A SENSE OF LUXURY
Having found an idyllic location, Francesca and David Hayden set about creating a sophisticated, calm retreat
The impressive exterior of this Victorian-style villa in Devon called for an equally grand interior complete with custom-made furniture
Having decided to move from South Wales, Francesca Hayden and her husband David wanted to find a large home with garden space and, ideally, lovely views. ‘When we viewed this property in Devon, it was just what we were looking for,’ she says. ‘We also liked the unconventional entrance, which opens onto an unusually wide tiled hallway with four rooms off it.’
The Victorian-style detached villa is certainly grand from the outside, and needed an interior to match. So Francesca and David embarked on a reconstruction of the house which involved remodelling the property – set over three floors – to create open-plan relaxed living spaces together with a more formal sitting room on the middle floor. This allowed the couple to make the most of the beautiful coastal views which are such an asset to the house.
Because Francesca and David travel extensively for work, they employed the skills of Cardiff-based interior designer Yvonne Jones and her company, Chameleon Interiors. ‘We started the design process as soon as we had bought the house and began work four months after,’ says Francesca. ‘We had worked with Yvonne on our last home, and we trusted her to make the best of the space and layout.’
Yvonne oversaw the project and vision for the interior design, which involved a range of custom-made and high-end furniture, which appealed to Francesca and David’s style. ‘We
love the finer things in life whether that’s bespoke furniture, our glassware collection or our calm, formal sitting room. We feel our house is restrained but stylish,’ says Francesca.
This professional touch can be seen in every room, but particularly in the sitting room. ‘All the fabrics in here are tactile and I love the use of natural and embroidered linens, velvets and silks. We both do a lot of travelling, and we want our home to be our retreat and sanctuary,’ she says.
When it came to the kitchen, an internal wall had to be removed to create a large kitchen-diner. Francesca wanted a contemporary space for cooking and entertaining, as well as somewhere that complemented the rest of the house’s style. ‘I do cook a lot, and I wanted the kitchen to be a warm, inviting space as well as functional,’ she says.
The garden too has been subject to a makeover. ‘David lovingly manages the newly planted vegetable and fruit gardens, which provide us with our own produce and make us more self-sufficient,’ says Francesca. Flowers from the garden in every room add a pop of colour to the timeless, neutral schemes.
The house has additional environmentally friendly touches, as Francesca explains: ‘We have installed a system which allows us to control heat on each floor, which saves energy. We recycle all our waste and love our thick bespoke curtains which keep heat in on dark winter nights. Whenever we come home after a trip, we feel so happy to be here.’