Wealden Times | WT262 | March 2024 | Kitchen & Bathroom Supplement inside

“
As William Morris says, ‘Everything has to be beautiful
or useful,’” gestures Deborah Harrison, referencing
the things around her in her newly completed
extension. “Or at the very least beautiful,” she smiles.
Having lived most of her life in London, Deborah decided to
move to the country in 2013 returning after eight years in 2021
to downsize and be near family. “I decided on the area because
two of my sons live in Surbiton. When I found the house, I
could see that it was tired but it fitted the bill. It had two spare
rooms, which was all I needed. Most of my family are close
enough to walk home after visiting, so I kept one as a spare room
and converted the other into a craft room. The front room also
has a sofa bed, just in case. The dining table seats twelve, it’s
really nice that I can extend it and seat everyone if I need to.
“My neighbour actually said to me the other day that the
bones of these Victorian houses are good, and I can feel that. I
like the fact that you can go into the lounge and feel cosy and
that the back is now open and light, so we can comfortably
get together as a family and there is plenty of room.”
Before Deborah even moved in, her cousin’s daughter
– who was studying to be an architect – sketched out
some designs for the extension, giving Deborah the
vision of how things could look on paper. She then
applied for planning within a week of moving in.
“I Googled quirky interior designers whilst I was still
dreaming about things. I was delighted to find a company
called Slightly Quirky,” smiles Deborah. “I knew from
having done up three or four houses during my lifetime that
it can be quite daunting dealing with the different aspects
independently. I knew I needed my hand held through the
renovation, someone to help me make decisions and to come
up with ideas and solutions, although I had an overall vision
of how I wanted things to be. Also having just moved to the
area I didn’t know a single tradesman and Slightly Quirky
were instrumental in bringing in everyone needed as well.”
Caroline Nicholls from Slightly Quirky came for an initial
chat about four weeks after Deborah moved in and she
explained how she wanted the house to have a more authentic
Victorian finish, paying homage to when it was built, whilst
being suitable for modern living, hence putting in the pantry.
“Top of my wish list was a pantry,” says Deborah. “A proper
old-fashioned pantry with two outside walls to keep everything
cool, like my grandmother had – she didn’t even have a
fridge. There also had to be room for the piano. The upstairs
bathroom needed to be extended because it was minuscule
This page: The kitchen is bold and colourful but elegant,
as well as inviting in the open plan space. It was designed
by Slightly Quirky and painted in Fitzrovia Red by Dulux
Heritage and Craftsman’s White by Craig & Rose.
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