Houzz Tour: Rustic and Modern Go Hand in Hand in a Countryside Idyll
Floor-to-ceiling windows and simple interiors give this bright and airy Wiltshire home rustic chic, without the chintz
Set amid rolling fields and green lanes, the Old Telephone Exchange is a stunning, light-filled house that combines rustic craftsmanship with modern good looks. Built from scratch on the site of, yep, an old telephone exchange, the brief the architect Stephen Turvil received from the owner, a TV writer, was simple but exacting: ‘It needed to be modern in its appearance, but also sympathetic to the semi-rural setting. She didn’t want a building that just copied the brick cottage look of other newer buildings in the area.’
The resulting design brilliantly pulls off cottagey country charm, but with a cool, contemporary edge – and not a thatched roof or low timber beam in sight. ‘What I like most about the house is that it successfully mixes a modern appearance with traditional materials and forms,’ says Stephen.
The resulting design brilliantly pulls off cottagey country charm, but with a cool, contemporary edge – and not a thatched roof or low timber beam in sight. ‘What I like most about the house is that it successfully mixes a modern appearance with traditional materials and forms,’ says Stephen.
Located in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the house’s storybook exterior suits the surrounding farmland and quiet country lanes perfectly.
In fact, Stephen took his design cue from sources close to hand, to ensure that, despite its contemporary flavour, the imposing shape of the house would slot perfectly into its surroundings. ‘It’s architecturally inspired by the barns and sheds that sit within the local landscape,’ he explains.
This creative space scores eco points, too, as it was built from sustainable timber using local contractors and craftsmen, ‘many of whom live in the village,’ says Stephen.
In fact, Stephen took his design cue from sources close to hand, to ensure that, despite its contemporary flavour, the imposing shape of the house would slot perfectly into its surroundings. ‘It’s architecturally inspired by the barns and sheds that sit within the local landscape,’ he explains.
This creative space scores eco points, too, as it was built from sustainable timber using local contractors and craftsmen, ‘many of whom live in the village,’ says Stephen.
The interior has a modernist simplicity that’s quietly elegant. Cool white walls throughout were chosen because they’re so easy to live with. ‘They give a calming, uniform appearance, and contrast with the black exterior,’ explains Stephen.
Stephen kept the ground floor open-plan to help the space flow, and there’s no clutter or unnecessary furniture. Instead, pieces with unfussy lines, like the neatly proportioned sofas and sleek open shelving unit, add to the simple, stylish atmosphere.
But this is no temple to minimalism either. The mix of upholstery and a smattering of artworks on the walls add warmth and character.
Stephen kept the ground floor open-plan to help the space flow, and there’s no clutter or unnecessary furniture. Instead, pieces with unfussy lines, like the neatly proportioned sofas and sleek open shelving unit, add to the simple, stylish atmosphere.
But this is no temple to minimalism either. The mix of upholstery and a smattering of artworks on the walls add warmth and character.
In a corner of the dining area, these built-in shelves create a laid-back mini library. ‘A place for books was part of the original brief,’ says Stephen. Building shelves from floor to ceiling maximises space, and there are more books in a tall, recessed nook at the rear of the room.
Picture windows let in plenty of light, and floor tiles in pale grey porcelain, which run through the whole ground floor, add to the bright, clean effect.
The owner decided it made sense to place the dining table beside the full-width windows, so she can take in the views of her garden at breakfast and dinner.
Floor tiles, Mosa.
Picture windows let in plenty of light, and floor tiles in pale grey porcelain, which run through the whole ground floor, add to the bright, clean effect.
The owner decided it made sense to place the dining table beside the full-width windows, so she can take in the views of her garden at breakfast and dinner.
Floor tiles, Mosa.
A wood-burning stove in the living area has timeless good looks and provides solace on chilly nights. The recessed wood store beside it makes for an attractive display and keeps logs handy.
The modernist print above adds a dash of colour and its width carefully balances out the hearth and wood store. The owner opted for a white-painted brick chimneybreast for back-to-basics character.
The modernist print above adds a dash of colour and its width carefully balances out the hearth and wood store. The owner opted for a white-painted brick chimneybreast for back-to-basics character.
