Practical magic

Sarah Southwell has conjured up a spellbinding mix of charm and colour throughout her 17th-century country home, transforming it into a special place for all the family

FEATURE SARA EMSLIE

PHOTOGRAPHS BRENT DARBY

THIS IMAGE & LEFT Classic Shaker-style cabinets and a butler’s sink from Shaws of Darwen add heritage style to the large kitchen. For similar cabinets, try Plain English, and for a similar marble worktop, try Mandarin Stone. The pendant lights and kitchen island stools are from deVOL

Arun-down manor house with an intriguing interior full of nooks and crannies not only appealed to interior designer Sarah Southwell, but to her three young sons, too. Keen to move to the country to give the boys what she describes as a ‘free-range’ childhood, with space and fresh air, Sarah and her husband Nick also wanted a home with an interior that delivered on intrigue; a magical space that would provide the perfect environment for nurturing young imaginations.

Having sold their previous property in London, the family rented for almost a year until this Grade II-listed manor house in the picturesque Somerset countryside came on the market. ‘We decided we wanted it before we had even gone inside,’ Sarah explains. ‘We instantly loved the stone and mullion windows, the beautiful front facade and huge oak 17th-century front door. It even reminded my husband of his grandmother’s house!’ Everyone, it seemed, was happy; particularly Sarah. ‘I wanted a big project to get my teeth into,’ she continues, adding that one of the other reasons to move to this part of the country was to grow her interior design business and concentrate on period English country homes. The manor house fitted the brief perfectly. ‘I wanted to create a cosy and magical family home, a space which looked as if it had always been here but had just been updated,’ she explains. ‘A traditional English house with a few interesting twists along the way.’