GLOUCESTERSHIRE MILL CONVERSION
After working And raising A family overseas, CAT And sim Preston felt the Call of their rural roots And found the Perfect english family home in the Cotswolds
This Cotswolds stone house proved a perfect homecoming for one family who were returning to the UK
Living room Cat uses artwork as the basis of her decorating schemes. Painting, Sue Preston. Sofas, Loaf. Cushions, Oka. Coffee table, Richard Harvey.
It was a case of going back to their roots when Cat and Sim Preston bought a beautiful converted mill in the Cotswolds. Originally from Wiltshire, the couple lived in London and then overseas in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Chicago and Hong Kong, as they brought up their three children, Jake, Josh and Hana. But when Jake was about to start his GCSES, he decided he wanted to go to school in the UK. ‘It gave us the impetus finally to move back home to England,’ says Cat.
She began looking for properties online and soon spotted an idyllic converted grain mill. ‘This house jumped out at me,’ she says. ‘I fell in love with it at first sight. Added to that, Sim is a geographer at heart and we were looking for something with water – this was perfect as there’s a mill stream in the garden.’
Sim came back to the UK with Jake when he started school and they took the opportunity to view the house. ‘They filmed it on their phones so I could see it,’ says Cat. ‘We took the plunge and put in an offer. Then I visited and, fortunately, it was just as gorgeous as I had thought.’ The 400-year-old house had been a grain mill until 1959, then stood empty for 10 years until it was bought by an architect and converted into a French country-style family home. ‘The house still had many of its original features,’ says Cat. ‘The previous owners had retained them when doing the conversion, so the bedroom had beams with pulleys. It had been restored with great attention to detail, which we loved.’ The family now had a base and over the next two years they renovated the house. ‘We were living in Hong Kong still,’ says Cat, ‘but we came back most holidays. Friends recommended builder Dan Eaves of CJ Holme who did a fantastic job project managing the work.’
The renovations included installing a new heating system, putting in three new bathrooms and building a conservatory at the back of the house. In addition, a barn and outbuildings were converted into guest accommodation. ‘The result is an upside-down guest house, with two bedrooms downstairs and an open-plan living room and kitchen upstairs that take in the view across the meadow. We wanted the barn conversion to feel like part of the main house and be in keeping with it,’ says Cat. So stonemason Jim Clayton built new walls that matched the originals, while Dan Eaves sourced reclaimed oak for the framing.
The family home was then redecorated throughout. ‘I wanted to get as much light in as possible, and I kept the palette neutral to complement the Cotswold stone,’ says Cat. ‘I like to keep the look simple but add colour with abstract paintings. My mother-in-law Sue Preston is an artist and my friend Kirsten Coltart is an interior designer, so they helped with the aesthetics.’
‘It’s been fantastic to create a family home in the UK after living in Asia for so long,’ says Cat. ‘We’re country people at heart so it’s great to get back to our rural roots.»
Kitchen The existing units were painted in a soothing soft green, while a laundry maid adds period charm.
Bar stools, Cox & Cox. Similar laundry maid, Garden Trading.
What makes this house a home... ‘We brought up three children in southeast Asia, so it’s nice to have a family home in the UK filled with things we've collected over the years that bring back memories of our travels’
Hallway Cat fell in love with the house’s original features, such as this large fireplace. Chair, Cox & Cox. Rug, Town and Country Flooring.
Dining room The original beamed ceiling provides a stunning feature. The bespoke table came with the house. Chairs, John Lewis & Partners.
Under the stairs Cat has created a handy seating area. Cushions, Sam Wilson. Similar butler tray, Garden Trading.
Kitchen A built-in bench is a great space-saving solution for an informal dining area. Similar dining table, The Cotswold Company. Chairs, John Lewis & Partners. Clock, Thomas Kent. Cushions, Sam Wilson.
What we most love about living hereé ‘It’s five minutes’ stroll to the pub, but we’re also in the heart of beautiful walking country with The Cotswold Way on our doorstep’
Main bedroom The dark wooden bed was chosen to tone with the ancient beams. Sleigh bed, The Shophouse. Armchair, Loaf.
Guest bedroom Pops of soft blue make for a restful scheme. Bed, Loaf. Quilt, John Lewis & Partners. Table lamps, Cox & Cox. Chair, Lloyd Loom.
Cat’s office Bespoke cabinets provide plenty of storage. Cabinets, CJ Holmes. Blind fabric, Romo. Flooring, Karndean.
Hana’s bedroom The platform bed provides a fun place for Hana both to relax and to sleep. Bed, Indigo. Cushions; curtain fabric, both John Lewis & Partners.