RUSTIC BEAUTY

Cathy Miller’s design choices were influenced by her love of the Tuscan countryside, resulting in a home that’s full of light and natural charm

This homeowner brought a relaxed Tuscan flavour to her spacious Surrey home

Cathy Miller has a long-held love of Italy and has spent many happy family holidays there with her husband Alan, grown-up twin sons Callum and Jack, and daughter Stacey. The couple also got married in Tuscany and many of the elements of Italian life and design are visible in their Surrey home, which they also share with Hector the cockapoo and cats Ruby and Sushi.

‘I have always admired the Renaissance-style plaster finish walls we’ve seen in old Italian villas and Palazzi, and wanted to recreate that, but I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted,’ says Cathy. Luckily, a clever artist friend offered to help and arrived with an array of paint pots, brushes and rags, and spent hours layering and adding texture. ‘I’m thrilled with the results. She has done the hallway, and I’m already preparing to ask her to do the kitchen.’

The family lived in the house for six months before tackling their first project, the kitchen-diner – previously two gloomy rooms with black wooden ceilings and no functional work space. ‘I come from a large Greek family and have inherited a love of entertaining, so we wanted a big, light-filled room where we could cook and talk to guests, and sit lots of people around the table,’ says Cathy. ‘It’s now my favourite room – it’s practical and homely but reflects my design tastes.’

During the summer, the Millers love to make full use

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of their outdoor area, where a green oak beamed orangery was added to create a place to relax and read surrounded by Italian lemon trees and greenery. A beautiful stone garden room was also built. ‘We love to be in the garden, but the British weather often has other ideas so we wanted somewhere that was open-fronted but warm and dry where we can enjoy the garden and surrounding views,’ Cathy says. A large fireplace allows the space to be used throughout the year for the family and their friends to gather, with candles and festoon lights providing a cosy glow as darkness falls.

Describing her style as ‘rustic antique, with a touch of glamour and decadence, heavily influenced by Italian travels’, Cathy loves to mix vintage finds, commissioned pieces and new items to create a characterful home. ‘It’s also important to me that people feel comfortable in here and are able to relax, so nothing is too precious and rooms are practical with plenty of cosy seating,’ she adds.

With the house complete, Cathy is already dreaming up her next projects, which include turning an old well hole into a wine cellar. Meanwhile, she has collaborated with a local business, antique and vintage sellers Louisa Grace Interiors, to open Café Chai on Banstead High Street where she has created a stylish and relaxed space featuring the same vintage and plaster finishes as her home.

‘I love people, design and entertaining so this is the perfect combination of all my passions,’ Cathy smiles.

BEDROOM

‘I don’t usually use wall coverings but I loved this design and the guest room felt like the ideal place to let my design hair down,’ laughs Cathy. Montserrat light, £475, John Lewis & Partners. For antique gilt Louis XVI mirrors, try Ardingly Antiques Fair

KITCHEN-DINER ‘I found beautiful units online then commissioned our carpenter to make them,’ explains Cathy. Free-standing pieces add to the relaxed feel. Try Broadway’s bespoke Luxury Shaker Kitchen. Blue Pearl Granite worktop, from £215sq m, The Marble Store. Wood and metal industrial stools, £200 each, The English Listed, have this look

HALLWAY An antique mirror adds height, a sense of grandeur and light. Vintage mirror, £2,000; chandelier, £180, both Louisa Grace Interiors

GARDEN ROOM Built to Cathy’s design complete with stone fireplace, this space can be enjoyed all year round. Stone-effect cladding, £50sq m, Fossil Stone Ireland. Outdoor Marlow sofa, £1,649, Bridgman

SITTING ROOM Rustic elegance is achieved with a combination of aged wood finishes and antique pieces. Old Indian Thakat coffee table, £875, Trading Boundaries. Kendal three-seater sofa in Mustard chenille with warm oak legs, £1,911, Darlings of Chelsea, has a similar look. Walls in Mushroom absolute emulsion, £47 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene

MASTER BEDROOM The bed perfectly matches the timber beams, adding richness of colour and symmetry. For a similar dark wood sleigh bed, try the Louie, £449, Time4sleep. The Honeycomb Black and Gold table lamp, £169, Barker & Stonehouse, is a good alternative

BATHROOM A pair of vintage shutters screens off the loo area. Standalone pieces, like the table and chair, are indulgent touches. The Bath Co Traditional roll-top bath, £1,219, Victoria Plum. Shutters, £300, Trading Boundaries. Amtico Antique Wood Luxury Vinyl flooring, £51.97m, Luxury Flooring. Walls in French Linen wall paint, £41.95 for 2.5ltr, Annie Sloan