ANOTHER COUNTRY

The home and studio of architect Annabelle Tugby gives rustic decor a new, modern edge

For a successful home project, often a balance between the architecture and landscape is key. Set in a meadow and immersed in the rolling Cheshire countryside, this renovated 18th-century property with adjoining architect’s studio does just that. The work of architect and designer Annabelle Tugby, the new additions to this old cottage and its interior, which combines vernacular materials with modern detailing, sit comfortably in their rural setting.

The country house, which Annabelle shares with partner David and her three children, is warm and inviting. ‘I’d describe my home as rustic and sensitive,’ says Annabelle. ‘It is designed for family life and I’m happiest when it is full of people.’

Across the garden is Annabelle’s black-timber and white-brick drawing studio. She remodelled a semi-derelict workshop to create the beautiful, light-filled space that showcases her taste for natural, texturised materials and simple forms.

‘I’ve always worked from home but moving here gave me the opportunity to have my work a little more separated, which is wonderful,’ she says.

The building work on the house and the studio took just under two years to complete and was a therapeutic process for Annabelle. Moving on to the next chapter of her life, her goal was to create a welcoming and cosy new home for her children. ‘Rather than opting for a design that was overly minimal and architecturally hard, I wanted something that felt comfortable and homely, as well as being honest to the integrity of the old building and that continued the legacy of the people who lived here before.’

To achieve this, Annabelle recreated things in specific places. The booth in the kitchen emulates a small round table where the previous owners liked to sit during the day because that’s where the sun comes in. ‘A lot of ideas they’d set up were the right answers because they’d lived here so long. I was mindful of the ways they had used the house and their patterns and routines moving around it.’

For the decorating scheme, Annabelle decided to go for interesting textures and surfaces. The cobbled paths, for example, were influenced by the path that leads up to the local school, which is in the National Trust part of the village. The pebbles on the floor of the kitchen carry this look inside. Modern ply-lined walls, exposed ceiling beams and concrete-look floor tiles add to this aesthetic. A neutral palette accentuates the sense of calm and the house is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Wimborne White throughout.

With it being a period property, there was plenty of stripping back and sanding, and the removal of walls on the ground floor ensured everything became better connected. ‘Technically speaking, the dig out and underpinning of the floor in the kitchen was very challenging, especially when working with such an old building,’ says Annabelle. The intention being to achieve a greater ceiling height than before.

It was worth the time and effort. The home now centres around this large kitchen, which comprises a modern pantry, a preparation island and a breakfast nook. At one end is an Aga set against an exposed brick wall. Light pours in through floor-to-ceiling picture windows that open on each side, blurring the boundaries between inside and out. The pebbled floor detail connects to the external courtyard beyond. ‘It was the garden’s panoramic countryside views that got me hooked on this house,’ says Annabelle. Thanks to her deft skills, this is a place she and her family are set to enjoy for years to come.

For information on the architecture and interiors, visit annabelletugbyarchitects.co.uk

INSIDER INSIGHT

Annabelle Tugby shares her style inspiration SECRET ADDRESS Moth, a beautiful homeware shop in West Didsbury, Manchester (mothstyle.com).

BIGGEST INDULGENCE My new Land Rover Defender.

DESIGN HERO Niall Mclaughlin.

LAST THING YOU BOUGHT FOR YOUR HOME A ceramic pendant lamp made by Dora Alzamora Good in Deià, Majorca (doraceramics.com).

FAVOURITE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT Considered Things – @consideredthings.

ENTRANCE Annabelle designed this rustic A-frame structure to provide covered access from the garden to the utility room. The swing to the side is a whimsical touch. GLASS HOUSE A complementary addition to the 18th-century cottage, this was built to enjoy the panoramic views and for potting plants. Furniture and pots, all Potting Shed

KITCHEN Annabelle loves the beauty of natural materials and simple forms. This aesthetic is modern but works in the cottage setting. Pebbles, Mandarin Stone. Doors, designed by Annabelle and fabricated by a local blacksmith

BREAKFAST AREA A sleek customdesigned booth is surrounded by ply-lined walls. Rattan light, Moth in Didsbury DINING ROOM Keeping decoration to a minimum – the abstract is by a student of the Picasso School – allows the beauty of the wood to shine. Refectory table, find similar at I & JL Brown SITTING ROOM Annabelle’s neutral schemes are enhanced with subtle textures. Linen sofas, Sofa. com. Raj sisal carpet, Wilmslow Interiors GARDEN A line of clipped yews punctuates the side garden

KITCHEN Exposed brick, original beams and modern plywood combine for a characterful finish. The plywood cupboard swings open to reveal a well-equipped pantry. Worktop, Granite House. Floor tiles, Mandarin Stone

BEDROOM The schemes upstairs are serene. Furniture and lighting from different periods but with similar tones create a pleasing sense of unity and introduce richness. Walls in Wimborne White, Farrow & Ball. Find a similar marquetry bed at Perch & Parrow. Beaded pendant lamp, Moth of Didsbury BATHROOM Annabelle designed a window seat for this room. ‘It was inspired by the previous owners’ routine of chatting together here with a G&T at the end of the day.’ Mirror, Bathroom Takeaway. Pendant light, Delta Light

STUDIO Annabelle renovated a semi-derelict workshop to use as an office and drawing space, pairing a concrete floor with lime plaster walls. Find Hans J Wegner chairs at The Conran Shop