SECOND CHANCE

A calm, considered and carefully restored Norfolk farmhouse

Having decided to relocate to Norfolk, occupational therapist Catherine Davis’ heart soared when she caught sight of a tiny advertisement for an elegant period property in the pages of a magazine. ‘It looked incredibly promising,’ she recalls, ‘and the rural location seemed idyllic. But when I showed the advert to my husband, Simon, we were both curious, if slightly concerned, that there were only shots of the exterior.’ At the time, Catherine had just applied for a job at a hospital in Norwich so, despite their misgivings, they decided to go ahead and arrange to view the intriguing north Norfolk farmhouse.

But a!er a lengthy drive from their Surrey home in November 2002, the moment they set foot inside the property, which dates back to around 1599, it became abundantly clear why there were no shots of the interior. ‘It was a rambling wreck,’ says Catherine. ‘It was languishing in a time warp. The decor was ghastly, with bo"le-green tiles, purple carpets, luminous-yellow walls and nylon curtains.’ Within 20 minutes the couple walked out, feeling totally de#ated.

Weeks later, when Catherine was o$ered the job, the pair were thrown into a complete quandary. ‘The hospital wanted me to start quickly so we knew we’d either have to rent or buy promptly,’ she says. In the end they decided it was worth returning to the farmhouse for another look. ‘This time with more of an open mind,’ says Catherine, adding that she took a video camera and found herself looking beyond the decor and neglect, focusing instead on the wealth of period features: the sweeping staircase, capacious inglenook %replaces, original sash windows and gnarled beams. The couple also noted the wonderful high ceilings and the generous proportions of the rooms.

On reviewing the video footage of their visit, Catherine and Simon agreed that the unloved house o!ered more scope than they "rst thought. At that time, the couple were living in Reigate with twin daughters, Sophie and Flora, and son, Ben. ‘Although we liked our Edwardian home we wanted more outside space,’ Catherine says, and it was a terrifying incident on the M25 motorway that galvanised the couple into crystallising their relocation plans, prompting Catherine to apply for work in Norfolk. ‘During his daily commute to his art director’s job in London, Simon swerved to avoid a piece of debris,’ Catherine says. ‘His car spun 360 degrees and ended up in a completely di!erent lane. Amazingly, no other car was involved.’

Within days of their second viewing, Catherine and Simon put their house on the market and, without a survey, they took a leap of faith, buying the farmhouse complete with its 14 acres. They knew it would be a gruelling renovation, particularly since they were on a tight budget and would have to do much of the work themselves. The lengthy list of jobs included rewiring, re-plumbing (the original lead pipes had to be replaced), installing a more e#cient boiler, sandblasting the beams, replacing windows and redecorating every room. Since the property hadn’t been touched for 80 years, a new kitchen and bathrooms were also essential. The dining room also underwent quite a transformation. ‘The panelling in the room looked

dreadful and was very poor quality,’ says Catherine and so, a!er discovering that it was disguising a stud wall, which in turn was hiding early brick, they decided to expose the entire wall. Within days of moving in, they had removed the 1950s "replace and reinstated the beautiful 10!-wide inglenook with its herringbone bricks and spit hole. Having unearthed dozens of Norfolk pamments [traditional handmade clay #oor tiles] in the garden, the couple used them to create a hearth.

There have been many memorable occasions during the couple’s renovation journey, says Catherine. ‘Finding mummi"ed rats was interesting, especially for Ben who wanted to take them into school for the show and tell session!’ But by far the most dramatic was the evening they discovered the deathwatch beetle infestation in the living room. ‘ We had a friend round for supper, and one minute she was standing in the living room in her stile$os, the next she’d fallen through the wooden #oor!’ Thankfully, and remarkably, she was uninjured, but the fallout was a disaster. ‘It was horri "c,’ says Catherine, explaining that the room had to be gu$ed. ‘Everything had to be replaced, from the joists to the #oorboards.’

