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
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