Houzz Tour: A Lakeside Manor House Regains its Country Style
An 11th century property is restored to its former glory to become a family country home after years of neglect
This 11th century manor house with its very own lake has an amazing history and location, on the edge of a beautiful rural village, but when a family of five living in London bought it, the Grade ll listed property was muddled and neglected. Keen to transform it into their dream home, they approached architect Jeremy Lowe of BLA Architects and interior designer Emma Sims Hilditch for their expertise in what became a two-year reconfiguration.
Various extensions and additions had been tacked onto the house over the centuries, which had led to an eclectic mixture. ‘The building had been divided up in a rather haphazard way over time,’ explains Jeremy. ‘We rationalised the inside and restored a lot of the original features.’ A contemporary garden room was added, replacing a 1980s-style orangery. ‘The idea was to have a minimal impact on the existing building,’ he adds. ‘We wanted a transparent addition that wouldn’t compromise what was already there.’ Along with adding the extension, the entire layout and interior of the building was changed, with great care being taken to bring the home into the 21st century without losing any of its medieval charm.
Along with the impractical layout, the interiors were very dated. ‘They were rather old fashioned and stuffy; very swags and tails,’ recalls Emma. Both architect and designer stressed the importance of restoring and enhancing the original features. ‘It was lovely to find all the character and preserve what we could, adding in just to enhance it,’ Emma says. They transformed the property to create a light-filled space that retains its traditional roots, but with modern comforts. The project took around two years to complete, and was finished in summer 2013.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A family of five
Location Wiltshire
Size 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Architect Jeremy Lowe of BLA Architects
Designer Emma Sims Hilditch of Sims Hilditch
Various extensions and additions had been tacked onto the house over the centuries, which had led to an eclectic mixture. ‘The building had been divided up in a rather haphazard way over time,’ explains Jeremy. ‘We rationalised the inside and restored a lot of the original features.’ A contemporary garden room was added, replacing a 1980s-style orangery. ‘The idea was to have a minimal impact on the existing building,’ he adds. ‘We wanted a transparent addition that wouldn’t compromise what was already there.’ Along with adding the extension, the entire layout and interior of the building was changed, with great care being taken to bring the home into the 21st century without losing any of its medieval charm.
Along with the impractical layout, the interiors were very dated. ‘They were rather old fashioned and stuffy; very swags and tails,’ recalls Emma. Both architect and designer stressed the importance of restoring and enhancing the original features. ‘It was lovely to find all the character and preserve what we could, adding in just to enhance it,’ Emma says. They transformed the property to create a light-filled space that retains its traditional roots, but with modern comforts. The project took around two years to complete, and was finished in summer 2013.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A family of five
Location Wiltshire
Size 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Architect Jeremy Lowe of BLA Architects
Designer Emma Sims Hilditch of Sims Hilditch
This is a second entrance to the property, but it’s rarely used by the family, as it opens onto the garden.
As the house is Grade ll listed, certain elements had to be carefully preserved. The main, Chippendale-style staircase, seen here, was one of them. Given the age and importance of the house, the conservation officer was involved throughout the renovation project, overseeing the preservation work.
A decorative chandelier provides a focal point in the hallway, and adds a touch of grandeur without being excessive. The tartan pattern on the stair runner continues the traditional vibe.
Console table, bespoke in mahogany. Chandelier, Richard Taylor Designs. Walls painted in Shaded White, Farrow & Ball.
As the house is Grade ll listed, certain elements had to be carefully preserved. The main, Chippendale-style staircase, seen here, was one of them. Given the age and importance of the house, the conservation officer was involved throughout the renovation project, overseeing the preservation work.
A decorative chandelier provides a focal point in the hallway, and adds a touch of grandeur without being excessive. The tartan pattern on the stair runner continues the traditional vibe.
Console table, bespoke in mahogany. Chandelier, Richard Taylor Designs. Walls painted in Shaded White, Farrow & Ball.
It was important the kitchen be both livable and functional. ‘It needed to be decoratively pretty as well as a working kitchen,’ Emma says. ‘The family wanted it to feel slightly eclectic, so they chose the darker pink as an accent colour.’
The shade picks up on the colour in the tartan stair runner, visible from the dining table. The sense of flow and continuity of colours was very important for Emma in this project.
