“Alfie is extremely sociable, contrary, inquisitive, affectionate, competitive, and cantankerous in equal measure. However, he slotted into the family from day one.”
ALFIE—GEORGIAN FARMHOUSE
Alfie is a Wire Fox Terrier, born in Iowa, US, in 2005 to one of the few Fox Terrier breeders in the US, and has led a very interesting and varied life. After a journey of a thousand miles, he arrived at his new home, a super-cool loft apartment in Soho in New York where he lived with Rick, Deb, and their two daughters, Molly and Darcy. He was a happy addition to the family and soon become top dog; he has a huge personality and an attractive disposition, and was something of a novelty in the city. His life was spent pounding the pavements and meeting other dogs at local dog spaces. If Rick and Deb needed a walker or kennels, he went to Happy Paws.
After a while, the family moved to Brooklyn, and suddenly park life became the norm. Their local park in Fort Green gave Alfie the chance to easily meet other dogs—as well as squirrels—and with the addition of a garden, life was pretty good for him.
The kitchen is the heartbeat of the house—and what dog doesn’t like to be in close proximity to an Aga? This is definitely where the action and food are. The open door leads to the utility room, and the back door to the garden.
Alfie sits on the George Smith velvet sofa, which was in Manhattan and Brooklyn before it found its way to Kent. The large painting hanging over the midcentury marble-top credenza is by Marlene Dumas.
In 2013, Rick and Deb decided to move back to the family farm in Kent, England. The contrast in his early days to the life he now enjoys is huge. The farm is surrounded by sheep and orchards, with rabbits galore. He is perfectly happy, spending his retirement with family, friends, and lots of animals. Although he is now 16, slightly hard of hearing, and doesn’t vocalize as much as he used to, Alfie can still behave like a puppy and certainly doesn’t look like an ancient dog.
The farmhouse that the family have owned since 1994 (and rented out while they lived in the US) was built in 1790. It is a typical flat-fronted Georgian farmhouse, and although it was once a dairy farm, it was also known for its orchards and prize-winning plums. With so many sheep in the surrounding fields, lambing season is a busy time, and one could almost mistake Alfie for a lamb—his soft, cream, curly coat makes him blend in with the locals.
On the opposite side of the living room, which was originally the dairy, are doors that open into the garden. Alfie sits in his new sheepskin-lined bed, looking full of anticipation.
Upstairs in the master bedroom, Alfie likes to be part of the action. The cream-painted shutters, designed to replicate the originals, have been folded back to let the sun stream in.
This balcony is positioned over the stairs and it makes an ideal spot for Alfie’s observations. Beneath it you can see the curved glazed windows of the front door.
The spacious garden is a wonderful playground for Alfie. A large pine tree shadows the al fresco eating space and outdoor kitchen. Beyond are the fields of grazing sheep.
The home is beautifully light and decorated with some of the furniture they had in the US. The kitchen features a classic Aga oven and has recently been renovated after suffering bad water damage. Rick and Deb continue to work on the garden and house since returning to the UK, and Alfie is always involved in all that goes on.
The oval Eero Saarinen dining table sits in front of the double-height windows, which show the stunning garden view and allow light to flood into the barn.
“If I shout ‘squirrels,’ it gets him out of bed for a run around in the garden, otherwise he stays there as long as he can.”
BLIN—REMODELED BARN HOUSE
Blin was born in Maidstone in Kent in August 2009 and is a standard Poodle. His Poodle pedigree name is Myall and his parents and grandparents are all Crufts winners, Crufts being the internationally recognized annual dog show. He was the last puppy in a litter of seven.
He lives with Jane, who is a garden designer, in West Grinstead, a village in West Sussex. The river Adur flows through the village and it is positioned between the South Downs range of hills and the English south coast beaches of Brighton, Hove, Shoreham, and Worthing. Around 50 miles away from London, it’s a very desirable country home with easy access to all that the city offers.
