My Houzz: Step Inside a Converted Medieval Priory

In 2009 Adam and Louise Black decided to look for more space in which to raise their four boys. “We had to get out of London,” Adam says. The family started looking for a home in West Sussex, England. When they happened upon this late-medieval priory near Pagham Harbour, they found their perfect match. “There are 3 miles of beach right at the end of the garden,” says Adam, citing one of the property’s main appeals. He grew up on a Yorkshire farm and was eager for his children to enjoy the same proximity to nature.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Adam and Louise Black, sons Bruno (age 12), Noah (10), Tibo (8) and Gabriel (7), plus 2 dogs and a cat
Location: Chichester, West Sussex, England
Size: 7 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms

The priory’s oldest structures, which comprise the left-hand side of the building, were constructed in 1439. “But there’s been a house here since 600 A.D.,” Adam says. Throughout the years newer additions have expanded the property.

The change in brickwork on the right side shows the additions made in more recent decades.


The home is a considerable size, but Adam, who’s the founder of bed and mattress company Button & Sprung, was perfectly placed to find furniture for it. Louise, who decorated the entire home, was eager to conserve the building’s features and character while also adding quirky details.

This welcoming living room functions as the family’s official chill-out space, so coziness is the order of the day in here. “The fire is lit seven days a week in the winter,” says Adam.

The large “A” at the window was a birthday present from Louise to Adam. Underneath is a small lamp in the shape of an “L,” which the couple picked up at a charity shop.

The vintage French shutters were salvaged and then painted duck-egg blue by Louise, and their quirkiness and soft, Shabby Chic style perfectly reflect her taste, which Adam describes as “very eclectic.”

The brocade ottoman is the companion piece to a Multiyork sofa in the more formal sitting room, while the wide blue armchair was a hand-me-down from a friend. “There are a lot of little pastiches everywhere,” says Adam.

Shutters: Mangan Antiques


The oversize mirror in the living room was originally housed in the U.K. Playboy Mansion in the 1960s. The coffee table is further evidence of the couple’s repurposing skills. The base is an old piece Adam has had for more than 25 years; it received a custom mirrored glass top some 12 years ago. The quirky letters hanging over the TV are metal ones Louise found at Portobello Market in London.

Sofas: George Smith


The eye-catching velvet conversation sofa in the second half of the living room is an antique find that Louise is particularly fond of. Louise also sourced the various light fixtures, from the antique chandelier to the bulbs strung up with colorful wires. She also lightened the space by painting the oak floorboards, which were a dark color that robbed the room of its airiness. The scratches that reveal the original wood beneath are in line with her quirky decorating style.

The armchair on the far right was given to Adam by his mother when he moved into his first home.

French sofa, armchair: Mangan Antiques; floor lamp, conversation sofa: eBay


This sofa and armchair are vintage finds. “The woodwork on the sofa was originally gilded,” Adam says, but Louise painted it white. She also used leftover fabric to upholster the salvaged screen.

Adam says that the home’s interior style is “something that’s evolved and is still evolving.” This organic approach to decorating has resulted in a lovely collection of treasures and finds.


This second sitting room is a more formal space, which the Black family calls the Oak Room. “When we first bought the house, it was very dark inside,” says Adam, so he and Louise painted as much of the space as possible white. However, they left the original beams and beautiful paneling untouched.

The elegant space has two large fireplaces that keep the room nice and toasty. The fireplaces are built from the same stone used in old cathedrals and churches all over the country. The room is reserved mostly for special occasions, such as the upcoming Christmas festivities. “Christmas presents will be under this tree,” Adam says.

Brocade sofa: Multiyork; white sofa: Klippan, Ikea; chandelier, coffee table: Mangan Antiques


The large wooden beams defining this room have quite a history. “Some of them are ship timbers,” says Adam. This is particularly evident in the curved support beam on the left, which seems to have come from a ship’s hull.

The comfy velvet armchair, which Adam says was an impulse purchase, is from a local antiques shop, while the elegant Chinese-style chest of drawers came from Adam’s home county of Yorkshire.

Chest of drawers: Redbrick Mill





The dining table is a custom creation made out of pine planks that Louise painted purple. “Every chair is individual,” Adam says. “There are no rules.”

The carefree style is reinforced by the disco balls sharing ceiling space with a regal chandelier. Adam says these quirky details are Louise’s way of saying, “Don’t take this too seriously.”


The dining room feels light and airy, thanks to the whitewashed floorboards. “The floor and all the seats by the window were originally dark wood,” Adam says.


A practical wood-burning stove sits in the grand dining room fireplace, adding a cheerful, warming glow to the room. A door to the left leads to the kitchen.


“The statement piece in the kitchen is the table,” says Adam, seen here with Louise and their sons. The long, zinc-topped table, which was purchased at an antiques shop in Petworth, was originally meant for outside eating, but the Blacks brought it inside.

An antique butcher’s block piece rounds out the space, while a painting by Natasha Law, actor Jude Law’s sister, adds a pop of color.

The mismatched pendant lamps, all picked up in different secondhand shops, are another of Louise’s quirky touches.

Butcher’s block: Spencer Swaffer Antiques


The master bedroom is all about comfort and relaxation. The functioning fireplace and strategically positioned chaise and armchairs, which were purchased at a clearance shop in Selsey, add to the cozy atmosphere.

Louise’s desk, positioned right up against the window, has inspiring views of the beach. “The light in here is amazing,” Adam says.

Adam installed the shelves above the windows to display books with artistic covers. “I use books as art,” he says. An old trunk holds spare bed linens and blankets.

Trunk: eBay


The antique wardrobe in the master bedroom was purchased at an auction and lends the space a relaxed, vintage air. “It weighs a ton,” says Adam with a laugh, adding that moving it once was enough for him.

The chandelier is a 1920s original that Adam and Louise picked up in an antiques shop.

Bed: Samphire, Button & Sprung; wardrobe: Lots Road Auctions; bedding, cushions: Secret Linen Store; chandelier: Mangan Antiques


The monastic doors are all original and lend each room a sense of grandeur.


In the master bathroom, Louise used metal letters like the ones in the living room to create a personal touch. The elegant, claw-foot tub and two sinks came with the house. Louise added the French shutters to provide hanging space for clothes and jewelry.

The mirrors above the sinks were picked up in secondhand shops, while the round mirror above the tub has been in the Blacks’ possession for years; it was just coated in white paint to freshen it up.


One of two guest rooms, the Blue Room channels a calming vibe. Louise also added French shutters to this space to frame the bed, although she painted these white.

Bed: Camelia, Button & Sprung; bedding, cushions: Secret Linen Store


A cozy daybed provides an inviting spot in which to read and gaze out the window. Adam bought the piece, which is from the 1920s, at an antiques shop years ago and cozied it up with cushions.


Adam’s study, with its leather armchair, is reminiscent of a gentlemen’s club. The walls are covered in family photographs stretching back several generations.

A row of vintage footballs lines the windowsill, while a number of Union Jack items tie the room together in a playful fashion. The table next to the sofa is an inherited Chippendale piece.

Armchair, sofa: CJC Furniture; lamp: Porta Romana





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