COMPLETELY RENOVATING A FOUR-STOREY HOUSE? WAS ANDREA CATHERWOOD MAD? NOPE, JUST PREGNANT WITH TWINS

Andrea Catherwood’s house is a labour of love.

When the ITV1 newsreader was pregnant with twins in 2005, her nesting instinct kicked in and she persuaded her husband Gray Smith, 42, to buy a four-storey Victorian house in Hammersmith, west London.

The only catch – it was in need of a complete overhaul.

“I must have been mad,” laughs Andrea, 40. “I blame the hormones!

"The house had to be gutted and virtually rebuilt from top to bottom.

"We had to rent somewhere nearby so I could supervise the project. It was a nightmare.”

It took two years to finish all the work, but it was worth the wait and the family are determined to make the most of their stunning home.

Andrea and Gray, a lawyer, have now personalised their house, including turning their living room into a map of all the places they’ve visited.

The eclectic collection includes objects from places such as Morocco, China, Italy, France and Ireland.

“Before I got married and had Finn, four, and my identical twin sons Jago and Ruari, three, I travelled to far-flung locations with my job,” says Belfast-born Andrea.

“I always made a point of buying an object to remind me of where I’d been and when we decorated this room, it was the perfect place to show them off.

"Whenever I look around in here, I’m reminded of those times.”

And while Andrea likes to keep things in order, she admits she’s not house-proud.

“Ours is not a show home. I’ve got three kids and a dog so I’m a big fan of the ‘lived in’ look. When the children are in bed we retreat to the living room,” says Andrea.

“I sit in one chair with a good book or a script for work while Gray sits in another with a glass of burgundy from his wine cellar and, occasionally, a cigar.

"We talk about the children and our work – it’s our time to relax and enjoy being by ourselves.”

 

1. VASE “I bought this in a souk in Marrakech for £200 – there’s no point in having cheap tat.”

2. FIGURINE “I’m a fan of Irish artist John McCarthy. I love this bronze figurine by him. It cost £1,300 when I bought it 10 years ago.”

3. PICTURE “This is from Sorrento in Italy. Gray haggled, but it was still expensive!”

4. BUST “This was a 21st birthday present from friends. It’s travelled the world with me and survived!”

5. RUG “This is from a shop in Notting Hill and cost £395. It’s funky and lifts the room.”

ANDREA'S STYLE TIPS

* Mix traditional with contemporary. We have period features and modern objects.
* Frame photos or put them on canvas and turn them into art.
* Everything in your house should be beautiful or useful, so declutter every now and again .

Words: Olivia Buxton Photography: Lancton Hair and Make-up: Sara Bowden Compiled by: Sally Gillam

 

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