A former herring drying shed, converted into a house and extended over the years, is full of seasonal cheer thanks to Gloria Stewart’s decorative touches
THE STORY
OWNER Gloria Stewart, a retired garden designer, lives here with her dog Truffle, a Jack Russell/Fox terrier cross
PROPERTY A large cottage in Kent with parts dating from the mid-19th century. Once premises for drying herring, it was converted into a home and has been extended more than once at unknown dates. It has three bedrooms, an en-suite and guest bathroom, dining room, living room, kitchen, laundry room and a half-acre garden
WHAT SHE DID Gloria reconfigured the large en suite to create a walk-in shower, dressing room and small office. The cottage was redecorated throughout, and kitchen cabinets and worktops replaced a year later
Not every house move turns out as well as expected. When Gloria Stewart came back to Kent to settle near her adult daughter and son, she bought a house on Tenterden’s wide main street anticipating the enjoyment of walking to the shops instead of driving. The house was lovely, but after 30 years of rural living in France, the traffic noise proved too much for her. ‘Instead, I decided to look for a house in a village with a shop,’ she explains. What she found was a cottage set back from a village high street with a view over fields. ‘It was love at first sight. Even the half-acre garden is big enough to keep me busy,’ Gloria adds.
Her offer was accepted right away and little more than a month passed between completing the purchase and moving in. Within those few weeks, she had organised the cottage’s complete redecoration from top to bottom, and had the large en-suite bathroom converted into a walk-in shower, dressing area and small office.
Making her new house into a home is something she achieved in a time frame most would find challenging. ‘I suppose it is the urge to choose the perfect place for every piece that speeds me up so that harmony is established throughout. I love placing paintings and the small antiques in new situations,’ she says, adding with a laugh: ‘I can’t live without lots of open shelves and window sills.’
The circular sequence of rooms on the ground floor begins in the hall, unusually spacious for a cottage, with excellent natural light from the large window. This was further improved once Gloria repainted the brown ceiling beams white. One route to begin the circuit is to cross the hall and head through the opening into the living room. Alternatively, you can turn l
