Welcome to our home
Adesire to be closer to the action prompted John and Anna’s move to this house. ‘We had itchy feet and wanted to live closer to Rye town centre so we could walk home from the pub,’ says John. ‘Our old house was off a quiet lane in the middle of nowhere, 15 minutes’ drive from Rye. This house (then a bungalow) was in a sad state, very tired and dated. We fell in love with its location and potential.
‘We went for a total reinvention and put our own stamp on it. From floors to walls, colours to finishes… nothing stayed the same,’ says John. The couple supersized the bungalow, turning it into a two-storey, shiplap-clad house. The footprint was increased by adding ‘wings’ either side of the main living space. The perimeter walls and the bedroom areas remained, but everything else was opened up. None of the original decor or fittings was retained. ‘Thankfully, we had a brilliant team of builders and the renovation went really smoothly.’
The plot had outbuildings, which the couple have also transformed. ‘Two are self-contained studio houses
– one is a chillout space/games room and office. We rent out one of the studios as a holiday let,’ says John.
For the interior, John and Anna worked hand in hand. ‘We share a love for the same aesthetics and our style is fresh, funky and eclectic,’ says John. ‘We don’t take things too seriously – it’s so easy to play it safe and take the obvious option, but we prefer to push boundaries and have fun with it. Our eclectic style was inspired by trips to Marfa in Texas and Montauk in Long Island. We’ve kept away from shabby chic seaside clichés and created a luxurious, laid-back environment.’
To stay in the studio, email anna@cunning.com.
“We’re by the river here, so the energy and view amazing” are