Houzz Tour: An Arts and Crafts House Gets a Sympathetic Makeover
Bringing an Arts and Crafts house up to date sympathetically is no mean feat, but it can be done, as this elegant renovation shows
Perched on the edge of the Cotswolds, this house is an homage to the Arts and Crafts movement, and was originally designed by Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott. The house had been in a state of transformation for some time when Gabriel Holland was asked to tackle the interior by the current owners.
‘The previous owners had embarked on an ambitious restoration project, but unfortunately they ran out of money,’ recalls Gabriel. ‘I’d worked with the new owners on a number of their previous homes – they love a project! – so I already had a handle on their style, but the rich heritage of this Grade II listed property made it all the more fascinating.’ Determined to restore the historic home to its former glory – with the addition of a few mod cons – the new owners commissioned an architect to complete the structural restoration before inviting Gabriel to work her magic on the interior.
The couple, who have a penchant for bright colours, 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 Gabriel. ‘The key was to bring it up to date by using traditional prints and fabrics in a contemporary context. Because I know the owners so well, they trusted me completely, which is incredibly satisfying, particularly on a project of this scale.’ The completed house is a pleasing blend of classic and contemporary design elements that allows the natural beauty of the Arts and Crafts architecture to shine.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A family with two children
Location The Cotswolds, near Banbury
Built 1911
Designer Gabriel Holland of Gabriel Holland Interior Design
Size 8 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
‘The previous owners had embarked on an ambitious restoration project, but unfortunately they ran out of money,’ recalls Gabriel. ‘I’d worked with the new owners on a number of their previous homes – they love a project! – so I already had a handle on their style, but the rich heritage of this Grade II listed property made it all the more fascinating.’ Determined to restore the historic home to its former glory – with the addition of a few mod cons – the new owners commissioned an architect to complete the structural restoration before inviting Gabriel to work her magic on the interior.
The couple, who have a penchant for bright colours, 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 Gabriel. ‘The key was to bring it up to date by using traditional prints and fabrics in a contemporary context. Because I know the owners so well, they trusted me completely, which is incredibly satisfying, particularly on a project of this scale.’ The completed house is a pleasing blend of classic and contemporary design elements that allows the natural beauty of the Arts and Crafts architecture to shine.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A family with two children
Location The Cotswolds, near Banbury
Built 1911
Designer Gabriel Holland of Gabriel Holland Interior Design
Size 8 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
Soft grey on the walls creates depth and warmth in the formal sitting room, which features an original fireplace and timber floor. Gabriel 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. ‘Grey can look classic and contemporary at the same time, which is exactly what we’ve tried to achieve here,’ she explains.
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 Gabriel.
Walls painted in Charleston Gray, Farrow & Ball. Large Aria ceiling pendant, Laura Ashley.
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 Gabriel.
Walls painted in Charleston Gray, Farrow & Ball. Large Aria ceiling pendant, Laura Ashley.
The built-in window seat is an original feature that overlooks the Arts and Crafts garden. ‘I purposefully chose fabrics with subtle floral and leaf motifs to reference the garden – there’s a fabulous relationship between the landscape and the interior,’ explains Gabriel.
Cushions and window seat covered in Merulina fabric, Nobilis.
10 wonderful ways with window seats
Cushions and window seat covered in Merulina fabric, Nobilis.
10 wonderful ways with window seats
A smaller and more informal TV room is where the family spend the majority of their time together. ‘Soft, tactile fabrics and pops of purple lend this room a relaxed vibe – the whole family can pile onto the sofa in here so there are no airs and graces,’ explains Gabriel.
Astoria sofa, Laura Ashley.
Astoria sofa, Laura Ashley.
‘We wanted to add a bit of drama and interest to the TV room – purple is a popular choice with the family and it gives the space a contemporary edge,’ says Gabriel.
Walls painted in Pelt, Farrow & Ball.
Walls painted in Pelt, Farrow & Ball.
Oak timber doors, complete with period ironmongery, open on to the hallway. The stone flooring is all original in this part of the house. ‘I simply added lanterns in here, which are in keeping with the style,’ explains Gabriel.
‘The woman of the house runs her professional cake business from here, so generous kitchen storage and a large island for food preparation, was a must,’ says Gabriel. A local joiner made made the units to Gabriel’s design, and these were then painted in different shades of grey to give the classic style a more contemporary edge. ‘It had to be a working kitchen – we didn’t want it to feel too old fashioned, so touches like the grey colour scheme and the chrome pendants really pull it back into the 21st century,’ she explains.
Cabinetry painted in Pavilion Gray and Manor House Gray, Farrow & Ball. Pendant lights, Original BTC.
Cabinetry painted in Pavilion Gray and Manor House Gray, Farrow & Ball. Pendant lights, Original BTC.
For the kitchen blinds, Gabriel chose a yellowy-green fabric with a hint of red running through it to offset the grey cabinetry. ‘It stops the look from becoming too homogenous,’ she explains.
