House Beautiful Magazine June 2014

'Fabulously Chic'

 Old Rectory Renovation

   Built around 1650 Kate Macey’s home was originally a rectory associated with the 14th century village church. It continued to be a church property until 2006 when it was sold to a local family, before Kate bought it in 2013. Built from a mix of brick, Blue Lias and Hamstone, the house is Grade 2 listed. Entranced by the beautifully preserved open fireplaces, the original gothic and sash windows, paneled doors and elm floorboards, Kate put aside her concerns about its neglected condition determined to restore it and add modern comfort. ‘The period details; the walled courtyard, sloping garden and apple orchard drew me in’, recalls Kate. ‘I hoped that by adding a new heating system together with wood burners, new kitchen and bathrooms that these modern conveniences would blend perfectly with the old bones of the house’.

Kate is enjoying spending as much time as possible in her new kitchen

    She sold her Bristol city flat moving to the village where she’d grown up, and where her family still lived, just ten minutes drive from her business. ‘As the tea shop got busier it didn’t make sense living far away,’ says Kate. ‘And I was able to move in with my parents for the five month upheaval of the restoration work.’

        Kate project managed the build, dividing her time between running the tea shop and overseeing the renovation, a juggling act that proved challenging from the outset. Her surveyor had advised that he suspected a problem with the timber floors upstairs but as he wasn’t allowed to take up the boards during his inspection he couldn’t be certain of the damage. Immediately after buying the property, Kate hired a carpenter to inspect the joists and floorboards. ‘He asked if I wanted the good or bad news!’ recalls Kate. ‘There was woodworm everywhere but it could be treated. He then advised that most of the joists would need replacing.’ She was forced to delay work on the house for six weeks while the woodworm was treated and new joists were made and fitted. ‘I spent many nights worrying. It added quite a few thousand pounds to the budget but in the long run it’s reassuring to know I have a woodworm free house,’ says Kate.

Woodburning Stove from Sandpits Heating Centre in Curry Rivel

    Despite managing up to twelve tradesmen on site at the same time everything ran surprisingly smoothly. ‘They all worked alongside each other to a tight timescale because I wanted to move in as quickly as possible’, says Kate. Aside from rewiring, replumbing and replastering the entire house, the interiors needed updating. Kate’s vision included staining the original parquet flooring in the hallway black. ‘I’m so pleased with its dramatic effect,’ says Kate. Conversely, upstairs the original elm floorboards were simply sanded back and left untreated.

  The staircase was strengthened and all the spindles were replaced and repainted. Two new wood-burning stoves and nineteen new traditional-style radiators were fitted, the roof was insulated and all the windows and broken panes repaired. Throughout the house Kate has created a classic English country look with a hint of French chic. In the open-plan kitchen/dining room, a new gas Aga and Kate’s collection of vintage china, displayed on open shelves around the room, contrast with an elaborate glass chandelier. Among all the hard work and upheaval, the renovations yielded a welcome surprise when a Victorian fireplace was uncovered in one of the bedrooms and Kate renewed it with new tiles. ‘After a good clean and a repaint it looked great’, she recalls.

     Having lived in the house for almost year Kate finds she loves it even more in summer when the lavender (in the garden?) is in full bloom. ‘The scent fills the air and I get a lovely view from the windows (lavender all around the house?), it’s just one of the many reasons I’m so glad I made the move from the city to the country.’

Chandelier from Living Pretty and Fabric from Emily Bond

      Kate has successfully created a dramatic entrance hall by staining the parquet flooring black. The curtain and lampshade fabric is from the Labrador Fabric Collection at Emily Bond A glorious rustic Elm dining table is centre stage in the dining area of Kate’s spacious kitchen. Her vast collection of vintage china is available to hire at Living Pretty.

Stunning collection of Vintage China to hire from Living Pretty

    Walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Skimming Stone and the woodwork in Elephants Breath Comfy seating makes the living room a great place to relax after a hard day in the Tea Shop. Walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Cornforth White. The Clearview Stove is from Sandpits Heating Centre.

    The cushion fabric is from Ian Mankin and the tablelamps from Laura Ashley. Kate enjoys views across the Somerset levels from her bedroom. Walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Shaded White and the woodwork in Hard Wick White. The bed is from Living Pretty and the Laundry Basket with Rope Handle from Garden Trading. Using pale, glossy natural marble makes the narrow bathroom appear more spacious.

House Beautiful Magazine

Stockists 

Walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s All White. 

Walls in the guest bedroom are painted in Cornflower White from Dulux. Living Pretty 01458 253357 livingpretty.co.uk 

Emily Bond 01173 763 067 emilybond.co.uk 

Garden Trading 0845 6084448 gardentrading.co.uk 

Farrow & Ball 01202 876141 farrow-ball.com 

Mandarin Stone 01600 715 444 mandarinstone.com 

Sandpits Heating Centre 01458 251476 sandpitsheatingcentre.co.uk 

Wells reclamation Yard 01749 677087 wellsreclammation.com 

Laura Ashley 0871 983 5999 lauraashley.com 

Ian Mankin : 020 7722 0997 ianmankin.co.ukhttp://www.housebeautiful.co.uk/