Now that he is a bit older, Blin usually tries to stay on Jane’s bed for as long as possible in the mornings. Once he is up, they wander around the garden and pond and feed the chickens, followed by a half-hour’s walk, often in the neighboring fields and woodlands—they have many routes. Jane also drives to some of the beautiful forests and beaches nearby. From time to time they meet up with friends and wander over the South Downs for a play with a pair of Cavapoos.
They walk again in the evening, quite late in the summer and just before dark in the winter. The weather doesn’t stop them, but mud is a huge problem with Poodle coats, meaning lots of hosing down and brushing are needed. Blin has a weekly bath and a thorough brushing, which he hates—Jane has to put him up on the table so she can reach all parts of his coat.
After the evening walk, Blin has raw chicken for his dinner and he and Jane settle for an evening of television, or Scrabble for Jane and savaging a toy for Blin. If Jane has friends over, he usually goes to bed as a protest for not having Jane to himself. He is never far from Jane’s side; when she is gardening, he sits in a bed of grasses for comfort and keeps close. If they’re inside he sits on the end of the sofa, which tends to be his bed of choice.
Blin is a very chilled-out dog. Although on an initial meeting with someone new he is very boisterous, he just likes to greet them; it is a real Poodle trait. He was a very willful pup and training seemed unachievable, but he behaves well now. He loves rough and tumble play with Jane and any dog who is up for it. Like most dogs, he loves chasing small creatures but rarely catches them; however, he hates swimming and puddles, which is strange as Poodles are water dogs.
A huge open-plan living and dining space, with exposed wood beams at the kitchen end. Blin is in his favorite place at the end of the sofa. The painting of a black dress on a yellow background by Richard Nott adds a splash of color.
The snug room, formerly a stable, is a bright, colorful space for reading. The shelves are filled with Jane’s collections of glass and the walls are adorned with art and precious family photographs.
The house, known as the Black Barn, was built in the 18th century and Jane moved in nearly two years ago. It was initially renovated in the 1970s, then remodeled in the 1990s when the tree house was built. It was originally a hay barn and in the 1970s housed lots of raves by the local kids. There were also stables and a tack room, which are now a snug room and an annex.
Blin walks across the landing that joins one bedroom to the other. One can get a real sense of the scale of the barn from the exposed beamed vaulted ceiling. Richard Nott’s painting is seen more clearly from this aspect.
Another of Blin’s preferred spots, Jane’s bed, is in a sun-filled room with quaint echoes of the fact it was originally a barn, making it a special and unique environment. A cowhide Arne Jacobsen chair sits in the corner, a touch of new style mixed with the old.
The beautiful garden covers two acres. It was not a flower garden initially, instead having shrubs and a long hedgerow right down the middle of the plot. Jane, being a garden designer, made changes: the hedgerow was replanted by the road, a 40-foot pond was excavated, and gravel was added next to the house. Jane also brought lots of plants from her previous home and has planted hundreds of bulbs over the last two years, with Blin overseeing her work.
The surrounding farmland is arable land with sheep and beef cattle, and there is lots of wildlife, including owls, woodpeckers, nuthatches, and pheasants, as well as wild deer roaming freely. There are two beautiful old churches nearby, one of them being St George’s which is the farmers’ church that holds harvest festivals and thanksgiving services, making the Black Barn a very enchanting place to live for Jane and Blin.
This wonderful treehouse was built around the old oak tree to the north of the property. Blin is so lucky to live here and enjoy the space and all that the garden and surrounding woodland have to offer.
“Bonnie is saint-like, hates to do anything wrong, and food is her life. Bessie is not saint-like, loves to do anything wrong, and ignores instructions.”
BONNIE AND BESS—COTTAGE CHIC
Bonnie and Bess live in Richmond in southwest London, surrounded by meadows and parkland, with Jill and her daughter Milly. Residing in a beautiful cottage with a large garden, these two Labrador Retrievers live a pretty wonderful life.
