Vintage finds give this Kent cottage reno a modern country vibe
With an eye for a vintage find, Sarah Farr and husband Andy have transformed a ramshackle Georgian cottage into a modern country house with fairy-tale appeal.
Six years ago they were living in a small village in Hampshire when they decided they wanted to take on a new project. After hours scrolling online and viewing 10 houses in person, it was a three-bedroom Grade II-listed Georgian cottage in Kent that caught their eye.
‘Andy had a long list of requirements, which included minimal street lamps outside, and we loved the untouched nature of the house,’ explains Sarah. ‘It hadn’t had been untouched since the 1960s, so it felt very much like a blank canvas.’
Photo: Richard Gadsby
Renovating a listed cottage
The couple had previously renovated a traditional former turnpike cottage, which was also listed, so were no strangers to the arduous renovation process that lay ahead.
‘We replaced the concrete floor with suspended reclaimed flooring, lime-plastered the walls, installed central heating, repaired all the woodwork, refurbished the fireplaces, put in casement windows, opened up the kitchen space and replaced the kitchen and bathrooms,’ says Sarah.
‘Then outside, we have created a terraced area using limestone slabs and had to partially reroof, as well as carrying out lots of damp-proofing work.’
Sarah is an expert at sourcing antique pieces, finding the table at a house-clearance shop and the chairs on Ebay. Photo: Richard Gadsby
A modern, farmhouse aesthetic
This long list of jobs is made even more impressive by the fact that the couple have had two children along the way, somehow managing to juggle parenthood with the chaos of living in a building site.
‘For some reason, we thought it was a good idea to rip out the old kitchen when Ralph was about three months old,’ recalls Sarah. ‘I would dread the health visitor coming, because for a period of time we had an earth floor in the kitchen that Andy built a bridge across using a ladder and some planks – not ideal when you are carrying a new born and need to sterilise bottles!’
The bespoke units are from Old Town Kitchen Co. along with pendant lights from Pooky. Photo: Richard Gadsby
Turning a hobby into a business
Sarah has been in her element with the interiors, as hunting for vintage and antique items is something she has always enjoyed. She now sells her wares on Instagram (@ourcollectivehomeco), and via antiques emporium Butler & George in Hastings old town.
‘I love the fact you never know what you might discover. My style is quite eclectic, and if I like something then I will find a home for it,’ she explains. ‘I tend to look for more classic pieces that I know will age well. I like our home to feel comfortable and relaxed, while having interesting and quirky, decorative items on display.’
Neutral walls and dark antique furniture are a perfect pairing with the stained-wood floors and sofa and footstool from Loaf. Photo: Richard Gadsby
A picture-perfect cottage
The Farrs love living in their renovated home in Kent, the so-called Garden of England. ‘I adore the house’s symmetry and the fact that there’s so much on our doorstep, from beautiful woods and beaches to lots of vintage and antique shops, makes it perfect.’
There were some moments of hilarity during the renovation, however, including the time Andy got a nasty surprise during some of his hands-on work.
‘He was removing plasterboard from an old bathroom when a mummified mouse fell onto his face,’ says Sarah. ‘Meanwhile, the never-ending concrete meant we are now the proud owners of our very own jack hammer!’
Sarah added interest to the Loaf bed with cushions from Urbanara. The mirror was from a house-clearance shop. Photo: Richard Gadsby