< Previous10 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES A grand old house This characterful home offers a slice of country life. 10-15.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:17 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 11 HOMES D escribed by its owners as “a very grand old house”, The Gables is a spacious three-bedroom property that has been sympathetically renovated. Garry and his family have lived at the house for 10 years, drawn initially to its character. The move also marked a desire to leave the city life of Brighton to enjoy the country life. The original construction of the property has an interesting history and has made the house difficult to date. Garry noted that the family found some papers under the floor dated 1911, and thus believes building work must have started around 12 Á 10-15.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:17 Page 212 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES that time. However, the house is thought to not have been completed until around 1920 due to a fractured building process resulting from World War One. Garry detailed that this is marked by the difference in bricks used on the back of the house which likely occurred due to problems with the supply of materials during and after the war, when the house was being built. Walking into the house in present day, one will first find a hallway. This holds Garry’s favourite feature of the house, the mosaic floor with geometric style tiles. Straight to the left of the hall is the living room with its sash bay window and original open fireplace with a cast iron stove. Meanwhile, on the right one will find the study, also featuring a bay window. Continuing down the hallway one will discover the kitchen, containing a range of base units, a china butler style sink and space for a range oven, along with a pantry. Both the hallway and kitchen then lead into the dining room which opens out into the garden and features ceramic tiled flooring. Continuing through the house, the ground floor also hosts a family bathroom, with a cast iron roll top bath, vanity wash hand basin and shower. At the furthest end of the house is the family/living room featuring a wood burner and vaulted ceiling as well as two utility rooms, one of which leads out into the garden. The family/living room is Garry’s favourite room. He explained: “We put in a lot of insulation in the large lounge at the back of the house which has made it really cosy despite its large size, which I love.” Up on the first floor all three bedrooms and a shower room can be found. Outside the property boasts a double width driveway which leads to a carport and garage. The garden is enclosed by mature hedges and features a variety of flowers and trees, along with a patio area and wooden summerhouse, perfect for 10-15.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:17 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 13 HOMES LET’S CREATE SOMETHING SPECIAL .,7&+(16Ʈ%('52206Ʈ%$7+52206 Our range of kitchens cover everything from the country house look through to stylish and contemporary, including the amazing Laura Ashley Kitchen Collection. Contact our kitchen experts today for your )5(( design consultation Eastgate, Grimsby, DN32 9BA tel: 01472 361621 Mon-Thu 8am-5pm Fri 8am-4pm Sat 8am-12midday Howarth At Home is part of Howarth Timber & Building Supplies this time of year. Speaking about the garden, Garry said: “I’m from Brighton, so I was used to a real postage stamp garden, meanwhile here there are fruit trees - apple, pear and plum trees - and what I suppose is the main feature of the garden, the beech hedge which I have never had before. It must have been here at least 100 years.” The garden is also visited by a variety of wildlife including pheasants, squirrels, a plethora of birds and rabbits who are in no doubt kept in good company by two small goose statues in the garden that Garry inherited from his father. One will also find a well in the garden. Detailing the story of the well, Garry noted: “It actually has water in it as houses built in the early 1900s used to have a sediment tank and a freshwater tank. All the water from the guttering would go into the sediment well and then into a fresh water well. Originally, when we took up some of the floors here, there was lead piping running to the kitchen and an old pump that would pump water from the well to be used in the kitchen. We filled in one of those wells and kept the other, which you can see today. It still collects water from the guttering, and we put in a 14 Á 10-15.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:17 Page 414 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES pump system so we can now water the garden from it!” In the family’s time at the property they have undertaken a good amount of work on the house, primarily a lot of insulation work. Garry detailed: “Prior to living in Brighton before we moved here, we actually lived in Spain, and so were used to the warmer weather. Then when we first moved to The Gables in 2009, it was quite a cold year and we ended up spending a significant amount on heating and coal for the house’s old fires. As we wanted to be as warm as possible we had all the lime cut plaster stripped off the wall and put lots of insulation on the inside and bordered over the top, so we kept the original features - you wouldn’t even know it had been done.” Outside of this, the family’s work has mainly been finding items like the cast iron bath and tiles that match the place. Though they have enjoyed their time there, the family are now selling the home. Garry explained: “Our two children have grown up now and it’s therefore quite a big house for just the two of us. Since we already have a house in Spain, we’re going to move over there for a couple of years or so until we decide what we’re going to do next, what our next journey is.” The Gables is now on the market for £485,000 with City & County who can be contacted on 01733212305. 10-15.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:17 Page 5Stores in Grantham, Boston & Scunthorpe Visit Downtown Superstore & Garden Centre in Grantham today You can get it all - from A to Z! Irons Fashion & Footwear Handmade Hampers Arches & ArboursBeds & Bedrooms Café Culture Umbrellas Towels Vegetable Seeds & PlantsXylophones Nightwear Roses QuiltsOutdoor Furniture Lawnmowers Kettles 10-15.