No.8
It was a long time coming, but Johanna and Deniz Safer finally found the right house and turned it into the perfect setting for magical get-togethers
FEATURE JANET MCMEEKIN
HOME TRUTHS
THE PROPERTY An extended and renovated 1930s house
ROOMS Sitting/dining room, kitchen, snug, cloakroom, five bedrooms, three bathrooms
LOCATION Kent
DINING ROOM
Johanna is thrilled with her new-look dresser, which has been repurposed from a larder cupboard by adding glazed doors at the top and four doors below the drawers. Dining table and chairs, Neptune.
Christmas tree, The White Company. Lantern lights, Aurora Home. For a similar clock, try the Mora, Nordic Style London. Rug, Dunelm
HALLWAY
A handy storage cupboard fits neatly under the stairs, which have been decorated with a twinkly garland. For similar garland, try The White Company
Johanna Safer loves to decorate her home for Christmas. There’s a rustic wooden sledge and a Christmas tree at her front door, and inside candles provide a glowing welcome to the family for festive celebrations. At one stage, however, Johanna thought they’d never find the right house, let alone be ready to host Christmas there.
‘It was such a challenging journey that Deniz and I had almost given up hope,’ says Johanna. ‘Thankfully, fate intervened and now, when I glance around our gorgeous home, I’m incredibly glad that we hung on and eventually discovered exactly what we were looking for.’
Back in 2017, having renovated their first home in Bexley, Kent, Johanna began getting itchy feet. Although she was still enjoying living in their Victorian house, an online glimpse of an unusual cottage with a moat caught her eye. A roller coaster 18 months was to follow, when the couple bought and lost the moat property, sold their house, lost that buyer then sold again. ‘By that stage, we had definitely decided to move, but couldn’t find a house that ticked all our boxes,’ says Johanna. ‘We didn’t want the upheaval of another major project, but were loathe to buy a house that someone else had renovated.’
Then, out of the blue, they received details of a house that looked perfect. After immediately setting up a viewing, the couple were so impressed that they went back the following day and sealed the deal. ‘I’ll never forget the excitement as I arrived at the house for the first time,’ Johanna says. ‘The exterior was very attractive; a combination of New England and cottage-style all rolled into one. It had definite wow factor!’
SNUG
The symmetry shown in this space is a design feature in itself and gives a very sophisticated look.
Cushions, lampshades and pictures, all Neptune. Alwinton sofas, Sofa & Stuff. Coffee table, The Cotswold Company
