Walking into interior designer Alex Legendre’s home in Shoreham-by-Sea is like stepping back more than 100 years in time. It has its origins in the late 1800s, and features including the Edwardian entranceway, weathered floorboards and patches of peeling wallpaper remain intact. ‘I felt drawn to the bones of the building, and to the joy to be found in its imperfections,’ says Legendre.
Alex has retained many of the property’s original features, among them this fretwork arch, and sourced reclaimed pieces throughout for added authenticity. For similar reclaimed doors try retrouvius.com.
What made her buy the house – which she shares with her partner ‘Ging’, a café owner – was picturing how her existing collection of antiques would complement its features.
A galley kitchen and central island make the best use of this narrow room, maximising storage space. Hard surfaces are softened with textural plasterwork and rustic runners. The pendant lamps are from pooky.com, the shades from @lightingbystacie, specialists in reclaimed lights and chandeliers.
Behind a run of glazed doors is this larder cupboard, with its raw plank shelving. Glass jars with wooden lids integrate sublimely with vintage bottles and ceramics.
As co-founder of lifestyle emporium Igigi General Store, in Hove, East Sussex, which closed in 2022 after 24 years in business, Legendre had a lock-up full of pieces collected over the decades: reclaimed materials and one-of-a-kind antiques including an old bath, original taps, chandeliers, antique fabrics and boxes of decorative finds. A hoarder, she says, ‘I buy items I Iove and keep them in mind for future projects.’
Alex has kept the front bay window a largely blank canvas with simple screening. She reupholstered the sofa herself using antique linen.
Browsing boot fairs and retail stores, Legendre has gathered pieces celebrating different cultures and textures. Furniture reupholstered in linen can be found alongside jute rugs, Turkish tapestries and distressed-leather chairs. A particular find is the artisan style brass tap/faucet from high-street store Wren Kitchens, which gives the impression of designer detailing when paired with a vintage marble sink.
Made by julieadams curtains.co.uk, the draped Roman blinds in the bedroom are heavier than the voiles in the living room (opposite), to more effectively screen the light. The pedestal table is one of Alex’s favourite items, brought from her previous home.
The only structural change involved removing the wall between the dining and sitting rooms to increase the light and create an open-plan kitchen/dining space from the former pantry, galley and larder.
A small but ultra-deep bathtub was sourced to fit along a narrow wall under the window, with a wall light overhead. A selection of woven storage baskets can be found at period ironmongery specialist willowandstone.co.uk.
Mindful of her carbon footprint, Legendre seeks out pre-loved furniture that has seen years of daily use – notched surfaces, galvanised metal, bare wood, waxed details and natural fibres. Spanning many periods, it works as a whole; the palette looks monochrome at first, but on closer scrutiny reveals hints of colour in the form of clay, wood and leather.
Alex has a collection of fixtures from architectural reclamation yards waiting for the right place to be used. Case in point: this stairway (from frenchloft.com), which she brought in during the renovation.
‘I choose pieces that will continue to look better with age,’ says Legendre. It is an approach that works for the whole house.
The paint here is a mixture of three pigments (Bone, Still and Ibiza) by limewash specialist bauwerkcolour.com. It was applied in washy brush strokes to build up the layers. The wooden light switches and sockets are from shop.switchtowood.co.uk.
This is an edited extract from Colourful Homes for the Soul by Sara Bird and Dan Duchars of The Contented Nest, which will be published by Ryland Peters & Small on 13 May, £25. To pre-order a copy for £21.25 until 18 May, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over £25.
© Ryland Peters & Small