We actually found this house for my husband Richard’s sister and brother-in-law, Hilary and Jeremy,” recalls Moyna Edmondson as she divides up a wonderfully fragrant Italian orange cake that she has just baked. “But they got cold feet and in the meantime of course, we’d started to fall in love with it, but when we got the surveyor round he said we really shouldn’t buy it. It was in quite a state – and remained so for a number of years even after we had bought it because it took so long to get the finances in place and the planning permission for what we wanted to do.

TEST The new kitchen opens out into an L shape with windows on two sides that now allow light to flood in rather than rain. Roo the dog and Artemis the tortoise soak up the warmth of the Aga

The new kitchen opens out into an L shape with windows on two sides that now allow light to flood in rather than rain. Roo the dog and Artemis the tortoise soak up the warmth of the Aga

TEST An oak refectory table was made by Richard when he was a student.

An oak refectory table was made by Richard when he was a student.

TEST A glass fronted cupboard has been fashioned out of a deep alcove under the stairs

A glass fronted cupboard has been fashioned out of a deep alcove under the stairs

TEST Inside the hallway the plaster between several timber supports has been removed and replaced with glass, so that you can see right through and as far as the French windows that lead into the garden from the kitchen at the rear

Inside the hallway the plaster between several timber supports has been removed and replaced with glass, so that you can see right through and as far as the French windows that lead into the garden from the kitchen at the rear

TEST Richard’s study doubles as the family den!

Richard’s study doubles as the family den!

TEST The family sitting room

The family sitting room

TEST The first-floor landing. A small circular window with a swirl of stained glass is set low into one wall to let more light in

The first-floor landing. A small circular window with a swirl of stained glass is set low into one wall to let more light in

TEST In Moyna and Richard’s room a handsome rolltop bath is mounted on a dais in one corner

In Moyna and Richard’s room a handsome rolltop bath is mounted on a dais in one corner

TEST A wirework chandelier from Rayment has been converted from candles to electric light

A wirework chandelier from Rayment has been converted from candles to electric light

TEST The guest bedroom is simply furnished with soft red and cream floral toile curtains and a bed dressed with white cotton and a cosy check blanket. A dark carved oak blanket which box stands at the end of the bed is another of Richard’s student projects

The guest bedroom is simply furnished with soft red and cream floral toile curtains and a bed dressed with white cotton and a cosy check blanket. A dark carved oak blanket which box stands at the end of the bed is another of Richard’s student projects

TEST Ralph’s room is home to a cabin bed made for him by the team at Bespoke.

Ralph’s room is home to a cabin bed made for him by the team at Bespoke.

TEST In Oscar’s room, further along the landing, twin pine sleigh beds are covered with blue and white gingham quilts, Union Jack cushions and red and white checked blankets

In Oscar’s room, further along the landing, twin pine sleigh beds are covered with blue and white gingham quilts, Union Jack cushions and red and white checked blankets

TEST The family bathroom has been panelled by Bepoke Interiors and tiled so that the walk-in shower is almost like a wet room

The family bathroom has been panelled by Bepoke Interiors and tiled so that the walk-in shower is almost like a wet room

TEST

TEST A winding staircase leads to Gus’s floor. He can access his ‘den’ through the en suite shower room. “I often hear his friends telling him how spoilt he is, having all this. After all that he has been through he and the other boys really deserve to have the security of a nice space of their own,” says Moyna

A winding staircase leads to Gus’s floor. He can access his ‘den’ through the en suite shower room. “I often hear his friends telling him how spoilt he is, having all this. After all that he has been through he and the other boys really deserve to have the security of a nice space of their own,” says Moyna

TEST

TEST The ‘new’ façade of Ely Court features generous sash windows that Richard and Moyna were eventually able to reinstate, made-to-order due to the fact that they were all odd sizes

The ‘new’ façade of Ely Court features generous sash windows that Richard and Moyna were eventually able to reinstate, made-to-order due to the fact that they were all odd sizes

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether
  • styling: Lucy Fleming

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