Cotswolds House

This recently-completed project in the North Cotswolds involved the complete remodelling and restoration of a late C17 listed farmhouse.

Various unsightly extensions and outbuildings were demolished and a series of new stone 'barn' structures erected around a new courtyard.

The courtyard is reached via a re-routed drive, carefully angled within Angel Collins' planting to maximise the impact of the house on arrival.

We shall now go on a tour of the house, entering via the Boot Room, which is located within the single-storey building in the middle of the photo.

The exterior of the house, new courtyard buildings, design development, grounds and site planning will be reviewed in a separate post.

A rather low-key and sturdy oak back door leads from a 'lean-to' porch to the Boot Room, the only original outbuilding to have been retained.

The space is homely and domestic, emphasised by the painted T+G panelling, padded bench, basket-weave pendants and terracotta floor tiles.

This contrasts with a tantalising north-south view that has been opened-up through this part of the house via a new glazed 'link' structure.

This structure, known as the Boot Room Corridor, connects with the kitchen/dining area; extensive storage and a small WC are concealed behind the rustic timber panelling on the inside.

Full-height Crittall glazing, incorporating central doors to the herb garden, fills the external elevation. The oak beams are positioned to continue the rhythm of the vertical glazing bars.

The Crittall glazing turns the corner at the end of the Boot Room Corridor, filling half of an opening on the north side of the kitchen/dining area.

This photograph, looking back towards the Boot Room, shows how the various elements fit together and a garden connection is encouraged.

Two matching openings with oak lintels and stone reveals, the inner housing Crittall doors, 'sandwich' a second glazed link structure. This leads down a couple of steps to a new vaulted living/dining area known as The Extension.

The family dining area is in the foreground on the right hand side. This open-plan space flows into the kitchen, out of view on the left hand side, past a central 'see through' stone fireplace.

The Extension, which replaces a gloomy 1980's wing, has been carefully gauged to pick up on the local vernacular, particularly in respect of the roof pitch and tiling, whilst of a semi-industrial bent.

Exposed steel columns and angled beams allow for extensive wrap-around Crittall glazing, thus providing panoramic views of and access to the gardens and rolling countryside beyond.

Rustic timber ceiling boards, terracotta floor tiles, a log-burning stove, chandeliers, and wall lights positioned on the steel beams help make this a warm and welcoming contemporary living space.

Looking back towards the main house from The Extension, here one can see the sections of exposed stone walls, and the Crittall clerestory windows on the left hand side.

In this space, as throughout the project, we worked closely with Rose+George Design who sourced all furnishings, floor & ceiling finishes, lighting etc and generally masterminded the interior design.

Moving back towards the main house, this closer view of the openings at the north end of The Extension shows how the various finishes and spaces beyond slot together, with the Boot Room and back door in the distance.

The 'see through' stone fireplace, with a low-level log recess and cosy sitting area in front, divides the family dining area and kitchen whilst achieving an open plan for contemporary living.

The wide opening on the left hand side in the background leads to an inner room known as the Snug.

Looking back from the kitchen towards the family dining area, one can see how the fireplace also acts as a buffer to the commodious island unit. The opening to The Extension is located on the left hand side in the background.

The kitchen units, designed by Rose+George Design and built by Heartwood, include a mixture of painted 'Shaker-style' and rustic timber doors.

The two mullioned windows were reinstated to match those of the original design of the house, replacing an incongruous Victorian sash window, and provide space for the range cooker and plastered hood in-between.

Looking backwards from the previous image, a wide opening with an oak lintel and stone reveals opens into the Snug. This is located within a slightly later (mid-C19) part of the house.

An antique inglenook fireplace has been installed in the background and painted panelling with William Morris wallpaper above wraps around the space incorporating discreet storage and a television set recess.

The Entrance Hall is located within the main body of the original house, between the kitchen and Drawing Room. The staircase is located within the central projecting bay on the south front.

