Colour Pop

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Leanne and John Williams were living in south London when John’s new job prompted them to relocate to Hampshire with their sons, Oliver, 13, and Sam, 11.

They were somewhat reluctant to leave their Brixton home, but soon stumbled upon this beautiful Grade II-listed Jacobean property in Alton, originally a grammar school, and were enchanted by its period features.

‘We were struck by the property the minute we saw it,’ says Leanne. ‘It needed completely redecorating and updating with more earthy tones to complement country living, but we knew we could make it work.’

It’s clear from her honed eye for detail that Leanne grew up in a creative family.

‘My mother is an artist and I remember her climbing up scaffolding to paint golden stars on our ceiling,’ recalls Leanne. ‘My siblings and I slept in four-poster theatre beds built by my father, which had beautiful curtains made by my mother; our childhood was a very inspiring and happy time.’