The country home of Emilia Amodio and Tom Schroeder is the ideal blend of the bold, the beautiful and the calm and peaceful
FEATURE EMILY PECK
GARDEN/TV ROOM
An open fireplace serves both the kitchen and garden room, where the ceiling was opened up and tongue and groove panelling added.
HOMETRUTHS
Converted cottage, built circa 1930
Sitting room, dining room, kitchen, garden/TV room, utility room, cloakroom, boot room, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, attic playroom
New Forest
Nestled within eight acres of leafy woodland gardens in the heart of the New Forest sits the stunning converted cottage of Emilia Amodio and Tom Schroeder. The couple, who have three young children, bought the home as a retreat from the bustle of London life. ‘Everyone is so busy these days and spending quality time with each other at weekends was a big motivation for finding this home,’ says Emilia. ‘We wanted a place to run away to at weekends – where our children could play freely outdoors.’
While the exterior of their new home is every bit what you would expect from a country cottage – with exposed red brick and trailing roses, the interior is refreshingly unique and clean-cut in style. With eye-catching artwork, bespoke furniture and bold and colourful finishes, the overall feel is exciting and modern. ‘When we first viewed this extended cottage with five outbuildings, it was haphazard in its design and very dark inside,’ remembers Emilia. ‘We had originally decided to knock down the entire property and create a new build, but then Covid set in and our plans changed.’
Instead, the couple decided to keep the existing structure and reconfigure the space. To help with the renovation and furnish the interior, they asked designer Bari Jerauld of Blank Slate to come on board. ‘The existing cottage was completely gutted, which meant walls and rooms could be shifted to create a better flow inside,’ says Bari. ‘The cottage has lots of low ceilings and to make the rooms brighter, we maximised space where we could. We took away some of the attic space in the main bedroom to make the ceilings taller, for example, and reconfigured the kitchen.’ The existing pillar that divided the kitchen was removed to create a large, open-plan space with a casual dining area. The original staircase in one dark corner of the house was also removed and a large new sweeping staircase was built – positioned in the centre of the home to add grandeur and, literally, make an entrance. Taking a holistic approach to the design, Bari chose vintage and bespoke pieces to furnish the rooms and achieve a stylish yet fun look.
SITTING ROOM
The wall l
