In 2006, the couple bought their 1,450-square-foot (132-square-meter) apartment in the Granary. They spend weekdays in their house in Richmond, in West London, and their weekends and long holidays in Norfolk.  “We wanted to find somewhere to buy so we could spend more time in Wells,” Ms. Mason said. “Apartments in this building do not come up very often, so we were very pleased when we heard this one was available.”  The apartment is on the fourth and fifth floors of the building, at the front of the great red-brick 1904 granary, which towers above the quay at Wells and is well known for its long gantry hanging over the coastal road.  Grain was brought in by ship in the early 20th century, unloaded via pulley from the gantry and stored before being sent off for “malting,” a controlled germination process that made the grain suitable for the manufacture of Guinness ales.  Toward the end of the century, the port in Wells began to decline and the granary ceased to be used as such. In 1997, it was converted into luxury apartments of varying sizes.  “Ours has two bedrooms,” Ms. Mason said, “and when we bought it there was work we wanted to carry out on it immediately. We wanted to give it a lighter, more open feel. It took us about seven months to renovate and redecorate.  “The idea was to give it a British seaside feel, but with a hint of the Hamptons. There are aspects of Wells that remind me of places in America — there are similarities with Newport, R.I., for example.”  The 540-square-foot (50-square-meter) main living area retains the granary’s distinctive arched windows, with double doors that open out onto a balcony. New oak floorboards, which have been planed and rubbed with white oil, are complemented by cream-colored walls and lightly striped soft seating to give the space a fresh, contemporary style.  To the rear of this open-plan room is the kitchen area. Ms. Mason had the units replaced, opting for cabinets with handmade doors in pastel blue and yellow stripes, and handles shaped like sea anemones. There also is a Corian work surface and a breakfast bar in beech.  “I had a vision of what I wanted the kitchen to look like. The stripes remind me of a beach hut and the work surface sparkles like the sea,” said Ms. Mason, who now also owns a beach hut on the seafront. “I wanted fewer cupboards so the space felt more open.”  On the lower floor of the duplex is the 170-square-foot (16-square-meter) main bedroom, which has a sea view, and one of the apartment’s two bathrooms. This is a 65-square-foot (6-square-meter) space, with seagull tiles and a distinctive flooring that gives the impression of raised pebbles.  “Neither of the bathrooms are en suite,” said Ms. Mason. “This isn’t uncommon in the U.K., but my American relatives find it very unusual.”  On the upper floor is the 430-square-foot (40-square-meter) studio, with its expansive window overlooking the bay. Where there was originally just a window ledge, Ms. Mason has created a long, high desk, where she can enjoy the view while she works.  “I had this made from a piece of reclaimed wood,” she said. “The original beams from the old granary building can still be seen in this space, and I wanted the desk to blend in, to look as if it had always been here.”  The room is decorated with works by local artists, as well as ornaments and pieces of furniture that reflect the surroundings. A small bookcase fashioned in the shape of a boat adorns one corner, and a ship’s light, made by a yachting specialist, hangs above the stairwell.  Changes were made to the upper floor to create a 160-square-foot (15-square-meter) guest room, now filled with furniture dressed or upholstered in textiles with a nautical theme. A second bathroom on this level has been given a sailing-boat tile trim and has hooks made to look like ammonites.  According to Jo Furnell, manager of the North Norfolk real estate agent Sowerbys, an apartment like Ms. Mason’s today would be marketed at around 480,000 pounds ($859,920).  “Despite the challenging market in the U.K. at the moment,” Ms. Furnell said, “properties like this are still considered incredibly desirable. Wells is a popular town, and this is a wonderful building with an amazing view. We have a waiting list of people keen to buy in the Granary.”  But Ms. Mason and Mr. Morris do not intend to sell. They are immersing themselves in community life and are key members of the charity Homes for Wells, which aims to provide affordable housing for local people. Ms. Mason also plans to write a book on contemporary artists working in North Norfolk.  “I love it here and try to spend as much time in Wells as possible,” she said. “Owning this apartment allows me to escape from London to somewhere quiet, somewhere that is close to nature and next to the sea.”
Working in her apartment in Wells-Next-the-Sea, Catherine Mason, an American author, enjoys a stunning view across the salt marshes of the North Norfolk coast.