BEST IN CLASS

A passion for rustic Scandinavian style has transformed a Victorian schoolhouse into a warm and welcoming open-plan home

A passion for rustic Scandinavian style has transformed a Victorian schoolhouse into a warm and welcoming open-plan home

When Mike Read and Kate Lawley first viewed this former Victorian schoolhouse back in 2016, they had been searching for some time for a period renovation project, but as soon as they saw the unusual mezzanine layout and soaring ceilings, they knew they had found it. Although the house was in a poor state of repair, they were confident they could turn it into the warehouse-style space they had always dreamed of.

With expansive views over Wiltshire’s Box Valley, the property is set on a hill and the front door is at the back of the building – you enter on a mezzanine level from where the bedrooms are located. Originally, the kitchen was positioned on this level, but Mike and Kate’s architect, Nicole du Pisanie of Stonewood Design, inspired them to rethink the space and create one large, open-plan living area downstairs. Now when you go in, the huge original arched windows offer uninterrupted views over the rolling Wiltshire countryside. It is this connection to the outdoors that makes the house feel so spacious.

Mike and Kate wanted to reclaim, restore and repurpose as many elements in the existing fabric of the building as possible, and carried out much of the renovation work themselves with the help of Kate’s father, who is a talented carpenter. The couple lived with Kate’s parents during the renovation, returning from work and heading straight to the schoolhouse to spend long evenings working on the project. They even taught themselves many of the skills needed to complete the project. After watching tutorials on Youtube, Mike tackled the task of making the concrete countertop for the island unit that forms the heart of the kitchen. Made off-site in a friend’s garden, it is so large that it took eight people to carry it into the house when it was fitted. It is wonderful handcrafted items such as this that make it such a personal home full of character.

The dramatic open staircase is the focal point of the home, dividing the open-plan downstairs space into different areas. The couple designed it themselves and used a local company to manufacture the steel spine, which was then installed by Kate’s dad.

It can be a challenge to make a large openplan space feel intimate but Mike and Kate have achieved this with the use of wood of different colours, ages, grains and finishes. The contrast of the worn 200-year-old floorboards with the

Handcrafted items such as the kitchen island make this home full of character

Wicker, raw plaster finishes and reclaimed wood and steel have been used throughout

sleek, contemporary wooden dining table adds warmth and visual interest. The restricted colour palette, typical of Scandinavian interiors, has been brought to life through the addition of varied textiles, patterned cushions, layered rugs, a scattering of houseplants and assorted Scandi accessories. Wicker, raw plaster finishes and reclaimed wood and steel have been used throughout, giving a sense of consistency and flow.

Lighting has been well thought out and is used as an architectural feature to frame different aspects and draw the eye to specific objects.

The Hay Marble pendant light suspended from the double-height ceiling of the living room is especially striking. And in the kitchen area, the metallic gleam of the brushed brass lights softens the raw plaster finish on the walls.

These novice renovators have achieved an impressive amount in a short space of time and work on the house continues, albeit at a slower pace. They are currently finishing a utility room and downstairs shower rooms that lead off the kitchen, using their newly acquired concreting skills to create a huge sink for the space. Upstairs, there is still another floor to complete, which, when finished, will provide an additional bedroom and bathroom with picturesque views over the beautiful Box Valley. But for now, with lights gently dimmed and the fragrance of candles filling the air, the house exudes a sense of calm and timeless elegance.

ADAPTED FROM Scandi Rustic by Rebecca Lawson and Reena Simon (Ryland Peters & Small, £19.99). Photography by Benjamin Edwards © Ryland Peters & Small. Country Living readers can buy it for the special price of £14. To order, go to rylandpeters.com and use the code SCANDICOUNTRY at the checkout. Valid until 28 February 2021.

At the heart of the open-plan living space is a large kitchen island clad in reclaimed wood with a smooth concrete countertop. It serves as a natural gathering point, with rattan bar stools adding texture. The kitchen units were sourced from ebay and painted white to create a calm backdrop that allows the other items in the kitchen to take centre stage

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE The open-plan living area has the warehouse/loft feel that Mike and Kate were aiming for, but the use of reclaimed materials, soft lighting and layered textures means it is also a warm, inviting environment. In winter, the couple curl up on the sofa under throws and light their contemporary woodburning stove, which sits in a corner of the room

The open-plan living area is divided into separate relaxing, living and dining areas by an open timber staircase that was designed by the couple and built by Kate’s father. Its chunky wooden treads and dark metal frame match materials used elsewhere in the building

THIS PAGE Muted tones and marble-effect porcelain tiles make this compact bathroom a calm, sensory space. The pale pink shower curtain creates a feminine contrast to the stone BELOW LEFT A large Crittallstyle metal-framed internal bedroom window overlooks the downstairs area OPPOSITE Textiles and accessories introduce earthy accents of ochre, moss and flax to the bedroom, adding warmth and echoing the colours of the Wiltshire hills, which are framed by the original arched windows. Vintage glass bottles and vases filled with dried grasses, twigs and leaves create a further connection to nature