Home Made Mixing modern with vintage, Rosie and David Ames have created a distinctive retreat deep in the North Devon countryside. Words by Jilly Parton. Photos by Neville Stanikk

102 devon.greatbritishlife.co.uk Through the Keyhole

Catsheys – a 1970s house in the North Devon village of Romansleigh

atsheys is not easy to find but an old-fashioned cottage and ripped out truly organic experience. “I make my own that is part of its draw. I follow many original features,” says Rosie. jam and compotes, bread and cakes. C my instructions, turning left “David found part of the staircase on a Our sausages and bacon come from the down a narrow lane here, right up a bonfire in a local field! He brought it local farm shop in Witheridge, and we bumpy track there. I am deep in the home and refurbished it and turned it buy fresh lamb and pork from friends North Devon countryside and have to into the handrail for the stairs we had put who grow their own in Meshaw a couple stop in the tiny village of Romansleigh, in.” of miles away.” about five miles south of South Molton, Rosie has a shock of curly hair and a Rosie is a passionate gardener too to check for directions with a man who is constant smile. The house smells of and has a large kitchen garden which chopping firewood. I arrive at last, and baking and in the kitchen I see she is supplies the table with organic drive through a swing gate which is there half-way through making a luscious- vegetables and fruit. Flowers and potted to keep out stray cattle and deer. It really looking Victoria sponge. The cake is a plants are home-grown and she is tucked away, with no near neighbours. gorgeous deep yellow thanks to the arranges them in her airy, wooden Rosie Ames and her husband, David, fresh eggs she gathers daily from her greenhouse. bought Catsheys (pronounced Cats- own chickens. “Our legbar hens lay blue If it sounds as though the Ames were hays) in 1997 and set about transforming eggs which are very sought after in the born to be country people, at ease it into the contemporary rural retreat it is city,” she says, pointing to a dish of running a remote B&B, nothing could be today. “It was built in the ’70s yet the delicate, sky-blue eggs. The couple are further from the truth. In fact both were previous owner had tried to turn it into scrupulous about providing guests with a high-fliers with challenging careers in

Textiles and pieces of art picked up on their travels add a richness to the rooms

devon.greatbritishlife.co.uk 103 Header

The kitchen at Catsheys where Rosie cooks up her organic treats

104 devon.greatbritishlife.co.uk Through the Keyhole

Both have strong creative streaks. But their tastes and talents have dovetailed perfectly

London before seeking out the peace rippled sycamore with ebony highlights, designing consumer items that were and quiet of North Devon. this dramatic piece stands on ‘rocket’ going to end up being thrown away,” he “I was a knitwear designer and legs and features a drop-down desk top says. “I'd always loved working with managed a team of 15 people liasing and nine dovetail drawers. It’s wood – I made my own desk as a with major clients like Marks & Spencer, breathtaking, and again, it was made by teenager and even a mini-wardrobe for and David was a product designer for David. my sister’s dolls’ clothes.” Conran for years.” So they both have “I decided to re-train as a furniture David took a six-month course, “like strong creative streaks. But their tastes maker because I got fed up with product an apprenticeship really,” with Michael and talents have dovetailed perfectly to create the wonderful mix of modern and vintage details that make Catsheys so unusual. The entrance hall is wide and welcoming with a mahogany floor and steps down to a light and airy dining space. Full-width sliding glass doors offer a lovely view through to the garden and woods beyond. The house is set in ten acres of land though the garden and swimming pool is surrounded by a mesh fence, “otherwise the deer get in and eat all my vegetables!” Rosie says. A magnificent dining table takes centre-stage and is the first hint of the treats and treasures to come. It was hand-made by David from yew and ash and is polished to a high gleam. In one David’s yew and ash dining corner stands an extraordinarily beautiful table takes centre stage bureau. Made in burr elm, maple and devon.greatbritishlife.co.uk 105 David’s thoroughly contemporary work is dotted around the house but blends beautifully with the many eclectic items of vintage furniture

The Lilac Suite

106 devon.greatbritishlife.co.uk Through the Keyhole

A French cherrywood bed is the main feature in the Garden Room

Scott, a furniture-maker based near ensuite an original Italian Plia chair from makes a wonderful wall-hanging in the Bampton. He rented part of a Devon the 1970s made with Perspex. hall, and rich green and gold hand-sewn longhouse while he studied and “We believe passionately in recycling curtains catch the eye in the dining continued to run his own London-based and re-using old items,” says Rosie. But room. design business part-time. Rosie they clearly have an eye for the right Rosie and David admit they found it remained in London and there was a lot piece. “The coffee table in the sitting hard adjusting to life in the Devon of commuting by both! When they finally room came from a charity shop in countryside. “It was isolating at first and chose to buy Catsheys, after looking all Taunton and the dining chairs we bought a bit spooky at night!” says Rosie. The over the country for the right property, from a recycling place in South Molton!” pitch blackness, the sudden appearance David converted the rickety old garage she says. None looks out of place here. of deer in the garden and the movement into a fantastic workshop and invested There is another strong theme of badgers and other wildlife, was a heftily in a range of saws, drills, lathes throughout the house which adds to the world away from the brash lights and and myriad tools to set up his furniture- warmth, colour and originality of the noise of London, she confides. making business. “I love the fact that Ames’s home. Romansleigh is a large parish but has a now I can work closely with individual “I was born and brought up in Kenya tiny population which took some time to clients to make an item they really want and still have family there so we go back get to know. But the Ames’s now feel at and will keep forever,” he says. periodically. We always come back with home here and have no plans to move. David’s thoroughly contemporary a few African fabrics or pieces of art; “I was asked to arrange the flowers work is dotted around the house but ethnic items that remind me of my for the funeral of a local farmer recently,” blends beautifully with the many eclectic homeland,” says Rosie. Indeed these are Rosie tells me proudly. “I felt very items of vintage furniture. One guest scattered amongst the modern and honoured. Very honoured indeed.” bedroom features a French cherry wood vintage furniture, paintings and other sleigh bed and a thick pile of genuine treasures, and somehow bring the whole catsheys.co.uk, 01769 550580. American-Indian woollen blankets. The together. A reclaimed chair in one guest The property is also available through other (there are only two double rooms room is covered in a vibrant green and Unique Home Stays: for guests and each is luxurious) has blue African tie-dyed material, a uniquehomestays.com/unique/details. white-washed panelled walls, and in the traditional wrap-around skirt in raffia asp?id=748 devon.greatbritishlife.co.uk 107