BRIGHT OUTLOOK

Francesca Reed's imaginative refurbishment of this listed farmhouse has created a colourful and welcoming retreat with an uplifting take on Victorian style

- RICHARD WEBBER

Living room

The eclectic mix of vibrant colours and soft furnishings contrasts beautifully with the pale pink walls, bringing depth and variety to this scheme. Walls painted in Chemise, Little Greene. Sofa and chairs, Sofa.com. Cushions, Anthropologie. Lamps and shades, Pooky

AT HOME WITH

Owners Francesca Reed, a designer, and her husband Peter Robertson live here with their son Beau, eight, daughters Attica, six, and Margot, four, plus their Burmese cat Lily.

House A three-bedroom, 17th-century Grade II-listed farmhouse near Deal, purchased in 2020.

Reflecting on the renovation of their 17th-century farmhouse in Kent, Francesca Reed and her husband Peter Robertson say they 'naively' underestimated the work required to revive its quintessential English charm. 'It was in a terrible condition but it was clear there was so much potential to be realized,' says Francesca, who admits the to-do list was very long. 'The roof leaked and the pipework was in a poor state. In fact, broken pipes had caused damage to the floors and walls.' But the problems didn't stop there. After removing the ruined floorboards, woodworm was discovered, which meant not only replacing joists but fumigating the entire house. 'Basically, we were left with the four external walls because we needed a new roof, too.'

Exterior

The brick numbers reveal the true age of this farmhouse, which after nearly 400 years is now a beautifully remodelled Victorian-style rural retreat