AN ORIGINAL BEAUTY

With her love of antiques and esoteric finds, Olya Lammas has created a dynamic style for her Victorian villa

- JO LEEVERS

When Olya and Philip Lammas spotted this elegant home on the outskirts of a town in Kent they weren’t looking to buy somewhere so grand. ‘But once we’d seen this place, it was hard to consider anything else,’ says Olya. ‘It has an abundance of light and is set in an elevated position, overlooking farmland.’ When they saw the view from the windows of cattle grazing, it sealed the deal. ‘We love being in this countryside setting, yet we’re only moments from town,’ she says.

Olya, an interior designer at A House To Love, was keen to create an entirely fresh look for the villa, where she now lives with Philip and their youngest son, Danny, 13. Before she started thinking about the interiors, the house needed plenty of work, from installing new flooring to rewiring. When she was able to redesign the rooms, Olya drew on her love of antiques and vintage style – and also her previous career running fashion boutiques. ‘Working in styling taught me how the best clothes reflect a person’s personality and the same goes for “dressing” a home,’ she says.