Home Style: A Nautical Retreat

After uncovering a coastal idyll by chance, Mandy and Grant McPherson have given the dated property a new lease of life 

Having scoured the coast of England for months in their quest to find a property near the sea, the moment Mandy and Grant McPherson set foot in an historic converted chapel, the pair realised their search was finally over.  “Suddenly everything fell into place,” Mandy recalled. “Within days of viewing this unique house, we’d snapped it up.” 

Back in 2016, the McPhersons, who live in the Cotswolds, began hankering after a coastal bolt-hole. “Although we love our country home, it couldn’t be more landlocked,” said Mandy. “Grant, who hails a coastal town in Lancashire and trained as a marine engineer, frequently talked about spending more time by the sea. The nautical life is definitely in his genes.” 

With his desire to reconnect with coastal living growing stronger, the McPhersons decided to look for a second home to enjoy weekends and holiday time. 

Starting in Cornwall and quickly realising it was too far away to be practical, the search moved along the coast until, in February 2017, the pair found a property in the port town of Lymington in Hampshire. “Disappointed by our second viewing, we rang our son Calum who urged us to keep looking.” Mandy explained. 

Following a swift online search of other properties in the region, the McPhersons were intrigued by a former chapel in the village of Bosham, on the south coast of West Sussex and immediately arranged to see it. “Before the viewing, Grant and I took a stroll around the lovely harbourside village and couldn’t believe our eyes,” said Mandy. “It was absolutely breathtaking.” Enthralled with the location, the McPhersons were delighted when they walked into the chapel which had been rented out for several years before the owner decided to sell. 

Recognising it had plenty of potential to transform into a lovely, relaxed lock- up-and-leave home, plus the fact it didn’t require any upheaval of major structural work, the McPhersons promptly bought the chapel. “It was a blank canvas, crying out for TLC,” said Mandy. “Although I loved the fact that the chapel was so spacious and airy, I knew we would need to think carefully about the ground floor to strike a balance between zoning the spaces while creating a cohesive overall look.” 

Determined to give the sitting area a focal point, Mandy and Grant designed a shiplap wall to include recesses for a television and feature fire, with additional storage areas to the sides. We were recommended a local carpenter who we commissioned to make it. 

“With the chapel being so close to the water’s edge, I was keen to inject a New England flavour and introduced a palette of coastal hues, including greys and blues, to reflect the nautical surroundings,” said Mandy. “I then added the occasional pop of red for impact. The key was going bold and not being afraid of choosing large pieces of furniture and artwork, such as the triptych, to give the interior plenty of character and style.” 

Mandy has thoroughly enjoyed her interiors journey to create a personal, inviting coastal retreat. “Everyone has been so lovely and supportive of our venture,” she said. There’s no doubt that buying the coastal home has added a very special dimension to the McPhersons’ life. 

“Whether it’s a stroll around the harbour with Maddie, or exploring further afield, there’s just so much to do in the area. We both feel that we were so fortunate to find the property, it was an exceptionally lucky find, and we love our new coastal lifestyle – which is just wonderful!” Mandy laughed. 

Photography: Andreas von Einsiedel / Living4media

Words: Janet McMeekin / Living4media