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Sallyann Cox used her creative talents to extend a small bungalow and make the most of the delightful coastal views. Idon’t want to live in a bungalow – I’m not ready for that!’ was interior decorator, stylist and maker Sallyann Cox’s reaction when her husband R ichard suggested it. It was back when the couple were regularly spending a few months at a time sailing around Greece and knew a lock-up-andleave home would fit the bill. The idea became a sad necessity, however, when Richard was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and had to use a wheelchair. ‘We’d looked at so many places, none of which were suitable,’ remembers Sallyann. Finally, and with no real enthusiasm, she went to see a small, two-bedroom bungalow almost untouched for nearly 50 years and had a change of heart. ‘During the viewing, I walked into the cluttered garage and noticed a tiny window on the side – one glimpse at the view and I realised there was so much untapped potential here,’ she recalls. The house itself had effectively been built facing away from ever-changing views across fields to the Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary much beloved by the couple. ‘I knew that by doing some rejigging to the garage, I would be able to make a special place where Richard could enjoy sitting and watching the ebb and flow of the tides, and the boats down on the water – it would be a nourishing environment.’ In the end, Richard was not able to move in as his illness progressed quickly, but, after his death, Sallyann decided to continue with their plans. ‘It was very hard to be there without him and, for the first couple of years, I didn’t do much at all apart from replacing the bedroom window with French doors onto a little balcony; I had a constant need to get outside rather than be cooped up, so opening up the house as much as I could became a priority.’ Two years later, when she felt able, Sallyann began work on the rest of the house. The garage and carport were demolished and replaced with a sleek extension. ‘I knew I wanted an open-plan space where I could cook, eat and relax,’ she says. The original rooms were reorganised making an extra bedroom and guest bathroom, as well as a large, bright hall where Sallyann makes lighting and mirrors from items she salvages on nearby beaches. ‘I’ve always been drawn to the sea, whether living on it or near it and I’m always out collecting all manner of things!’ Her creative eye has also been used on the interiors. ‘I’ve designed and decorated shops and restaurants in the past, invariably in vivid colours with a Mediterranean influence, but in this house, I’ve been more restrained with lots of neutrals. I decided to think of it as a blank canvas that I could add to or remove from if I felt like a change.’ There are still pops of colour evident in the soft furnishings and the odd wild wallpaper and vintage find. ‘I used to have a lot more furniture and general “stuff” but we sold practically everything when we went off sailing. I had to start again which is surprisingly cathartic, if expensive!’ Renovating the house also proved to be a turning point. ‘It was completed in nine months and I barely had time to think about much else as there were so many decisions to be made but it was good to engage with something,’ she says. So has Sallyann been converted to bungalow life? ‘I actually feel really lucky to live here,’ she says. ‘The house makes for such easy living and with beautiful views, too – it’s an absolute privilege.

A room tucked away within the woodsgoes from large to intimate. After buying a ranch on nearly 3 silvan acres outside the town, the new owners quickly created plans to renovate the immense room. Having restored four kitchens in past homes, they were at home with endeavor such a serious project. however now, they selected to figure with knowledgeable to form the method easier and stress free. The couple was introduced to married woman tater, designer at Karr Bick room , by their house agent. “We clicked right away,” says the house owner. “She understood my style aesthetic and created everything therefore seamless.” The home’s exterior had a lodge feel, however the inside was Tuscan. The house owner extremely wished the room to match the texture of the home’s exterior. She describes her vision as “Forest stylish,” that means neutral colours that blend well with the greens and browns she sees from her window: easy, clean lines and components of visual interest with a country bit. married woman says that from their initial meeting, her consumer was prepared to hit the ground running. “She was somebody UN agency extremely helped the project move quickly by creating selections on materials and layout,” married woman says. married woman created 3 to four totally different layouts for the area as a start line for the look. She says the largest challenge of the project was the massive quantity of area they'd to figure with, nearly 600 sq. feet. The recent room layout didn’t operate right, and also the work space was scrunched along. The new style required the world to breathe with a additional large-scale layout. To fill the sq. footage, married woman incorporated 2 islands into the room. In one space, an enormous island with a wood high was created to feel additional sort of a table than associate island. With chairs on all sides, it's a good place for the owners and guests to take a seat throughout meals or diverting. The second island is that the husband’s spot as a result of he's the cook within the family. There is no lack of storage in the new style with tons of pull out drawers for pots and pans. A coffeehouse behind the kitchen appliance wall includes doors to hide appliances. With the layout challenge resolved, consequent obstacle to tackle was making certain the area was balanced. “We had to work out the way to embrace the country qualities the house owner wished whereas conjointly marrying it to associate industrial edge with touches of female charm,” married woman explains.For carpentry, the designer inspired the house owner to assume on the far side stark white. The wolfram perimeter cupboards don't seem to be white or grey however somewhere softly in between. they're finished with different dark hardware. The dark grey island carpentry has hints of distressing to melt the planning and convey in rustic qualities.Dark wood beams channel the country roots of the house and it's rural location; but, they were virtually ignored of the project thanks to placement problems. “The overall look wouldn’t be identical while not the beams,” says married woman. conjointly complementing the country feel of the house, the dark, fabric floor tile has hints of wood tones that echo the wood beams on the ceiling. The designer set it during a fabric pattern for a softer foundation against the remainder of the room components.The chrome steel appliances have associate industrial ambience and convey during a additional modern edge. For the female aptitude, the house owner fell enamored with the show-stopping backsplash mosaic tile that has hints of flower styles in different dark colours that obtain on reflective mirror tones. They sparkle each therefore slightly in sure light-weight to enhance the unstained appliances. “The mosaic is therefore distinctive, and footage don’t have sex justice,” married woman says.The backsplash may be a favorite facet of the look for each house owner and designer, however married woman conjointly loves the quantity of natural light-weight that spills into the area, and also the read into the curtilage is breathless. “You feel extremely serene and calm during this room,” she says. “I am happy with however it reflects the homeowner’s style and the way proud she is of this area.” As for the house owner, she says selecting a favourite half is hard. on the far side the backsplash, she conjointly loves the “beautiful combination of various materials” within the area. “Functionally, I love the quantity of cupboard area that married woman worked into the style,” she adds. “For once, we've lots of space to store everything!” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources and extra photos.