Full of eye-popping colours and generous doses of play fulness, this country retreat reveals the magic that happens when you dare to be bold
LIVING ROOM
Situated just off the kitchen-diner, this large space has panelling on one wall that acts as a foil to the more light-filled areas (left).
DINING ROOM
The coloured cladding was chosen for a contemporary take on the rustic log-cabin aesthetic.
The idea of escaping from city life to a second home deep in the Kent countryside might not conjure up visions of bold, sculptural furniture and vivid colours, but that’s exactly what up-and-coming interior designer Charlotte Beevor has delivered for one fun-seeking family. Owners Simon Lamb and Monica Gibbs run Purposeful Change. ‘Our business is about inspiring people and organisations to make a shift, by breaking through their boundaries,’ says Simon. ‘But working with Charlotte on this project brought a new level of expression for us.’ The couple discovered Charlotte while watching TV show Interior Design Masters, just as they were wondering how to personalise their new holiday home, a high-end but bland contemporary house just four years old. ‘The only thing we’d done was install a pool for our water-loving son,’ says Simon.
In terms of the look, Charlotte was keen to find the sweet spot between Monica’s love of rustic farmhouse and Scandinavian vibes and Simon’s more colourful and architectural style. ‘Fusing the differing tastes of a couple is one of my specialities,’ says Charlotte. What scored highly with the whole family was their love of snuggling down together to watch TV. ‘They like sharing the same space, either as a family or with friends, so we decided to open up the two living rooms into one supersized space,’ she adds.
Here there’s a huge, low-slung and seriously comfortable sofa, as well as a chaise longue and rea
