A mix of classic and contemporary styles bring an original spin to this Edwardian home high above the riverside town of Dartmouth
FEATURE SHARON PARSONS PHOTOGRAPHY RICHARD GADSBY
We’ve always been up for a challenge when it comes to renovating properties,” admits Crawford Cooper-Prentice as he reflects on the various ambitious projects he and husband Gareth have embraced over the years. Crawford’s career in finance has meant that the couple have frequently uprooted to various locations both here and overseas over the years, giving them the opportunity to indulge their passion for interior design, creating beautiful, unique homes wherever they happened to be.
“Over time, our sense of style has evolved, but we’ve always aimed to combine a strong design aesthetic with sound practicalities,” he explains. “While I tend to concentrate on the look – with some ideas vetoed by Gareth, I should add – he takes on the majority of the hard graft when it comes to the renovation and project management. It works well.”
Nevertheless, despite their extensive experience, when the couple originally decided to invest in a Devon property in 2019, the criteria were different. “We had agreed – or rather, Gareth had persuaded me – that we wouldn’t take on another big renovation project this time,” Crawford laughs. “We were based in Jersey at the time, and our original intention was to buy a little place in Dartmouth for relaxing breaks, which wouldn’t need much work. Famous last words!”
The pair already knew and loved the historic harbour town, having lived there twice over the years, and Crawford flew over to view a handful of properties “with a very specific brief from Gareth. By chance, this one had come on the market that weekend, and it looked interesting,” he says.
The Edwardian house is one of three in a terrace built by the town’s coal merchant for himself and his two offspring back in 1910, and is approached via a series of steep steps. “I immediately liked the traditional frontage of the house, which still had its original features,” Crawford says, “but inside it was very tired, and clearly needed a significant renovation to bring it up to scratch.
“Despite that, it ticked most of the boxes, from being south-facing with great views
