Historic charm

Surrounded by beautiful countryside, Alex Willcock's home brims with fabulous design perfectly suited to comfortable living

- SARA EMSLIE

For many, the idea of a home in the country may conjure up a rural idyll and a slower pace of life, but for cabinetmaker and furniture designer Alex Willcock, living at Kemps House, a Grade II-listed property in West Sussex, has proved to be the catalyst for a thriving business. 'In many ways, the house is the third founder of Maker&Son,' laughs Alex, referring to the luxury furniture brand he started with his eldest son, Felix. 'Comfort has always been a priority for us as a family, and it's this house that has enabled our way of life and given birth to all that we do,' says Alex, whose other children, Coco, Song, Otter and Hero, visit at weekends.