Garden Dweller

Historically, I have always been the one to set up and tend to the gardens on our properties. This is not to say that I do not get help from family members on occasion, it is just that no one else in our brood has a passion for it quite like I do. This has meant that the decorating of the interior of the homes themselves have been left to the others over the years. I never felt a desire to become involved in selecting paint swatches, or to even choose the flooring for the rooms. My focus remained out of doors for the most part.

That was until we purchased our current holiday home and roles seemed to reverse between us. A family holiday home has been on our horizon for several years, but one thing or another has held us back from making the leap. But, as of last June we officially became the owners of a lovely little place, neatly tucked into the hillside, and only fifteen minutes from the Jurassic Coastline.

The former owners were very apt when it came to designing the garden, and maintained it in the same manner as I do my own gardens. Thus, instead of the usual overhaul that I find necessary to conduct in a newly obtained garden, there was only minimal work to be completes. However, the house itself, was another matter altogether because the sellers decided to put it on the market as soon as the house was done. It seems they never had intentions to live in the home, and thus never did anything to the inside.

You see it was a barn conversion with cathedral style windows. The sellers did a top-notch job of finishing the exterior, but left a great deal unfinished on the inside so that the buyers could put in exactly what was preferential. The indoor space is light and airy, and most importantly a blank canvas. As such it is a perfect accommodation for bringing the outside in through the right colour palette and décor, and I decided that I wanted to help make that happen.

This of course came as a great surprise to those around me, but it was agreed that I would spearhead the project. I must admit that I did not know exactly what I was in for, but enjoyed the whole experience. For once, instead of getting my hands dirty in the garden, I made an entirely different mess inside. But, in the end it was all worth it.