Labour of love

A dilapidated farmhouse has been transformed into an elegant family home using a subtle colour palette of greys and greens

A LABOUR OF LOVE A fresh

look for an old farmhouse

THE REFURB

The Sayce family had only just finished renovating a Georgian house in the Cotswolds when Vanessa first looked at Roundhill Farmhouse. ‘It was almost derelict and there were animals in the kitchen,’ she recalls. ‘It needed a complete renovation. The electrics and plumbing were the first things to be tackled. As it’s Grade II listed, we were allowed to restore and repair the house sympathetically.’

Vanessa’s style is a blend of French and Swedish, which suits the period of the house. ‘I love the Swedish Gustavian style, which dates back to the 1780s. The timeless and unfussy look is also in

keeping with the age of Roundhill Farmhouse,’ she explains. The house is painted in classic pale greys, beige and light sage greens. ‘I use different colours because the light is very different at the front and the back of the house, and it naturally creates a different atmosphere.

‘Furnishing a large house on a small budget was quite a challenge,’ continues Vanessa. ‘As I didn’t have enough furniture, I bought old brown pieces and painted them. Friends admired my work, so I began running workshops from home showing people how to paint furniture. It gave me the idea for my interiors styling and furniture painting business.’