Bonnie was born in Chiswick, west London, and is nine years old, while Bess is from north London and is three years old. Bess’s sole purpose is to annoy Bonnie, but Bonnie is a very good-natured dog and doesn’t get cross. They make a very striking pair of dogs in their contrasting blond and black coats.
Their daily routine involves a long walk out onto the woodland or up to Richmond Park nearby, which has many dog-walking opportunities with 2,500 acres of stunning space. Both dogs love to sleep and, as Labrador Retrievers, they live to eat. Labradors are the most popular dog in the UK, US, and Canada, thanks to their lovely nature. However, with their high energy, it’s necessary to train them, otherwise they get out of control. Bessie has proved difficult to train; she is definitely of the opinion that if there’s nothing in it for her, then she will ignore instructions.
On the soft Berber rug, a comfy ottoman offers a place for Bess to relax. A pop of color is provided by the yellow armchair. Hanging above it is one of Milly’s pieces of art.
Both dogs make use of the rugs—Bess on the sheepskin rug on a hide ottoman, Bonnie on the hide rug on the floor. The stunning abstract painting above them complements the warm interior colors and original floorboards.
A leather club chair sits in the bay window, with wooden slatted blinds pulled up to allow the sun to flood in, making this a relaxing place to sit.
The very striking green-painted wall brings everything together. Again we see the yellow adding a pop of color to the earth tones of Jill’s chosen palette. A large fiddle-leaf fig plant with its glossy leaves adds texture to this space.
Jill has lived in the house for 18 years. Originally a 17th-century cottage, it is built on a site that was once a flax field. Renovations are ongoing, and I really like what Jill has achieved; it is bright and contemporary, yet comfort is key. The color palette of green and soft brown with highlights of yellow makes it bang up to date, breathing real life into this old cottage.
With an open-plan layout, all the rooms flow from one to the other. The two living rooms open out onto the kitchen and conversatory, and are all about relaxing; comfortable sofas and soft rugs make the space easy. Bonnie and Bess are allowed in most places in the house, and although they have their own beds, they can usually be found on the sofas or in the bedrooms.
The kitchen is functional but fashionable; the black fixtures, open shelves, and green marble splash back are striking. Jill mostly entertains in the conservatory: an all-year-round indoor garden, filled with plants, which is magical for supper parties. In the evenings, candles can be lit to illuminate the outdoor garden, adding even more to the atmosphere.
Milly is an artist, and various examples of her work are seen throughout the house, mixed with other pieces of art. Upstairs there are three bedrooms, and Jill’s bedroom, with en suite bathroom, looks out onto the garden.
One feels embedded in the country here, but it’s actually very easy to reach London and the nearby town of Kingston.
Sadly, since we took these pictures, Bonnie died after a short illness. I asked Jill for some words about her: “She was the most beautiful, loving, and loyal dog we have ever known.”
In the open-plan kitchen, the sky light adds even more brightness. Bess sits on this small green sofa, which, along with the green marble splash back, brings in the palette of the rest of the house.
The conservatory is at the back of the house and brings the outside in with lots of plants and a flagstone floor. It is a very warm, cocoon-like space for entertaining.
Jill’s bedroom is also at the rear of the house—the French doors open onto the garden below. Bonnie and Bess are very at home on the bed. Above the bed is a piece of hand-cut sculpture by Milly.
Bonnie can be seen running through the beautiful garden; Jill is a keen gardener, and what once was a flax field is now an enviably lush space.
The living room sits at the front of the house, and features the original old floorboards with bold, colorful rugs. Everywhere you look there are interesting objects, and this room has a strong color theme. Ronnie is lying on the particularly striking sofa.
SMITH, RONNIE, RITA, RUBY, AND LENNY—BOHEMIAN STYLE
These five extraordinary dogs, all of whom have had a remarkable start in life, live with Nikki Tibbles in her two homes. For this photography shoot we were at her country residence in the small town of Petworth in West Sussex. The house is stunning and the back section was built in 1700, with the front added in 1800.
