‘WE LOVE OUR SCANDI HOME’
Meg and Phil have updated their Oxfordshire home using simple pieces and a cool Nordic palette for a crisp, modern interior
Meg and Phil kept their cool and transformed a dated 1990s house into a light-filled space
Before moving here, we lived in a terraced house with high ceilings and sash windows, but when we became empty-nesters, we decided we’d like a new style of home and a fresh challenge,’ says Meg. ‘We were already in Oxfordshire and liked the area, but we wanted a rural location, with plenty of space both inside and out.
‘We had been living on a busy main road and the thought of a peaceful location was very appealing, so we were fortunate to find a property on a one-acre plot in a small village with beautiful countryside just on the doorstep.
A change of scene
We had been looking for a complete contrast to our previous home; something more modern, with square rooms and straight walls. This property was a dated 1990s house, but we could see an opportunity to turn it into a light, open-plan home that we could decorate in the Scandinavian style we both enjoy.
Expert help
To achieve the look we were after, we enlisted the help of an architect. The brief was to open up the downstairs layout by removing walls and extending at the rear. We wanted a large barn-style kitchen and the pitched roof and skylights we opted for create such a pleasing atmosphere. We are thrilled with the result. This is such an important area of the house; it's the room we spend the most time in, especially when the children are with us.
Rejigging the space
Once the new kitchen was completed, the old kitchen became the utility room. Upstairs, we changed the layout by making the en-suite bathroom to
‘PROJECT MANAGING OUR REFIT WAS VERY INTENSE, EVEN WITH A GOOD BUILDER’
our bedroom smaller, leaving extra space for a larger second bedroom. We also installed a new family bathroom. In our old house we had a traditional Gustavian look, but this time I wanted a an unfussy, modern Scandi feel. For continuity and flow, we continued the same scheme throughout the house, painting walls white and fitting woodfinish laminate flooring. To introduce more character we chose panelling instead of wallpaper. I like the shadow line created between the boards, and having cupboards in the same panelling looks very smart. It’s also good for concealing uneven plaster on the walls.
An eye on purse strings
We were on a tight budget, so Phil spent a lot of time making and fitting various items, such as shelving and cupboards. In the kitchen he fitted the units with Ikea carcasses and custom-made the doors. He also made the built-in bench in the utility room. Throughout the house, Phil changed all the interior doors and
architraves and replaced the existing staircase spindles for a more modern style. I definitely underestimated just how much project managing I would have to do. I spent hours finding suppliers for everything from windows to door handles. Thank goodness for the Internet!
Colour update
For the interior, I chose a pale palette which feels tranquil and easy to relax in. I’ve mixed most of the paint colours throughout the house myself. I bought several pots by Valspar and experimented until I reached the exact shade I was looking for. I’ve used white as the dominant colour throughout to give a greater feeling of space. It also provides a neutral backdrop to our furnishings, whether they are contemporary or vintage items. Thinking about the exterior, I have always loved the look of wood-clad buildings, especially those stained in black; they remind me of East Anglian fisherman’s cottages or Scandinavian houses. The existing wooden cladding had been painted with a brown stain and so I decided to paint all the boards black. Simply changing the colour has made an amazing difference. We also replaced the windows with new sash versions to complete our home’s facelift.
Outdoor life
We are now designing the garden and have planted over thirty trees and created a formal lawn, a kitchen garden and even a duck pond. To keep within our
‘ I WORK WITH COLOUR ALL DAY, SO A WHITE INTERIOR IS A WONDERFUL CALMING ATMOSPHERE TO COME HOME TO’
budget, we both spent a lot of time doing as much of the work as possible ourselves. But it has been worth it, as the garden has really taken shape now, and we are so pleased with the results.
Family festivities
I decorate the house simply at this time of year, using lots of candles and foliage brought in from the garden. However, I do get a bit carried away with hanging white paper honeycomb pom-poms and snowflakes from the ceiling in the entrance to the kitchen! We buy a large Christmas tree from the farm up the road and then dress the tree minimally, using just silver and white, including candles which I never actually dare light. Our first Christmas in the village felt like we were in an episode of The Archers! There was a Christmas supper in the old village hall, carol singing through the streets, mince pies and mulled wine in a neighbour’s house. And all of this was followed by a candlelit carol service, where the villagers squeezed into the tiny 13th-century church. May there be many more!’
‘THE CHILDREN LEAVING HOME MADE US WANT TO MOVE HOUSE. I’M SO PLEASED WE DID!’