WEST SUSSEX CHAPEL

Searching for the perfect seaside home, this couple instantly knew this was the property for them

Having scoured the south coast of England for months in their quest to find a property near the sea, Mandy and Grant Mcpherson were enchanted the moment they discovered the picturesque West Sussex village of Bosham. Minutes later, after setting foot in an historic converted chapel, the pair knew their search was over. ‘Suddenly, it all fell into place,’ says Mandy. ‘Within days of viewing this unique house, we snapped it up.’ Back in 2016, the Mcphersons, who live in the Cotswolds, began hankering after a coastal bolthole. ‘Although we love our country home, it couldn’t be more landlocked,’ says Mandy. ‘Grant originally hails from a coastal town in Lancashire and he frequently talked about spending more time by the sea.’ The Mcphersons decided to look for a second home, for weekends and holidays. Starting in Cornwall but quickly realising it was too far away to be practical, the couple searched further east until, in February 2017, they viewed a house on the Hampshire coast. ‘Disappointed by that viewing, we rang our son, Calum, who suggested we look at Bosham – a place he’d fallen in love with while visiting friends,’ says Mandy. Following Calum’s advice, the Mcphersons did a swift online search of properties for sale in Bosham, and

❝ I had to strike a balance between defining each space while creating a cohesive overall look❞

were intrigued by a former chapel. They immediately arranged to see it. ‘Before the viewing, Grant and I took a stroll around the harbourside village and couldn’t believe our eyes,’ says Mandy. ‘It was breathtaking. As we sat down on a wooden bench on the quay to take in the view of boats bobbing gently in the wind, we understood why Calum had urged us to visit.’ Enthralled with the location, the Mcphersons were delighted when they walked into the chapel. The doors opened on to a double-height living space, with stairs leading up to two bedrooms on a large mezzanine, with a view down to the open-plan ground floor. At the back of the property, a hidden deck makes a tranquil space to sit and watch the stream that slowly drifts by to the sea. The couple recognised the potential to transform it into a lovely, relaxed lock-up-and-leave home, without the upheaval of any structural work. ‘It was a blank canvas, crying out for TLC,’ says Mandy. ‘Although I loved the fact that it was so spacious, I knew I’d need to think carefully about the ground floor to strike a balance between zoning each area while creating a cohesive overall look.’ Determined to give the sitting area a focal point, Mandy and Grant designed a shiplap wall to include recesses for a television and feature fire, plus storage

areas to the sides. ‘With the chapel being so close to the water, I was keen to inject a New England flavour and introduced a palette of coastal hues, including greys and blues, to reflect the nautical surroundings,’ says Mandy. ‘I then added the occasional pop of red for impact. The key was being bold and not being afraid of choosing large pieces of furniture and artwork.’ Mandy has thoroughly enjoyed her interiors journey to create a personal, inviting coastal retreat. ‘Everyone has been so supportive of our venture,’ she says. ‘For example, the shop owners I bought the dining table from in Gloucestershire don’t normally deliver as far away as West Sussex. But they made an exception, as the gentleman had such fond memories of staying at his grandfather’s Bosham cottage.’ There’s no doubt that buying the coastal home has added a special dimension to the Mcphersons’ life. ‘We adore our visits to Bosham,’ says Mandy. ‘In fact, we’ve recently decided to rent the chapel out when we’re not here, so others can enjoy the area too. Whether it’s a stroll around the harbour with Maddie, or exploring further afield, there’s just so much to do. In fact, neither Grant nor I feel we will ever tire of our exceptionally lucky find, or our new coastal lifestyle.’

❝I Introduced coastal hues, Including greys and blues, to reflect our nautical location❞