As well as being a luxury florist, Nikki has founded a rescue dog organization, and I will talk more about the charity in the Rescue Dogs chapter (see pages 156-173). Nikki’s story inspired me to include the charity chapter and do what I can in any small way to bring to the attention of my readers the plight of so many dogs around the world.
I loved the time I spent with these five dogs—their characters shone through very quickly and it helped us decide who would be good for each picture, as we came to know who would sit still and who would do what they were told. Sometimes one or two of them followed us around, just to be nosey.
Ruby and Rita sit in front of the fire, around which the original wooden mantelpiece and exposed brick provide a focal point. The paneled walls have been painted pale blue and many other shades of blue are reflected throughout the rest of the room.
Smith, who has a very distinctive red coat and sharp pointed ears, is named after the man who found him. A DNA test has shown he is a mix of Belgian Shepherd and Finnish Spitz. Nikki describes him as a gorgeous, gentle soul. He is 12½ years old now. He came from Spain where he was found half-dead in a puddle. After having been kept in a cage for three years, he had a shattered collarbone, eardrum, and ribs. He was driven across to the UK and, after having rotten teeth removed, he began his slow progression to health and happiness.
Ronnie is a gentle giant from Romania. He was one of a litter of puppies and his DNA shows he is probably a mix of Caucasian Shepherd and Magyar Agár (a type of sighthound). His mother was found dead, having been shot, and Ronnie is slightly hard of hearing, probably due to having been near gunshots. He is five years old.
Rita is two and a half years old and likely a crossbreed from Puerto Rico. As with all the dogs, she fits into the family and is a loving pet. Nikki first encountered her in Puerto Rico where her charity had set up a dog sterilization program for low-income families. Rita literally fitted into Nikki’s hand—she had the waggiest tail with the most extraordinary looks. Nikki took Rita back to her hotel, and then to Los Angeles for health checks before bringing her to the UK.
This cozy nook for reading and relaxing is at the back of the house. A large vintage bookcase with books arranged by color makes for an impressive display. Ruby sits on a green midcentury chair as Smith enters the room. I love the scale of the large paintings beneath the window.
Ruby is also around two and a half years old and from Puerto Rico, and is most likely a Ridgeback. Her story is similar to Rita’s—after Nikki found her, she was taken to Los Angeles for health checks and then brought to the UK. She is a gentle, loving soul.
Lenny is almost 11 years old and was found in a dry well in Spain when he was only six months old, along with a Rottweiler. He is from a livestock guarding breed, indicated by the extremely thick skin around his neck. He has big, doleful eyes and an adorable character.
When the dogs are all together in Petworth, they have the run of around 15 acres of land. They are taken for long walks by Nikki, or Alcina who works with her, or they are allowed simply to roam around the house.
Petworth is a small town, nestled in the heart of the South Downs National Park and about an hour from London. The town has a rich history and a reputation for being a leading antique center. It is only a short drive away from the beautiful south coast.
Upstairs in the main bedroom Ruby lies on the ottoman opposite the bed. A clever mix of pillows beneath the vintage paintings ties the color scheme together. Sisal and wool rugs over the floorboards add warmth, and light floods through the big windows.
As a florist of international status, Nikki surrounds herself with striking colors. She creates the most unique and outstanding installations for her customers and clients, so it’s no surprise that this creative passion for vibrant tones and a bold esthetic is reflected in every room in the house. She has a love of vintage items, but this is also sharply contrasted by modern art and rugs.
Lenny is sleeping on the soft rug in the master bedroom. More vintage floral pictures hang beside the small fireplace. Nikki has a thoughtful way of mixing colors, styles, and items from different periods together.
Nikki loves to live in a beautiful environment and having her dogs share her life doesn’t stop her—they go pretty much where they like and follow her everywhere. They have been known to all get on her bed at once.
