Picture This

Fabrice Lachant and Tony Hilliard lovingly restored this Victorian house to provide a perfect space for their unique art collection

- Mandy Nolan

Soon after Fabrice Lachant and Tony Hilliard found their new home, plans were afoot to transform it. Fabrice, a painter and fashion photographer, had devoted considerable time to researching a look for the new interior. ‘We were trying to find a house we could turn into a place that reflected our style and taste,’ he says. ‘At first I was doubtful, as the kitchen was dark and the garden was overgrown. I was brought up in Switzerland and I lived in Los Angeles, so I struggled to visualise this place with a bright, light interior. It was Tony who convinced me that we could make it work.’

PLANNING THE LOOK

Once the couple decided to buy, Fabrice began collecting a scrapbook of ideas. ‘We were keen to make the most of the space so, as well as knocking down walls, we decided to extend outwards and upwards to create an extra bedroom, bathroom and study,’ says Fabrice.