From the moment interior designer Rebecca Hughes set foot inside this Norfolk home, an impressive six-bedroom, six-bathroom Georgian country property set on a sprawling estate, she was struck by an innate sense of calm. ‘The whole place, the house and the surrounding landscape, exudes peace,’ she says. ‘It’s a very, very calming place to be.’
The estate was purchased by an entrepreneurial couple – avid hosts with two young children with a dream of creating their own slice of pastoral life. Infused with architectural character, including exposed 18th-century timber beams and traditional sash windows, the property didn’t require any major structural changes, and while the owners were not unhappy with the existing interiors, they could see it had a wealth of untapped potential.
The kitchen island and floral sofa (Portman Sofa by David Seyfried covered in Linwood Arcadia) create natural conversational areas, whilst the Zellige tiles on the walls bring texture and interest.
Astrid Templier
‘Whilst not their primary home, the owners’ priority was for the property to feel warm and inviting for their family and visitors,’ recalls Rebecca, ‘and for it to blend seamlessly with the natural environment.’ They also wanted it to feel lived in, with heritage pieces and artisanal details that could add yet another layer of charm and character to the house’s already impressive architecture. Rebecca and her team gently guided the owners towards a cohesive and definitive interior style, whilst landscape designer firm, Farlam Chandler was entrusted with the creative direction of outdoor space – naturally, the two would go hand-in-hand.
Looking to the estate’s grounds as a natural starting point, Rebecca created a decor scheme that would bring the glorious outdoors inside. ‘This place has everything, from formal gardens to a wild meadow, ponds and lakes. I experienced something new every time I visited’. It was this sense uncovering hidden and unexpected surprises that she was keen to inject into the interiors. ‘We wanted the house to have, a sense of discovery and as we’re also working on more properties on the estate, we wanted to create a visual flow, for every space to feel connected without looking like the same.’