No.5
Kat Henham transformed her dated suburban home into a flawless example of contemporary rural style
STYLING KASIA TUREK
KITCHEN
Kat refinished the cabinetry in washable paint, but fortunately didn’t need to change the worktop or the ceramic sink.
Cabinetry in Cotton White, V33. Blind in Oxus in Ocean Blue, Lewis &Wood
DINING AREA
The large cabinet was a wedding present to Kat and Rob and provides plenty of storage.
Lansdown pendant in nickel, Jim Lawrence. Sheldrake extending table; Montague Lloyd Loom chairs in Smoke, Neptune. Cabinet in Slipper Satin, Farrow &Ball
HALLWAY
Neutrals allow the simple beauty of the stairs to shine.
Staircase in Ammonite; walls in Purbeck Stone, both Farrow &Ball. Bespoke stool in Casual Silverbirch, Mark Alexander. Trumpet Embroidery cushion, in Navy, Anna French
EXTERIOR
The design and the finish in local stone gives this modern home a traditional look.
Front door in French Gray, Farrow &Ball
SITTING ROOM
Kat wanted to create a warm feel with cosy seating and tactile fabrics.
Snowdrop sofa in Cornflower silky jacquard weave, Sofa.com. For a similar leather chair, try Perch &Parrow
It was just meant to be,’ says Kat Henham, who moved to a picturesque corner of Wiltshire in 2019 with her husband Rob. Having seen this four-bedroom detached house in an estate agent’s window, the couple had their offer accepted the next day. The home is set on the edge of a modern housing estate but backs onto protected woodland, which offers lakes and footpaths to explore.
‘We loved the location,’ says Kat. ‘And we knew that whatever it was like on the inside, we could make it work.’ Built in 2007, the house was just a little dated; a beige bathroom and retro multicoloured splashbacks weren’t to Kat and Rob’s taste and the kitchen was separated from a too-small dining area. Kat, who has a degree in architecture and a successful interior design practice, knew exactly what she needed to do.
Making a start
‘Rob didn’t see the urgency, but I did,’ explains Kat. ‘He’s very supportive but needs encouragement to get used to colour.’ Their first jobs in the house, however, weren’t as fun as picking colours for the rooms. While the redesign didn’t require planning permission, Kat and Rob did bring in builders to remove the wall to create a spacious kitchen-diner. The house was also rewired according to Kat’s plan to allow for different light levels, including task and mood lighting. Tradesmen refitted the fami
