PLANNING AHEAD
The timeless schemes in this rejuvenated Devon townhouse were designed to be enjoyed now and in the years to come
Interior designer Holly Keeling (@hollykeelinginteriors) doesn’t do things by halves. ‘I’ve always taken a leap of faith when it comes to new opportunities,’ she laughs. For many years, her studio and showroom were in a converted barn next to the rural Georgian farmhouse she shares with her cardiologist husband Philip and their three children Ben, 22, Louis, 20, and Charlotte, 15, in Devon. But with the family growing fast, the couple began to feel their rambling home was not only going to be too big for just the two of them, but also a little remote.
It was serendipitous, therefore, that the solution to both ambitions presented itself four years ago in the form of an old shoe shop with a tall townhouse adjoining it in Totnes. ‘We had no doubt this property would tick all the boxes,’ says Holly. However, the couple were not yet ready to uproot from their family home, so after much discussion they decided that along with turning the shop into an interiors emporium, they would renovate the house and market it as a boutique holiday retreat for the next few years.
The entire Grade-ll listed property has a rich and convoluted history. ‘Much of it is Georgian, but some parts date back as far as the 13th century,’ Holly explains. ‘It was a lot to take on, but exciting, too.’ The tired shop was tackled first and after an extensive renovation is now an eclectic Aladdin’s cave of a lifestyle store.
The house, which is entered via the courtyard at the back of the property, was in a similarly neglected state. ‘It took quite a bit of visualising to see how it could be transformed,’
design tip ‘Be brave enough to mix things up. I love classic furniture and florals but will happily mix these with bohemian or industrial pieces’
laughs Holly. She decided that the original footprint should be more or less adhered to – though a bedroom in the eaves was sacrificed to create a generous bathroom and what was a cramped kitchen and dated bathroom on the first floor was turned into a practical kitchen.
‘Luckily, many of the Georgian features were still in place,’ says Holly. We were thrilled to find the original double doors between the sitting room and the dining area had been stored in the cellar – apparently, they’d been blown off by a nearby explosion during the Second World War. Holly also realised that once the crumbling plaster covering a wall in the dining room was removed, there was every chance the original fireplace and chimney breast would be revealed. ‘I got the builders to keep chipping away – it was thrilling when the arch of the fireplace was slowly revealed.’
Once all the essential renovation work had been completed, Holly was finally able to bring her decorating skills to the project. The palette employs mainly blues, soft greys and off-whites, while her love of classic pattern is seen in the master suite’s beautiful wallpaper and in the soft furnishings throughout. ‘The house has a wonderful Georgian elegance that I’ve tried to complement, but I also felt it was important to add contemporary pieces to make the overall scheme more interesting.’
Following their original plan, the house is now let out to holidaymakers (Number Six is available to rent at boutique-retreats.co.uk). Holly and Philip also like to stay here whenever they can, getting a taste of what it will be like when they move here permanently. ‘We’re road-testing it for our future,’ laughs Holly.