Three stunning Missoni rugs cover the painted floor in this spare room. Pale pink walls and exposed beams add heaps of character. The glorious yellow upholstered chair and vibrant pillows are a masterful touch.
Rita and Ruby wait patiently outside the back door to be let back in the house. A champagne bowl is used as a drinking vessel for the dogs.
Unaware of all the fuss while we arrange pillows and straighten the throw, Smith dozes on the cream-painted Provençal Louis XV bed. I love how the dogs are all so relaxed and completely at home.
“Coco is loyal and loving, but slightly eccentric at times.”
COCO—MODERN NEUTRAL HOME
Coco is a Cocker Spaniel with a blue roan coat. Her name was inspired by Coco Chanel, after the iconic fashion designer’s little black suits and pearl necklaces. She is four years old and lives with Bryony and Nigel in their home in Oxshott, Surrey. Surrey, in the southeast of England, is a very popular area as it has a higher proportion of woodland than any other county, four racecourses, and the famous golf course of Wentworth. A short train ride into London makes the location perfect for commuters.
Coco started her life in Yorkshire, where she had a huge amount of land attached to the house to roam as well as the rolling hills nearby. A year ago, Bryony and Nigel moved south to this beautiful part of Surrey; instead of the green hills, she now has wooded areas surrounding the house, and is taken most days for long walks into the woodland.
She is allowed around the whole house and likes being with humans—she often jumps up onto the bed in the morning. Although described as eccentric, like all dogs, she is incredibly loyal and motivated by food. With a sleek coat and big soulful eyes, Coco lives up to her namesake. She is playful and enjoys running around in the garden.
Coco sits on the sofa in the wide, open space that is for dining, cooking, and relaxing. On the vintage elm console table against the window are two tall iron figurines, with three bowls adding to the rustic display. The painting on the wall to the right is by Susan Caines.
As you walk into the house you are met with this lower hall space, featuring a selection of Italian olive jars on a vintage oak console and a pair of comfortable chairs. A tall, imposing Louis XV dresser faces a chest of drawers.
The abstract painting that Coco is resting beneath is by German artist Dorlie Fuchs. The wall is covered with test paint colors, giving an overall effect of blending beautifully with Coco.
The house is 10 years old and although they have lived there for a year, the couple are still in the throes of decorating, experimenting with color on the walls, learning how to use each room, and choosing the perfect furnishings. The house is very light and modern and flows well from room to room. Bryony and Nigel’s style is neutral and clean, with a touch of vintage that adds character. Moving from an old house in Yorkshire to this house has meant a shift of style and figuring out what will work. Most of the furniture was left in Yorkshire, so at the moment their home is a work in progress, but from day one it has felt right; the move to be nearer to family has been seamless and they haven’t looked back.
The main living space on the ground floor has a huge kitchen with a central island unit that had been left by the previous owners. This has been repainted and includes new doors and furniture to update it, so it fits more with their style. From there are doors to the garden and to the left a comfortable area for watching television or relaxing with a book. Bryony and Nigel entertain frequently and have bought a huge rectangular dining table and chairs, endorsing the fact that this space is the heartbeat of the house; the very high ceilings with lots of windows make it cheerful, even on the dullest of days. This room is the one they spend most time in, but during the summer months they eat outside every night.
Spanning three floors with five bedrooms, the house offers plenty of room for guests to stay without feeling claustrophobic. Bryony has also created a dressing room on the first floor close to the master bedroom, a functional space with plenty of light and, most importantly, mirrors.
Bryony and Nigel love living here, and having Coco in their lives makes it pretty perfect.
The afternoon sun filters through the shutters onto the bed in the spare room, making this one of Coco’s favorite spots for snoozing.
The large garden is enough for Coco when she is not being taken out to the nearby woodland. The covered dining area is used a lot during summer evenings and is sheltered from the wind and rain.
