PROJECT BY JO MILLER AT DECORBUDDI
The Project
This idyllic 19th century chocolate box cottage on a pretty village green in the Cotswolds is the two bedroom pied-à-terre of a couple who have a home in France but run their company from the UK. ‘They stay here when they’re over and they wanted a property that could be a lovely home and where they could relax, but then just close up when they go back to France,’ says interior designer Jo Miller of DecorBuddi.
The owner met Jo by chance and mentioned that she needed an interior designer and Jo was happy to take on the project. The cottage is a traditional two-up two-down and has an extension at the back with a bathroom and galley kitchen, plus an outbuilding that has been converted into an office and utility. When the owners bought it, the house had barely been touched since the 1980s and was very dated so it needed a complete renovation. The owners’ brief was for an opulent cottage aesthetic with practical yet luxurious flooring as they have a dog.
The flooring literally was the starting point of the decor. ‘We began with the fabric of the building and chose the flooring first,’ says Jo. ‘Once we put the floor down, it was quite easy to move on and choose the furnishings.’ Lulworth sandstone by Artisans of Devizes, a beautiful creamy buff stone with natural texture and subtle tonal variation, was chosen for the sitting room, dining room, kitchen and office/utility. ‘Lulworth works really well because it makes the space look so much bigger but it also pulls the whole space together at the same time,’ says Jo. ‘We chose it because of its rustic feel but it bounces light really well in small spaces. It adds to the aesthetic.’
Not only are Lulworth floor tiles practical as the cottage opens straight into the living room but using it throughout the downstairs guarantees a cohesive look.
Lulworth also teams perfectly with Jo’s signature look of muted tones, natural fabrics and natural materials. ‘I’ve done a lot of projects in the Cotswolds and that’s the owner’s style. We went to Neptune, Daylesford and Osborne Interiors so that the owner could get the idea of an opulent country vibe,’ she says.
In the sitting room, the floor tiles team beautifully with walls painted in Slaked Lime by Little Greene and a linen sofa and elegant chairs with long loose linen covers complete the chic look. The owner adores blue so Jo created a feature wall in navy blue for impact and dressed it with two decorative oversized mirrors that bounce light around the room and increase the feeling of space. A tongue and groove cupboard provides handy storage beside the front door. On the other side of the room, a navy blue armchair provides a comfortable spot to relax beside the cosy woodburner and links with the blue wall. The builder knocked through the small opening that was originally there to reveal the lovely Victorian arched fireplace.
The sitting room opens onto the dining room with its beamed ceiling and authentic country cottage atmosphere. Here, classic country-style furniture in a muted palette blends perfectly with the Lulworth floor tiles. The small dining table expands for entertaining. Stairs lead upstairs from the dining room and Jo has teased through pops of blue with a smart patterned stair runner.
Lulworth floor tiles continue through to the galley kitchen, where Shaker cabinets in a pale grey and walls painted in Slaked Lime by Little Greene continue the soft neutral palette, while marble worksurfaces and brass handles enhance the opulent feel that the owner craved.
Outside, a stone shed was renovated and a stable door added for a rustic touch and this now houses the office and utility space. Jo added tongue and groove and kitchen cabinets in a soft green to create a pretty, rustic-themed utility space with plenty of practical storage. Lulworth floor tiles chime with the hues of the cabinets and inject warmth, toning beautifully with the wooden worksurfaces and beamed ceiling.
