The country chic challenge – honouring history in a new build family home
- Alexander James Interior Design challenged to find what Robert the Bruce and ballerinas have in common
- Wadhurst Place in East Sussex highlights the best of contemporary country living
- Neutral tones, cleverly blended textures and rustic touches create the ideal country home
There’s always a frisson of excitement in the air when an interior design team first sets foot inside a new property. That’s particularly true when the home presents a unique challenge, like Wadhurst Place, in East Sussex.
“The brief was to offer a balance of luxury ‘Show Home’ mixed with a ‘Country Chic’ feel. Wadhurst Place is a unique development offering luxury accommodation set in 18 acres of parkland with breath-taking views. The properties range from substantial, family houses to large, lateral apartments and mews houses. It was imperative the Show Home offered a lifestyle that captured a wide audience.”
Ben Axton, Head of Show Home Sales, Alexander James Interior Design
The challenge at Wadhurst Place was to dress one of the development’s five-bedroom, three-bathroom houses – known as The Elder – in such a way that it both honoured the site’s rich history and presented a contemporary, luxurious country lifestyle, as befits a location that made it onto this year’s Sunday Times list of the best places to live in the UK.
The full development comprises 13 apartments and 26 homes, set in 18 acres of breath-taking parkland. The original, Grade II listed manor house, which is being delicately restored into apartments after 15 years of neglect, was built for a descendent of Robert the Bruce in 1885. Built in the Domestic Revival and Queen Anne style, half-timbered with ornamental red brick facings and carvings, the house includes oak joinery, ornate plastered ceilings and stained glass windows. It was described in the 1885 directory as having, “an interior which is admirably appointed, and no expense whatever has been spared.”
The manor house became a girls’ boarding school in the 1930s, supplemented by a ballet school in the 1980s, until its closure in 2001, when the site fell into disrepair. Work is now underway not only to restore the manor house to its former glory, but also to provide an outstanding collection of homes in the surrounding parkland that honour the site’s extensive history and rich architectural heritage.
“Wadhurst Place presents a uniquely beautiful setting and we wanted to reflect that in the interior design of The Elder show home. Capturing the elegance of country living was key, so we sought to blend modern furnishings and fabrics with select rustic pieces, to create a distinctive overall look and feel. Different textures played an important role in achieving the overall effect, with rich velvets, satin, wicker and textured wallpaper all playing a part.”
Stacey Sibley, Creative Director, Alexander James Interior Design
The resulting show home presents a stunning glimpse of life in this beautiful East Sussex market town. Clean, classic design elements and natural tones create a sense of harmony and peace that’s very much in keeping with the local area. Those touring The Elder can enjoy a true sense of the lifestyle that Wadhurst Place offers – this is effective interior design at its very best.
“We’re delighted with the overall result at The Elder. It shows off contemporary country living for the modern family, while still reflecting the development’s rich heritage, which was precisely what we wanted to convey.”
Stacey Sibley, Creative Director, Alexander James Interior Design
For more information, visit Alexander James Interior Design at www.aji.co.uk or call 020 7887 7604.