TRUE COLOURS
Self-builders Marina and Tim Clarkson asked an interior designer friend to give their home character with a colourful twist
When they decided to build their own house nearly a decade ago, Tim and Marina Clarkson and their daughters, Sophia, now 18, and Phoebe, now 16, found a plot remarkably easily. ‘ We’d been thinking about self-building for some time,’ says Marina. ‘Then one day, a friend told us about a hillside plot in the countryside about five miles outside Andover. It was an hour’s drive from London and equidistant from Salisbury and Winchester, so the location was ideal for us. It also came complete with planning permission for a house.’
Having decided to take the plunge, the next step was finding the right architect. Since the plot was in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, building a house of reasonable height was always going to be a challenge. ‘It was important that the architects understood our vision and we approached five practices in all,’ says Marina. ‘We decided that Verity & Beverley had the best solution to the dilemma. They designed a deceptively simple square-shaped house with a central atrium. Being able to position the property so we could enjoy the best aspect and maximum light was a huge advantage.’
Marina then decided to enlist the help of her friend, Tor Vivian, an interior designer. ‘In previous projects, I’ve always gone for neutral shades, but Tim told me not to be boring with this scheme,’ says Marina. ‘I wanted to use colour, but I wasn’t brave enough to try it myself, which is where Tor came in. We’d known each other for years, and decorating the house was a great excuse to work together.’
The hall is very much the central space of the home, with all the other ground floor rooms leading off it. ‘ We installed a working fireplace in
keeping with the long tradition for halls that were designed as places to sit and linger,’ says Marina. A key feature of the design is the large roof lantern in the kitchen-diner. ‘It feels like a garden room as it’s so wonderfully light,’ says Marina.
While the house was being built, Marina, Tim and Tor fine-tuned the interior layout to ensure that no space was wasted, and also kept a keen eye on costs. ‘Self-building allows you to control your budget closely, as everything is costed in advance,’ says Marina. ‘If one room goes over budget, you can simply use cheaper furnishings elsewhere. Buying materials in bulk also means you can negotiate a discount.’
A key aspect of the build was the joinery. ‘Tim and I believe that cabinetry makes a home, so the joinery was designed before we even received a quote for the build,’ says Marina. ‘I’d done up several houses in London and already knew what a difference it can make.’ Tor worked on drawings for the bookshelves in the snug, and then used the same style of joinery for the cabinetry in the bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms and boot room.
With the structural works complete, Marina and Tor began planning the decor. ‘I’d been inspired by seeing interior designer Kit Kemp’s work, and there were certain fabrics and colours I wanted to use,’ says Marina. ‘Tor helped me implement my vision.’ The result is a lively mix of pattern and colour, with vivid blue, greens, pinks, reds and yellows all being used in different rooms. Vibrant textiles and soft furnishings, skilfully combined with statement pieces like the fuchsia-painted bath, are set against a backdrop of classic neutral shades, creating a unique and distinctive interior. ‘It was brilliant working with Tor,’ says Marina. ‘She made sure that building our dream home didn’t turn into a nightmare.’