Home The interior GENERATIONS


Cindy and Colin de la Rue and their three children have suffused this beautiful Regency house in Suffolk with life, laughter and colour.
AT HOME Melton Hall was built in 1807 in the Greek revival style by John Wood, replacing an earlier sixteenth - century residence that burnt down. After the Wood family, only four other families have lived at the Hall since, the latest being the de la Rues, who have made it a much - loved family home that they enjoy sharing with guests.
Colin and Cindy de la Rue began their married lives in a London townhouse. With professional lives ensconced in the capital, Colins as a lawyer and Cindys as a journalist, it was initially an ideal home. When their first son, Sam, arrived, however, its drawbacks soon became apparent. "It was tall and thin with lots of stairs, so not at all good for children," says Cindy. "Plus Colin really wanted a garden."
Thereupon the hunt for a family home outside London began. After much unfruitful to - ing and fro - ing between London and Suffolk - their chosen county - the de la Rues hired an agent to house hunt for them, but even he couldnt find anything that inspired that illusive and all - important feeling of rightness. "He found somewhere he thought was perfect, a large Victorian estate with lots of wood panelling, but I just didnt like it," says Cindy. "Then a friend local to the area told me about a beautiful Regency house called Melton Hall. It wasnt for sale, as far as she was aware, but when I mentioned it to the agent he said that, as chance would have it, it had just come on the market." When the de la Rues went for a viewing the house so perfectly matched their criteria that they could not disguise their enthusiasm. Little Sam, by then an energetic two - year - old, ran around the garden with glee. Cindy, marvelling at the high ceilings and beautiful proportions - so different from the beamed, meandering houses more typical of the area - threw caution to the wind and announced to the current owners that this was the house she had been dreaming of for two years. Fate, it seems, was on her side, for the delight Cindy felt at finally finding her perfect home was matched by that of the sellers at finding a young family to whom they were happy to pass on their beloved home. "Amazingly, they offered to take it off the market for a few months while we rented and Colin tried out the commute to London," says Cindy.

GENERATIONS


Cindy, Colin and Sam, now 17, moved in to Melton Hall in 1995. They were later joined by Rose, now 14, and 11 - year - old May, the couples two daughters, who were the first children born at the house for over a century. Having been home to the same family from the early 1800s to the 1930s, the Hall is certainly no stranger to family life, however, and the de la Rue children seem to have re - ignited its nurturing spirit with their games and pursuits, including hockey on the lawn, hide - and - seek in the house, and camping parties in the woods. "It is a wonderful house for the children," says Cindy, "and although its large, it doesnt have any long corridors so it feels like we are never far away from each other."
It was the children who inspired Colin and Cindys first big improvement to the house, which was to convert the attic into a space the young de la Rues could really make their own. Once providing accommodation for domestic staff, but long since left to fall into a state of disrepair, this floor now boasts three bedrooms, a playroom and an art room, where, when they were younger, the children enjoyed weekly Saturday art classes.
Other major alterations to the property were kept to a minimum. "The previous owner ran a fabric shop on the Fulham Road and had impeccable taste," says Cindy. "We were lucky enough to inherit some of her window dressings, as well as beautiful fireplaces and mirrors." Even the odd piece of furniture pre - dates the de la Rues life at the house. "We once came home to find an armchair outside the door with a note from the previous owners attached to it saying, this belongs to Melton Hall," remembers Cindy.
There is no doubt, however, that the de la Rues have made the house their own. This is particularly apparent in the family sitting room, a cosy cocoon of a room decorated with art and artefacts from Colin and Cindys extensive travels, and the kitchen, where an enormous custom - built dresser the house for over a century. Having been home to the same family from the early 1800s to the 1930s, the Hall is certainly no stranger to family life, however, and the de la Rue children seem to have re - ignited its nurturing spirit with their games and pursuits, including hockey on the lawn, hide - and - seek in the house, and camping parties in the woods. "It is a wonderful house for the children," says Cindy, "and although its large, it doesnt have any long corridors so it feels like we are never far away from each other."
It was the children who inspired Colin and Cindys first big improvement to the house, which was to convert the attic into a space the young de la Rues could really make their own. Once providing accommodation for domestic staff, but long since left to fall into a state of disrepair, this floor now boasts three bedrooms, a playroom and an art room, where, when they were younger, the children enjoyed weekly Saturday art classes.
Other major alterations to the property were kept to a minimum. "The previous owner ran a fabric shop on the Fulham Road and had impeccable taste," says Cindy. "We were lucky enough to inherit some of her window dressings, as well as beautiful fireplaces and mirrors." Even the odd piece of furniture pre - dates the de la Rues life at the house. "We once came home to find an armchair outside the door with a note from the previous owners attached to it saying, this belongs to Melton Hall," remembers Cindy.
There is no doubt, however, that the de la Rues have made the house their own. This is partcularly apparent in the family sitting room, a cosy cocoon of a room decorated with art and artefacts from Colin and Cindys extensive travels, and the kitchen, where an enormous custom - built dresser
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT An elegant occasional table displays favourite books and family photographs. The Nina Campbell curtains wereleftbythe previous owner. The long farmhouse table in the kitchen is sited in the rooms sunniest spot. The traditional Aga lends the spacious kitchen a cosy feel. Cindy and Colin commissioned the dresser, which takes up the whole of one wall in the kitchen, from a local joiner. They updated the existing kitchen units by painting them in String by Farrow & Ball.
ABOVE LEFT Rich tones and natural materials add warmth to the sun room, which acts as the family sitting room. The antique curtains and pelmet were hung by the previous owner. ABOVE RIGHT The knole sofa is from Sarah Meysey - Thompson Antiques and the coffee table from Global Trading. RIGHT Cindy kept the dramatic red in the dining room. The Spanish walnut dining chairs were a wedding present. In the alcove sits a portrait of John Wood senior, who built Melton Hall.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT An antique French bed from Bed Bazaar, pretty floral fabric by Sanderson and a painting of red poppies by artist Susi Bellamy, combine to delightful effect in this guest bedroom. Cindy chose a dramatic palette of rich purples and aubergines for the master bedroom. The antique sleigh bed is from James Adam Furniture. A seasonal floral arrangement picks up on the colours in the main bedroom.
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