A MODERN TWIST
Lisa and Richard Dennis combined period-style features with contemporary furniture and lighting for a fresh, relaxed look
A Dorset farm building was rebuilt, stone-by-stone, to form a Georgian-style home full of pre-loved finds
Set in a valley in the beautiful Dorset countryside is the Georgian-style home of Lisa and Richard Dennis and their three children. The couple have completely rebuilt their home stone by stone, recycling as much as possible along the way. ‘We fell in love with the valley,’ recalls Lisa. ‘There are some beautiful, old indigenous broad-leaf trees and with its meandering stream, the valley attracts a wonderful variety of birds – visitors include the heron, kite, jay, wagtail, woodpecker plus all types of finches.’
The couple’s stunning home was originally a hunting lodge and part of a large estate. ‘The main house is now a school and our house then became part of a farm as parcels of land were sold off,’ says Lisa. ‘Various flocks of sheep roam the land, which is now the perfect size for a dog walk.’ When Lisa and Richard bought the property in 2006, the interior of the original house was fairly basic. ‘The rooms at the back of the house on the ground floor didn’t have foundations,’ explains Lisa. ‘The floors were literally mud, but even the farmer had built an elevated extension at the back to take advantage of the view of the valley.’
The farm building also included an old dairy and the couple decided to renovate this first and use it as temporary accommodation while working on the rebuild of the main house. ‘We dismantled the lodge, stone by stone, preparing each piece for use on the rebuild,’ recalls Lisa. ‘With the help of our architect Simon Morray-jones, we came up with a new design, then got to work on the rebuild, which took just over a year. It was a great project to be involved with.’
Lisa has created a wonderful, light spacious feel throughout her home, enlivened by an inspiring collection of art, contemporary lighting and antique furniture and textiles. ‘I love art and have been collecting pieces for years, so I had a vision of pure white walls, which would serve as a pristine backdrop,’ she
favourite feature ‘I love the light in the house and the views through every window and still see it as a work in progress – lots to change and improve’
says. High ceilings and large windows were an important part of the design, creating impact and enabling natural light to fill each space. ‘The architectural style of the house is Georgian, and the interior reflects this, but is obviously new,’ explains Lisa. ‘It’s a fine line between creating relaxed, relevant interiors and a potentially nasty pastiche.’
The build was a huge undertaking and it took time to search for materials. Lisa’s aim was to use suppliers in the area. ‘I sourced as many elements locally as possible, but there were inevitably items for which I had to go further afield,’ she explains. ‘I bought a lot online. The hallway stone flooring came from France; the boot room doors I bought on ebay were salvaged from an old hall; the marble fireplace in the family room was a slightly damaged vintage piece from Chesneys. I made it a rule that everything had to be used – no returns – and convinced myself that any elements that didn’t quite match each other would create a less curated environment – as though the house had been added to over time.’
Lisa’s attention to detail and passion for design is evident throughout her home. ‘I’ve always had a fundamental interest in interiors and have now renovated several houses,’ she says. ‘One of the key areas of any interior is the lighting and so when the opportunity came up to work with a new lighting company I grabbed it. Sylvie is a company that designs and makes wooden lights here in Dorset. The shades are formed from strips of wood veneer and create the most beautiful effect. It’s an exciting opportunity to create original, sustainable, handmade British products.’
Lisa has added two lights from this range to the sitting room – a favourite area for her family. ‘It’s cosy and warm here in the winter yet light and breezy in the summer,’ she says. ‘We all make a point of sitting on the sofas to catch up, without the distractions of phones and screens – it’s wonderful.’
design advice ‘Try to keep your ceilings as high as possible – nothing impacts the feeling of a room more than the space above your head’