There must be those among you that occasionally, in a quiet moment, stroll through your homes and think that, yes, after all the planning, plotting and hard work, you’ve at last got it right – on a good day this place could easily feature in an elegant period drama, a cool fashion shoot, a glossy advert.

TEST Books climb either side of the fireplace while across the room, above the sofa, is a huge gilded French overmantle mirror flanked by two strangely comical painted goat skulls from Foxhole Antiques in Hurst Green

Books climb either side of the fireplace while across the room, above the sofa, is a huge gilded French overmantle mirror flanked by two strangely comical painted goat skulls from Foxhole Antiques in Hurst Green

TEST The largest single room in the house is the kitchen that runs the full width of the property. It’s a glorious room of white-on-white with warmth provided by glowing timbers and bare brick

The largest single room in the house is the kitchen that runs the full width of the property. It’s a glorious room of white-on-white with warmth provided by glowing timbers and bare brick

TEST

TEST Recipe books and earthenware containers line a unit in the kitchen

Recipe books and earthenware containers line a unit in the kitchen

TEST One of the only fixed pieces in the kitchen is the 1970s Rayburn that nestles in the sizeable inglenook

One of the only fixed pieces in the kitchen is the 1970s Rayburn that nestles in the sizeable inglenook

TEST The second sitting room features painted hardwood floors and the walls and woodwork are painted a deep Farrow & Ball Down Pipe grey

The second sitting room features painted hardwood floors and the walls and woodwork are painted a deep Farrow & Ball Down Pipe grey

TEST An aged ottoman and complementing oriental rug are positioned in front of a wonderful French roll-top-armed sofa which Bella discovered

An aged ottoman and complementing oriental rug are positioned in front of a wonderful French roll-top-armed sofa which Bella discovered

TEST Nick and Bella’s bedroom is the one room in the house that is virtually unchanged from the day they walked in. An ancient Gustavian mirror bought in Liverpool is hung with old bunting from Foxhole Antiques

Nick and Bella’s bedroom is the one room in the house that is virtually unchanged from the day they walked in. An ancient Gustavian mirror bought in Liverpool is hung with old bunting from Foxhole Antiques

TEST On the landing is a venerable glass-fronted cabinet displaying Nick’s old fly fishing kit. The walls of the staircase up through the centre of the property are of attractive accidentally distressed plasterwork

On the landing is a venerable glass-fronted cabinet displaying Nick’s old fly fishing kit. The walls of the staircase up through the centre of the property are of attractive accidentally distressed plasterwork

TEST Family photographs cover the walls of the pure white bathroom

Family photographs cover the walls of the pure white bathroom

TEST Daughter Flora’s room is painted a tranquil chalky blue

Daughter Flora’s room is painted a tranquil chalky blue

TEST On the exposed brick wall opposite the Rayburn, interesting finds are grouped together on a table by the front door, including an old wicker beehive

On the exposed brick wall opposite the Rayburn, interesting finds are grouped together on a table by the front door, including an old wicker beehive

TEST The idyllic kitchen garden offers a plentiful supply of fruit and vegetables and is home to the family’s quail and beehives

The idyllic kitchen garden offers a plentiful supply of fruit and vegetables and is home to the family’s quail and beehives

TEST

TEST At one end of a wildflower meadow live Oxford Sandy and Black pigs

At one end of a wildflower meadow live Oxford Sandy and Black pigs

TEST In the rear corner of the kitchen garden, a beehive is surrounded by bare earth that has been dug and sown with an annual wildflower meadow mix of Californian poppies, which will be a blaze of yellow and gold in the summer months. Nick and Bella buy huge quantities of wild flower seed each year from Nigel Dunnett at Pictorial Meadows in Sheffield

In the rear corner of the kitchen garden, a beehive is surrounded by bare earth that has been dug and sown with an annual wildflower meadow mix of Californian poppies, which will be a blaze of yellow and gold in the summer months. Nick and Bella buy huge quantities of wild flower seed each year from Nigel Dunnett at Pictorial Meadows in Sheffield

TEST Nick’s outbuilding is crammed with vintage tools

Nick’s outbuilding is crammed with vintage tools

TEST Resident stars of the show at Walnuts Farm are the couple’s two dogs, a wild turkey, guinea fowl, Welsummer and Cotswold and Cream Legbar chickens and sheep

Resident stars of the show at Walnuts Farm are the couple’s two dogs, a wild turkey, guinea fowl, Welsummer and Cotswold and Cream Legbar chickens and sheep

TEST

TEST

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether
  • styling: Lucy Fleming

Building Connections

After nearly a decade of planning, Dominic and Eve were finally given permission to convert a pair of derelict barns, linking them together to create one very beautiful dwelling Words: Jo Arnell Photographs: David Merewether The story arc of an...

Change it up

Neil and Sharon Maidment’s reconfigured family home is the result of a very successful partnership with OPEN architecture, who opened their eyes to a new layout they never imagined was possible Words: Fiona Patrick Photographs: David Merewether The green modular...

Cut to Fit

Deborah Harrison downsized to a three bedroom house, which she renovated and reconfigured, reinstating the original Victorian features and editing family heirlooms to suit her new home and lifestyle “As William Morris says, ‘Everything has to be beautiful or useful,’”...