HOUSE OF THE MONTH
Anna and Oliver Giles pulled out all the stops to make their once dark and cramped country house bright and beautiful
FEATURE KAREN JENSEN-JONES
KITCHEN
The chalky finish on the cupboards has been achieved using two coats of white Osmo oil. Units continue into the dining area to help keep the space streamlined and clutter-free.
Finding a spacious, bright family home with plenty of outdoor space to accommodate their horses was Anna and Oliver Giles’ aim when looking for a new home. Their search led them to an unexpected find that left them with a difficult dilemma. ‘We loved the location and the surrounding meadow but didn’t think the house was quite right for us and it certainly wasn’t light-filled,’ says Anna.
Despite initially dismissing the property as too dark and cramped, the couple were enchanted by the private location and extensive grounds. A second viewing with a trusted builder friend gave them the confidence to see beyond the existing structure and begin a dynamic two-year renovation that has transformed the property beyond belief.
‘The core of the house is old, and it felt important to keep the original beams and feed them into the new plans,’ says Anna. ‘We now have an unconventional, beamed hallway, running the length of the property, that’s become the heart of our home.’ Smaller rooms found new life after taking down extension walls, and windows were added and replaced with big glazing and a bronze-framed finish. ‘It was exciting to feel the house breathing again and to see light filtering in,’ says Anna.
Anna and Oliver admire the simplicity and functionality of Scandinavian design and were keen to enlist the help of like-minded interior designer Charlotte Coleman of Charlotte Coleman Design, who came recommended by the project architects, Spratley & Partners. ‘Charlotte collaborated closely with everyone involved in the renovation and her sustainable, ethical choices were in line with our own,’ says Anna. ‘From our first meeting, we knew she understood our brief.’
The crafted European crown cut oak kitchen, designed by Charlotte, is typical of her approach, with its natural texture and chalky finish. ‘We love the kitchen because it’s been the biggest transformation of the renovation,’ says Anna. ‘The wood is beautiful, and we also loved Charlotte’s suggestion to consider a pill-shaped table by Galvin Brothers – it is such a focal point alongside the beautiful views to the meadow.’
The scale of the space, including a mezzanine, affords the family generous areas for relaxing and entertaining that flow to
