FADED GLAMOUR
IT MAY BE A LITTLE ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES, BUT THE VINTAGE FINDS IN THIS WEST COUNTRY HOME CREATE A GLORIOUSLY DECADENT, YET LIVED- IN STYLE
Precious pieces of antique furniture that have become slightly battered over the decades become all the more charming when playfully juxtaposed with more contemporary, colourful pieces in this family home in the West Country. Helen Kenny, who has lived in the property with her partner Jamie and their two teenage children since 2015, sums up the style of the Grade II listed old rectory as, “A bit of a mix - think 1770s smooching with some 1970s French chic thrown in.”
Her description is spot on as the house has all the charm of a country home, but with a slightly rock ’n’ roll edge. From the sophisticated light-filled living room adorned with chandeliers and a vintage chaise longue to the cosy kitchen stacked with second-hand chairs and dried flowers, the home is a mix of rooms that are opulent and grand, yet loved and lived-in.
The couple have spent years restoring the original features of the six-bedroomed house that previous owners had either neglected or torn out. But the process of their renovation and the pieces they have furnished it with make it ooze with style.
A HOUSE OF TWO HALVES
On the south side of the Georgian property ceilings are high and benefit from long sash windows. Helen and Jamie have cleverly played with the added light these give by using a subtle palette of neutrals and pastels, pale textiles, clean lines and well-chosen furniture to create a calm, serene and elegant mood.
The drawing room with its white walls, pale painted floorboards and retro furniture has a slightly decadent feel. A bold curved 70s sofa from Geoffrey Harcourt, which has been brought back to life by Karen Naismith Robertson in Frome, Somerset, takes centre stage.
The soft palette creates a room that is elegant and serene, while the glass tables and Anglepoise lamps lend a contemporary edge.
A pair of antique buttoned chairs covered in powder blue velvet bring a jolt of colour to the grand hallway. To accentuate the classic features, such as the original panelling on the walls, and to make the most of the light which floods in from the arched window, the couple have painted the area an antique white.
A Roger Oates bordered runner takes you up the stairs to the bedrooms and a bathroom which has a distinctly »
“THE HOUSE IS A BIT OF A MIX OF STYLES, THINK 1770S SMOOCHING WITH SOME 1970S FRENCH CHIC THROWN IN”
Moroccan feeling. Ivory mosaic tiles cover the back wall, the sunken window dressed with vintage china and mosaic-style paper surrounds the bath. Antique crystal candle sconces also line the walls, giving off a warm glow throughout, making a soak in the tub very inviting.
STEP BACK IN TIME
The oldest part of the rectory dates back to 1620 so, characteristic of that period, it has low ceilings and is quite dark. However, the Kennys have used it to their advantage by creating warm, cosy areas, at their most appealing on a cold winter’s night.
There is a change of pace when you enter the older parts of the property, especially the welcoming kitchen with its pale blue Aga. Helen, who describes her kitchen as “robust” wanted to make the most of the original features such as the stone floor and charming window seat, which is bathed in sunlight in the mornings. To show them off she filled it with a mix of old tables, cupboards and chairs, sourced locally and from trips to France, giving it a shabby chic feeling that makes it incredibly homely – and is especially loved by the family’s Irish Terrier Ardghal.
There is a sense of drama though when it comes to the bedroom, which feels rather French. A dusky red chaise longue, found in an antiques shop in Brighton, brings a touch of theatre to Helen’s dressing room, which leads directly off the master bedroom.
The Kennys’ en-suite bathroom also has a feeling of decadent days gone by. The walls have been lined with panels of lace from the renowned weavers Morton, Young and Borland of Scotland in collaboration with Timorous Beasties. With an antique gilt mirror hanging over the darkly-painted rolltop bath, it’s boudoir chic at its best. While the influences throughout the house may be broad, the love they have put in restoring the house and embracing its past has made it a real home.