Cover The light-filled living room in this restored Sussex rectory, owned by bespoke jeweller Emma Milne-Watson
The light-filled living room in this restored Sussex rectory, owned by bespoke jeweller Emma Milne-Watson
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Bespoke jeweller Emma Milne-Watson transforms a Sussex rectory into an oasis for her family, highlighting its quirks with a soothing colour palette and unique textures
When restoring this centuries-old Sussex rectory, bespoke jeweller Emma Milne-Watson had a clear goal: to imbue its rustic structure with glimpses of her bright personality. “I like to think that we didn’t find our home–it found us,” she shares with Tatler.
She first fell in love with the rectory fifteen years ago, when inviting fires burned and stunning artworks lined the walls. “When I got here, I thought to myself, ‘This is it. This is our future home to raise our family.’”
Over the past decade and a half, Milne-Watson has highlighted the property’s deep connection with nature. The home’s neutral palette complements its expansive views of the sky and the garden, creating an oasis that pays homage to the Sussex home’s tranquil roots.
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Above The library with floor-to-ceiling shelves that feature pops of colour
The library with floor-to-ceiling shelves that feature pops of colour
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From the minute guests enter the home, they are immediately enveloped in a light-filled, inviting space. “We don’t have any curtains or blinds in any of the ground floor rooms so that nature always feels present even from the indoors,” shares Milne-Watson.
This Sussex rectory has many quirks that set it apart from other properties, such as its tall ceilings which are uncommon in the South Downs area of Sussex. Milne-Watson’s favourite elements are the wooden floors and uneven walls, allowing the natural light to highlight these distinctive features.
Above The Swedish corner cupboard in the sitting room
Above Expansive views of nearby greenery from the sitting room
The Swedish corner cupboard in the sitting room
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The sitting room features a muted colour palette, with pale pink sofas and a textured rug underfoot. The sofas frame one of the home’s fireplaces, where the family gathers with their friends and loved ones. “Our goal is to envelop each guest in the cosiness and warmth of the building,” says Milne-Watson.
While the jeweller allows the structure of the home to retain vintage charm, she adds eye-catching artwork to add pops of colour and texture throughout the space. “Each one has its place and reflects the mood of the room it hangs in,” she says.
One of her favourite furniture pieces in the home is the Swedish corner cupboard, with various spirits for entertaining guests. Nestled in the corner of the sitting room, the charmingly rustic cupboard is paired with an animal-print chair and a collage of old newspapers with Marilyn Monroe’s visage.
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The kitchen, which contrasts exposed wooden beams with marble for a pleasant cooking and entertaining experience
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The kitchen is another space where Milne-Watson spends her time, creating delicious meals for her family. The exposed wooden beams add dimension to the space, in contrast with the elegant marble lining the walls, counter, and kitchen island. Nearby stands a long wooden table that echoes the light herringbone-patterned wood on the floor, creating a cohesive space for both entertaining and cooking.
A glimpse of the veranda that lines the back of the home
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For Milne-Watson, what truly makes this Sussex home distinctive is its walled garden which is connected to the entire back of the home through a stunning veranda. “I always wanted to create this,” she shares. “I was inspired by American colonial homes and Connecticut beach houses.”
Above The lush, sprawling garden behind the home
The lush, sprawling garden behind the home
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The veranda balances the rustic charm of exposed brick walls and rattan furniture with a panelled ceiling, painted the same dark hue as the shelves in the library. Nearby are two daybeds that allow Milne-Watson and her family to take advantage of the pleasantly cool climate in the region. Both areas overlook the sloping garden, neatly lined with blooming flowers and lush plants.
Above Another bedroom in the home, with unique artworks to add nostalgia to the space
Above Soothing details that add character to the upstairs bedroom
Another bedroom in the home, with unique artworks to add nostalgia to the space
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Returning inside the home and going up to the second floor, one is immersed in the soothing palettes of the bedrooms. Each detail is curated to add texture to the space, from the printed headboards to the framed drawings and paintings that add nostalgic charm.
Above The chandelier hanging in the primary bathroom
The chandelier hanging in the primary bathroom
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Entering the primary bathroom, one finds the chandelier imbuing the space with sophistication. “On winter evenings, I light the candles and run the bath, turning it into a hideaway,” says Milne-Watson.
Above Emma Milne-Watson in the study
Emma Milne-Watson in the study
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The space is more than a home–it is also the space where Milne-Watson’s creativity flows into her bespoke jewellery business. During the pandemic, she took a break from her interior consultancy business to craft jewellery at home with her daughter, taking inspiration from the stunning natural landscape that surrounded their Sussex home.
“Moving from London to the countryside was tricky, but it has helped our family explore nature, embedding ourselves in the landscape that surrounds us,” says Milne-Watson. She has transformed the coach house into her home studio, crafting hand-beaded jewellery amid the sounds of nature.
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About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
