IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE, SUE CALDWELL’S DREAM NEW-BUILD HOME IS AN ARCHITECTURAL OASIS WHERE SCANDINAVIAN STYLE TAKES CENTRE STAGE
FEATURE AND PHOTOGRAPHS CLAIRE BINGHAM PLANS RICHARD HOOKWAY
Living area
‘I’m drawn to a natural colour palette, and we chose the shades depending on whether a room is north- or south-facing.’
CREATE ZONES
The position of furniture and lighting marks out the different areas
Seven years ago, Sue Caldwell and her husband moved to Shropshire and bought a 1980s bungalow, with the aim of knocking it down to build their dream home. As Sue reveals, the project was a hundred times harder than she thought it would be, but she is rightly proud of what they have achieved.
HOME NOTES
WHO LIVES HERE?
Sue Caldwell, a retired designer, lives here with her husband. The house is used for location shoots and she documents her interiors on @talltrees.and.scandidreams.
THE PROPERTY
A three-bedroom, Scandinavian-inspired detached new build in Shropshire, with an open-plan kitchen and living space.
THE LAYOUT
The double-height hallway leads to an open-plan L-shaped living/dining area and kitchen, with utility room. Upstairs is a galleried landing, three bedrooms and two bathrooms; the main bedroom has a dressing room and en suite. A living room on the first floor has views of the Shropshire hills.
HOW DID YOU APPROACH THE PROJECT?
‘This house is our dream. Its realisation – from knocking down the old bungalow to building our new home and decorating it – has gripped our lives for four years. The journey to where we are today is a culmination of years of researching, learning and living. I approached this renovation with what excites me most – décor. It is ongoing as we’re adding things organically – we buy items as finances allow. I think it is important to live somewhere for a while to understand how you’re going to use the space. We knew we wanted large windows, firstly to create an airy, open space – that Scandinavian vibe – but also to maximise the views of the Shropshire hills. This was the reason for creating the upstairs living area. A lot of people may think, why not put a bedroom up there, which we could still do. But realistically, how much time do you spend in a bedroom? This gives us a flexible space.’
WHY WAS IT BOTH DAUNTING AND EXCITING?
‘The day the old bungalow was knocked down, I thought that I would be more ex
