Country Living (UK)

FOR THE LOVE OF THE LAKES

The spectacula­r setting and timeless character of this Cumbrian farmhouse were the inspiratio­n for a stylish but subtle renovation and redesign

- WORDS BY JO LEEVERS PHOTOGRAPH­S BY PENNY WINCER

A dramatic and timeless landscape has inspired a stylish but subtle redesign of a traditiona­l Cumbrian farmhouse

“The aim was to create a home that was comfortabl­e, welcoming and had its own timeless character”

Step beyond the jumbled boot room in this traditiona­l Victorian farmhouse and you immediatel­y sense you are in a much-loved family home that has stood here for generation­s. From the armchair angled towards the window to the book-lined shelves and table set up for board games, everything exudes an air of deep calm, as if it’s been like this for ever. And that is exactly the impact designers Jess Gibbons and Kat Turner had hoped to achieve when they took on the brief to re-imagine the interior of this Lake District farmhouse. Their challenge was to draw together three different strands of the house – the heritage, the setting and the family’s enduring love of their home. “There was never a question of imposing a self-consciousl­y ‘interior-designed’ look,” Kat says. “The aim was to create a home that was comfortabl­e, welcoming and had its own timeless character.”

Their work would take place alongside a significan­t structural renovation. While the core of the house dates from the 15th century, as illustrate­d by a large founding stone that protrudes from one wall of the living room, most of the structure dates from the 1890s. One of the main objectives of the building work was to make the most of the commanding views, in a way that would chime with the look and mood of the house.

A ‘modern’ picture window had been inserted during the last alteration­s in the 1970s, but it had always looked out of keeping with the original architectu­re. To rectify this, traditiona­l wooden sash windows were reinstated throughout and the picture window was replaced with glazed French doors that now lead from the dining room to an outside seating area. “You can still enjoy the views from inside, but the structure of the house now looks unified and authentic,” Kat says. “There was an option to install bi-fold doors, but that would have repeated the mistake made in the 70s – bolting on an element that jars with the original architectu­re. Today, the house sits well within its setting as part of the

Lakeland scenery.” Windows that are more modest and in keeping with the proportion­s of the house have also helped to reframe the look inside, creating more intimate spaces in the large rooms. “Now, you get tantalisin­g glimpses of the landscape as you walk around the property. To enjoy them completely, you need to stop and take time to drink it all in. In this home, you learn to slow down and really appreciate the views,” Jess adds.

The rooms on the ground floor are surprising­ly generous, as several dividing walls were removed to create a large kitchendin­er and, next door, a spacious living room, centred around an inglenook fireplace. While these two spaces work well for groups of family and friends, Kat and Jess’s redesign also incorporat­ed ways to divide the rooms into smaller areas, so they never feel yawningly large. For example, a reading area with spectacula­r views sits next to the dining table, while a corner of the living room is devoted to a book-lined study. Then, in the opposite corner, a further seating area has a piano and a table for playing board games. “In this way, we brought a cosiness to the large spaces,” Jess says.

The living room’s largest seating area is all about comfort, with wholesome woollen weaves set against more luxurious velvets,

those soft textures contrastin­g with the original stone walls. Above, the wooden beams appear in keeping with the house’s character, but they were actually salvaged from a Victorian pier. The floorboard­s were also salvaged and stained black to link with the flooring in the dining room and kitchen.

Another way in which Kat and Jess helped the large spaces feel in proportion was to scale up the furniture and use clever lighting to increase the sense of intimacy, introducin­g pendants over the dining table to create separate pools of light. “In the evening, these give a low-level localised glow, so you’re barely aware of the rest of the room around you,” Kat says.

Generous lengths of thickly woven fabrics were hung at the living-room windows to make the rooms feel even more snug. “They are practical for warmth, but also feel quite cosseting,” Kat says. She and Jess avoided too many patterned fabrics downstairs, favouring natural shades of brown, heather and green, all echoed in the views beyond the windows.

Upstairs, vintage-feel wallpapers add life to a bedroom and bathroom, while paisley-print curtains by Colefax & Fowler almost melt into the dusky pink walls of the master bedroom. Here and there, the old lintels and sections of stone walls are exposed, a reminder of the house’s roots, the strongest thread that connects the reworked spaces of this home.

“Ensuring the house remained in tune with its heritage was integral to creating the right mood inside,” Jess says. The understate­d, soothing mood they have created is rooted in the character of the house and the way that it is used. As Kat points out, “It was almost as if we had two clients: the owner and the house itself. We wanted to reflect the stories of both of those in a way that will endure for years to come.”

FOR MORE INFORMATIO­N about Jess and Kat’s business, Field Day Studio, visit fielddayst­udio.com.

Here and there, the old stone walls are exposed, a reminder of the house’s roots

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 ??  ?? OPPOSITE The dramatic landscape of Coppermine­s Valley THIS PAGE The family’s Labradoodl­e takes in the view
OPPOSITE The dramatic landscape of Coppermine­s Valley THIS PAGE The family’s Labradoodl­e takes in the view
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 ??  ?? OPPOSITE Slate flooring runs through the large kitchen, where reclaimed timbers were used as fronts for the cabinetry, and salvaged beams and Victorian iron brackets bring in additional texture THIS PAGE, FROM FAR LEFT The front door, painted a warm red, opens into a comfortabl­y jumbled boot room; in the family’s snug, mid-century chairs and a dreamy wallpaper make the ideal backdrop for film nights; a plush velvet sofa adds a louche 1970s feel
OPPOSITE Slate flooring runs through the large kitchen, where reclaimed timbers were used as fronts for the cabinetry, and salvaged beams and Victorian iron brackets bring in additional texture THIS PAGE, FROM FAR LEFT The front door, painted a warm red, opens into a comfortabl­y jumbled boot room; in the family’s snug, mid-century chairs and a dreamy wallpaper make the ideal backdrop for film nights; a plush velvet sofa adds a louche 1970s feel
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 ??  ?? The long dining table was made bespoke, and partnered with vintage chairs and an Indian cabinet that is used for glassware. Reclaimed beams add rusticity
The long dining table was made bespoke, and partnered with vintage chairs and an Indian cabinet that is used for glassware. Reclaimed beams add rusticity
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 ??  ?? THIS PAGE, FROM NEAR LEFT Vintage-feel Hedera wallpaper from Sanderson wraps around this cosy children’s bedroom; smartly painted wood panelling is paired with well-thoughtout lighting in the guest bathroom; a much-used study area overlooks Coniston Water with maps of the area lining the walls OPPOSITE Sections of plasterwor­k have been stripped back to the original stone and lintels to reveal the house’s rustic character
THIS PAGE, FROM NEAR LEFT Vintage-feel Hedera wallpaper from Sanderson wraps around this cosy children’s bedroom; smartly painted wood panelling is paired with well-thoughtout lighting in the guest bathroom; a much-used study area overlooks Coniston Water with maps of the area lining the walls OPPOSITE Sections of plasterwor­k have been stripped back to the original stone and lintels to reveal the house’s rustic character
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