October Edition
A look inside my Spanish home, a day trip to Bath & interior inspiration
Welcome to October’s edition of Love Vintage Etc. for all my Substack subscribers and followers.
A look inside my Spanish home
Just over twenty years ago a good friend introduced us to the charm and beauty of the Sierra Alta mountains in northern Andalucia. We instantly fell in love with the unspoilt location, surrounded by olive groves, just an hour’s drive north of the Moorish city of Granada.
We viewed the property one October weekend during a quick visit, and it was exactly what we were looking for: a rustic turn-of-the-century house, small enough to manage but with ample space for friends to stay. Located on the edge of a tiny hamlet, it overlooked a valley of almond trees, with the snowcapped peak of the Sierra Nevada just visible in the distance and swallows darting in and out of view in the autumn sunshine. We saw the house for a second time that weekend. I’d only taken three days off work, and had to be back at my desk on Monday. Just before we boarded the plane, I called my dad to ask for his opinion. He simply said, “Buy it.”
The inside of the house was a different story; the walls were damp, there was a continuous trickle of water from the living rock in the kitchen, the ancient electrics were unsafe, it had a partial asbestos roof, and the outside space was unloved and filled with debris. Due to the high altitude, the area often has very cold winters, and these old houses generally lack central heating, including ours. Cooking and hot water is still dependent on a gas bottle, though I actually like it that way.
When we first viewed the house, our wonderful neighbours, Ana and Custodio, greeted us with a bottle of homemade plum wine. They shared stories about the area and the previous owners, describing how delightful they had been.
What we did
It took a year and a half to navigate the legal process and complete the paperwork (this was before Brexit). And almost two decades of hard work to transform the house into a comfortable, practical, inviting and joyful home. The first thing we did was remove the plastic, mock-wood panels from the downstairs rooms and lay new floor tiles. I was eight months pregnant at the time but I was determined to get as much work done before that first winter. We painted the downstairs walls with white lime wash, a method traditionally used for old houses in this area, known as cal in Spanish. This allows the walls to breathe and it transformed the kitchen, living room, and downstairs bedroom from a collection of dingy rooms to a light-filled space.
The next project was the conversion of the stable into a bedroom, accessed from the house via a door on the first floor. We removed decades of plaster from the beams to expose the wood and treated them for woodworm. With the help of a local builder we reconfigured the kitchen using up-cycled doors saved from a friend’s house in South London and shutters from another friend’s house, in the next village. We also fitted log burners in the upstairs salon and kitchen.
Our brilliant builder and friend, Paco, handled all the major construction work, including plumbing, clearing asbestos sheets and debris from the top terrace, and building a plunge pool. Three years ago, he removed the roof, a 1970s addition, and converted the space into a self-contained studio. Unfortunately, our electrician disappeared after installing the lighting downstairs, and I can’t even remember how we managed to live without electricity upstairs for so long.
Furniture & decorating
Most of what we’ve used is pre-loved or reclaimed. Salvaged timber blends well with the age of the house and it made sense to save money where we could. We took reclaimed Victorian windows to Spain by car, and had them fitted in the roof conversion, along with a hob and cupboard from a friend’s kitchen, in London, which we’d stored for twelve years. We now have five bedrooms and three bathrooms. The only new items we purchased were the beds, shower fittings, and tiles. The toilet in one of the bathrooms came from a friend’s Victorian house in Dalston, East London and we were given a vintage Parker Knoll sofa bed, which now has a prominent spot in the upstairs salon. An English, 1900s, scrubbed pine table fits in perfectly next to the fireplace in the kitchen downstairs.
It’s a continuous cycle of DIY and updates. The exterior suffers the most because of the harsh weather - baking hot in summer and icy in winter, and needs to be painted every five years or so. Last year I started to add colour to interior doors and window frames with Mylands paint, brought from the UK, and added bedding, made from Merchant & Mills fabrics or bought from La Redoute, in the main bedrooms. I have a lots of ideas for next year and can’t wait to start planning. I’d love to hear your thoughts, have you visited southern Spain?
October inspiration
Zara Home has developed a collection of furniture and homewares with Belgian architect and product designer Vincent Van-Duysen. Antwerp based Van-Duysen has designed sofas, side tables, armchairs, lighting and home accessories with a nostalgic, yet solid midcentury feel. My favourites include the organic shaped, wooden bowls and trays in dark rubber wood and the loveseat upholstered in slubby linen in either the pale pistachio green or cinnamon colour, below.
I’m obsessed with Merci’s new line in bathroom linens. From hand towels to dressing gowns they have every colour way covered. Amongst my favourites are these blues and whites, below. I’ve had half an eye open for a stylish trench coat for ages but not found anything within budget. This classic version by Barbour, spotted at Liberty, comes in a striking burnt toffee showerproof fabric with front slip pockets, perfect for dog treats and phone. I’m not one for flourishes and lace but this embroidered, vintage inspired top by Rixo would look pretty over a long sleeved black tee with jeans, below.
A day trip to Bath
It was a flying visit, for a catch up with old friends, but last week’s stay in Bath was a lovely reminder that there’s so much to see in the historic spa town. We started with a walk through Royal Victoria Park to Royal Crescent. The Grade I listed, Georgian landmark is famous for its sweeping crescent of 30 Palladian-style terrace houses. Designed by John Wood the Younger and built between 1767 and 1775 the creamy stone facades, pictured below, are now home to No1 Royal Crescent Museum, a five-star hotel and spa as well as private homes.
I went to the tempting homewares shop, Berdoulat, housed in a three-storey Georgian building, in the centre of Bath. From furniture and kitchenware, handcrafted blankets, paintings and ceramics all Berdoulat’s products are artfully curated and displayed. There’s currently an exhibition of paintings by artist William Rose and a wide collection of casts, below, made by master caster Alexander Griffin at his workshop in Cambridgeshire. Berdoulat, 8 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath BA1 2LP.
No trip to Bath is complete without a look round Topping & Company booksellers. Take time out for a coffee and a browse along the shelves at this fabulous book shop where the staff are super helpful and the atmosphere is always fun. Topping & Company, York Street, Bath, BA1 1NG. Halfway through the day we stopped for lunch at Boston Tea Party, and enjoyed it so much that we went back for coffee and cake at 4.30 pm. Boston Tea Party, 8 Alfred Street, Bath, BA1 2QU.
I called into a new shop Hidden, literally hidden away down a small street, by Lower Bristol Road. All of the items sourced for Hidden are made by UK based designers, makers and creators. Mindful gifts and greetings card, handmade candles and soaps, ceramics and textiles are all lovingly chosen and displayed by owner Natasha.
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Just the most beautiful house in Spain , thank you for sharing, all the recycled and up cycled pieces are a joy to see, thank you and have a wonderful October.
I enjoyed reading about your lovely home. So much labor and love!