Houzz Tour: A Sophisticated Georgian Cottage in the Cotswolds
Luxurious fabrics and stylish pieces bring a little bit of city glamour to this rural country home
For this (not so little) cottage in the Cotswolds, it was important for the clients that each room had its own unique feel but still worked with the rest of the home. ‘The challenge was creating something quite quirky that somehow all tied together,’ says designer Kirsty McMorron of Absolute Abode Design. The property consists of three buildings that are interconnected: the old Georgian cottage, an old malt house and some stables, which now house the dining room.
The designers found the house in pretty good shape, just not quite to the owners’ tastes, and the work performed was largely decorative. ‘The owners are from London and wanted it to feel like a boutique hotel, but with a country twist,’ says Kirsty.
See decorating tips for bringing a cottage into the 21st century
See decorating tips for bringing a cottage into the 21st century
To bring a sophisticated feel to the living room, Kirsty opted for luxurious fabrics in greys and purples to cover the custom-made furniture. The owners often host friends and family, so it was important the living room was spacious enough to fit in lots of people. ‘The reception and cocktail area needed to take up to 10 people,’ says Kirsty.
‘We used a dark purple silk wallpaper on the central wall to give it a bit more glamour,’ she says. Mirrors behind the shelves help to make the proportions bigger, and are ‘quite fun with cocktails’.
Silk wallpaper, Fox Linton.
‘We used a dark purple silk wallpaper on the central wall to give it a bit more glamour,’ she says. Mirrors behind the shelves help to make the proportions bigger, and are ‘quite fun with cocktails’.
Silk wallpaper, Fox Linton.
Kirsty went for muted purples, browns and greens to keep the look in here quite low-key. There’s no TV, either. ‘This is a space for reading, chatting and sitting in front of the fire,’ says Kirsty.
Armchair, The French House. Rug, Amy Kent.
Armchair, The French House. Rug, Amy Kent.
Leading on from the living room is this quaint library space, with stairs leading up to the TV room. ‘This used to be the dining room, but we changed it into a library space because the clients love books,’ says Kirsty. All of the shelving was made bespoke, and the armchair and rug were sourced from antiques stores.
The kitchen was in very good shape, so Kirsty and Sophie didn’t have to change much other than the colour of the cabinets. It’s a fairly traditional country kitchen in a warm grey, with a red Aga to brighten up the space.
The door at the end leads into the dining room in the old stables, and to the right is a small pantry.
Cabinets painted in French Gray, Farrow & Ball.
The door at the end leads into the dining room in the old stables, and to the right is a small pantry.
Cabinets painted in French Gray, Farrow & Ball.
Situated in the old malt house, the kitchen’s windows are low and very sweet. Two small cushions transform one into a little seating nook. Kirsty painted a farmhouse chair red to tie in with the bold Aga.
See 10 style rules for the ultimate country kitchen
See 10 style rules for the ultimate country kitchen
A large dining table and chairs sit in the old stables. The space was originally used for storage, but Kirsty felt it was more practical to relocate the dining room here from where the library now is.
‘It makes it quite atmospheric, having it in the stables, and it also works much better being next to the kitchen,’ explains the designer. She painted the stable wall red to add a touch of drama and create continuity with the kitchen.
Dining table and chairs, Grange.
‘It makes it quite atmospheric, having it in the stables, and it also works much better being next to the kitchen,’ explains the designer. She painted the stable wall red to add a touch of drama and create continuity with the kitchen.
Dining table and chairs, Grange.
The master bedroom sits above the living room and continues the colour scheme of muted purples in the velvet bedspread and chair and the silk curtains. ‘We wanted something quite peaceful and calm,’ says Kirsty.
Bedspread, The White Company.
Bedspread, The White Company.
Blue takes centre stage in a second bedroom. ‘This is quite a sunny room on the same floor as the master bedroom, so we wanted it to be nice and fresh,’ says Kirsty.
Rather than going for a traditional large mirror, Kirsty thought it would be fun to pull together a collection of antique Victorian mirrors to add some ‘quirky interest’.
Armchair, Designers Guild.
Rather than going for a traditional large mirror, Kirsty thought it would be fun to pull together a collection of antique Victorian mirrors to add some ‘quirky interest’.
Armchair, Designers Guild.
This attic bathroom in the old cottage didn’t have to be changed much. ‘We just added the wall sticker to make it a bit quirky,’ says Kirsty.
Wall sticker, Bouf.
TELL US…
What do think of this home? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Wall sticker, Bouf.
TELL US…
What do think of this home? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Location The Cotswolds
Size 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Designers Kirsty McMorron and former business partner Sophie Mills of Absolute Abode Design
The main cottage is three storeys and holds a living room, TV room, library, four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The malt house and stables are home to the kitchen and dining room on the ground floor, and a further two bedrooms and two bathrooms above, forming the guest quarters of the property.