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A stunning home restored to glory

When Pam Stevens and partner Lisa Boyes moved to The Windmill in Swavesey, the period property was in need of some serious TLC. Transforming the listed building into a super-stylish and comfortable home, the couple felt inspired to open their own interiors store: called The Shop on the Pond, it sits at the bottom of their two-acre garden. Alice Ryan goes shopping

Swavesey’s windmill sits in the most glorious spot. Seen from afar, black tarred tower and whitewashed dome standing proud on the horizon, it’s neighboured by nothing but open countryside. At this time of year, with the sky brightest blue and the fields golden with harvest-ready crops, it’s a beautiful sight.

Set on the outskirts of the village, down a slightly bumpy single-track road, The Windmill is home to Pam Stevens, her partner Lisa Boyes and their two business ventures – a boarding kennels, with room for more than 70 cats and dogs, and The Shop on the Pond, a chi-chi interiors store.

“We were looking to take on a boarding kennels – we both love animals, and have had cats and dogs all our lives – and this was the ninth one we saw,” explains Pam. “Of the nine, this was the first property that made me think ‘Yes! We could really do something with that’. . .

“The setting is beautiful and the building itself has so much character. I’ve always lived in houses that are a little bit different: I had a coach house at one point, then a four-storey townhouse covered in gargoyles. And I do love period properties; modern houses just don’t do it for me. So The Windmill ticked all my boxes.”

The mill, which has long-since lost its sails, dates from the 19th century; a plaque set into the brickwork reads ‘J. Redford AD 1866’. Converted from working mill to domestic dwelling decades ago, the main body of the building is Grade II listed.

When Pam and Lisa moved in, the house was in need of renovation: along with building an extension, which now houses their airy farmhouse kitchen, they have excavated and levelled floors, stripped beams, installed new staircases and decorated every room, from the ground floor right up to the sky-high turret.

Walk into the spacious entrance hall and it’s clear the couple have an eye for interior design. Fine paintings and antiques, sourced from various markets and auctions, sit alongside ethnic artefacts, mementoes from numerous trips to South Africa. The soft furnishings, which include curtains stitched from vintage brocade, are deliciously plush. The look is finished with silvered table lamps, a glittering glass chandelier, and two huge vases of fresh flowers.

“Above all, I wanted the house to be comfortable,” says Pam. “And I also wanted to incorporate the pieces that mean something to us: the armoire under the stairs, which I use as a linen chest, came back with us from South Africa; a lot of the artwork was bought in London.”

Each side of the doorway to the dining room, a large wooden figure stands sentinel: both vibrantly painted, one plays a trumpet and the other a mandolin. “Lisa found them in a shop in Cape Town: they were actually being used as part of a display, but she fell in love with them and made the shopkeeper an offer. Apparently they were originally made for a stage show, and there were 24 of them altogether.”

Having run her own beauty business for 30 years – she owned numerous salons in London – Pam decided to sell up and retire to Boulders Beach, Cape Town, where she owned a holiday home. She and Lisa moved out there but, after just three months of sun and sand, decided the South African life wasn’t for them.

“When you’re on holiday it’s lovely to sit in the sun, do a bit of shopping, have some lunch, then sit in the sun again. But the novelty soon wears off when you’re doing that day in, day out. And, to be honest, we found Cape Town quite a narrow-minded place to live. It just wasn’t for us.”

The couple, who met at a party 13 years ago, decided to come home and find a new challenge – hence buying a boarding kennels. “I went from running my beauty business, being suited and booted every day, to wearing scruffs and no make-up and picking up dog poop,” laughs Pam. “Apart from the poop-scooping, which did take a bit of getting used to, I didn’t mind at all – in fact, I found I really enjoyed it.”

Both animal lovers, Pam and Lisa have seven pets of their own: three cats and four dogs – Otis the ‘very friendly’ labradoodle, Baxter the ‘sweet’ golden retriever, Rosie the ‘adorable’ spaniel, and Henry the ‘rather bossy’ terrier. Most of their animal companions are rescues: Rosie, for example, was left homeless when her previous owner fell sick.

