PILGRIM'S tale

RENOVATING AND EXTENDING A COMPACT FLINT COTTAGE MEANT A BIGGER HOME FOR PAUL AND LUCI STADEN, WITH THE ADDED JOY OF THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH DOWNS ON THEIR DOORSTEP

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The village of Sutton in West Sussex is where you'll find Daisy Cottage, once part of an estate owned by the Barlavington family which dates back at least 200 years.

'I often used to ride my bike through the village and had always loved this cottage,' says Paul. 'Luci and I were living nearby and looking for a bigger house. When we saw the cottage had come up for sale, we snapped it up!'

The house hadn't been touched for years, which meant it was a project but also that Paul and Luci could add their own style to it. 'On the day we moved in, Luci burst into tears,' says Paul. 'She had left an immaculate, comfortable home to move to a damp, dated building that needed everything doing to it; she was overwhelmed, to say the least!

But the main reason for moving to the village was its proximity to the South Downs National Park - we knew we could walk out of the garden and have access to the footpaths and bridleways that crisscross the area.'