The cabinetry is all bespoke by Neptune. The worktops are a combination of honed granite around the main sink, as it’s a very practical material, and oak on the island, as this is more of a preparation area, with a sink and Quooker hot-water tap. The structural pillars posed a slight problem, but, Emma says, ‘we made them work’.
Wilmington dining table, Early Oak Reproductions. Chairs, bespoke by Sims Hilditch in Blakeney Check fabric from Colefax and Fowler. Walls painted in Shaded White, Farrow & Ball. Cabinets painted in Chateau Grey, Sanderson.
The shade picks up on the colour in the tartan stair runner, visible from the dining table. The sense of flow and continuity of colours was very important for Emma in this project.
The cabinetry is all bespoke by Neptune. The worktops are a combination of honed granite around the main sink, as it’s a very practical material, and oak on the island, as this is more of a preparation area, with a sink and Quooker hot-water tap. The structural pillars posed a slight problem, but, Emma says, ‘we made them work’.
Wilmington dining table, Early Oak Reproductions. Chairs, bespoke by Sims Hilditch in Blakeney Check fabric from Colefax and Fowler. Walls painted in Shaded White, Farrow & Ball. Cabinets painted in Chateau Grey, Sanderson.
The glass extension was deliberately contemporary. ‘We wanted the building to be an honest representation of a 21st century solution, rather than an attempt to re-create something that belonged to a previous century,’ Jeremy explains. ‘There is now a clear historic catalogue of the building’s progress through time – and ours was the next stage,’ he says.
The architects stripped all of the render and plaster off the orangery that had previously been there to reveal the original stonework, which they carefully restored. Jeremy chose glass so the stonework would be visible from outside, and the extension would have minimal impact on the existing building.
Side tables, Richard Taylor Designs.
The architects stripped all of the render and plaster off the orangery that had previously been there to reveal the original stonework, which they carefully restored. Jeremy chose glass so the stonework would be visible from outside, and the extension would have minimal impact on the existing building.
Side tables, Richard Taylor Designs.
The sitting room is the main living area for the family. There’s a TV in here, too, so it’s a great place for them all to relax at the weekends. It’s elegant, but not too precious, meaning the younger children can spend time in here without worry. All of the furniture was made by Sims Hildith (except the brown sofa), which has in-house upholsterers and joiners. The panelling and bookshelves were all installed by the architect, in collaboration with Emma. A dated fireplace was replaced with a brand-new one to give the room a sophisticated feel.
Ottoman, bespoke in Huntingtower in Grape, Abraham Moon & Sons. Brown chesterfield sofa, Flamant. Cushion fabric, Auricula by Jean Monro. Curtain fabric, Zoffany. Bronze Moorish Figure lamp, Besselink & Jones. Wall painted in Shaded White, Farrow & Ball. Panelling painted in Light Gray, Farrow & Ball. Fireplace surround, Chesney’s.
Ottoman, bespoke in Huntingtower in Grape, Abraham Moon & Sons. Brown chesterfield sofa, Flamant. Cushion fabric, Auricula by Jean Monro. Curtain fabric, Zoffany. Bronze Moorish Figure lamp, Besselink & Jones. Wall painted in Shaded White, Farrow & Ball. Panelling painted in Light Gray, Farrow & Ball. Fireplace surround, Chesney’s.
The master bedroom underwent quite a drastic change. ‘It needed a lot of help,’ Emma explains. After an unsightly renovation in the 1980s that replaced the windows with unattractive modern ones, a lot of work was needed. Emma splayed the openings of the windows, so more light could enter the room. Shutters were used in place of curtains or blinds because of their height. As curtains weren’t an option, Emma chose to add impact through the wallpaper instead.
Emma also opened up the entire ceiling. ‘We wanted to make it feel more important as the master bedroom, so we uncovered all the old beams and stripped them of their black stain. It improved the whole room enormously,’ she says. The lower beams were painted white to allow them to blend into the wallpaper.
Wallpaper, Oriental Tree in pale aqua by GP & J Baker. Desk, Chelsea Textiles. Chair, bespoke. Bed and chest, clients’ own. Mirror, Vaughan. Herringbone wool carpet, Capitol Carpets.
