The owners of this Hampshire home wanted 'Nothing too dark or formal' and went instead for a gentle palette of creams and taupes. Where once the words 'rural idyll' evoked a vision of low beams, flagstones and a dresser festooned with painted mugs, tastes have moved on and these days, well-heeled urbanites crave pastoral peace alongside unfussy furnishings, open-plan spaces and iPod docks.
Hagga Stripe rug
Kasthall at Sinclair Till (opens in new tab)
1/9 Artwork
By Donald Sultan, sourced by Sima Familant (opens in new tab)
2/9 Living room
Working with Natalia Miyar, head designer at Helen Green Design, the owners have created a non-rustic hideaway that looks well pulled together and calm. In the living room, dark colours and challenging contrasts have been replaced with a mix of textured walls and calming shades, which offset the bespoke furniture and fittings.
Coffee table and light fittings
Helen Green Design (opens in new tab)
Artwork
Kamrooz Aram (opens in new tab)
3/9 Library and home office
Although no structural work was necessary, the owners did make one internal reorganisation of the rooms, turning the formal dining room into a library replete with wing-back chairs and sleek, gadget-concealing oak bookcases.
Similar armchairs
Sofa.com (opens in new tab)
4/9 Dining area
In lieu of a formal dining room, an oversized dining table and a striking pendant light designed by Helen Green Design were installed in the equally expansive kitchen.
Oak dining chairs
Oka (opens in new tab)
5/9 Kitchen
Leather bar stools and a classic Aga provide the owners with high style and practicality in the relaxed eat-in kitchen.
Similar milk pitchers
Yew Tree Antiques (opens in new tab)
6/9 Family room
In the family room, a mixture of bespoke and off-the-peg pieces were used so that the owners could stay within the budget they had set themselves to renovate the house.
Blind fabric
De Le Cuona (opens in new tab)
Ingrid rug
Kasthall at Chaplins (opens in new tab)
7/9 Main bedroom
Distinctive pieces, such as the glass lamp bases in the bedroom, were sourced to add definition and interest to the pale walls and subtle furnishings throughout the house.
Similar bedside lamps
Vaughan (opens in new tab)
8/9 Bathroom
A garish yellow and black scheme in the main bathroom was removed in favour of this minimalist decoration, including a delicate small-print wallpaper to create a calm-inducing space.
Wallpaper
Crabapple in Pink by Knowles & Christou (opens in new tab)
9/9 Hallway at back door
For all their home's urban comforts, the owners relish the fact that the countryside is just a step outside the back door. 'It's the sense of space and freedom that we value most. At weekends, we're all outside, whatever the weather, walking the dog or fishing in the chalk stream.'
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