Rich colours, antique pieces and considered details have instilled a sense of history and character in this new-build home
FEATURE CHARLOTTE DUNFORD PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL SMITH
One could be forgiven for thinking this Georgian-style family home in Wiltshire, with its elegant facade and layered interiors, has a long and rich history. “It’s much more attractive than your average new build,” says Matthew Bates, founder of cooker and cookware company Blake & Bull, who lives in the house with his wife Sarah, of interiors and creative consultancy May Blake, their two girls and their elderly Golden Retriever, Alfie. “Obviously, there are lots of lovely Georgian houses out there, but ours is interesting, I think, because it was only built six years ago,” he adds.
For Matthew and Sarah, the house carries the perfect balance of aesthetic appeal and contemporary amenities needed for a growing household. “Modern houses are great to live in. They’re warm, non-draughty and things actually work, which was attractive with a young family,” Matthew says.
The two-storey house is a world away from the couple’s previous home, a tiny 17th-century cottage built into a cliff on the hillside of Bradford on Avon. Set among picturesque surroundings, their current home is situated on a development drawn up by architectural and interior designer Ben Pentreath and built by CG Fry and Son in 2017. “The exterior layout is very natural. There’s a Georgian-style crescent at one end, which looks out over the views and there are lots of open spaces, woodland, parks and allotments,” says Matthew. In contrast, the interior layout left a lot to be desired when the couple bought the house. “It made no sense,” Matthew explains. “For example, the utility room was at the back overlooking the beautiful garden which looks down to the River Avon, bonkers.”
Once the sale was finalised in 2020, Matthew and Sarah set to work rectifying the layout, knocking through walls, replacing windows and floors, refurbishing the woodwork, installing French windows at the back of the house and adding a door from the driveway to the newly located utility room. “You name it, we did it,” Matthew laughs.
Work ran smoothly throughout the renovation, which Matthew cites as another benefit of living in a modern home. “If you’re taking apart a 300-year-old house to move some walls, you’ll find things you aren’t expecting. That’s one of the advantages in a new build – it’s relatively easy to plan and cost things.”
