Classic Country House

BERKSHIRE

My client’s home is Houston, Texas, but with regular trips to the UK, they wanted a place to call home and entertain – in easy reach of Heathrow and Central London. Having found a coach house in Pangbourne, my task to create an English country home that still offered all the convenience and comfort they were used to. The kitchen was a focal point, with a warming Aga and large oak table to gather round. Rustic floor tiles and exposed brickwork completed the picture. I used the fireplaces throughout the house as features, adorning them with antique finds and including a log burner in the homely living room. Wooden beams provided ample character and the sloping ceilings were ideal for neat storage. I picked a range of wallpapers, many with country style motifs, for feature walls: they echoed the warm soft tones of the paintwork and fabrics. Perhaps the most enjoyable challenge for me was being tasked with finding antiques and ornaments that combined the country style with the owners’ interests: there are conversation pieces in every room that added to the air of homeliness, and help them feel relaxed within minutes of arriving from the airport with their friends and family.