Innehållsförteckning för English Cottage 2018 från Victoria

There is something captivating about a warm and cozy English cottage. The exteriors, often crafted of impressive limestone blocks or weather-tested, limewashed stucco, seem to invite us inside. And, indoors, the comfortable presence of chintz, leather, and solid woods echo that welcome. It is easy to imagine oneself nestled in an overstuffed chair or curled in a window seat with a book by a favored British author, while the aroma of freshly baked scones wafts around us. We have gathered a collection of homes whose owners graciously shared the stories of how they found—and often rescued—dwellings that have become their personal sanctuaries. Through these pages, journey from the East Midlands and Yorkshire to Suffolk and Surrey, and points between, as you study the architecture and furnishings of residences that started…

Diane Brittain is a true country girl. As a member of one of England’s esteemed horse racing families, she is used to the hectic pace of life on an ever-bustling stable yard. A few years ago, while she was searching for a new home, friends urged her to choose an urban flat in York or Harrogate, but she was adamant that she needed open fields and pastoral views. When she spotted an old mill house with mellowed brickwork and a traditional clay pantile roof, she was instantly smitten. Located in a quiet Ryedale village, the dwelling had been languishing on the market for quite a while—thanks to outmoded interiors and, more significantly, the fact that it had only two bedrooms—but Diane was undaunted. “I just thought it felt really good,”…

When designer Karen McBain and her husband, Kevin Steer, began searching for a home that offered a quick commute to London, the first location they toured was a ground-floor apartment in a circa 1895 detached Victorian house located in the town of Guildford. They fell in love with it immediately. Karen had acquired a wealth of experience after many years as a visual merchandiser for notable firms, such as Harvey Nichols and Liberty. She learned the more technical aspects of interior design through course work, while Kevin, an aircraft engineer, honed his skills in carpentry, plumbing, and electronics. The two merged their talents into a successful design business. Later, when they purchased what had been the communal basement of their building, they confidently tackled the ensuing conversion to a master…

Danielle Swanson’s home has no lack of character. Formerly owned by renowned portrait photographer Angus McBean, it housed an antiques shop for about half a century. “The hall, with its exposed timber frames and seventeenth- and eighteenth-century paneling,” Dani elle says, “was the perfect setting.” McBean, who dealt in top-quality Jacobean antiques, previously added features such as underfloor heating, which was almost unheard of at the time of the restoration forty years ago. To introduce a lighter atmosphere, Danielle removed yards of wall-to-wall carpet and heavy velvet drapes and repainted in pale tones. She installed new bathrooms and refurbished facilities housed in outbuildings in the courtyard. Furnishing and decorating the rooms, her collection of beautiful and idiosyncratic items has come together in the hall to create a delightful scenario. Danielle’s…

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ANN BROAD: pages 13–30 MAGGIE COLVIN: pages 49–56 and 65–70 HAZEL DOLAN: pages 31–38 and 85–94 JANE GRAINING: pages 77–84 FELICITY HAYLES: pages 57–64 RACHEL LEEDHAM: pages 39–48 CELIA RUFEY: pages 71–76 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS BRENT DARBY: pages 31–38, 85–94, and back cover JANE HOPE: cover, pages 3–4, and 9–12 CAROLINE MARDON: pages 39–48 FIONA MURRAY: pages 57–64 COLIN POOLE: pages 2 and 13–30 ROBERT SANDERSON: pages 49–56 and 65–70 JODY STEWART: pages 71–84 and 97 CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS ANN BROAD: pages 2 and 13–22 MAGGIE COLVIN: pages 49–56 and 65–70 HAZEL DOLAN: pages 31–38, 85–94, and back cover JANE GRAINING: pages 77–84 and 97 CELIA RUFEY: pages 71–76…

A converted stone barn nestled in the tranquil Oxfordshire countryside has proven the ideal rural retreat for Kate and Paul Gerrish, whose desire for beautiful views and longing to live in a period property drove their search for a new residence. “We moved from a three-story, six-bedroom, modern house in a nearby town,” explains Kate. “The children had left home, so we took the opportunity to downsize.” Listed as a Grade II in the historic registry, the building dates from the 1850s and was converted a few decades ago into a character-filled home. “We immediately loved the vaulted ceilings throughout,” Kate says, “and the quirkiness of the second building in the garden, which we now call the studio.” With plenty of ideas for updating interior finishes, the couple set about…

