Home Style: Bright Ideas

Antiques dealers Cathy and Peter Bullen saved their 17th-century home from neglect, filling it with bright colours and an eclectic collection of art and fine furniture 

Cathy and Peter Bullen have lived in their home for nearly 30 years, and the house dates back from the 17th century, “but at some time in the early 1800s it was given a classic Georgian façade,” Cathy explained. Peter was in the army when the couple got married and, over the next four years, they moved seven times from base to base. “I absolutely hated not having a home I could call my own, so we began the search for a house that was affordable on an army captain’s modest pay, and large enough for our growing family,” recalled Cathy. 

At the time they had two children with a third on the way. When the couple first viewed the house, it hadn’t been lived in for eight years. It had formerly been the home of the artist Elenor Bellingham Smith, who had transformed the stable block into her makeshift studio. Elenor had grown up in London, attended the Slade School of Fine Art and illustrated the latest fashions for Harper’s Bazaar. After her marriage ended, she moved to this house, where she painted landscapes and Cathy and Peter have several of her original fashion drawings, which now hang in a bedroom. 

Nothing had been done to the property for years when the couple moved in, but that meant all the old fittings and fixtures were still in situ. The useful range of outbuildings and a spacious walled garden were added attractions, but six skip-loads of rubbish had to be cleared before they could think about living there. “Conditions were primitive, but I was just thrilled to have my own home, one that I could decorate and furnish as I wanted,” said Cathy. 

The Bullens made very few structural changes to the house, partly because of its Grade II-listing, but mainly because it suited them as it was. “We did eventually move the kitchen back to its original location, to where the very useful larder and pantry still were,” explained Cathy. A local carpenter made the kitchen units – to which they added old French brass handles.

“Over the years we’ve been lucky enough to inherit family furniture and paintings,” said Cathy. “But we’ve pepped up the wall colours and reupholstered the furniture in contemporary fabrics to update the look.” Cathy has made quite a few of the cushions in the house, along with headboards, using fabric remnants and trimming that she’s acquired over the years. 

“Now that the children no longer live at home, I’ve had fun refurbishing their rooms for guests, together with a nursery for when the grandchildren stay,” said Cathy. Cathy who had trained asa classical ballet dancer initially combined bringing up her family with teaching and working on local musical and dance productions. “Then Peter was offered the chance of participating in an Anglo French officer exchange, which entailed being posted to Provence. So, we rented out our house, swapping it for a similar property in a pretty Provençal village,” Cathy explained. 

To practise her French and to give herself something to do, Cathy began exploring the local Brocante shops and flea markets. “It became addictive and, by the time we returned to the UK four years later, our collection of French antiques was so extensive the house and the barn were overflowing,” said Cathy. So, they stuck a price on everything, invited their friends to bring their friends and by the end of the weekend they’d sold it all and a new business called, The Boule-in, was born. That was eleven years ago, and the couple still continue their antiques- buying trips to France whenever time permits. 

“We only buy what we like, and fortunately our customers share our appreciation of fine craftsmanship and good design,” Cathy stated. “We hold four events each year and, while we buу everything in France, we’re not purists sо if it’s a gorgeous Murano glass or a length of Belgian linen that catches our eye, we buy it!” Once it’s all back in the UK, Cathy and Pete decide how they’re going to show it. The focus of the spring and summer fétes is outside dining, garden furniture, planters and statuary. 

Then they concentrate on lighting, objets d’art and French furniture for their autumn event, and in December the focus is on all things festive, with items that would make lovely gifts. “Things that we’d like to find at the foot of our own Christmas tree,” said Cathy. “The hardest bit is parting with pieces I’ve fallen in love with, but there is always the next trip to France to look forward to.” 

Photographs: Andreas Von Einsiedel / Living4media

Words: Amanda Harling/Living4media