{"id":6115,"date":"2018-09-19T07:57:28","date_gmt":"2018-09-19T06:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/janetmcmeekin.co.uk\/?page_id=6115"},"modified":"2018-09-19T08:13:55","modified_gmt":"2018-09-19T07:13:55","slug":"a-winters-tale","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/janetmcmeekin.co.uk\/index.php\/my-work\/a-winters-tale\/","title":{"rendered":"A winter\u2019s tale"},"content":{"rendered":"

Carrie and David Brixey\u2019s labour-of-love cottage is the perfect setting for memorable, fun-filled Christmas celebrations\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Photographs by Andreas Von Einsiedel<\/strong><\/p>\n

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As Carrie Brixey lovingly decorates her idyllic Tudor cottage in the run up to Christmas, she fondly reflects on the almost overwhelming sense of history, emanating from every nook and cranny of this sensitively-renovated home.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u2018It\u2019s humbling to think that more than 500 Christmases have been celebrated within these ancient walls,\u2019 says Carrie. \u2018If only they could talk, what incredibly fascinating stories they would tell.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Carrie\u2019s own tale began in May 2011, when she and her husband, David, moved into this quintessentially English cottage, after stumbling upon it by sheer accident.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Although another house in this picturesque village, near Chichester in West Sussex, had originally piqued their interest, it was actually the stunning cottage next door that took their breath away.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u2018At that time we weren\u2019t seriously house-hunting but, when we drove past, I remember turning to David and commenting that it was the kind of property we could only ever dream of living in,\u2019 Carrie confides.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>A year later, her heart skipped a beat when Carrie discovered the chocolate-box cottage was up for sale.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Eager to find out exactly what lay beyond the pretty brick-and-flint exterior, the couple excitedly set up a viewing and, having recognised the cottage\u2019s vast potential, immediately put in an offer.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The Brixeys were devastated, however, when unforeseen hiccups led to the sale of this Grade II-listed cottage falling through, not just once, but twice.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Thankfully, the plucky pair kept clinging precariously to their dream and, against all odds, eventually managed to secure the sale.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u2018When we moved in, we almost had to pinch ourselves,\u2019 Carrie, who has a degree in Interior Architecture, adds.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Determined to sympathetically enhance their home, while retaining its character and abundance of period features, this enthusiastic couple fully embraced their new roles as custodians of the historic property.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u2018Since it was going to be a major project, we turned to Chichester-based architect Joanna Jefferson, who had remodelled our previous home,\u2019 says Carrie.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Plans were soon formulated to reposition the Aga, remove ceilings and knock through the previously cramped breakfast room, kitchen and study. This enabled the creation of an airy kitchen, complete with a vaulted ceiling, beams and an exposed flint wall, as well as a sociable breakfast room.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>When Listed Building Consent finally came through, and with builders hired, during the summer of 2013, the Brixeys embarked on a fascinating journey that found them travelling back in time, as little by little, the lives of the former occupants were uncovered.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u2018During the renovation, amazing gems were unearthed, such as a personalised invitation for an Aga cookery course at Mary Berry\u2019s home, and a 1923 edition of a novel by AEW Mason called \u2018At the Villa Rose<\/i>,\u2019 Carrie says.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Gradually, the cottage with its relaxed, modern country look, started taking shape. A smart new kitchen was fitted, black beams were grit-blasted, to expose the original wood, and the property was rewired, re-plastered and decorated.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>David, who has recently retired from his headteacher\u2019s job, fully immersed himself in the restoration, tackling numerous projects. Particularly memorable was the moment he discovered a previously-hidden inglenook fireplace and, more recently, when he fitted a stunning new bathroom that\u2019s on a par with one in any boutique hotel.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Right from the start, Carrie, who juggles teaching with interior design, knew exactly the look she felt this cottage, on the edge of the Goodwood Estate, deserved.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u2018I was striving for a fresh, pared-back and uncluttered, yet homely feel,\u2019 she explains. \u2018I realised a muted palette would be the ideal backdrop for our mix of one-off pieces of furniture, family treasures and carefully-chosen soft furnishings and home accessories.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>Her endeavours have led to Carrie launching a new business, Chalk & Flint, with her neighbour Ali Oakley. They source unusual and vintage home finds from both the UK and abroad.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Over the past seven years, the Brixeys have worked tirelessly, thoughtfully injecting every inch of, what was once a dated cottage, with their impeccable taste and style. They\u2019ve created a home that exudes a magical air that\u2019s almost palpable, particularly during the festive season.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>On Christmas Eve, after a carol service at nearby Boxgrove Priory, the couple return home to enjoy a glass of mulled wine and mince pies while waiting for David\u2019s youngest son and his family to arrive.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u2018Having opened our stockings on Christmas morning, we all head downstairs for a leisurely breakfast and, when David\u2019s eldest son and his family turn up, it\u2019s time for champagne, canap\u00e9s and a spot of present opening,\u2019 Carrie says.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>While the turkey is cooking, the family work up a hearty appetite by going for a bracing walk, often to the iconic West Sussex landmark, Halnaker Windmill, with its panoramic views of the county.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u2018I love Christmas and can\u2019t think of anywhere else I\u2019d rather be,\u2019 Carrie confides. \u2018David and I have poured our hearts and souls into the cottage\u2019s renovation and feel so very privileged to be part of its next chapter. To have the opportunity of making precious memories here is something that neither of us ever take for granted.\u2019\"\"<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Carrie and David Brixey\u2019s labour-of-love cottage is the perfect setting for memorable, fun-filled Christmas celebrations\u00a0 Photographs by Andreas Von Einsiedel As Carrie Brixey lovingly decorates her idyllic Tudor cottage in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":6041,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"content-type":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6115","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/janetmcmeekin.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/janetmcmeekin.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/janetmcmeekin.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/janetmcmeekin.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/janetmcmeekin.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6115"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/janetmcmeekin.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6115\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6133,"href":"https:\/\/janetmcmeekin.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6115\/revisions\/6133"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/janetmcmeekin.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/janetmcmeekin.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}