EAST SUSSEX HOME
Living, working and schooling all from home, Abi Brown has created an enriching environment for her family to enjoy
FEATURE AND STYLING SARA BIRD
The search for abigger property wasn’t just about living space for Abi and her husband, Dan. They needed ahome that would also function as a workspace and aplace to homeschool their children. Arambling cottage or asmallholding seemed agood fit, until Dan found himself knocking his head on low ceilings during property viewings. The house they ended up in was distinctly different –avilla, with high ceilings, good-sized rooms and scope to change around the layout. It was also close to extended family, and when their lower offer was accepted, surprisingly affordable. ‘I think it was meant to be,’ says Abi. ‘I didn’t visit the house for a while due to illness, but as soon as I entered Iknew what Iwanted to do. I could see it fitting with how we lived.’
The house was structurally sound, but there were unnecessary additions which just didn’t work. ‘Décor-wise, it was like removing layers of an onion,’ says Abi. ‘There were lots of fake walls blocking off nooks and crannies, so we just stripped all those back. It was as if the house hadn’t been seen as awhole for along time and we were the lucky ones to do so.’
The house was redesigned with a balance of open-plan areas and more private spaces, with the kitchen becoming the family hub. ‘We had to remove acentral beam, but we were able to link the existing orangery back to the main rear of the home, creating asitting, dining and kitchen space in one,’ says Abi. ‘It’s where we hang out together all the time.’
In contrast, there’s the option to close off the front of the house with clever screens. Made using the original double doors, these can be pulled across the entrance of the snug during quiet times, or to separate off the playroom. ‘It’s great for busy family days where Ican see everyone, but it means we get quieter and secluded evenings when everyone is in bed,’ says Abi.
The décor features a unified flow of tonal colours, natural materials and organic textures, made using environmentally safe materials. ‘I was very aware of potential toxins present in many finishes,’ says Abi. ‘I wanted to create apeaceful and safe space that felt as natural as possible.’
The family is well travelled and their home is accessorised with a curated collection of furniture and finds. Aspe
