ALL Together NOW

This house may be the epitome of understated chic but over the Christmas season it becomes full-on festive ready

- MARY WEAVER

When you've got a large house, it would be remiss not to go big on Christmas. 'We had only just moved in last December but we had three trees — in the hall, the living room and the basement entertainment space so I guess we'll do the same this year,' laughs Gill Martin who, together with husband Jonny, created this characterful home which, hard to believe, is actually a new build.

Last year, with the paint just dry, they invited 20 family members for the festivities. 'Yes, it will be the same this year,' she says, 'but now we're happily ensconced, hopefully less stress, more fun.

It's rare, especially in urban southwest London, that you get the chance to build your own home, but Jonny, a developer, tracked down this plot in a street of unusually mixed dwellings.