HOME GROWN

Passed down the generations, this 19th-century farmhouse in Derbyshire is updated with a moody palette

Two decades ago, with Joolz and Tim Wright’s young family outgrowing their cottage, the couple realised they needed more space – and luckily the solution was close at hand. Tim’s parents wanted to downsize so they swapped their farmhouse for a smaller home on the farm, while Joolz, Tim and their three children moved in. ‘Without wanting to change the character of the farmhouse, which was structurally sound, the priority was to turn it into a modern family home,’ says Joolz. ‘The warren of tiny rooms and the fact that the house is set into a hillside made it very dark.’ To help give their home a more open feel the couple knocked down a wall between the sitting room and kitchen to create a large family space. And over the next 10 years they installed new central heating and wiring, and removed features such as the 1970s fireplaces. ‘In the family room, we built an inglenook with woodburner, which turned it into a lovely cocooning space,’ says Joolz. Upstairs, two box rooms and a cloakroom were reconfigured to become the master bedroom with en suite. But perhaps the most considered alteration was that of the kitchen, which was given an overhaul five years ago. ‘The enormous stone fireplace is not just a beautiful feature, it has been the heart of this house since it was built, so we knew we had to construct the new kitchen around it,’ says Joolz. Many other aspects of the house have been changed, but the one constant has been the colour scheme. ‘I’ve always loved earthy hues so it’s remained what

I call mid-tone neutral,’ says Joolz. ‘Being naturally dark, the house suits those deeper tones as they make it feel more cosy.’ Having a fashion design background, Joolz enjoyed creating themed guest bedrooms. One has a French country house feel, while the other is in stark contrast. ‘I was aiming for a boudoir feel,’ says Joolz, ‘hence the moody floral mural.’ And, with just one of the children, Harvey, 19, still at home, Joolz has more time to spend in her favourite space of all, the snug in the corner of the dining area. ‘This is known as my “vinyl corner” as it’s where I get to play my old records in peace,’ she says. ‘When you’ve spent the last 20 years transforming your home, I think you deserve somewhere to relax, don’t you?’ But Joolz can’t wait for the warmer weather to enjoy the family’s latest addition, their outdoor room – their own take on a loggia – complete with rattan furniture and woodburning pizza oven. ‘I love being outdoors and this room has the best sunset views as it faces west,’ she says. Understandably proud of the home she has created with Tim, Joolz takes satisfaction from knowing that everything done has been on a budget, with much of the furniture and accessories sourced from charity and antiques shops, car-boot sales, and online auctions. ‘I’ve repainted most of the items myself,’ says Joolz. ‘I love transforming what might have started out as a piece of junk into something quite pleasing. It’s about giving things a new lease of life – which, I guess, is what we’ve done with this house.’

4 OUTDOOR ROOM ‘This is such a great space to enjoy when friends come round,’ says Joolz. Oxford rattan dining set, £1,999, The Clearance Zone

1 KITCHEN Joolz incorporated the original stone fireplace into this fresh new scheme. Units, price on request, Howdens. Try Nymo pendant, £32, Ikea. Similar stools, £225 pair, Etsy 3 SUMMER HOUSE A pastel colour scheme adds a lighter touch. Try Coalbrookdale garden chair, £140, Manomano

2&5 DINING ROOM/SNUG The table is a potting bench that Joolz painted, while the snug is perfect for her ‘me time’. Tolix-style chairs, £69 each, Cult Furniture. Muse Union Jack poster, from £4.99, ebay

2 SITTING ROOM A blue theme, highlighted with bold accents of yellow and brass, runs through this scheme. Harrington sofa in Lumino Midnight Blue, from £1,295, Barker & Stonehouse. Yukata Blossom wallpaper, £150 a roll, The House of Artusa. Yeoman County woodburner, from £1,310, Stovesareus. Cowhide rug, £175, Lambland

FAMILY ROOM ‘Being naturally dark, the house suits deeper tones that make it feel more cosy,’ says Joolz, ‘particularly in this room, where I was aiming for a masculine feel with soft touches.’ Primiano tub chair, £152.99, Wayfair, would work here. Walls in Moonlight Dance emulsion, £21 for 2.5ltr, Valspar 1

4 CLOAKROOM A deep colour works beautifully in a small space. Try Pegase basin, £129.99, Marble Mosaics. Walls in Down Pipe estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

1 GUEST BEDROOM ‘I went for a moody boudoir look,’ says Joolz. Similar floral mural, £37sq m, Murals Wallpaper. Mini Marie Therese chandelier, £48, Iconic Lights

MASTER BEDROOM A lustrous wall covering brings a subtle touch of glamour. Casadeco Art Nouveau wallpaper is similar, £44.45 a roll, Wallpaper Direct. Dunelm’s Brass Ball table lamps, £15 each, have this look. Tasselled throw, £65, The British Blanket Company 2 SHOWER ROOM ‘This space combines my favourite elements of rustic and glamour,’ says Joolz. Wood-effect tiles, £19.95sq m, Walls and Floors

3 EN SUITE Lizard-pattern wallpaper adds a quirky touch. Komodo wallpaper, £130 a roll, Osborne & Little at Designer Wallpapers. Bath panel painted in Malm matt emulsion, £42 for 2.5ltr, Fired Earth