SURREY HOUSE
An owner’s love of interiors has led to the graceful transformation of an Edwardian family home
The he house that Suzannah, husband Eddie and their four children now call home already had a familiar air to it.
‘I used to deliver newspapers here when it was flats – many years ago!’ laughs Suzannah, adding that in the intervening years, it had been converted back into a single dwelling and family home.
When it finally popped up on their online property search, the pair jumped at the chance. Keentostayinthisquietpocketofleafy SurreywhereSuzannahgrewupandwhichisclosetoher parents, the couple were looking for something with more space for the family and with character and potential.
‘I literally stalked Rightmove,’ Suzannah admits, explaining exactly how she stumbled upon this gem of a property. ‘We knew instantly it was right for us. It is a beautiful Edwardian building with a mature garden and it just felt like home, although it did need updating.’
A new roof, a complete re-render of the outside using traditional lime plaster and full repointing was just the start of the transformation.
The exterior was then repainted and all original windows were draught-proofed, with sashes replaced where necessary, before a new damp proof course was applied.
‘We then took a breather,’ Suzannah says, before starting work indoors.
Fortunately, the interior was much more forgiving, with a layout that already worked wonderfully. ‘We just needed to focus on updating and improving each room,’ she explains.
‘I’d done a term of an interior design course at KLC between jobs and before the world of IT marketing lured me back again, so I already had a keen interest in interiors.’
The internal decor started with the bathrooms, closely followed by the couple’s bedroom. ‘I’d fallen in love with a de Gournay wallpaper but needed to source curtains, a blind and a headboard that would work with the pattern,’ Suzannahsays.
Sheemployed services of Tor Saer, founder of interior design firm Westcot House. ‘Tor was fantastic in helping find the right fabrics and style for the room,’ she says.
Tor was similarly impressed with Suzannah’s interest in and knowledge of interior design and knew they could work together to bring Suzannah’s ideas to life.
‘It was obvious when I first met Suzannah that she had a really strong feel for what she wanted,’ says T
