A FRESH APPROACH
Meticulous planning and clever solutions ensured the successful renovation of a 1950s detached house in East Sussex
Over the years Stuart Cousins and Kevin Newitt have enjoyed renovating various homes, but this large 1950s detached house created a new challenge. The project came about over brunch one day in Brighton. ‘Kevin and I had moved to a village near here 15 years before,’ Stuart says. ‘But we really enjoyed the buzz of the city that day and I liked the idea of moving back to the area.’
After settling on nearby Hove, the couple found this property. ‘I thought the interior was rather gloomy,’ says Stuart, ‘but we fell in love with the huge garden.’
The couple moved in in June 2016, landscaping the garden first and then waiting while they saved up to do the rest of the work. ‘This five-bedroom house was a daunting project,’ says Stuart. ‘I decided that a classic look, with the feel of a smart boutique hotel, would sit well with the architecture and wouldn’t date.’
He worked out a new layout, observing how the light fell throughout the day. A study, master bedroom and a hankering for a dressing room and bathroom each, meant losing two first floor bedrooms. Downstairs needed rethinking, too, to solve the problem of lack of light, so Stuart hired local architects, Morton Scarr to help.
‘They produced a fantastic design for the new extension, creating distinct zones for the kitchen, dining and living areas with lots of glazing to give us natural light
design tip ‘Investing in a lighting designer was such a good decision and the results have been one of the success stories in our project’
all day.’ Lighting designer Eleni Shiarlis proved invaluable, helping the couple think about how they would use each room and display art and ornaments. By the time the builder Ross Murley from Minton Young started work in September 2018, Stuart had the design details nailed. ‘I knew where the bed or the sofa would go and Eleni’s plans detailed all the lights and switches in the right places,’ he says. ‘Kevin and I didn’t know how the scheme would come together until we moved in, but the builders understood the need for the finer details and its end result is incredible.’
The couple settled on a Shaker-style kitchen, and found local furniture maker Simon Benjamin to build it. ‘He worked off our plans and measured-up when the extension shell was finished,’ says Stuart.
Fitted elements, such as wardrobes and shelves were custom-made by Hixon Bespoke, while other pieces of furniture, like Neptune’s dining table, chairs and stools, were repainted to match the new scheme: taupe neutrals with hints of warmth in dark blues and brown.
‘I love Kelly Hoppen’s calm and classic signature taupe as it works well with my tendency towards traditional styles, like our gentleman’s club-inspired sitting room, and the marble and taps in my bathroom,’ says Stuart. ‘Two years of planning was worth it. Our home has a lovely warm and relaxing feel that’s luxurious without being ostentatious.’