While Gabriel was keen to introduce some contemporary elements into the kitchen scheme, a smattering of more classic country-style pieces reference the property’s heritage. ‘We went for traditional timber worktops and a butler sink to keep a sense of authenticity in this part of the house,’ she says. Grooves carved into the wood form a neat draining board.
Floor-to-ceiling cupboards in the utility room conceal household machinery, as well as the underfloor heating system. ‘This is obviously a very functional space, but it’s still a lovely room to spend time in while doing household chores,’ says Gabriel. ‘It also has a fabulous relationship with the garden, and the views make tasks more enjoyable!’
Cabinetry painted in Blue Gray; walls painted in Clunch; both Farrow & Ball.
Cabinetry painted in Blue Gray; walls painted in Clunch; both Farrow & Ball.
A relaxed dining area just off the kitchen is where the family spend much of their time. ‘This open-plan area is a vibrant, relaxed space, so it was important to incorporate some contemporary touches here,’ says Gabriel. Dark green-blue paint was chosen to add some visual interest to the spacious room and play off the grey colour in the adjacent kitchen.
Wall painted in Squid Ink, Paint & Paper Library.
Wall painted in Squid Ink, Paint & Paper Library.
The formal, double-height dining room features original oak timber panelling typical of Baillie Scott’s architecture. ‘The panelling is a stunning feature in this room, but I wanted to make it feel more intimate and enclosed,’ explains Gabriel. ‘The height of the space can feel a bit intimidating, so I chose a strong, dark colour for the walls, and lowered the ceiling lights to create a more cosy atmosphere.’
Healthfield & Co Flat Drum pendant, Occa-Home.
Healthfield & Co Flat Drum pendant, Occa-Home.
A pale timber balustrade leads downstairs to the classic hallway. ‘As with the rest of the house, this space is intended to be very calming and peaceful – it has a gentle feel to it,’ says Gabriel. ‘The owners lead very busy lives, so their home has to be a restful place for them to spend time.’
The red stripe in the stair runner adds a subtle hint of colour to the space without shouting for attention. ‘I’ve wanted to use this sisal runner from Kersaint Cobb for a long time. It’s a perfect fit for this house as it treads the line between classic and contemporary,’ says Gabriel.
Meknes stair runner, Kersaint Cobb.
10 easy ways to pep up a tired hallway
The red stripe in the stair runner adds a subtle hint of colour to the space without shouting for attention. ‘I’ve wanted to use this sisal runner from Kersaint Cobb for a long time. It’s a perfect fit for this house as it treads the line between classic and contemporary,’ says Gabriel.
Meknes stair runner, Kersaint Cobb.
10 easy ways to pep up a tired hallway
Glorious views of the garden take centre stage in the pared-back master bedroom. ‘I’ve kept this room very muted, and added warmth with the cream wool rug and dark-stained timber floor,’ explains Gabriel.
Walls painted in Chalk WM1P by Morris & Co, Chapel Interiors.
Walls painted in Chalk WM1P by Morris & Co, Chapel Interiors.
The embroidered curtain fabric is a nod to tradition, but it has been brought up to date with a contemporary design. ‘We’ve kept it very simple – this room is all about lying in bed and looking at the garden,’ says Gabriel.
Curtains in Cocoa fabric 330148, Zoffany
Curtains in Cocoa fabric 330148, Zoffany
‘The oak timber floor is original, but we stained it a darker colour to contrast with the pale, muted scheme,’ explains Gabriel.
‘The owner wanted the freestanding bath to be in the centre of the en-suite bathroom,’ recalls Gabriel. ‘It works really well because it’s a spacious room.’
A new engineered oak floor has been teamed with Farrow & Ball wallpaper and bespoke cabinetry to achieve muted glamour in this room. ‘The fireplace is an original feature, so we had to work around it,’ she explains.
Chimney breast covered in Rosslyn wallpaper, Farrow & Ball. Walls painted in Hemp WM25M by Morris & Co, Chapel Interiors.
Check out fabulous freestanding baths that serve up a super soak
A new engineered oak floor has been teamed with Farrow & Ball wallpaper and bespoke cabinetry to achieve muted glamour in this room. ‘The fireplace is an original feature, so we had to work around it,’ she explains.
Chimney breast covered in Rosslyn wallpaper, Farrow & Ball. Walls painted in Hemp WM25M by Morris & Co, Chapel Interiors.
Check out fabulous freestanding baths that serve up a super soak
At the other end of the en-suite bathroom, silver mosaic tiles from Fired Earth glisten in the walk-in shower. ‘I didn’t want anything too dramatic here. I wanted to keep it simple but luxurious,’ says Gabriel.
Malacassa mosaic tiles, Fired Earth.
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Malacassa mosaic tiles, Fired Earth.
TELL US…
What did you like about this house? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
MORE
Enjoy more inspiring Houzz Tours
‘The house feels like the perfect English country home in miniature. None of the rooms are too large; it’s the perfect scale,’ says Gabriel.