Houzz Tour: New Comforts in the Cotswolds
This house on the edge of the Cotswolds, England, was originally designed in 1911 by Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott, a prominent architect during Britain’s Arts and Crafts movement. Determined to restore the historic home while adding modern conveniences, the new owners commissioned an architect to do a structural restoration before inviting designer Gabriel Holland to work on the interior.
Holland had worked with the owners before and had a handle on their style, “but the rich heritage of this Grade II listed property made it all the more fascinating,” she says. The couple wanted a contemporary scheme that respected the details and history of the house, and would also accommodate relaxed family living. “They didn’t want to live in an Arts and Crafts museum,” says Holland. “The key was to bring it up to date by using traditional prints and fabrics in a contemporary context.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with 2 children
Location: The Cotswolds, near Banbury, England
Year built: 1911
Designer: Gabriel Holland, Gabriel Holland Interior Design
Size: 8 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
The house has many of its original features, such as stone-mullioned windows, timber doors, ironwork and fireplaces. It also has an original Arts and Crafts garden on the extensive grounds.
It “feels like the perfect English country home in miniature. None of the rooms are too large; it’s the perfect scale,” says Holland.
Soft gray walls create depth and warmth in the formal sitting room, which features an original fireplace and a timber floor. Holland had sofas from the owners’ previous home reupholstered in a muted fabric with a hint of silver running through it to complement the walls and give the look a fresh, modern twist. “Gray can look classic and contemporary at the same time, which is exactly what we’ve tried to achieve here,” Holland says.
Two glimmering chandeliers create an eye-catching feature in the room and add a touch of 1920s glamour to the scheme. “They’re a little later than the period of the house, but they really work in this space,” says Holland.
Wall paint: Charleston Gray, Farrow & Ball; ceiling pendant: Aria, Laura Ashley
The built-in window seat is an original feature that overlooks the Arts and Crafts garden. Fabrics with floral and leaf motifs reference the garden outside.
Pillow and window seat fabric: Merulina, Nobilis
Houzz Tour: New Comforts in the Cotswolds
Houzz Tour: New Comforts in the Cotswolds
