The Brief
Bringing a 17th century dower house in the Gloucestershire countryside into the 21st century was the aim behind this ambitious renovation project. The property, a family home, required some remodelling because it was something of a rabbit warren, so improving the flow was key. In addition, the construction of a new lantern-glazed entrance hall, a link to a coach house building, plus a frameless glass extension at the back that houses the family room and the kitchen, made a huge difference to the layout.
When it came to the decor, the clients sought a welcoming, relaxed, comfortable and sociable space with occasional pops of rich colour downstairs and a more muted palette upstairs. They enlisted the help of interior designer Rachel Cropper of Rachel Cropper Studio to help achieve this. Practicality was at the forefront of their minds as the family have a child and dogs. ‘The brief was to create a country house that was very liveable in,’ explains Rachel. Stone flooring was therefore essential in key areas of the house.
The Project
The interior schemes lean towards a modern contemporary aesthetic. Statement areas include the glass extension with its open-plan kitchen featuring deep navy blue cabinetry that grounds the space and injects drama. ‘We chose colours that are timeless ultimately,’ the client explains. ‘The space is bright because of the bank of glass in the extension, so it was a really great colour to bring in warmth.’ This then leads into an informal dining area with a simple trestle table and benches and a stylish fluted back, velvet banquette, while a relaxed seating area consisting of mid-century style chairs and a slouchy sofa overlooks the garden. The dark tones of the kitchen cabinetry carry through to the atmospheric dining room with its deeply hued bespoke chinoiserie wallpaper that was introduced to prevent it feeling like a cavernous space.
Rachel and the client chose classic Wychwood limestone for the entrance lobby, as well as the light-filled kitchen and family room. The stone, with its timeless yet rustic aesthetic reminiscent of classic French floors, is carried through to create a cohesive thread and teams beautifully with the neutral, natural and earthy tones of the decor. In particular, it provides juxtaposition to the bold kitchen cabinetry. ‘The flooring has a slightly darker tone than other limestones and there is variation with it,’ says Rachel. ‘It brought a very cohesive feel to the space.’ In addition, Wychwood is used on the outdoor areas, including the patio, providing a harmonious feel as you look through the glazed windows.
For the hardwearing areas of the boot room, utility and utility WC, durable Tetbury terracotta was selected to bring an earthy warmth that teams beautifully with the utility’s plaster pink cabinetry. ‘I love Tetbury terracotta in utility rooms,’ says Rachel. ‘It’s a beautiful rustic stone underfoot - it’s a real favourite of mine.’ The warm tones are continued into the more formal panelled drawing room with its claret velvet sofa and chair that ensure it is a go-to space for entertaining.
Continued below...
Upstairs, the palette is more serene with the ancient timber beams and trusses complemented by a neutral backdrop. There are standout moments, however, most notably the feature wall mural of majestic trees in the main bedroom, which reflects the surrounding landscape. The drama is dialled up, too, in the main ensuite with a deep claret vanity that is paired with beautifully veined Liberty book matched marble slabs on the splashback, shower walls and vanity worktop. ‘The Liberty marble has purple tones that we all loved. We used four enormous book matched slabs on the back wall, which created this beautiful butterfly pattern in the middle, like a diamond,’ says Rachel.
Rachel is a fan of Artisans and has used our stone in a number of projects. ‘I chose Artisans this time because they are reliable and quick to respond if there are any issues,’ says Rachel. ‘Their range is tried and tested for older heritage properties. It’s a formula that works.’