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 13:17 Page 6ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE It’s not uncommon to find artists working in different mediums, with many of those we’ve profiled over the years moving between oil paints to watercolours or working in mixed-media. But it’s rare for us to come across an artist who works in such wildly different mediums, that was until we were introduced to polymath Lucy Cortese, an accomplished watercolourist and stone carver. The subtlety of stone 16-17.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 12:54 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 17 ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE THE LITTLE RED GALLERY Love art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat. The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas. 8 Bailgate Lincoln LN1 3AE 01522 589134 8 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DP art@thelittleredgallery.co.uk www.thelittleredgallery.co.uk B orn in Leicestershire in 1989, there was never a distinction between Lucy Cortese’s fascination with fine art and stone craft. No placing of importance on one over the over and so she followed her heart and studied Fine Art at Loughborough University and Architectural Stone Conservation and Carving at Bath College. Having grown up in the countryside of Rutland, Lucy was immersed in natural beauty that gives even Lincolnshire a run for its money. Ever since she was able to grip a pencil, she has drawn, though her love affair with stone came a little later. When she was fourteen, Lucy started work on at a memorial masonry in Northamptonshire. It was here she first learnt skills such as sandblasting, painting and gilding lettering, connecting her with a long history of stone craft. Perhaps the oldest and purest form of art and human expression, Lucy integrated herself into this medium with aplomb. Now she predominantly works in British stones including slate, Bath stone and Portland stone and carves with traditional hand tools. As well as working with stone, Lucy also draws and paints wildlife with a keen attention to detail, inspired perhaps by the precision involved in stonework. As can be seen from her paintings, it’s clear that Lucy loves colour, her pieces are positively resplendent with it. So why stone, exactly? Lucy says that she finds creating pieces in a monotone medium fascinating, adding that the amount of pressure or surface texture applied will translate the suggested three- dimensional shape. It will probably come as no surprise to learn that Lucy has earned a number of plaudits and plenty of acclaim over the years, having been Artist in Resident at Lancaster Castle in 2015 and Clipsham Quarry in 2015. She was also a finalist at the 2009 David Shepherd Wildlife of the Year Competition, RDFAS Young Artist Prize Winner in 2008 and SAA Junior Finalist 2005. Lucy can often be found at her own practice where she is working on her own pieces alongside commissions. If you’d like to see some of her works up close and personal, head on down to The Little Red Gallery in Lincoln. 16-17.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 12:54 Page 218 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GARDENS Blurring the boundaries With this modular sofa set from BRIDGMAN you can bring luxury to your conservatory and/or garden. With gorgeous contemporary curves and with fully waterproof cushions, this collection offers the perfect balance of style and durability. Relax in style in your home or garden with this whimsical Bloomingville Tassel Single Garden Hammock from Beaumonde. Made from durable cotton canvas, this hammock chair has eye- catching tassels boasting comfort and style both. When the sun’s shining, it’s time to enjoy your garden furniture. Or, as might be the case, upgrade your tired old furniture. Try this bench from Sweetpea & Willow, it has an aged wood finish and has the air of old French style to it. As we enjoy the warmer weather and longer days, chances are you’ll be spending more time outside. Whether that’s gardening or enjoying meals into the evening as our cousins on the continent do, you’ll be needing the right environment. It’s amazing the impact just some stylish garden furniture or a few accessories can have to elevate what was a simple patio and lawn into something truly spectacular. Don’t feel constrained by any design rules but let your creative expression run free. No one says that gardens need to be all planters and gnomes. But if that’s you’re thing then by all means go ahead. We would ourselves opt for something a bit more elegant and really blur the line between the home and garden. Our hot style tip would be to include some typically indoor accessories such as clocks, mirrors and cabinets. They’ll add oodles of style to your outside space, just make sure they’re up to the elements. This is still Britain after all. 18-19.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 12:55 Page 1Head down to Follie in Lincoln to pick up this mug for yourself. How can you not be won over by that simple yet sophisticated peony design? Melody Maison’s rustic mirror with planters is a fantastic way to accessorise your garden whilst brightening it up with some wonderful flowers. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 19 GARDENS Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, this bamboo swing sofa from Circu is perfect for your kid’s bedroom in the cooler months but with summer here, time to make it a fixture of the garden. This tool stand from Garden Trading isn’t only useful to house all your garden tools but will also add a sense of style to your outdoor space. As part of Smithers of Stamford’s new Tractor Furniture Range, this BBQ has been fully recycled from old parts and upgraded with new material to create a super cool barbecue. An elegant apron with a peony design to match, this is perfect for the kitchen as well as out in the garden. Available from Follie in Lincoln. 18-19.qxp_Layout 1 19/06/2019 12:55 Page 2Next >