SECOND ACT
Vibrant fabrics, a jewelled palette and elegant details have lent new character to the period home of Fiona Fullerton
Vibrant decor has proved a real character development in an actress’ period Gloucestershire villa
Fiona Fullerton never lets the grass grow under her feet. The former actress and her husband, Neil, were living in a period vicarage near Swindon, with their two grown-up children, James and Lucy, who were about to leave home. So when Fiona saw a listing for a Victorian villa in the heart of Cheltenham, she seized the chance. ‘I spotted the listing online and bought it within three hours,’ she says.
Built in 1840, the Grade Ii-listed property had been used as an office building since the Sixties. ‘It was divided into workspaces, with no kitchen or bathrooms, and its elegant bones were covered by polystyrene and strip lighting,’ says Fiona, who has studied interior design. She and Neil, who owns a building development company, had renovated several properties together, so they were well placed to take on the project.
The family moved into rented accommodation while the initial work was carried out. ‘Our priority was to convert the building back into a home,’ says Fiona. They also wanted to restore the classical grandeur of the house, while updating it to meet the requirements of modern life.
Throughout the process, Fiona and Neil worked closely with the local planning authority and renovations were postponed several times while
they waited for permission. ‘A main task was to open up the graceful enfilade from the sitting room, through the dining room, to the library at the back of the house,’ says Fiona. ‘And one of the staircases had to be reinstated to its original position.’ Challenges large and small cropped up at various stages. For instance, the original fireplaces had disintegrated, so Fiona had to source replacements from the same era. She also chose a classic Shaker-style kitchen, to fit with the period and style of the house.
Once the structural work was complete, Fiona turned her focus to the decor, taking her cue from interior designer Kit Kemp, who is renowned for her artful mixing of colour and pattern. ‘I wanted to inject lots of colour into the house,’ says Fiona, ‘and to create a feeling of luxury and comfort, without looking too formal.’
Each room has been given its own bold identity. The library is the ‘Scottish room’, where Fiona indulged her love of tartan, teaming it with paisley, thistle-print blinds and antler chandeliers. The sofas and chairs came from her former home and were updated with upholstery in colourful prints and rich velvets to tone with the palette of their new setting.
Colourful artwork is another hallmark of Fiona’s style. ‘I’ve been amassing my collection since the Eighties,’ she says. ‘Some pieces are by friends and well-known artists; others were picked up at auctions and antiques shops.’ Finishing touches include antiquarian books and quirky notes, such as a vintage pitchfork and a bust of Julius Caesar sporting a tam-o-shanter, which add character to the schemes. ‘I like to include unusual objets,’ says Fiona. ‘The juxtapositions give a home its soul.’
inspiration ‘I like the work of the interior designer and hotelier Kit Kemp, as she has a skilful way of mixing colour and pattern’