my space.’
The couple have come up with a one-of-a-kind home that combines different eras. ‘ We love it here and wouldn’t swap it for the world,’ says Julia. ‘There are always improvements to be made, but that’s the beauty of this place; it’s so inspiring to live in.’
decorating tip ‘Experiment, have fun, and show your life, interests and passions’