SUSSEX FARMHOUSE
Artistic couple Sally and Harry Arbuthnot found a farmhouse to renovate and refresh, perfect for a sparkling festive gathering with space for everyone to enjoy
FEATURE MAGGIE COLVIN
Tranquil undulating meadows, dotted with polo ponies and often blanketed in frost at Christmas time, form a peaceful backdrop to Sally and Harry Arbuthnot’s Sussex home.
The couple bought the farmhouse just before lockdown when, not being able to see friends or family, it became their all-consuming project. ‘Both our children, David and Sophie, are now married and have flown the nest,’ Sally explains. ‘As this property included several outbuildings, two cottages, a barn to convert and a guest house, it was perfect for us. We wanted to offer our children weekend homes. David and his wife Lucinda have since refurbished the barn and Sophie and her husband did up one of the cottages,’ Sally says. ‘They each enjoy their own separate homes and drop in on us for family get-togethers, especially at Christmas.’
The location of their new property was a compelling selling point. With breathtaking views over the South Downs, it is delightfully peaceful and remote but not far from a pictureperfect old village. Harry and Sally were both brought up in this area so for them it was like coming home.
When the couple moved into the farmhouse, the interiors were tired and due for an upgrade, but there were some promising features – old beams,openfires,originalshutters, a pretty conservatory and best of all, the double height barn conversion with windows on three sides. This space was earmarked for use as the kitchen and for family living.
Sally began by tackling the most obvious eyesores, beginning with the house’s internal doors, which appeared to date from the 1980s. Scouring reclamation yards, auctions and antiques shops, she found characterful replacements. Others were made bespoke to her design, such as the half glass, half panel doors, which boost the light flow between rooms. Next on her list was to find an elegant fireplace to replace an ugly and draughty inglenook and set the tone of the living room. Finally, she tackled the reconfiguration of the top floor where two bathrooms from the 1980s needed updating. ‘In both cases we were able to knock down a wall to make the rooms larger,’ says Sally. ‘Increasing their size made all the difference, giving them a spacious, modern feel.’
Sally ch