When a character-filled property in Aylesbury’s Old Town district was posted for sale, Melanie Kirk couldn’t resist taking a look. She had long admired the home, which had stood empty for some time and was in poor repair. “It was shabby but not very chic,” she says, “but we loved the character and made an offer straightaway.” Situated closer to work and with good schools nearby, the location was perfect. With no major structural renovations necessary, Melanie set about improving and updating the interiors. Kitchen cabinets were removed and replaced with freestanding furniture; dark beams were repainted in a lighter tone; and walls became a soft, pale gray. The Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi’s muted shades of gray and blue influenced Melanie’s choice of hues throughout the home. “I think the…

Surrounded by meadows in a remote area of Berkshire, England, the residence of Louisa and Charlie Nicholls boasts storybook allure. Neat rows of fragrant lavender border the brick pathway that leads to their authentic Tudor home, where an embellished doorway, half-timbered façade, and steeply gabled roofline exhibit more than a decade of thoughtful care. Louisa remembers the crumbling condition of the cottage she and Charlie purchased at auction eleven years ago. The 400-year-old structure had been so neglected that when the Nichollses drove to see it for the first time late one night, Louisa refused to get out of the car. “It was rotting from the roof to the floorboards,” the interior designer recalls. “In some places, you could put your fingers through gaps above the windows.” But in the…

Gloria and Eric Stewart had lived in France for nearly thirty years when they entertained t he idea of relocating to their native England. After carefully weighing the benefits and drawbacks of such a pivotal move, they decided to repatriate and settle in fondly remembered surroundings. Their search began in Kent—where family members still resided—and ended when they found a circa 1560 farmhouse located in the village of High Halden. “We love Kent and its tradition of timber-framed buildings,” explains Gloria. “We were drawn to this house because it still has the authentic atmosphere. After living in high-ceilinged, eighteenth-century French properties, it was the English quality of the house that appealed to us as well.” As veterans of several major renovations in southwest France, the couple was pleased to find…

House-hunting in damp weather might be less than ideal, but vintage textile collector and antiques dealer Annie Clark and her husband, Geoff Dickson, didn’t let a few raindrops put a damper on their day. When they discovered a mid-nineteenth-century terraced house, half hidden behind a tumbling hedge skirting a neat row of period dwellings, they were immediately intrigued. “Victorian houses are so well designed; I love the proportions, the ceiling roses, the depth of skirting boards, all the details,” explains Annie. “There is a feeling of oldness, height, and comfort.” After a brief tour, the two were ready to make an offer. “I WANTED TO MAKE [THE KITCHEN] LOOK A BIT OLDER, A BIT MORE ME.”—Annie Clark Having completed a total renovation on their previous home, Annie and Geoff were…

Below is a listing of products and companies featured in this issue. Items not listed are privately owned and are not for sale. Pricing and availability may vary. Pages 31–38 and 49–94: Special thanks to Narratives Agency, +44 020 3137 3739, features@narratives.co.uk, narratives.co.uk. Pages 13–30 and 39–48: Special thanks to GAP Interiors, +44 01376 573198, info@gapinteriors.com, gapinteriors.com. Pages 13–22: Bliss Home & Vintage, +44 01608 645180, bliss-home.co.uk. CSW Creations, +44 01235 798187, cswcreations.co.uk. Farrow & Ball, +44 01202 876141, farrow-ball.com. Hunt Bespoke Kitchens & Interiors, +44 01295 721111, huntbespokekitchens.com. The Old Pill Factory, +44 01993 701013, theoldpillfactory.com. Scumble Goosie, +44 01453 731305, scumblegoosie.co.uk. Sofas & Stuff, +44 0808 1783211, sofasandstuff.com. Station Mill Antiques Centre, +44 01608 644563, stationmill.com. Welbeck Tiles, +44 01736 810050, welbeck.com. Pages 23–30: Baileys, +44 01989 561931,…