Weekends By The Sea

Sarah Ward’s 1830s Farmhouse was redesigned to become her comfortable retreat

In the TV room, there are bright yellow leather armchairs, Vietnamese artwork, a vintage leather sofa and an antique Chinese bed which forms a coffee table.

Classic artwork was paired with the stunning mantelpiece.

In the office, a large collection of curated collectibles are displayed on the desk.

In the 19th Century-inspired bathroom, soft spa-like colors were chosen to play off the natural light and contrast the freestanding bathtub

Designer Sarah Ward knew she wanted her own 1830s farmhouse in Aldeburgh, Suffolk to be homely. As her weekend home, she needed something that was comfortable and could be used as a retreat. The seaside home is something of an anomaly in the area. Where once rolled acres of farmland there now stand new homes, with the farmhouse the only hint of the previous era in which it was built.

For the refurbishment, Sarah says the biggest challenge was the ceiling height. ‘We had to remove windows to get furniture in, but we managed to get some quite nice scale furniture which enhances the space,’ the designer explains.

Sarah opted for warm colors and tones, in addition to using her art collection as a foundation. ‘We bought lots of antiques and mixed them with newer pieces. Everything we chose was to tie the art into the rooms and give a sense of balance,’ she adds.

When it comes to her favorite space, Sarah says it’s definitely the TV room, with its bright yellow leather armchairs and art from Vietnam. There’s also a vintage leather sofa from Lots Rd, which she loves the scale and comfort of. There’s an antique Chinese bed which forms the coffee table. ‘As the designer and the client, I’m very happy with the result,’ Sarah concludes.