The classic design of this home echoes a Hamptons-style makeover
Sarah and Tobin Aspinall jumped at the chance of Hamptons style in the heart of rural Shropshire
When first approaching Sarah and Tobin Aspinall’s home, you feel you’ve been transported across the Atlantic to the Hamptons. The classic design echoes the architectural style of the East Coast of America, and conjures up romantic images of relaxed, sophisticated living. So, it is no surprise that when the couple spotted the property on Rightmove, they booked a viewing for the very next day. ‘Our house wasn’t even on the market,’ says Sarah, who owns interior business, Wren & Regan, ‘but we instantly fell in love with the impressive white facade. It was certainly not a property you see every day in Shropshire!’
The couple had been living in a barn conversion close to Shrewsbury, with Tobin’s two boys, Leo, now 15, Sam, 13, and their daughter L’wren, now six. ‘We needed more space and Tobin wanted to move further into the countryside, but I was keen to stay closer to town,’ recalls Sarah. The location offered the perfect compromise, surrounded by farmland, but within walking distance to the local village. And the property didn’t disappoint either. Although dated, it had been well maintained and with a large footprint and grounds, the couple could see its potential.
Renovation work started almost straight away. The house was rewired, the windows and doors replaced, the main bathrooms updated, and in the grounds the couple designed and had built an office and garages for Tobin, who owns a motor vehicle company. However, the biggest element of the project was rethinking the kitchen and dining room, which involved knocking down the dividing
Favourite Room ‘The kitchen is a great space to entertain and relax in, the functional layout works perfectly for our family’
Favourite Item
‘I love vintage finds and antiques – pieces you won’t find just anywhere that have an interesting story’
Most Proud Of
‘What we have achieved having never renovated before. We have found our style with no major hiccups along the way!’
wall between the two spaces and replacing two small windows with large French doors. ‘The separate rooms just didn’t work for us as a family, so we created one open-plan area with new doors that flood the room with light and allow us views of the garden and beautiful countryside beyond,’ says Sarah.
When redesigning the room, the couple wanted it to feel spacious and bright but in-keeping with the traditional elements of the house, so steered away from colours and materials that felt too modern. Instead they opted for a classic Shaker style kitchen in neutral tones, together with timeless marble worktops and splashbacks, adding natural and industrial elements to bring warmth and personality into the new space. ‘It was a style that worked for us, and an aesthetic we continued throughout the rest house,’ says Sarah. Inspired by the creative process, her online business Wren & Regan was born in 2020, working alongside business partner, Vicky Regan, sourcing and selling the sort of items that had turned her house into a home.
‘It was far from plain sailing at times,’ recalls Sarah. ‘It was our first renovation and we often underestimated the costs and timings, which frustratingly held things up, but we are proud of what we have achieved.’ Work on the house wound down during the lockdowns of 2020, which on the flipside meant they could just enjoy living in their home. ‘This year, we’ve started with work on the main bedroom, and we are beginning some more exciting renovations. It is such a pleasure working on and improving this house and we still get the same thrill pulling up outside as when we first set eyes on it.’