Maria Jones and her partner Al Bauckham had no plans to move, but everything changed when Al spotted a For Sale sign in a village near their home in Somerset. Stopping to investigate, he discovered a large, former chapel, occupied by an antiques dealer, and brimming with character. It seemed ideal for Maria’s florist business, with room at the back for a workshop for Al, who is a builder. Maria was keen until Al suggested that they could live there too. ‘I wasn’t expecting that,’ she says. ‘Thinking it over, I could see it made sense, though I was really unsure at first.’ Al’s idea was to establish their businesses on the ground floor and transform the storage area above into a proper first level where they could make their home. Despite her doubts, Maria agreed, ‘It was going to be a huge challenge, but I knew we’d regret it if we let the opportunity slip away,’ she says.
Maria’s large corner sofa is one of a handful of pieces of furniture brought from her previous home. Piled with throws and cushions it softens the room and the ‘L’-shape creates a cosy seating area. The dramatic metal lighting above was found at a local vintage market