STYLE HOME
" I CALL MY STYLE modern rustic"
ALICE LANCASTLE BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO AN OLD FARMHOUSE, AND FILLED HER LIGHT, BRIGHT HOME WITH FLEAMARKET FINDS AND UPCYCLED TREASURES
FEATURE LAURA EWART, CARRIE MITCHELL
HOME NOTES
Furniture restorer Alice Lancastle lives here with her husband, Rob, who works in finance, and their three children, Rufus, seven, Woody, five, and Heathley, three.
A five-bedroom 280-year-old farmhouse nestled in the Somerset countryside.
1“Make sure a space works for you before decorating it”
‘I live by the rule that “form follows function”, so I want all of the rooms to deliver on their purpose before making them look good. When we bought the house, each area needed a complete overhaul and the spaces lacked cohesion. We moved doorways and radiators to improve the flow, and in the living-dining area – the old milking barn – we replaced the beams, which Rob used to bang his head on, with a timber frame.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Boho sofa in Beach Ball Clever Velvet, from £2,575, Loaf. Abe deconstructed linen armchairs in Charcoal, £1,200 each, Nkuku. Bianca wooden bead chandelier, £685, Graham & Green
2 “Synergy and flow are key”
‘Parquet flooring introduces subtle the house, starting with a small palette pattern in the living-dining area, connecting the two spaces. I used colour to create a harmonious feel throughout of white, black, green and neutral, and expanding it as I discovered how the rooms flowed from the central area.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Try aged textured vintage oak parquet flooring, from £89.34sq m, Broadleaf Timber. Eiffel dining chairs, £64 each, Niches. Walls and ceiling in Pampas limewash paint, £30 for 1ltr, Bauwerk
3 “I’m inspired by our countryside location”
‘French doors, with their wonderful view, allow light to flood into the kitchen-diner. The rustic feel is enhanced by the vintage upcycled dining table, which I found on eBay.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES
Try Burford table, from £499, Country Life Furniture. Tolix-style metal dining chair in Brass, £59, Cult Furniture
4 “Neutral tones can transform a space”
‘Crisp white kitchen units contrast with the natural texture of the stone floor tiles. The open shelves were made from boards that our builder left behind, with brackets that I found on eBay.’
