Page 79 - homes & gardens

ENTRANCE HALL
This space is furnished with
a masterful blend of antique
fnds, such as the mirror and
daybed, and contemporary
artwork by Shirin Tabeshfar
for a relaxed, welcoming feel.
For a similar antique daybed and
table, try Lantiques, 01798 344020,
lantiques.com. The Marble Regency
Bullseye mantel, £1,074, Chesney’s,
020 7627 1410, chesneys.co.uk.
Cheyne lantern, £2,538, Vaughan,
020 7349 4600, vaughandesigns.
com. Walls in French Grey Pale,
Absolute Matt Emulsion, £37 for 2.5
litres, Little Greene, 020 7935 8844,
littlegreene.com. Flowers throughout,
The Real Flower Company, 01730
818300, realflowers.co.uk.

ehind its serene façade, Jasmine Thompson’s partially rented out by the previous owners. “They were
Hampshire home is a constant hive of activity, an elderly couple who had brought up their family here.
with the comings and goings of her five There was so much love in this house, it felt like we
children, aged between six and 18, and the were taking on a wonderful legacy,” says Jasmine. “The
Bfrequent soirées that she and her husband challenge was frst to restore the property so it was whole
Leo like to host here. “Leo and I have demanding again, then to make it our own.”
jobs, and the children are in and out of the house, so
life is a little hectic at times,” says Jasmine. “But we love Creating a versatile family home
socialising – spending time with family and friends is Shortly after moving, however, Jasmine fell pregnant with
what weekends were made for.” youngest daughter Amelia, so to begin with it was
A bountiful garden and magnificent views of the a case of slapping paint on walls and hastily removing
surrounding countryside enticed Jasmine and Leo to buy interior partitions in a bid to unify the space. Then, a
the house as a “fxer-upper” in 2007. “Though our frst couple of years ago, more extensive decoration took
priority was for a space large enough to accommodate place, with help from interior designer Stephanie
everyone, when I stood on the terrace, I just thought Dunning. “Leo was reluctant at frst,” Jasmine says, “but
‘Wow’,” remembers Jasmine. “I said to Leo, ‘This is it’.” with work and the children, we just didn’t have time to
The Cape Dutch-style house, built by Queen Victoria’s fnish it ourselves. I knew what I wanted, but I needed
physician in 1908, had been divided into wings and help from someone I trusted to pull it together. Structural

SEPTEMBER 2015 | H&G | 79