Despite the stresses and strains of the project, the couple’s tenacity, energy and positive a$itude have kept them on track. The result is a sophisticated home, brimming with warmth and personal touches. From the outset, Catherine’s vision for the farmhouse was a traditional look with a contemporary twist. ‘During the last 15 years my style has evolved,’ she says. In recent years she has moved on from lighter shades, realising the house can carry bolder, darker hues, which are also a lovely backdrop for their antique furniture and paintings. ‘I’m also very fond of #oral fabrics, including designs by Kate Forman and Cabbages & Roses, which seem to suit the character of our farmhouse.’

Not put o% by the restoration dramas of the farmhouse, the couple have now renovated several holiday co$ages, and Simon, who has been dealing in antiques since he was 16, has established a thriving antiques business: Country Home Antiques. It’s fair to say that neither Simon nor Catherine have looked back since making the move to Norfolk over 20 years ago. ‘It’s incredible to think that we once turned our backs on this farmhouse,’ says Catherine. ‘ We have de"nitely poured our hearts and souls into restoring every inch of the property.’ In return, it has provided them with a very happy home they clearly adore.

For more information on Simon and Catherine’s antiques business and their holiday homes visit: countryhomeantiques.co.uk; norfolkcourtyard.co.uk; stayinwells.co.uk

The house is mentioned in Pevsner’s The Buildings of England for the winding staircase, which is a Georgian addition, and the quality of the carved beams. Since this space is north-facing, Catherine chose a light palette with Farrow & Ball’s Bone on the walls and Old White for the woodwork. The 19th-century French ceiling light was bought at Shepton Mallet antiques fair.

The family room is a relaxed space. Walls have been painted in London Stone by Farrow & Ball. The antlers, mounted on a Black Forest plaque, came from Ardingly antiques fair.

The Gothic-style door is a delightful feature in the farmhouse kitchen. Originally from a police station, it was cut to fit perfectly into the original doorway space. The Aga was bought on eBay and took Catherine three days to clean.

BELOW LEFT Gilded wooden Hovis Brown letters are a focal point in the kitchen. They were bought by Simon about 10 years ago from Norfolk Antique & Collectors Fair. The elm chairs and table once belonged to Simon’s mother. The Gustavian bench, dating from around 1890, is from Hungary and Catherine painted it in Autentico Chalk Grey. For similar benches try Country Home Antiques. BELOW RIGHT Catherine’s ever-growing collection of white antique ironstone makes an attractive display above the table in the corner of the kitchen.

The dresser, made by furniture makers Bylaw from period oak timbers, is where the couple display their collection of Burleigh Asiatic Pheasants ceramics. The chandelier is from Holt Antiques & Interiors Centre and the English butcher’s hod is from Country Home Antiques. The18th-century pear wood table was bought privately and the chairs were purchased at a local auction. All the items in the inglenook and the painted iron candlesticks on the table are from the couple’s business, Country Home Antiques.

ABOVE This bedroom has been totally transformed from a rat-infested attic into a welcoming space that’s ideal when young guests come to visit. The bedding and curtains are from Cabbages & Roses. The walls have been painted in Stony Ground by Farrow & Ball. The wardrobe was bought at a local auction. BELOW A pretty headboard, upholstered in Kate Forman’s Roses fabric, is a striking feature in the couple’s master bedroom. For similar grainsack cushions try Tobias Interiors. The antique French sofa was sourced in France and upholstered in Kate Forman’s Roses Blue fabric.

Curtains made up in Kate Forman’s Roses fabric pull this restful scheme together. The dressing table used to belong to Catherine’s grandmother. The Hungarian wardrobe was bought at a trade fair. The walls have been painted in Stony Ground by Farrow & Ball.

ABOVE LEFT With its vaulted ceiling, the guest bathroom is a tranquil sanctuary. The freestanding bath from Bathstore has been painted in Shaded White by Farrow & Ball. The wooden painted bobbin-legged gypsy table was sourced from a local auction house. ABOVE RIGHT Daughter Flora’s pretty bedroom has a romantic feel, inspired by a bargain-find bed, bought from a French brocante for just £24. The bed was painted in Zinsser primer and then Farrow & Ball’s French Gray. The wall lights were sourced during a buying trip to France.