Budget Renovation Transformed Traitor Actress and Interior Designer FRANCESCA ROWAN-PLOWDEN's Five-Bedroom Residence
In the picturesque English countryside near Rye, East Sussex, a captivating five-bedroom house harmoniously blends elements of the 1920s, the Moroccan lifestyle, and the quaint English countryside aesthetics. The residence's unique charm echoes its occupants, interior designer Francesca Rowan-Plowden, 46, her psychotherapist husband David, four sons, two canines, two fowl, and a feline.
Francesca's walls don a holiday-like ambiance all year round with Moroccan accent hues from fenwickandtilbrook.com, while the table and wall mirror came from Ardingly Antiques Fair in West Sussex (iacf.co.uk/ardingly). Woven wall plates are sourced from hombe.co.uk.
More recognizable as Frankie, a finalist in this year's popular BBC reality TV show, The Traitors, Francesca still draws attention due to the series. An occasional commuter ran up to her on the tube to show pictures of his bathroom renovation.
In the kitchen, cabbage and fish plates fill shelves, acquired over the years from antique markets in the UK and France. The dress worn in these photos can be found at houseofdisgrace.co.uk, while sandals are available at dunelm.com.
Originally a theater actor, Francesca admires the parallels between the two professions, stating, "Theater is about taking the audience on a journey and putting on a good show. It's the same with interiors."
Her wooden cabinet, inherited from parents, was transformed from an old record cupboard into a storage solution for crockery and linens. Artwork found at Ardingly Antiques Fair embellishes the walls.
The house, built at the turn of the millennium, lacked character until Francesca added her personal touch. Each room was revitalized with heritage colors, vintage textiles, and aged brass hardware. Pet chickens roam freely in the well-manicured garden, and the sofa comes from made.com. An array of outdoor tables can be found at grahamandgreen.co.uk.
Despite numerous prestigious projects, including Goodnestone Park stately home, Battel Hall on the Leeds Castle estate, and Kingshill Farmhouse on the Elmley Nature Reserve in Kent, Francesca has maintained a budget-friendly approach for her family home. Renovation budgets went towards essentials like plumbing and rewiring, as the main bathroom suffered from a retro jacuzzi with non-functioning pumps, making it a watery race against the clock for cleanliness.
The entrance hall boasts stairs painted in Green Smoke (farrow-ball.com) to deliver a vintage aesthetic, while antique crewel curtains deployed in the hall were bought for only £80 outside Rye. Budget-friendly decor solutions included transforming Ikea linen into curtains and reupholstering old chairs with vintage textiles.
Desirable odds and ends in the home comprise a velvet kissing chair, an antique side table, and a green wooden armoire, purchased for £70 at a vintage fair. Over the years, the armoire has served as a linen cupboard, a toy cabinet, and now, a drinks bar. "It's the Madonna of cabinets," Francesca declares.
The upholstered headboard in Francesca's bedroom is a signature design she offers clients, which can be customized with personalized trimmings like studs, piping, and buttons for the same price as mass-produced counterparts. An old chaise longue regained life with a fabric refurbishment using remnants from her mother's house. Striped curtains from Dunelm frame the chaise longue, adding to the eclectic ensemble.
Follow Francesca's design journey by connecting with her on Instagram: @francescarowanplowden.
Get the Look
Effortlessly blend the affordability of bargain finds with the luxury of blowout pieces for a vintage aesthetic:
- Lynton Wide Sideboard £299 - Available at Ensia.
- Ensia - Tall Rattan Table Lamp £129 - Available at Ensia.
- Cushion £39 - Available at the retailer's shop.
- Plant Nicolau £60 - Available at the retailer's shop.
- GP & J Baker Nympheus Made to Measure Curtains, Stone/Pistachio £159 a metre - Available at the retailer's shop.
- Omaha Artichoke Bowl - Green £75 - Available at the retailer's shop.
- Chair £749 - Available at the retailer's shop.
- Habitat Herringbone Khaki Border Jute Rug £35 - Available at the retailer's shop.
- Travis Dining Table in Natural £540 - Available at the retailer's shop.
- Stone Fireplace Candlestick £24.99 - Available at the retailer's shop.
In the home void of character, Francesca infused vibrant Moroccan accent hues from fenwickandtilbrook.com into the interior-design, transforming it into a living magazine spread showcasing lifestyle, home-and-garden ideas. While watched videos of home renovations on BBC, she sourced sandals at dunelm.com and acquired a velvet kissing chair, an antique side table, and a green wooden armoire, which became the Madonna of cabinets, all affordable yet luxurious finds in her eclectic ensemble.
