SALON privé

Designed for both nesting and hosting, and inspired by boutique hotels, this versatile Victorian home has playful surprises at every turn

- PHOTOGRAPHY Beth Davis WORDS Fleur Britten

LIVING ROOM

'I'm still looking for a rug for this room - I want to take my time rather than buy something that will do for now, because I know it will be exhilarating to find the right piece,' says homeowner and creative Laura Sawyer.

Thea accent chair in Cinnamon velvet, Made. Vintage sideboard; try Etsy. Vintage Danish brass reading light; try Vinterior. Bird artwork by Enikő Eged. Walls in (below picture rail), Powder IV; (above picture rail) Roben's Honour, both Paint & Paper Library

KITCHEN

'This is just a temporary fix because I have planning permission for an extension, so in the meantime I thought I'd have fun with Wonka-esque stripes,' says Laura. 'And, because it's temporary, almost everything is repurposed or secondhand.'

Walls and ceiling in Pediment, Mylands. Stripes in Kohl, Paint & Paper Library. Vintage Formica table, H M Jones. Vintage Thonet chair; vintage black cabinet; try Vinterior. Vintage wall-mounted cabinet; try Etsy. Sarlon Graphic vinyl floor covering, Remland Carpets & Flooring. Wall light, Made

Before buying this house, Laura Sawyer's pros and cons list looked perplexing. On the downside, it had no central heating or insulation; the floor joists were rotten; the chimneys were letting in water (so add damp issues to the list) and some parts were structurally unsound. But the positives immediately won out. 'It was my dream house,' says Laura. 'I love Victorian design - it's pragmatic. I love the original features, the double-front, the light, the proportions - it's a four-bed house, but it's so cosy.' And she also loved the opportunity to start over completely - 'I could create my perfect environment.'