Sometimes if you can’t find the absolutely ideal country house, you just have to build one yourself. This property just wasn’t big enough for the family buying it so they had it redesigned – which involved knocking down a good bit of the original structure.
It was such a dramatic change that the side of the bungalow became the front, and a huge new double-story extension was added on.
To go with the new lightness and sense of space, the interior took on a very Swedish feel. White and neutral is the classic theme, with solid, well-made furniture, soft furnishings in natural linen and lots of earthy tones.
1/11 mortgages in later life
2/11 Dining room
Use a neutral background to make design features, like this dining room fire place, stand out. Here the soft grey panelling anchors the Nordic scheme and the dark, bare wood floor adds a touch of Scandi simplicity.
Get the look
Buy now Heloise Dining Chair, £240, Maisons du Monde
Buy now Tablecloth, Sugar & Spice Furnishings
3/11 Kitchen
Make your kitchen a calm, modern space for cooking and entertaining (as well as just hanging out), with a variety of muted tones, neutral accents and stripped back furniture. These shaker cabinets are painted in soothing neutrals and topped with classic materials - granite and wood.
Get the look
Buy now Weather Oak Stool, £175 Cox & Cox
Buy now Kitchen Island, from £2,400, Neptune
4/11 Hallway
Keep up your theme throughout the house by making the most of your hallways and connecting areas. Here the space feels huge and uplifting thanks to the light colours and uncluttered design.
Get the look
Buy now Malabar Console Table, £130, Wayfair
Buy now Safari Storage Trunks, £169 for 2, Houseology
5/11 Living room
Mix up your neutral shades to create depth and texture in your rooms. This living room has an unusual white woodburning stove as its focal point, and to offset this, the grey feature wall is a perfect darker foil. When it comes to furniture, modern pieces marry well with antiques in this cosy space.
Get the look
Buy now Wadenhoe Corner Sofa in Viking Navy, £2127, Sofas & Stuff
Buy now Liatorp Coffee Table, £165, Ikea
6/11 Living room
Don't be afraid to mix and match your furniture. Here, signature Swedish pieces blend with the rustic look. Add neutral soft furnishings to soften tiled floors, and layer up the tones to add depth to the room.
Get the look
Buy now Large Compass Skeleton Clock, £155, Graham & Green
7/11 Living room
Not everything has to be perfect, or match perfectly. An unusual item in the living room can make for a striking contrast - as with this vintage bureau.
Get the look
Buy now Quill Bureau in Vintage White, £775, Loaf
8/11 Bathroom
If you're lucky enough to have a window, you can make your bathroom feel like a lovely cocoon of peace and serenity. Keep the colours light and neutral and accessories to a minimum. The simple towel ladder here is a window frame rescued from a barn in Sweden.
Get the look
Buy now Double Ended Roll Top Slipper Bath, £399, Victorian Plumb
Buy now Croft collection Blakeney Shelf Ladder, £95, John Lewis
9/11 Bedroom
Vintage and reclaimed furniture can add a touch of history and depth to your bedroom. Add a quirky bit of personality with a vintage basket full of odds and ends, and pretty-up the whole look with dried flowers.
Get the look
Buy now Malabar Console Table, £130, Wayfair
Buy now Olivia Ivory Mirror, £125, Laura Ashley
10/11 Bedroom
Add some cosiness and interest to a neutral bedroom with a colourful rug, and matching accessories like wall hangings and cushions. A tall chest of draws is useful, not just for storage, but also as a decorative feature and space for plants and other favourite items.
Get the look
Buy now Maupassant Linen Armchair, £540, Maisons du Monde
Buy now Chalker Chest of Drawers, £675, Loaf
11/11 Bedroom
In keeping with the distressed paint snapshots around the house, the furniture in the bedroom is a mix of shabby chic and luxe. A handmade wreath hangs from a frame similar to the towel ladder in the bathroom
Get the look
Buy now Rose Mist Upholstered Bed Frame, £1,250, John Lewis
Buy now Lavenham 5 Light Chandelier, £114, Laura Ashley
This house originally appeared in Country Homes & Interiors, November 2016
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