HOME + GARDEN
THE DUNES CONT .
What were the common mistakes that you managed to avoid ?
I made all kinds of mistakes ; although The Dunes was the second complete renovation I had undertaken , it ' s the first I had project-managed and designed on my own . I did however stick keenly to my overall vision and budget .
Did anything go wrong ?
What didn ' t ? The house ended up having no lintels and extremely poor ground slab which wasn ’ t a great start , wrongly sized windows , sills that were specified incorrectly too large , and I had to rewire after I plastered the entire house , resulting in hacking of beautifully smooth walls .
What was your biggest surprise ?
Falling in love with the surrounding area : Winchelsea Nature Reserve , the harbor where seals swim in winter , Jurassic cliffs at Pett level , and cycling through Romney Marsh .
What are you most proud of ?
Pulling the renovation together into something that feels cohesive and complete having never really done it before . I have to mention that the process would have been a whole lot harder without the support of my partner Tilly , who was a rock throughout the renovation , without her The Dunes would be just a house instead of a home .
What are your hints and tips for those looking to develop a second home for rental ?
Moodboards , moodboards and more moodboards ! This will really help you design each internal space . Pull down any ceiling you don ' t need and put a skylight in the roof space above . And of course , love the house like it ' s your home . A Nate Berkus quote sums it up perfectly for me : “ Your home should tell the story of who you are and be a collection of what you love .”
What ’ s next ?
I would LOVE to find a plot of land somewhere near the sea and design and build a home from scratch on it …
The Dunes sleeps six and is bookable via Bloom Stays . Prices start from £ 992 .
www . bloomstays . com / property / the-dunes the _ dunes _ camber
150