OXFORDSHIRE COTTAGE

The sensitive restoration of a former village post office has delivered a new life in the country for Bee Osborn

A chance encounter led to the renovation of this charming thatched former village Post Office

Bee Osborn has carved out a successful career designing beautiful interiors with her award-winning, internationally acclaimed firm, Osborn Interiors. For her, home is a place in which you should feel nurtured and relaxed.

‘Life is hectic and it is important to create personal spaces that enable you to unwind,’ she says.

Located in the Cotswolds, Bee’s thatched stone cottage dates back to the 1530s. Combining classic detailing with a modern country aesthetic, the interior is a beautiful mix of traditional and contemporary: think a chalky palette, original stone walls, panelling, elegantly styled furniture and occasional dark tones, adding a subtle change of pace and drama.

‘I had been looking for an out-of-london rental in

2017 as my youngest daughter was starting school in the Cotswolds. We were living in a townhouse in

Battersea and I had hoped to find a bolthole to be near to Lara during the week,’ says Bee.

Bee knew the Cotswolds well but despite endless searching, had found nothing suitable or affordable to rent. On a final drive back to London, she stopped to buy a sandwich. ‘Next to the village shop, I spotted a for sale sign in the undergrowth and was immediately drawn to the cottage,’ says Bee. Within 10 minutes, an offer had been accepted and three weeks later the keys >

❝EVERYTHING HAS A STORY AND A MEANING – FOR ME, THAT’S WHAT MAKES A HOME❞

were hers. ‘It reminded me of my childhood home and that resonated,’ she says. Fast forward three years and country life has taken hold – the cottage is now Bee’s main home and her Battersea design team has relocated to a charming three-storey townhouse in nearby Chipping Norton.

The original two-up two-down cottage was tired and in need of renovation, but benefited from a large stone barn at the back of the property where the Post Office delivery horses would have been kept. ‘I stood in the barn, with its leaking corrugated roof and imagined how it could connect to the cottage. I wanted to keep the integrity and authenticity of the original stone walls, yet bring the structure into the 21st century with large steel windows and doors,’ says Bee.

The renovation began in earnest in March 2020. With lockdown, Bee and her girls lived in the cottage, with a makeshift kitchen and beds in the living room. Taking just six months to complete, the barn links seamlessly to the cottage via a series of steps down to a stylish bespoke kitchen and up to a family snug area, formerly the original kitchen. Clad in reclaimed wood from an old schoolhouse, the lofty proportions have a timeless beauty that juxtapose sympathetically with the original low beams. ‘The extension has such extraordinary proportions,‘ says Bee. ‘They add a contemporary >

❝I LIKE TO CREATE STATEMENT ART WALLS WITH COLLECTIONS OF MIRRORS, BASKETS IMPACTFUL❞ AND HATS – INEXPENSIVE BUT

elegance and it has become a wonderful space in which to entertain family and friends.’

As part of the renovation, a new downstairs boot room was created that adjoins a utility and shower room via a sliding barn door. Upstairs, it has enabled an en-suite bathroom to link to the main bedroom. Both clad in reclaimed wood, the modern-rustic main suite has added a touch of boutique hotel-style glamour. Storage has been carefully planned and every nook has been used with bespoke cabinetry, furniture and shelving. Throughout, Bee’s love of art, symmetry and statement collections highlight her passion. ‘Everything has a story and meaning – for me that makes a home,’ says Bee.

Despite Bee’s high-profile reputation, her self-funded success is down to hard work and a need to support her family. With a working career that began as a secretary, Bee began renovating houses in her 20s, with a 100 per cent mortgage on a derelict building in Tooting. This was the start of repeated projects and 15 years ago, with her third child having just turned one, she decided to retrain formally as an interior designer with Inchbald School of Design. The rest is history. ‘I believe in dreaming big. If you have both the need and passion, it can lead to great things.’

❝FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND BELIEVE IN YOUR ABILITY TO RETRAIN. I FORMALLY STUDIED INTERIOR DESIGN AT 43 AND HAVE NEVER LOOKED BACK❞

Exterior Bee has spent considerable time restoring the gardens surrounding the pretty thatched cottage. The pleached hornbeam trees from Burford Garden Company add an elegant screen to the garden in the summer months and in winter lend a sculptural appeal

Living room The low-ceilinged entertaining space has a cosy cottage charm. Walls painted in Sheringham Beach by Fenwick & Tilbrook. Sofas, side tables and pouffes, all Studio Osborn. Mirror, Station Mill

Living room The inglenook fireplace with its wood burner creates a welcoming focal point. Wood burner, Clearview Stoves. Trays, Studio Osborn. Lanterns, similar at Daylesford. Cushions, all Studio Osborn

Kitchen The lofty space, clad in reclaimed wood, provides the perfect frame for the rustic Barn Sawn kitchen, designed by Studio Osborn. Quartz worktops, flooring and wall cladding, Studio Osborn. Range, Everhot. Stools, Neptune. Island pendant lights, Pinch

Dining area The bespoke oak and resin table, designed by Bee, adds a sense of timeless craftsmanship and is offset by the handmade oversized light from Hadeda, both Studio Osborn. Steel doors, Cotswold Casements

Kitchen A collection of artisanal plates, glassware and cannisters have been sourced from Daylesford. White bowl, Studio Osborn. Tap, Crosswater

View to snug Distressed distemper walls add a rustic ambience to the kitchen that leads up to the family snug. Built in sofas, upholstery and cushions, all Studio Osborn. Pouffe, The White Company

Living room The two reception rooms at the front of the cottage provide valuable entertaining space for the family. The juxtaposition of light with dark adds stylish contrast. Wall light, similar at John Lewis & Partners. Flooring, Studio Osborn

Family room The original time-worn windowsill was built at the exact height for the Post Office horses to step up and have their saddle bags loaded with post. Wall colour, Sea Henge by Fenwick & Tilbrook. Mirrors, similar at John Lewis & Partners. Curtains, sofa, chair and cushions, all Studio Osborn

Guest bedroom The dramatic, four metre high vaulted space has been whitewashed with Sheringham Beach by Fenwick & Tilbrook. Artwork above the fireplace, sourced by Art Untamed. Throws, Zara and Helen Moore. Cushions, West Elm

Main bedroom The mirrored back wall enables light to bounce around the space. Mirrored wall and headboard, both Studio Osborn. Lamp, Loaf. Throw, The White Company

Main en-suite Reclaimed wood cladding adds a Scandinavian feel to the luxurious space. The stainless steel bath was bought second-hand, but can be bought from BC Designs. Tapware, Crosswater. Petrified oak stool, Studio Osborn. Wall lights, Porta Romana