ISLE OF WIGHT HOUSE
When Jack Rebours and Marc Thompson discovered a run-down townhouse on the Isle of Wight, they set about putting their unique stamp on this forever home
Think of opening an old-fashioned doll’s house, one room deep, to reveal acentral staircase, with aroom on either side. Enter through the front door of Harold House and you find the full-sized version –a three-storey townhouse in the heart of old Cowes that has been beautifully restored by Jack Rebours and Marc Thompson.
The couple had worked together in India, training crew for acruise line, then settled in London before deciding they wanted a ‘lifestyle move’ somewhere that would anchor them to aless frantic life after almost constant travelling. ‘We both had aspecial love of Cowes through friends who lived here,’ Marc says. ‘As we explored more, we knew this was the ideal place for us to live; abalance of apicturesque coastal village combined with great accessibility for travel connections to London and beyond.’
The pair moved to the island in 2014 and bought and completely renovated aproperty in Cowes. Then Harold House came up for sale. ‘We knew this was the project we’d been looking for,’ says Marc. ‘It had been acrew house for local chefs and because it was in dire need of renovation, it was within our budget. We snapped it up.’
The house was stripped back to basics, windows were repaired and fireplaces reinstated. The couple discovered antique floorboards on the first floor and reinstalled the missing boards on the ground floor, putting carpet in the bedrooms for acosier atmosphere. Most of the walls have been battened and lined with tongue and groove, which Jack painted. ‘I don’t want to paint tongue and groove ever again,’ he laughs, ‘No one tells you just what along job it will be!’
The result is abeautiful home with furnishings that reflect the house’s age, but also give it great comfort and style. The couple had an advantage in the decorating stakes as, before leaving London, Jack completed adesign course with Kelly Hoppen. It was useful preparation for the renovation of the property, which had last been decorated in the 1980s. ‘We’ve strived to renovate with empathy for the house and have used as many reclaimed items as we could find,’ says Jack.
The ground-floor kitchen and dining room have been given a welcoming new look. Jack designed the kitchen cupboards and central island, and has given the rooms a characterful feel by using modern fixtures alongside charity shop and recycled finds. The dining room table and sideboard were bought secondhand locally, and the room features abeautiful chandelier, which was a gift
