Cotswold School House
Location: Oxfordshire
Contractors: Stonewood Builders
Timescale: 18 months
This derelict former school house set within the grounds of a wider estate required a complete gut renovation. Working closely with Stonewood Builders, the goal was to bring new life to a historic structure while honouring its rural character. With the clients seeking a retreat away from London, our brief was to design a space that focused on natural materials and soft tones, creating a calm and restorative atmosphere, and a space for their family to grow.
The clients, who had a young family, wanted a true countryside haven. A place to keep chickens, and where they could grow their own vegetables and make chutneys, whilst tending to the expansive greenhouse and potting shed. They wanted this home to be a space where they could reconnect with nature, unwind at weekends, and teach their children about growing their own food. A functional, generous kitchen was essential as they needed somewhere with ample workspace to prepare their homegrown produce.
When designing this home, the clients wanted the space not only to look light and airy but to feel deeply rooted in nature. Wallpapers by Christopher Farr and Marthe Armitage featuring foliage and leaf motifs were key in bringing this to life. Traditional random-width boarding was chosen to honour the spirit of the original schoolhouse, and across the home, tones remained gentle and organic, ensuring every room felt restful and connected to its rural surroundings. Pieces and soft furnishings from Chelsea Textiles, alongside lighting from Richard Taylor and Visual Comfort, helped elevate the project and produce a timeless country home.
Renovating the building presented a number of challenges. The entire structure needed stripping back, and as the project unfolded during Covid, onsite trades were difficult to come by, with timescales further complicated by supply chain issues. With no architect involved, the internal redesign was a collaborative effort with the builder, maintaining the original shell and putting the school house back together to make it suitable for modern family life. Access to the upper floor was particularly tricky, making the installation of larger pieces meticulous and carefully managed.
The children's bedroom required particularly thoughtful planning, as it was a small space but needed to accommodate two children comfortably. The final scheme incorporated a bunk bed and cot, alongside blue and yellow accents, and a cosy reading nook for bedtime stories.
The result is a warm, inviting country retreat that supports slow living, family connection, and the simple joy of being closer to nature.
This project was designed and installed whilst working with Sims Hilditch.