DECORATING WITH DARK EARTHY TONES IN THE KITCHEN
Dark wood, black granite and copper combine to create a kitchen that is dramatic, functional and easy to care for. The stylish use of licorice (light black) adds undoubted sophistication, enhanced by the warmer hues of copper and gold. Throughout the house, the owners used simple natural materials as much as possible in sympathy with the cottage’s character and age, and built on the home’s character and integrity. The dark hues of the kitchen not only add an organic nature to the cooking space but with grandchildren as frequent visitors, the tones and hard-wearing natural materials also have a practical function.
Artist Maxine Leslau didn’t start planning her family’s home with fabric swatches and paint charts. Her starting point was the mood she wanted to create. “My work is always about emotions and I knew this house needed to feel calm. In London we live such a hectic life, so I wanted to feel as though we were escaping to our very own hotel or spa,” she says.
A quick glance is enough to see Maxine has pulled it off. Simple, tactile materials and a tranquil palette of neutrals and nature-inspired greens create a home that is at once elegantly considered and deeply relaxing.
Maxine wanted to create somewhere she and her husband Nick could spend time with their three grown-up sons, their partners and families. “When my sons grew up, I thought, ‘Is that it?’ So I wanted to create somewhere we could all have our own space but we can still share happy times together.”
When the family first started coming here, 12 years ago, the house was very different – a two-up, two-down ’70s cottage on a lake. But when the landlord decided to sell, Maxine and Nick knew they had to make it their own, and with the arrival of grandchildren, they began to rethink the space.
Maxine is a multi-disciplinary artist with a background in interior design and styling, while Nick is in
property “with an incredible eye for space”. The pair were wellequipped to mastermind the process, using local architects, builders and craftspeople to bring their vision to life.
Using the original house as their starting point, they reorientated the space to wrap around the terrace and beautiful lake beyond. They also extended to create a generously sized kitchendining-living space, featuring high ceilings, unfinished, reclaimed American oak floors and Crittall windows, explains Maxine.
“It was all about how we wanted to use the space, as a family. We wanted high ceilings and lots of wood, and for the house to sit comfortably in nature,” says Maxine. The house is a simple space with off-white walls and bleached-pine floors. With no
“I KNEW THIS PLACE NEEDED TO FEEL CALM.”
period features to work with, Maxine used Crittall windows “to give the space some integrity”.
To the rear, in what was the original house, there is a second, more snug living room, where Maxine has decorated using black elements, to reflect the old barn visible through the windows, while the main space draws its colour scheme from the green vistas on show through its windows.
The house features a palette of natural materials; basketry, raw silk and wool. “I’m very interested in texture,” says Maxine. “A lot of my work as an artist is about beauty in imperfection; you have to embrace the flaws in things. ‘Hand is an extension of heart’, so, as much as possible, this is a handmade home.” Any new pieces in the house – like sofas and beds – were chosen with comfort in mind. “I spent a lot of
time choosing things like dining chairs, because it’s important to make guests feel as comfortable as possible in order to relax and have a great time,” says Maxine.
As well as her own work, the house is layered with objects Maxine and Nick have collected travelling – many of which, from Kenyan masks to Navajo blankets, have a spiritual significance – as well as pieces by local makers. “These objects from disparate cultures come together and bring a sense of warmth to the home.”
Plants are another vital element. “A space without plants feels dead to me. There are the health benefits of living with plants but they also bring a living, organic element to a space ... but I have to be careful not to let it turn into a jungle,” she says with a laugh.
Maxine loves to rearrange to suit the occasion and is inspired by the mixes she creates. “I think one piece on a shelf alone looks too precious and unapproachable; I need to see them clustered together, telling a story. In order for a house to become a home, I like to live casually with objects, to touch them and make them part of our daily lives.”
Maxine has fulfilled her own brief to create a calming space where the whole family can spend time together. “It’s definitely true what they say; if you build it, they will come! This place has given us more precious time as a family,” she smiles. “It’s serene and welcoming. When we arrive, we just exhale ‘ahhh’; it represents real peace for all of us.”
Instagram: @mimileslau www.thestudiom.info
VISIT MiNDFOOD.COM
The Cotswolds are full of incredible places to visit, such as Thornbury Castle. It’s just one of five castles in the UK fit for a king or queen that you can spend the night in.