This jewel of a British Victorian house is beyond beautiful – and the views are to die for

Built in 1880 for a wealthy Victorian merchant, this stunning home in Jersey – that's the British Jersey, just off the northern coast of France – was bought by Kate Brasher and husband James, who works in finance, in 2019. 

When they first entered what was to become their permanent home, they discovered a view they wanted to build their lives around. From its vantage point on the hill, the house looks out over a sweeping lawn to Mont Orgueil castle on the coastline and France out in the distance. Let's take the tour of this wonderful example of British Victorian house style. 

‘We’d rented two other properties on Jersey but when our landlord decided to sell we felt we couldn’t live with the uncertainty anymore,’ Katie elaborates. ‘James was just back from a business trip to Australia and I’d lined up some houses for us to view. This was the last property we visited and even though he was jet lagged, James was excited by it and we both had the feeling this was the one despite it being over budget,’ Katie explains. 

While the view was the clincher, the house also offered enough space for the couple’s three teenage children. Adding to its charms, the architecture had a decorative appeal. ‘It had bay windows, which are unusual for Jersey, and beautiful and very rarely found elaborate wrought ironwork above the door,’ James describes.

While the view was the clincher, the house also offered enough space for the couple’s three teenage children. Adding to its charms, the architecture had a decorative appeal. ‘It had bay windows, which are unusual for Jersey, and beautiful and very rarely found elaborate wrought ironwork above the door,’ James describes.

‘Our timing to buy it wasn’t great as we’d just rented our London home out for a year. Fortunately, nine months later the house was still on the market and we got it,’ Katie adds. ‘I think what had put people off was the poor layout of the ground floor and were you to invest in the house fully you’d have to move out for months,’ James reveals. 

After living in the property for over a year, the family established their list of priorities for the renovation and decisively appointed Sims Hilditch as their designers. ‘We didn’t shop around as we had seen their brochure and loved everything in it. We knew that they would be able to sensitively reinstate the original period details,’ Katie says. 

With an initial plan to make minor improvements such as new bathrooms and carpets, the scope of the project increased dramatically. The kitchen was flipped from the front to the rear of the house, taking up the space of an underused dining room that had the best position for the view. ‘Now, the only rooms that don’t look out over the garden are the cinema and a guest bedroom,’ Katie says.  

Various floors were levelled and ceilings raised with a dingy playroom being transformed into a mudroom and enticing wine cellar with study above. In their most ambitious move, Katie and James transformed a former swimming pool into their ‘great room’ where much of the family’s time is spent. ‘It’s a fun and lovely room to be in. Sims Hilditch have excelled at dividing up the space into its various functions and it’s big yet cozy,’ James explains. 

Moving back into their improved home in January 2020, the family were able to use the lockdown to their advantage. ‘We started unpacking and nesting and once restrictions were lifted we had non-stop guests all summer. The house provides very easy living even with two families. When we have kids over we don’t even notice them,’ Katie says. 

A tall winged headboard makes a strong focal point of the bed in this well-balanced scheme. Bespoke headboard by Sims Hilditch upholstered in Plain Cotton fabric by Fermoie. Versailles chest of drawers, Julian Chichester. Bench, Chelsea Textiles upholstered in Fermoie Hamble cotton fabric. Walls in Shaded White, Farrow & Ball. Curtains in Cassius fabric, Colefax and Fowler. 

A statement stripe bedspread and geometric green accented cushions give this teenager’s room a strong yet easily changeable identity. Broadstripe throw, Melin Tregwynt. Bespoke bed, Sims Hilditch. Antique bedside drawers, Lorfords. Walls in Shadow White, Farrow & Ball. Burlington Crystal Ball lampstand, Neptune. 

The period style tub (below) fits in with the classic Victorian tone of the house. High gloss uneven metro tiles add texture and rebound the light. Reclaimed tub, Cast Iron Bath Company. Wall tiles, Marlborough Long brick in gelato ice, Mandarin Stone. Blind in Quantock Linen, Fermoie. 

The garden is next on the agenda for improvement. ‘We’ve put a trampoline where there was an old pond. We’re in the process of building a tennis court and also want to add a sunken firepit and pool area,’ she adds. With impressive focus and commitment, the Brashers have created a stunning island retreat where any family would happily be marooned.