Continuing the guided tour of the house, Pam explains that the dining room, with its quaint curved walls, sits at the foot of the mill tower. An eye-catching oak staircase, built to fit by a local artisan, sweeps up to a first-floor guest bedroom, a second-floor bathroom, a third-floor dressing room and, right in the top of the mill’s polygonal dome, a reading room with panoramic views across the countryside; on a clear day, you can see as far as Ely Cathedral.

A door in the far corner of the dining room opens on to the open-plan kitchen: light and bright, it’s decorated on a classic baby blue and white scheme, inspired by the curtain fabric. Keep walking through and you reach the indoor swimming pool, with its glassy walls and pale rattan furniture.

Among the property’s most striking features are its multiple staircases: as well as two sets of bespoke oak stairs, a twist of intricate metalwork steps winds up from the hall to a second guest bedroom and bathroom (every bedroom has been fitted with its own en suite).

This room, again with glorious views, shows the couple’s interior décor skills at their best: decorated in a palette of contrasting chocolate and lime, lifted with little touches of tomato red and turquoise, it’s a masterclass in contemporary chic.

Window seats have been upholstered in silky velvet flock; a focal wall has been papered with bold flowers; the bedside tables sport quirky elephant-shaped lamps, topped with feathery shades (while being beautiful, this is a room which doesn’t take itself too seriously).

The master bedroom is another triumph. Decorated on a striking red, white and black theme, there’s a real sense of luxury here: jewelled bed cushions, heavy curtains, more velvety upholstery.

Beneath the master is the large sitting room. The colours in here are more muted – coffee and cream – but again comfort is king: the sofas and chairs, bought at the Mark Elliot store in Great Shelford, are invitingly squishy.

“This is definitely the most neutral colour scheme,” says Pam, “though lately I’ve been thinking about introducing some pink cushions. . .”

It was when the sale of her Cape Town house completed that the idea of The Shop on the Pond began to take shape. “That was a big house – so we found ourselves with lots and lots of furniture. It sat in the garden in a huge container for a while. Then I said to Lisa ‘I think we’ll open a shop’. . .

“The furniture went really quickly and I found myself thinking ‘I quite like this’. That was two years ago. We started sourcing new stock – and The Shop on the Pond has been going strong ever since.”

Housed in a purpose-build, which overlooks a large pond (hence the name), the shop now stocks an enormous range of homeware, from furniture (tables, chairs, dressers) to accessories (coasters, crockery, candlesticks). Laid out in a series of room sets, each has a different feel, ranging from contemporary country to boudoir glam.

“I only ever buy things I like myself,” says Pam, “and thankfully the customers seem to like them too.”

A mother and grandmother – she has two daughters, both in their 40s, from a previous relationship – Pam is 73. At her age, most people would think about slowing down, not starting a new business. But then Pam is not most people.

She created her beauty empire from scratch: “I was a single mum,

living in London, working all hours as a cleaner to make ends meet. Then a friend of mine said ‘You should train to be a manicurist’ – and that was the beginning of my business.”

Though Pam admits there were tough times – her company almost went under after key premises were destroyed by fire – she clearly loved running the salons. “It was brilliant. I had amazing staff, so loyal, and amazing customers; that’s what you miss.”

Setting up The Shop on the Pond with Lisa, in tandem with the kennels, has satisfied her entrepreneurial appetite: “We work really well together: there are no disagreements. Lisa wants to open a coffee shop next. . .”

Pam says Swavesey feels very much like home. “The people are just so nice. Not long after we moved in, Lisa broke an ankle. People we’d barely met were knocking on the door with food or flowers or offers of help. Wherever I’ve lived before, I’ve never had that.

“Some people might say I’m crazy, but I’d never swap a quiet retirement in Boulders Beach for our life in Swavesey: we just love it here.”

The Shop on the Pond opens on Saturdays, Sundays and all Bank Holidays, 10am until 4pm. Pam and Lisa are also happy to open by appointment on weekdays – simply give them a call on 01954 232247.

They also offer a mail-order shopping service. To find out more, and view a selection of current stock, visit www.shoponthepond.com

The Shop on the Pond is also holding a weekend of pre-Christmas festivities: on November 10th and 11th, shoppers will be able to enjoy mulled wine and mince pies – and 10 per cent off all purchases.

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