Get tips for designing around a pitched ceiling
Emma also opened up the entire ceiling. ‘We wanted to make it feel more important as the master bedroom, so we uncovered all the old beams and stripped them of their black stain. It improved the whole room enormously,’ she says. The lower beams were painted white to allow them to blend into the wallpaper.
Wallpaper, Oriental Tree in pale aqua by GP & J Baker. Desk, Chelsea Textiles. Chair, bespoke. Bed and chest, clients’ own. Mirror, Vaughan. Herringbone wool carpet, Capitol Carpets.
Get tips for designing around a pitched ceiling
There are two ways to exit the master bedroom, although both necessitate going through another room to reach the staircases. One way is through the husband’s study to the back staircase; the other is through the bathroom to the main staircase. ‘This was a real challenge,’ Emma admits. ‘As the couple were the only two who would use the bathroom, we decided to keep it open without a door for ease of passage.’
To the left of the chair is a walk-in wardrobe and dressing room. All of the radiators were refitted, as they were previously flat-panelled designs.
Armchair, bespoke. Radiator, The Radiator Company.
To the left of the chair is a walk-in wardrobe and dressing room. All of the radiators were refitted, as they were previously flat-panelled designs.
Armchair, bespoke. Radiator, The Radiator Company.
Emma opted to continue the wallpaper from the bedroom into the open en suite for continuity. She chose linen blinds. ‘I always like to uses linen in bathrooms – it gives it a bit of a lift and keeps it fresh,’ she says. The oak flooring came pre-treated, and gives the room that country look.
Bath, Victoria & Albert. Shower, Lefroy Brooks.
Bath, Victoria & Albert. Shower, Lefroy Brooks.
Sink and taps, Lefroy Brooks. Lighting, Vaughan. Mirrored cabinet, bespoke.
This is the baby’s bedroom. ‘I loved the wallpaper– it’s a hand-blocked design by a woman in her eighties or nineties, and I thought it was so special,’ Emma says. ‘It started the whole scheme.’ The fireplace is original, and one of the oldest in the property.
Alphabet wallpaper, Hamilton Weston. Larsson chest of drawers, Neptune. Hector floor light, Original BTC. Cushion and blind fabrics, Chelsea Textiles.
Alphabet wallpaper, Hamilton Weston. Larsson chest of drawers, Neptune. Hector floor light, Original BTC. Cushion and blind fabrics, Chelsea Textiles.
In the attic, there are two guest bedrooms and two bathrooms, as the family often have friends and relatives to stay. The beds and throws were the clients’ own. Emma wanted to keep the décor fairly natural in this room. ‘You’re very high up in the attic, almost up in the trees, so I chose green to reflect that,’ she explains.
Wardrobe, Chelsea Textiles. Big Boucle Sisal rug, Crucial Trading. Walls painted in Shaded White, Farrow & Ball.
Read expert advice on planning a loft conversion
Wardrobe, Chelsea Textiles. Big Boucle Sisal rug, Crucial Trading. Walls painted in Shaded White, Farrow & Ball.
Read expert advice on planning a loft conversion
All of the built-in wardrobes were designed bespoke by Sims Hilditch to maximise the space in the eaves. The built-in window seat allows the family to gaze at the lovely setting of this historic home.
Cushion fabric, William Yeoward.
TELL US…
What do you like about this manor house? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Cushion fabric, William Yeoward.
TELL US…
What do you like about this manor house? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.
This is the main door the family use to enter their home. The space was originally a small hallway that opened onto a poky kitchen. ‘We knocked through the original kitchen and hallway and made the space into a more grand entrance,’ Emma explains. After entering, on the left is a playroom that leads onto a boot room and cloakroom, and on the right is a conservatory – a glass extension added by BLA Architects. The hall ‘wiggles’ around to allow entrance to the kitchen-dining and larder, plus a sitting room.
The decoration in the entrance hall has been given as much attention as in the main rooms. ‘We wanted to have something really beautiful in the hall to give it character,’ Emma says. They had the curtains made from Chelsea Textiles fabric, and had a door made bespoke with glass panels to let light in. They also raised the ceiling, which exposed lovely wooden beams.
Floor in Avignon Soft Tumble limestone, Beswick Stone. Curtain fabric, Queen Anne Vine ‘less intense’ in mauve, Chelsea Textiles. Bench, bespoke. Walls painted in Hardwick White, Farrow & Ball.