A SOFT TOUCH

Delicate shades combine to create a tranquil backdrop to busy family life in Lisa Chapple’s home

Decorated in delicate shades of dusty rose and lavender and with plenty of comfortable furniture, the calming interior of this Tudor manor in Norfolk is the ideal antidote to busy family life

With five children and myriad school runs to tackle each day, Lisa Chapple and her husband Paul decided eight years ago to move from north London to Norfolk. ‘The joy of finding a fantastic school that could take all five was the prompt,’ recalls Lisa. ‘We took each of our children to visit the school and, on one trip, we received a notification that this house was for sale – we fell in love with it and made an offer on the spot.’

Dating back to 1485 and Grade II* listed, the property has plenty of historic character, including two turrets with tiny windows believed to have once been used by the resident monks to feed the birds. ‘We first saw the house on an autumn evening, lit with candles, and the feeling of peace was special,’ says Lisa. Run for 20 years as a hotel, the property’s most recent owners had removed its partition walls and heavy drapes to leave a simple white canvas upon which Lisa and Paul felt able to build a welcoming home for their children, now aged 22 to 12, plus Lily the golden Labrador, three Bengal cats and a flock of chickens.

The family took time to get to know the area and the house before beginning the renovations two years ago. ‘We knew we had work to do, but other things took over as we adapted to country life,’ says Lisa. ‘A year would go by, then another… but it wasn’t time wasted as it proved to be a good way to understand how the house worked.’ With a background in fashion, Lisa had plenty of creative plans, but felt she needed interior designers to turn her ideas into reality. ‘A good friend recommended Emily Holder and Danielle Marsh of Wells and Maguire, and they were brilliant at making the house feel more like a home,’ she explains.

After admiring the pink-painted houses in Morocco while on holiday, Lisa was inspired to develop her love of shades of dusty rose, blush and lavender in her home. Her brief was to combine these soft tones to create calm spaces that also celebrated the period features of the house, including original fireplaces, sash windows and shutters. ‘Emily and Danielle didn’t try to take over, but instead were fantastic at creating inspired room schemes that manage to be both grown up and familyfriendly,’ says Lisa. ‘I can honestly say that, though the project was huge, I enjoyed it from start to finish.’

Given that the house often resounds to the sounds of the children’s musical instruments and that friends make frequent appearances, Lisa says that the gentle decor creates the perfect foil to busy family life. ‘Making the house comfortable and designed to suit the way we live means that we use every inch of space, and use it well,’ says Lisa. ‘We’re very happy here.’

SITTING ROOM Cool white and grey shades balance the warm tones of blush and lavender. Young Bean sofas, from £1,745 each; Oops-a-lazy footstool, £595, all in Lavender brushed cotton, Loaf. Stem chandelier with Orchid shades, from £3,833, Tigermoth Lighting. Floor in Strong White modern eggshell, £71 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball DINING ROOM A glimpse of the kitchen shows the wine store, which is accessed by a ladder that slides away when the larder, below, is in use. Kendall Rose chairs, £79 each, Dunelm. Antique white leaves chandelier, £580, Cox & Cox. Simple wall lights, £156 each, with Rose Smoke silk shades, from £180 each, Porta Romana

KITCHEN-DINER Two sides of the cook’s table are designed as areas for the family to gather over breakfast. Bespoke table and stools, Plain English. Units made by a local joiner and painted in French Grey intelligent satinwood, £73.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. The classic factory pendant lights, £174 each, Trainspotters, have a similar look

MASTER BEDROOM Crystal lights add a note of glamour. Clear crystal maxi pendants, from £617 each; shallow chandelier, from £2,251, all Tigermoth Lighting. For a similar bed, try the Coniston, from £4,690, Turnpost. Chaise reupholstered in Ice Blossom cotton velvet, £86.50m, Kirkby Design

MASTER EN SUITE The freestanding bath was positioned below the large window for the best view of the trees outside. Picasso bath, from £1,295; bath-shower mixer in Brushed Gold, £595, are similar, both Lusso Stone. Try the Oska Powder Pink tiles, £46.34sq m, Mandarin Stone

DRESSING ROOM A sleek bespoke vanity unit was designed to provide storage for Lisa’s cosmetics and jewellery. Unit with Silestone quartz top by Wells and Maguire. Picasso basin, £195, Lusso Stone. Heritage Hemsby basin mixer in Rose Gold, £349.95, Victorian Plumbing