Sleek and compact, the galley kitchen has a pared-back feel, with not a floral print or china tea set in sight. The focus is on functionality and usefulness. ‘The kitchen had to be practical and low-cost,’ says Stephen. ‘It forms an open-plan link between the entrance hall and the living space.’
The worktop is made of an easy-to-clean composite stone, and is paired with simple handleless units to keep the finish streamlined.
Kitchen units, Ikea.
Discover how to choose the perfect worktop
The worktop is made of an easy-to-clean composite stone, and is paired with simple handleless units to keep the finish streamlined.
Kitchen units, Ikea.
Discover how to choose the perfect worktop
The stairway is lovely and bright, with a combination of white walls and pale wood for a Scandi-chic simplicity. ‘The stairs are clad in locally sourced sycamore,’ says Stephen.
Once more, light was all part of the architect’s plan. ‘A large skylight slices through the roof above the line of the stairs, allowing natural light to flood down the stairwell and into the house,’ he explains.
Once more, light was all part of the architect’s plan. ‘A large skylight slices through the roof above the line of the stairs, allowing natural light to flood down the stairwell and into the house,’ he explains.
There are two bedrooms in the house. This one has an almost monastic simplicity, with minimal furnishings and pale hues. The large windows make the most of the mature trees outside, connecting inside with out – a gorgeous, green wake-up call on sunny summer days.
The second bedroom has a similarly simple feel, with subtle rustic country character added in touches like the old-fashioned oil painting and wooden chair, contrasting with the modern light fitting.
The flooring is more locally sourced pale sycamore, and the traditional patterned rug warms it up beautifully.
See how to create the country look in your bedroom
The flooring is more locally sourced pale sycamore, and the traditional patterned rug warms it up beautifully.
See how to create the country look in your bedroom
Hello sky, hello trees… Here, undressed windows mean there’s a seamless transition between inside and outside.
‘The windows are large, to ensure good views out and plenty of light in,’ says Stephen. ‘There’s lots of shade around the building, with some trees and bushes close to the house, so big windows help retain a connection with them.’
There are no large windows on the other side of the house, however, which faces the new telephone exchange. ‘Not a very attractive building!’ says Stephen.
‘The windows are large, to ensure good views out and plenty of light in,’ says Stephen. ‘There’s lots of shade around the building, with some trees and bushes close to the house, so big windows help retain a connection with them.’
There are no large windows on the other side of the house, however, which faces the new telephone exchange. ‘Not a very attractive building!’ says Stephen.
The homeowner is a keen gardener, and keeps an allotment in a field opposite the house for growing fruit and vegetables.
The huge central glass panel in the roof is the window of the owner’s first-floor study – affording fabulous views over runner bean and pumpkin. ‘She can keep an eye on the allotment from her desk,’ says Stephen.
The huge central glass panel in the roof is the window of the owner’s first-floor study – affording fabulous views over runner bean and pumpkin. ‘She can keep an eye on the allotment from her desk,’ says Stephen.
Lush greenery nestles up close on every side of the building – which, combined with the use of natural materials – lessens its impact on the landscape.
‘While this wasn’t designed to be an eco home, to some extent it is, just by the nature of the timber-framed construction and cladding,’ says Stephen. ‘The walls and roof also have high levels of insulation, above that required by the building regulations.’
The large glass skylight means the house is never gloomy, plus it offers wonderful views over the surrounding countryside and garden.
TELL US…
Would you love to live in a house like this? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
Would you love to live in a house like this? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A TV writer and producer
Location Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire
Size Two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Architect Stephen Turvil
With its steep pitched roof and eye-catching clapboard exterior, there’s more than a touch of the fairytale forest cabin about this new-build home. But it’s modern through and through, from the sleek, stainless-steel flue you can see here running up the rear of the property, to the black-stained, locally sourced larch wood that gives such a dark, dramatic finish to the exterior. ‘The black colour also allows the building to blend with the leafy backdrop,’ says Stephen.
The airy double doors open up from the living-dining space and onto the garden, which was planted by the owner, and has a quirky, minimal vibe to match the house.