Two graphic designers and their architect gave their creativity free rein in this kaleidoscopic family home
WORDS JAYNE DOWLE PHOTOGRAPHY FRENCH + TYE
The interior of Bronwen and Spedding Westrip’s home is a celebration of their love of colour – a joyful expression of all the hard work it took to turn the rundown property into a family home. ‘We bought the house in a bad state of repair,’ says Bronwen. ‘The leaking roof damaged one side of the building and mushrooms were growing on the bathroom ceiling.’
Before buying the house, the couple, who have two daughters, Peggy and Ffion, commissioned a structural survey, which highlighted specific issues. ‘Some areas were fine due to prior renovation work, but others were crumbling,’ explains Bronwen. ‘The exterior brickwork walls and the roof were in a poor condition, and making the roof watertight was a priority,’ says Spedding.
After moving in, Bronwen and Spedding, who are both graphic designers, posted a project brief on a design and home improvement website, leading to a flurry of responses from architects. They chose Catrina Stewart because they love her playful style.
Rather than tackling the urgent repairs alone, the couple increased their mortgage, spending around £200,000 on works including a new first-floor bathroom. ‘We went for a renovation and remodelling project, aiming to save time and money in the long run,’ says Spedding.
The main contractor ran the project, managing all the subcontractors and suppliers. Work was due to start in 2020, but the pandemic set this back until April 2021. Structural changes include removing part of the wall between the kitchen and dining room to create a better connection between the two spaces, and taking down the kitchen’s suspended ceiling to make the room look bigger.
By borrowing a small amount of space from the front hall and reconfiguring a cupboard, Catrina gave the family a cloakroom, and there’s a new coat cupboard beneath the stairs. Plus, in taking space from one of the bedrooms and reconfiguring the walls, the family bathroom on the first floor increased in size.
The end of the wall between the kitchen and the dining area was rebuilt into a rounded shape, a move inspired by some of the property’s existing features. ‘Bronwen and Spedding love the house’s curves and the bow-fronted Art Deco fireplace, and wanted similar shapes in the new designs,’ says Catrina. ‘So these are evident in the circular kitchen window and the rounded wor
