RUSTIC REVIVAL
Lucy and Chris Wright’s idyllic cottage is now bigger and better thanks to an extension and a beautiful modern-country look
A cleverly rejigged layout and modern-country-style makeover have helped to reinvigorate this pretty Victorian cottage in Hampshire
‘Think outside the box – moving the staircase instantly created our snug’
Lucy Wright and her husband Chris were living in London when they decided to move to the country. ‘We wanted a better way of life for our children,’ says Lucy. ‘We settled on Hampshire as we had friends in the area and there were good schools nearby for our two children.’ For the couple, the property’s appeal was instant. ‘It’s so pretty and it’s way bigger inside than it looks from the outside,’ says Lucy. ‘We adored the original features like the wooden beams and windows and the kitchen had a lovely cosy feel. We also liked the location – it’s in an idyllic village with a nice pub and lots of families around. The house was in a conservation area, but luckily it wasn’t listed. It ticked all our boxes.’
Although the property required renovation, it was habitable, so Lucy and Chris decided to live in it for a while until they decided how to move forward. Three years later, she and Chris enlisted Stephanie Dunning of Dunning & Everard to help reconfigure the ground floor. ‘Stephanie came up with some thoughtful and clever ideas,’ says Lucy. ‘She suggested moving the staircase from its awkward original position, which instantly created a snug. Stephanie also reworked the decor in modern country style, creating an eclectic cottage feel, which I love.’
In 2018, the couple embarked on a second phase of renovation, which involved redesigning the rear of the first floor, enlarging bedrooms and creating new en suites. ‘The existing space hadn’t been intelligently thought out and it felt rather confined,’ says Lucy. One of the main problems, apart from the very tired bathrooms, was the lack of storage space. ‘Stephanie suggested vanity units with drawers or a long shelf where space was tight, plus the long line of cupboards on the landing,’ says Lucy. ‘We also used the space under the stairs to add further cupboards.’
With the structural work on track, Stephanie and Lucy turned their attention to the decor. Inspiration was gleaned from Pinterest as well as interiors magazines, based around Lucy’s love of old French linens, faded florals and muted shades. Lucy chose a soft yet varied palette, ranging from neutrals and creams to smoky green-blues, teal and pink, enlivened with red accents. Painted Shaker cabinetry in the kitchen was the starting point for this cosy yet eclectic country scheme. Patterns add warmth and visual interest while sumptuous velvets, soft tweeds and patterned fabrics were combined to add warmth and texture.
Now that the work is complete, Lucy and Chris are delighted with the results. ‘I had high expectations and the changes absolutely transformed the house, especially upstairs,’ she says. ‘Thanks to Stephanie’s fantastic spatial awareness, our cottage now feels so much bigger.’