Describing herself as ‘a hunter-gatherer of second-hand and antique furniture, furnishings and art’, Katy Maskell Bell – along with husband John – embraces a ‘collected’ interior style that reflects the couple’s connection to pieces with history and character.
Their home – built in 1883, with Gothic Revival details, on the edge of the Eridge Park Estate near Royal Tunbridge Wells – features furniture from multiple eras, either carefully sourced or passed down through family. ‘There are very few items that we’ve bought new; the majority are preloved, recycled, upcycled or restored,’ comments Katy.
The couple, who own LPOL (formerly known as Lost Property of London) – specialising in leather and upcycled bags and accessories – moved here with their son, Wilfred, in 2020, leaving the capital and heading back to their roots on the East Sussex/Kent borders. Casting a wide net over the area, and viewing several ‘done-up’ houses, they eventually decided to find a place they could slowly renovate and make their mark on. ‘What we needed was a shell – an honest, simple canvas to work with,’ says Katy, who also has a side business selling preloved finds and hand-painted lampshades.
The watercolour by William Russell Flint was bought from Lewes Antiques Centre. - Tamsyn Morgans -
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The attraction of the house, aside from being surrounded by beautiful countryside and vineyards, yet not a million miles away from civilisation, was how the previous owners had kept it in good order, using quality, period- appropriate design and materials. ‘It wasn’t overdone, which allowed us to start envisioning a warm, relaxed, lived-in home,’ says Katy.
Katy grew up surrounded by antique and vintage furniture and furnishings, so choosing old over new has always felt instinctive. Drawn to Victorian and Georgian furniture for their craftsmanship, proportions and details, Katy and John like pieces to have character, charm and history. ‘Bringing older items into the home adds narrative and soul, and makes for a more interesting space,’ says Katy.
When tracking down antiques and vintage pieces, Katy has her go-to shops, as well as frequenting fairs such as Ardingly Antiques & Collectors Fair, and Sunbury Antiques Market. Alongside pieces that have been bought, John and Katy’s house is also filled with cherished inherited items. There’s the Victorian refectory table and brass bed, given by Katy’s parents; a Georgian mahogany linen press acquired from an aunt and uncle; and a piano stool covered in a Missoni textile, previously Katy’s grandmother’s.
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Favourite items include an articulated French industrial wall lamp, which sits over the cooker as an essential task light, and an unusual, brightly painted green French settle in the entrance hall, which niftily transforms into a daybed.
Katy and John feel lucky to know where many of their vintage and antique pieces come from, but believe that, if you don’t, discovering their history is all part of the fun. ‘These made-to-last pieces have the potential to be handed down again, generation after generation, and enable us to keep our carbon footprint down, hopefully inspiring a responsible attitude in future generations,’ says Katy.
As well as being an ethical approach, with the couple’s keen eye for design, it’s a stylish, harmonious one, too, with natural materials and time-worn treasures evoking comfort and familiarity. Now that the house is finished, Katy describes it as having ‘a sense of calm and understatement’.
Find out more about John and Katy’s businesses at lpol.co.uk and katybell.co.uk