The front door and vestibule are located opposite the staircase and the doors to either side, with restored overhead leaded lights, lead to a cloakroom and wine cellar. Low-level painted panelling helps tie the space together.

The wine cellar is a dramatic double-height space on the site of an earlier cellar. An inner, climate-controlled area, is located behind a Crittall screen.

The cloakroom is a pared-down space with wall-mounted sanitaryware on low-level painted panelling which flows in from the Entrance Hall.

An antique stone fireplace has been installed on one side of the Entrance Hall with a raised hearth and log storage below. The door to the left, with panelled reveals, opens into the Drawing Room.

This door aligns with the French windows and terrace beyond and the kitchen door behind. A secondary E-W vista has thus been opened-up along the length of the house, complimenting the N-S vista from the Boot Room to The Extension.

These vistas not only improve overall 'flow' and circulation, but also increase the illusion of space and light, and open-up what was formerly a typically cellular and inward-looking Cotswolds farmhouse.

In contrast with the more contemporary and open-plan living areas, the Drawing Room is a more formal, elegant and private space.

Twin French windows with deep reveals and concealed shutters, located to either side of an antique stone fireplace, open onto a terrace and the poolhouse steps beyond.

The enlarged mullioned window, which has replaced a non-original Victorian sash window, is set-into painted timber Georgian-style panelling on one side of the Drawing Room, with adjacent built-in shelving and cabinet. A decorative cornice helps tie things together.

Mid-Century furnishings and lighting, sourced by Rose+George, provide a sophisticated contrast.

On the north side of the Drawing Room, the painted panelling incorporates an opening and steps up to a 'reading nook' which is located above the inner wine cellar.

A cocktail cabinet is located behind the discreet double doors in the panelling on the left.

The main staircase was largely rebuilt and a new brass balustrade installed. Low-level painted panelling runs the half-landing window seat.

The first floor landing 'kinks' to the right before the guest bedroom door in the background.

The Master Bedroom is located above the Drawing Room and benefits from windows on three sides. The landing door is set into painted panelling which continues behind the bed.

The space was previously subdivided in a rather crude manner into a bedroom, dressing area and bathroom. The original proportions and outlook of the space were spoilt and some windows and the fireplace blocked-up.

The room has now been restored to (more than) its original glory and the bathroom facilities have been spread around in an unusual way: the WC and washbasin are now in the small room behind the door on the left, a freestanding cast iron bath nestles in the opposite corner, and the shower is accessed via the adjacent dressing area.

The Dressing Room Corridor runs from the Master Bedroom to an inner section of the first floor landing.

On the 'outer' side, a spacious walk-in shower cubicle, located within the central projecting bay above the front entrance vestibule, is accessed via a Crittall door.

On the 'inner' side, twin dressing rooms are accessed via sliding glazed doors betwixt a central recess with a dressing counter and seat.

These photographs show one of the dressing rooms and the adjacent recessed counter; also the small room off the Master Bedroom housing the WC and washbasins.

Apart from the master suite, the first floor houses two guest bedroom suites. This bedroom also benefits from a stone fireplace and log-burning stove.

Both guest bedrooms have a dark blue/green colour scheme and similar en-suite shower rooms with rustic timber panelling and Crittall shower doors.

The furthest guest bedroom is reached via a bank of built-in cabinetry on one side. Looking back, one can see right down to the Master Bedroom when the Dressing Corridor doors are opened.

A secondary staircase runs from this area up to the top floor, thereby opening-up what was previously a gloomy and remote part of the house. It also provides access, via a half-landing, to a room with a raised floor level.

This room, currently used as a sitting room, is located above the Snug and includes a mezzanine beneath the sloping roof accessed via a timber ladder.

The main staircase also runs up to the top landing, which is shown in the right hand side image.

The second floor houses three children's bedrooms, two of which can been seen here, and two bathrooms. The original elm 'A-Frames' are still going strong and support the re-tiled and insulated roof.