No.12
Sally-Ann and Simon Habin swapped their large Victorian property for a beachside new build which has become a magnet for family and friends
FEATURE JULIET BENNING
EXTERIOR
Glass balcony balustrades allow an uninterrupted view of the sea and the steps to the beach can be retracted in bad weather
I think there are only about 50 houses on the island that sit right on the beach so we consider ourselves to be very lucky,’ says Sally-Ann Habin, speaking from the home she shares with her husband Simon in Jersey. Sally-Ann, a counsellor, and Simon, a lawyer, had the house designed and built in 2019 and have now spent four blissful years living here.
With grown-up children, Charlotte, Joshua, Emily, Ned and Sally-Ann’s stepson Ben, having flown the nest, the couple set their sights on a new way of life. ‘We had a large Victorian house three miles away. It was surrounded by fields and had a swimming pool but once the children left we realised it was just too big for us,’ explains Sally-Ann. When a house on the beach came up for sale the pair jumped at the opportunity. ‘It was ugly, with lots of rooms and low ceilings, so we demolished it and commissioned Godel Architects to design a new one.’
London-based interior designer Amanda Durham designed all the room layouts and made frequent trips to the house. ‘Jersey is a tiny island and there isn’t much inspiration here but Amanda was full of ideas. We also took trips to London to source wallpaper and flooring. She suggested custom-made lights by designers in New York. There’s no way I could have done it on my own,’ Sally-Ann says.
Sally-Ann was eager to capture the look and feel of a California beach house with huge windows and balconies with glass balustrades. ‘I love high ceilings and wanted it to be breezy, light and uncomplicated,’ she says. ‘I didn’t want it to be sparse. It’s homely and welcoming. I don’t care about sand so I never ask guests to take their shoes off. People are overwhelmed by the sense of escapism when they come to stay.’
Much of the warmth comes from Sally-Ann’s antique furniture, rugs and art. ‘I’m a collector by nature. I have no talent – Ijust like what I like. I get my art from Cadogan Gallery in South Kensington. I mostly only hang mirrors – Iprefer to leave art propped against a wall as it looks more casual.’
The beach itself has provided the backdrop to the couple’s active lifestyle. ‘We are 30 seconds from the beach so I can just scoot down there and walk our Maltese terriers, Nina Simone and Louis Armstrong,’ says Sally-Ann. ‘Simon has a small boat – he goes off and catches crab and lobster for lunch.’ The weather, too, is a character in the
