A pretty, centuries-old cottage with magnificent views of the South Downs national park
The question of whether to move out of the city in search of more space is one that plagues most urban dwellers–but for interior designer Anna Hewitson, it wasn't a question of if, but when. “We’d always known that we wanted to move out of London. My husband and I both grew up in old, country houses - climbing trees - and that's what we wanted for our children,” she explains
The pandemic was the push they needed to start seriously looking and, after some time searching, Anna and her husband came across an unloved 300-year-old cottage. ‘As it's set at the top of a hill, it has beautiful views of the South Downs national park all around,’ Anna says–and though it was a far cry from the Victorian terrace the family had called home for the past 15 years, Anna could immediately see its potential. The only issue? ‘Every room needed doing.’
When work began on the inside of the cottage, a healthy dose of reality and practicality required Anna to take her own advice. ‘I always tell my clients to live in a house for a bit as your priorities change so much–and because we were living in the house during the renovations, we couldn’t do everything at once.’ The family needed to wait about a year before they could start on the kitchen, and by the time that came around, Anna knew ’exactly what to do with it.’
Testament to her patience, the kitchen has ended up being the family's favourite room. ‘We stole a bit of space from the bedroom above and raised the ceiling, which makes the whole space feel more grand. It's definitely the room people are most drawn to. Plus, it has that gorgeous view out the windows. It was very freeing to do something slow, progressive, ongoing–having carte blanche in a way. Being able to take my time has been a real advantage in the way that the house feels.’
Just as the decoration of the rooms morphed and moulded around the family, so did the function. As Anna says, ‘there's this funny, big hallway that initially I thought we needed to reconfigure. I thought I could put a wood burner in and turn it into a dining room, but, bizarrely, the kids love having that space and just sprawling out. It’s funny how your use changes when you’ve been living in a place for a while. I think they’d kill me if I turned it into a dining room now!’
Ultimately, it was what lay beyond the cottage walls that sold the move to Anna and her family. ‘In London, we could only see as far as our neighbour's house,’ she explains. ‘Here, we have a farm a few fields away and a hamlet down the road, but we are so secluded. I thought it would be a bit disconcerting at first, but the view just makes it feel so special.’ The property also came with a lovely little cottage garden. ‘Not too huge, thank goodness–it's so much work!’ Anna says. ‘It's a bit wild, but it's been a game changer. The children love having the extra space to charge around in.’
What's next for this 300-year-old cottage? More patience, and more time. ‘I think houses get more beautiful the longer people are in them. They might get more cluttered, but they also gain a stronger sense of identity. The longer we are here, the better this house will get. Its not a big house - we don't have expansive rooms that never get used - but it works and every room has a purpose.’
Anna Hewitson | annahewitson.com
Boz Gagovski1/19The kitchen is the room the family spend the most time in, so Anna wanted to be sure all aspects were right. The worktops are Arabescato marble, and the cabinets are from Luckin Kitchens, pained in Farrow & Ball's ‘French Grey’. The walls are a complementary colour, for which Anna chose Paint & Paper Library ‘Stone III’. The blinds are Robert Kime.
Boz Gagovski2/19The bar stools are from The Marchmont Workshop, and have been painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Studio Green’. The wall lights are from The Limehouse Lighting Company and the pendant lights are Matilda Goad.
Boz Gagovski3/19Anna chose Carl Hansen Wishbone Chairs to sit around the antique refectory table she bought at Modants. The inside of the cabinet has been painted in Sanderson's ‘Squirrel’.
Boz Gagovski4/19The artwork above the dresser in the kitchen is by Caroline Popham and the other piece is by Tracy Emin.
Boz Gagovski5/19Anna inherited the dresser and has decorated it with a Pooky lamp and Penny Morrison lampshade.
Boz Gagovski6/19The pantry is painted in ‘Etruscan Brown’ by Edward Bulmer, which picks up the warm colours on the blind from Flora Soames. The cupboard curtains are Howe's 'Little Weed Linen'. The artwork is by Hugo Guinness.
Boz Gagovski7/19“We use our sitting room all the time in the winter. Even though it's mostly external walls and has hopeless radiators, we put the fire on all the time which makes it the cosiest place," says Anna.
The sofas are from Lorfords, with some cushions from Pierre Frey and others made up in Claremont fabrics. The footstool is covered in Guy Goodfellow's ‘Olive Sacking’.
Boz Gagovski8/19“If tall people come over, they do have to duck,” Anna jokes in reference to the low ceilings.
The walls and ceiling are painted in Edward Bulmer's ‘Clove’. The curtains and blinds are Soane's ‘Scrolling Fern’, and the blue lamp is from Vaughan. The armchair is covered in ‘Paw Print Linen’, also from Soane.
Boz Gagovski9/19The antique chest was inherited from Anna's grandmother ("She was Swedish and had a real passion for antiques!"). The painting is of Burnham Overy Staithe, North Norfolk by James Hart Dyke. The armchair is an antique upholstered in Fermoie linen.
Boz Gagovski10/19In the primary bedroom, Anna has chosen a Robert Kime wallpaper called ‘Cabbages’. The bed has been upholstered in Namay Samay, and the cushions are from Penny Morrison.
Boz Gagovski11/19The bedside tables are from Alfred Newall, with table lamps from Hector Finch with shades from Matilda Goad.
Boz Gagovski12/19The wardrobes in the primary bedroom were made bespoke, with internal fabric by Chelsea Textiles in their ‘Carnation’ print. The lamp is from Oka with a Fermoie shade. The mirror is Pooky.
Boz Gagovski13/19In the bathroom, the wallpaper is Isabella Worsley's ‘Cadogan Vine’ and the mirror is from Etalage. The tongue and groove panelling is painted in Edward Bulmer's ‘Clove’.
Boz Gagovski14/19The wall lights are Pooky and the sink and taps are from Burlington.
Boz Gagovski15/19In the second bedroom, Anna chose Edward Bulmer's ‘Clove’ again, this time in their 60% shade. The bedside tables are from Chelsea Textiles, the lamp is Vaughan. The bedhead fabric is from Fermoie and the cushions are from Pierre Frey.
Boz Gagovski16/19The bed in this smart children's bedroom is made by Alfred Newall and painted in Paint & Paper Library's ‘Beetlenut’, a rich red shade. The rug is from Tinsmiths, the side table is OKA and the blind is Susie Atkinson. The walls are Paint & Paper Library ‘Clay V’.
Boz Gagovski17/19The boot room cabinets were also made by Luckin Kitchens and painted in Paint & Paper Library's ‘Hornblade’. The blind is Robert Kime ‘Poppy’ and the wall light is from Hector Finch.
Boz Gagovski18/19The café curtain is from Cheslea Textiles and is their ‘Tiny Stripe’ print. The seat cushion is Howe's ‘Frude’ fabric.
Boz Gagovski19/19
