COMFORT & joy

MAXINE AND MILES HANCOCK’S NEW-BUILD HOME IS A MASTERCLASS IN THE ART OF BLENDING CONTEMPORARY AND TRADITIONAL STYLE

Living room

‘Here, we arranged three sofas, a mix of two and three seaters, around the woodburner for a sociable layout with plenty of seating. We chose velvet for an opulent feel and the green adds a rich colour that is perfect for this time of year.’

HIDDEN DOOR

Keep the look streamlined with a concealed door – this one leads to a hideaway snug

THE LAYOUT

The entrance hall, with a cloakroom, leads into the large open-plan kitchen, dining and living area with a secret TV room/ snug through a hidden door. On the first floor, there is a spa bathroom with a plunge pool and sky garden (accessed through sliding doors), two bedrooms and a balcony. On the second floor is the main bedroom with en suite bathroom plus a guest bedroom with en suite.

Maxine and Miles Hancock were keen to have a new-build home with an open-plan layout that worked for family living, with large welcoming spaces for sociable entertaining.

WHY DID YOU MOVE?

‘Miles and I had long dreamed of building our own home. Then, three years ago, Miles spotted a plot of building land that had come up in one of our favourite locations, Stow-on-the-Wold. The Cotswolds has always felt like a special place for us. It’s where we got engaged and we’ve enjoyed many happy family holidays here. We also love the quaint character of the market town. The plot came with planning permission for a new-build home, which was already agreed and in place. There was still plenty of scope for us to be involved in all stages of the project, including choosing all the finishes and final details. Right from the start, it felt like a joint venture.’

WHAT MAKES IT WORK FOR FAMILY LIVING?

‘The house’s contemporary layout, with the ground floor designated as one big welcoming open-plan space, is ideal for family life with our children, Hugo and Lottie. The living room flows into the dining area and kitchen, while the large industrial-style windows mean that you can see the garden from almost everywhere on this level. The design also includes a cosy snug-style hideaway, concealed behind a door beside the fireplace.’

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE COLOUR PALETTE?

‘I was keen to add