SMALL SPACES EAST SUSSEX HOUSE
Under Giselle De Hasse’s guidance, a dark, cramped, unloved cottage was transformed into a bright, welcoming home with a garden cabin for guests
EXTERIOR
‘I have been on a real journey with the renovation of the cottage, creating something small but bright and beautiful. I love the sound of the wind in the trees, and even digging the garden in the rain feels quite special’
KITCHEN
A dining spot in the corner offers restful views through the windows, while a ponyskin softens the floorboards. Try Rustic reclaimed stool, £120, The Interiors Yard. Ponyskin, No.1 Lewes
Gwith iselle De Hasse never intended to move to the country. ‘I’ve always liked living in town,’ says the interior designer. But aneed to downsize forced her to look beyond pricey Tunbridge Wells in Kent, to the surrounding area. ‘This village in neighbouring East Sussex was picturesque and the views were amazing. Once I’d viewed the cottage I didn’t look at anything else,’ she says.
The small house had been neglected. ‘The rooms were pokey and dark and the garden was overgrown. But Iknew Icould make something of it,’ she says, ‘even though the doors didn’t shut, the radiators were rusting and the heating broke down the week after Imoved in.’
Giselle created space and light by taking out the ceilings and exposing the rafters. ‘ It added real presence to the house,’ she explains. She installed roof lights and built high-level shelving for storage. ‘The best way to create more space is to get stuff off the floor.’
Living with the mess created by the roof excavation was almost unbearable. ‘It would have made sense to start with the cabin I built in the garden so Icould live in it while the house was being gutted,’ Giselle says. ‘But without knowing how much the renovation would cost, Ihad no choice but to leave the cabin ’til last.’
After insulating, rewiring and installing anew central heating system, Giselle reconfigured the interior walls upstairs, rotating the bath 90 degrees to create alarger second bedroom next to the bathroom. ‘There is still plenty of room to bathe and light floods in through the roof windows,’ she says, adding that she created ambiance with lights fitted to the beams. And she used eco-paint throughout. ‘I chose alabastine paint, made with minerals, ochres, chalk and linseed oil.’
The kitchen is at the heart of the transformation. New glazed double doors to the terrace flood the room light, while laminate floors were replaced with floorboards sanded and painted with aluminous white wood dye. Cabinet storage is supplemented with high-level shelves and hooks for pans.
The self-contained garden cabin has its own wet room and kitchenette. ‘I clad it in blac
