• SOMERSET TOWNHOUSE

Helen and Alex Pett have turned their seaside home into both a relaxing family space and a welcoming client retreat for their business

A former guest house, this seaside property now doubles as a business base and family home

Making the move from a two-bedroom cottage in Teddington to a six-bedroom seafront townhouse in Clevedon, Somerset, marked a significant change for Helen and Alex Pett. ‘We both turned 40, we’d started a family and Alex had set up his own leadership consultancy,’ says Helen. No longer wedded to city life, they followed their dream to move to the coast in 2016, with their daughter, then five.

‘As Alex is a keen paddle boarder and surfer, we had been considering Cornwall, but felt it was just too far for our clients to travel,’ says Helen. ‘Fifteen years ago, we bought our first home together in Clevedon, selling it in 2007 when we relocated to London for work. This time, local friends suggested we see what we could afford in the town, and this house came up. It instantly drew us in – views of the sea and pier from all the front rooms; the beach just over the road, and a family home with more character and potential than we could have imagined, but roomy enough to host residential workshops for Alex’s business.’ The buying process took six months to complete and, in February 2016, the couple moved back to the area and friends they loved.

One of 15 seafront properties in a row, the house was well known within the town as a former guest >

house. ‘When we first moved in, locals would stop and tell us tales of wedding nights, engagement parties and family stays here,’ says Helen. ‘It is lovely to be the custodians of such an interesting home.’

Helen worked closely with the listed buildings and local heritage team, agreeing what changes could be made. ‘We were lucky, as lots of work had been completed by the previous owner, such as built-in joinery, cornice restoration and the installation of a new Harvey Jones kitchen and family bathroom,’ she says. ‘Our early focus was on fixing practical issues – damp proofing, renovating the sash windows to weatherproof the house, installing new pewter-style radiators and landscaping the garden to maximise the view.’

The double-fronted home now enjoys the everchanging seascape and magnificent sunsets from the living room and dining room situated on either side of the elegant hallway. To the rear, a cosy playroom leads into the kitchen, separate utility and a private courtyard garden. ‘Structurally, the layout has remained unchanged but we resprayed the kitchen cabinets in situ, replaced the light fittings and reinstated the bedroom shutters,’ says Helen. On the top floor, home to their daughter’s bedroom and a further guest room, >

❝ I USED THE VIEW AS MY INSPIRATION, CHOOSING A CALMING PALETTE OF SOFT BLUE AND GREY SHADES ❞

❝ I WANTED THE HOUSE TO HAVE A BOUTIQUE-HOTEL FEEL, YET BE A COSY AND WELCOMING FAMILY HOME ❞

the couple have updated the en-suite shower space. ‘The main bathroom is the next project,’ says Helen.

Throughout the transformation, Helen worked with local specialists. A trusted painter, Greg Griffiths, worked with the couple for two years, restoring old floorboards, redecorating every room and transforming old furniture finds with new decorative finishes.

While in London, Helen completed an interior design course and these skills have been put to good use, both on this project and now also for other local clients. ‘I used the view as my inspiration, choosing a calming palette of soft greys and blues,’ she says. ‘I wanted the house to feel elegant and sophisticated, with a boutique-hotel feel – more formal when work guests stay, yet cosy and welcoming as a family home.’

Furniture shapes, in keeping with the Georgian architecture, are dressed in rich velvets, soft wools, linen and pretty cotton florals; and spaces are calm and uncluttered. Furniture, decorative accessories and a mix of old and new lighting has been sourced locally, and artwork by the couple’s favourite Cornish artist, Imogen Bone, takes centre stage in the house. ‘The house feels like a gift,’ says Helen, ‘and every day, we feel very fortunate to be here.’

Living room The fireplace creates a focal point, while a soft grey palette lends a calm ambience. Walls in French Grey Mid, Little Greene. Sofas, Swoon. Chandelier, Horsfall & Wright

Kitchen-diner The bread oven behind the table is an original feature. Chairs, Peppermill Antiques. Painting, Imogen Bone at The Summerhouse Gallery. Light fitting, Cox & Cox

Kitchen Tired cream units were spray painted to give them a new lease of life. Cabinetry, Harvey Jones, sprayed in French Grey, Little Greene

Hallway An upcycled cupboard has been repainted black and provides valuable storage. Light fitting, Pooky Lighting. Wall unit, Cox & Cox

Living room Dark blue velvet sofas and abstract seascapes create an elegant feel. Sofas, Sofa Workshop. Artwork, Imogen Bone at The Harbour Gallery. Coffee table, Rockett St George

Main bedroom The tranquil space is carpeted to create a cosy feeling underfoot. Throw, Neptune. Bedding and lamps, John Lewis & Partners. Bed, Loaf, painted in Lead, Paint & Paper Library

Daughter’s bedroom Whitewashed floors, pretty bunting and floral fabrics inject a pretty touch. Rug, John Lewis & Partners. Chair, Maisons du Monde. Cushion, Kate Forman

Playroom Stylish panelling and painted boards add relaxed charm. Walls and panelling in Ammonite, Farrow & Ball. Sofa, Made.com

Guest bedroom Tongue and groove acts as a stylish headboard for the twin beds. Panelling in Worsted, Farrow & Ball. Lamp, bedding and throws, John Lewis & Partners. Side table, Garden Trading

Promenade Clevedon Pier on the east shore of the Severn Estuary was described by John Betjeman ‘as the most beautiful in England’

Bathroom The freestanding bath adds a touch of understated luxury. Bath and flooring, Ripples. Stool, Petersham Nurseries. Bath tray, Somerset Flower Farm