THE ALCHEMIST

Arresting colours and artisan crafts have been mixed to captivating effect in this interior design by Melissa Bolivar of House of Sui Sui

- RACHEL LEEDHAM

Aquamarine and coral. Indigo and teal. Burnt sienna and saffron. The colour combinations in this Hertfordshire home are evocative and unexpected, sophisticated yet supremely comforting. ‘I knew this house would have colour,’ says the owner, acknowledging that his Persian heritage may have played a role in his affinity for hues at the richer end of the spectrum. ‘It’s something that is probably rooted in me.’

Though most of the houses in the small village are centuries old, this is one of a cluster of five built in the 1980s, and when the owners – who have three children, aged 13, 12 and nine – bought it two years ago, it was ready for improvement. An orangery-style extension was added to the dining area and a double garage requisitioned to create a guest suite and a utility room.