DORSET COUNTRY HOUSE
This grand Victorian dwelling was ripe to be redeveloped into a welcoming family home
Maybe it was the romance in the air, but a weekend break to celebrate their wedding anniversary finally convinced James and Sarah Ainsworth to relocate. They had left their home in Oxford to stay in the charming market town of Bridport, Dorset. ‘We had been thinking that a more relaxed pace of life might be good for us and our girls, but until we visited Bridport, we couldn’t imagine making it a reality,’ says Sarah. ‘There was something about it that just felt right.’
Nevertheless, leaving their home in Oxford was a wrench, not least because they would need a second house in London that was close to James’ office, where he could stay Monday to Thursday. ‘We had lived in our house in Oxford as a family for nearly 10 years, so it was a nerve-racking time for all of us,’ says Sarah.
The Ainsworths rented at first, so they could get to know the area. ‘Home is very important to us and past mistakes have taught us to wait for the right house,’ says James. Their rented property was some way outside Bridport, surrounded by 27 acres of countryside. ‘It was an incredible setting and I was keen to find something similar to buy,’ says Sarah.
However, none of the houses the couple viewed were quite right. ‘The problem was nearly always with the kitchen, which for me is the most important room in
the house,’ adds Sarah. ‘In the period houses I had seen, the kitchen was usually a small space designed for servants and because the houses were also listed buildings, they could not be altered or enlarged. Eventually, someone passed our details on to an estate agent friend saying: “These people need help!”’
The estate agent suggested they view a house much closer to Bridport. ‘On paper, it didn’t meet our criteria, but I decided to take a look anyway,’ says Sarah. ‘It had a big garden with a large lawn and spectacular views of the Dorset hills. It was also really peaceful, so it felt very much like it was in the countryside. On reflection, the location is ideal. Being close to the town gives the girls more independence. If we had been further out, I would have ended up as their taxi service.’
The family also liked the elegant proportions of the Victorian house and the large sash windows that fill the rooms with natural light. Fortunately, while it is in a conservation area, the building is not listed. This was critical as it gave them the freedom to completely overhaul the house, which they did with the help of interior designer Emma Sims-hilditch and her team.
‘The house had been reasonably well-looked-after, but the layout didn’t make a great deal of sense,’ says Emma. ‘The answer was to preserve the original, grand parts of the house, then to open up the secondary spaces that
had been added later on. Replacing the rear extension with a big open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting area was key.’
Sarah is particularly delighted with this last space. ‘It has a huge roof lantern, two sets of French doors and two big sash windows that make it incredibly light,’ she says. ‘But it’s also cosy, thanks to the underfloor heating.’ The sash windows also frame the pretty, sloping knot garden that James and Sarah added once work on the house was complete. This provides year-round greenery and creates a strong link between the exterior and the interior.
For the decoration, the pair were keen to create an up-todate, fuss-free country look. ‘We wanted it to be beautiful, but also comfortable and homely,’ says Sarah. ‘I didn’t want guests to feel they couldn’t sit on the sofas.’ Emma suggested a palette of soft greys and blues that is refined and luxurious yet warm and welcoming. ‘The whole house has this wonderful feeling of flow,’ says Sarah. ‘Each room has its own personality, but they fit together perfectly.’
‘We are so happy with the result,’ says James. Sarah adds, ‘I’m a real home bird, so I didn’t enjoy renting and the process of finding and renovating the house felt very long. It’s funny; when we go on holiday, it is a treat, of course. But we always look forward to coming back. Nowhere we stay is ever as nice as our own home.’ ☎ SIMS HILDITCH, 01249 783087, SIMSHILDITCH.COM.