Full of surprises
Surrounded by beautiful woodland, Sarah and Jeremy Colebrooke’s 16th-century farmhouse has been renovated to bring in the light and reveal hidden period features
Sarah and Jeremy Colebrooke have lovingly renovated a 16th-century farmhouse to create a bright family home
Chickens were living in the roof space when Sarah and Jeremy Colebrooke first saw their farmhouse in Oxfordshire. ‘It was run-down, the flagstone floor was very uneven, the house was damp, and it lacked warmth and light,’ recalls Sarah. ‘Despite all that, we could imagine with time it could be transformed into a beautiful home. It had the feel of a French farmhouse, which was another attraction for us.’ The family were living in an Edwardian house in a village nearby and so were familiar with the location.
‘We wanted to stay in the area, and this house is perfect as it is only minutes away from main road links, but is nestled in its own woodland and farmland, making you think you are miles away from it all,’ says Sarah.
The family bought the house in 2010 and stayed in their previous home until the renovations were complete. In the summer of 2012, with all major work finished, they were able to move in.
‘Looking back over those two years, we realise just how big a task it was, but of course well worth all the effort.’ says Sarah. ‘We began the new design by stripping back to find some lovely original features: the large stone lintels on every floor and also all the stone fireplaces. We started at the top of the house, designing the children’s bedrooms, with their bathroom positioned in the middle. Then we continued working our way down through the house to the cellar. The farmhouse has a rare and beautiful stone spiral staircase, which had been partially blocked off by a previous owner, but we opened it right up, restoring it to its original state.’
Most internal walls in the farmhouse were exposed stone, but Sarah and Jeremy wanted a lighter feel and chose to plaster large areas throughout the house ready for painting. ‘We added rooflights, too, which have made a huge difference,’ says Sarah. The property has another surprising original feature – its own well, with water coming from a spring on the farm. ‘The water has a wonderful, pure taste,’ says Sarah.
The couple decided to keep the colours muted and soft to encourage flow from one room to another, adding a pop of colour where necessary to enliven a room and create a focal point. ‘We wanted to work with the house, deciding what we liked about its original features and highlighting them to maximum effect,’ explains Sarah. ‘Too many features can compete, so choosing the ones to enhance is important. For example, I painted most of the beams white to improve light and to give the ceilings the appearance of greater height.’
Sarah has successfully mixed new and old furniture around the house. ‘I think the best way to achieve a modern feel in a period property is to experiment with colour and not to be afraid of combining varying styles,’ she says. ‘Vintage and contemporary can look fantastic together.’
Buying secondhand and upcycling pieces of furniture is something Sarah enjoys. ‘I often buy vintage items from Ebay, and with a coat of paint or a new piece of fabric, give them a fresh look and get them back in use. I think the interior of a house looks more interesting with a collection of different styles,’ she adds. ‘We have just redecorated one of the guest rooms and I painted the existing chest of drawers and mirror. I am pleased with the results – they really enhance the room.’
It was her interest in interiors and home accessories for the farmhouse that inspired Sarah to start her own business. ‘My background is in nursing, but after having the children I decided to set up an online business to promote and sell artisan work. I joined forces with a friend, Fiona Hosking, and we started to sell beautiful items by craftspeople, designers and artists.’
The Colebrooke family are loving life in their Oxfordshire home. The sympathetically renovated interior has created the idyllic country lifestyle they were looking for. ‘We love the way this Frenchstyle farmhouse sits in the English countryside – low, bold and strong, relaxed and grand all at the same time,’ says Sarah. ‘It handles family life, come sunshine or snow, just handsomely.’