A passion for great craftsmanship is something that Tess and Alfred Newall undeniably share. A decorative artist and a cabinet maker respectively, their appreciation for beautiful, well-made items is evident in their home, as well as in the pieces they create. “We have a very similar aesthetic, and we both believe that even functional things should be art in their own right,” says Tess, who read anthropology at Oxford then worked in the film industry making props and painting backdrops before moving into the interiors sphere. “I’ve always been interested in the way that different cultures decorate their spaces, and Alf is passionate about historic furniture, the way it looks and how it’s made, so there are definitely crossovers.”
Having studied at east London’s Building Crafts College, Alfred worked for various makers before setting up his own company producing a range of freestanding furniture and accessories in 2018. It was several years previous to that however, that his clients began asking if Tess could paint for them. “It started with furniture or the occasional border around a wall, and then I became really busy,” she explains. “I immediately preferred it to film, as people get to live with and enjoy the things I paint.”
Home for Tess, Alfred and their three children, Wilf, six, Romy, four, and Alma, three, is a sixteenth-century cottage in East Sussex, at the foothills of the downs. Formerly two dwellings that were joined in the 1950s, it remained relatively untouched for 40 years. Since restored by the couple to its former glory, the cosy space plays host to a clutch of unique objects, including a traditional Orkney chair found in a shop in Edinburgh. “I first saw an example in the Victoria & Albert Museum, where they have one in their permanent collection,” Alfred remembers. “Orkney chairs originated on the island, and the earliest are over 200 years old. They were made using local materials such as pine, and as there was a shortage of timber in the northern part of the British Isles, sometimes even driftwood found on the beach.” A crucial aspect of the design is the high back, woven from soft straw. “It was designed to shelter the sitter and would take the warmth from the fire and hold it in. Almost like clothing that moulds to your back, the more you use it, the more it becomes part of you. Ours needs a little work as the straw is coming away, but I love the fact that it can be restored, and that it can last forever.”
The Scottish thread continues in the form of a small wooden drinking cup, known as a quaich – another treasure that the couple hold dear. A homage to Tess’s roots, the hand-carved vessel played a key part in their Scottish wedding ceremony, where tradition suggests whisky is drunk from a quaich for luck. Carved by Robin Wood, a favourite maker of Alfred’s, it was turned from green timber on a foot operated lathe. “As a result it has such a lovely quality, and as the wood wasn’t seasoned when it dried, it formed a wonderful, uneven shape,” adds Alfred. “It lives on a dresser that I built for the kitchen, alongside other well-loved pieces.”
From Scotland and on to France, another cherished item comes in the form of a simple basket that became an essential on the couple’s honeymoon. “It was only two euros, but it’s exquisitely woven and it was our picnic basket,” she says. “When we arrived, we didn’t really have a plan, but we did have a book called Wild Swimming France, which we used as our map.” Seeking out spots to swim and camp, they’d visit markets to fill the basket with vegetables, cheese and wine.
On the very same honeymoon adventure, Tess picked up a plate known as a Quimper. Named after the town in Brittany, the colourful, tin-glazed pottery has been manufactured in the area for over 300 years. “For our honeymoon, we drove around the region in our Morris Minor, and I bought this from a brocante,” says Tess. “It’s such a distinct style and every piece has a very recognisable brushstroke. This one is so charming, and I often find myself taking it to the studio when I need inspiration for a pattern.”
Closer to home, a Maia patchwork quilt from Toast takes pride of place thrown over an armchair in the living room, and like everything in Tess and Alfred’s home, it’s been crafted with utmost care. “It’s got such character, so much so you can imagine the person who made it,” says Tess. “I love the stitching that’s been used, as well as the cinnamons, blues and browns, which are colours we use a lot of in our home. We put so much time and effort into the things we make ourselves, so it's lovely to find an item that’s put together so well. It’s wonderfully comforting and sits perfectly in our space, and we really appreciate that.”
Tess wears the TOAST Kantha Stitched Wrap Pinafore Dress. Alfred wears the TOAST Donegal Wool High Neck Easy Sweater. The TOAST Maia Patchwork Cotton Quilt is also featured.
Words by Claudia Baillie.
Photography by Jessica Ellis.
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