Discovered at a time when she yearned for the countryside but also the convenience and culture of the city, the house’s large garden and close proximity to both, offered the opportunity to enjoy the best of both worlds. Tamsin (Saunders of Home & Found) set about completely reconfiguring the internal layout, focusing on the views of the natural world outside and, in so doing, attempting to capture its light, energy and spirit. She extended both out and up, ensuring the additions were a natural extension of the house’s original design and the local vernacular. Storage was meticulously planned – cupboards are tucked into every void, appliances are hidden, and internal work rooms/ storage spaces are concealed. True to Tamsin’s philosophy of making use of what already exists rather than buying new, the house is furnished entirely with vintage pieces collected over many years. It is elegant but simply furnished and practical – a modest family home which offers a sense of shelter, an opportunity to retreat and re-energise and reconnect with nature away from the ‘busyness’ of the modern world.
This is basically my ideal home until I retire – something in the city that has all the perks of country living. Stay tuned for a post on her garden studio! Photos: Sarah Rainer & Christopher Horwood.