SIMPLE JOYS

A chance glance at a For Sale sign started the downsizing process for one couple and it truly simplified their life

- WORDS JULIET BENNING PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES BALSTON

SITTING ROOM

Walls in Slaked Lime Mid, Little Greene and Moleskin, Paint & Paper Library. Axel coffee table, Timothy Oulton. Curtains in Kuba in Burnt Sienna, Rapture & Wright. Artwork behind sofa is a student piece.

WHAT FIRST ATTRACTED YOU TO THE PROPERTY?

We were living about a mile away from our current home - close to Kew Village but we wanted to move somewhere smaller before we became too old to look after our three-storey Victorian house. As we approached our empty-nester stage, we were looking for a flat to rent that would also be suitable for ourselves when older. One day we saw a for sale sign outside this Edwardian property and decided to ask for details. We are both tall and it met our criteria of large rooms with high ceilings. It was also on the first floor with the bonuses of a roof terrace and a small annexe on the ground floor.

WHAT CONDITION WAS THE PROPERTY IN AND WHAT

WERE YOUR PRIORITIES?