The hunt for the perfect country house took Noreen and Tony Goodwin several years, even though their only real criterion was that it had

to be within striking distance of London. Noreen eventually found a Jacobean manor

,/

house online with a row of three cotta~fl attached, but then discovered it had ./ received huge media exposure. Offers, including theirs, went to sealed bids.

However, to their delight, they were successful and they found themselves the owners of the property. The initial viewing of the manor had been so competitive that they didn't get to see the cottages at all. 'The agent said he couldn't find the keys,' says Noreen. 'I realise now that he didn't want to let us in because they were in such poor condition! They had been empty for two years and a water tank had burst in one of them so it was damp and smelled horrible.' Although the cottages have a period vernacular, they were built just over 20 years ago. With a nod to the status of the manor, the design and finish were in top quality materials with great attention paid to architectural detailing.

Noreen and Tony decided that the programme of restoration should begin with the cottages so that they could live in them while they took on the major task of

42 countryhomesandinteriors.co.uk

refurbishing the manor house at a more leisurely pace. 'I made a promise that if we succeeded in buying the manor, we would look after it and never separate the big house from the cottages,' says Noreen. 'A place like this cries out for a large family like ours. When we eventually move into the manor house, the cottages will become guest accommodation and, as the children grow up, it will allow them their own space.'

Noreen wasn't daunted by having three cottages to refurbish to a tight deadline, with the manor house queueing up behind. 'We camped in the manor house and that was a big adventure!' She enlisted the help of interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch of

The Interior Company, whose first task was to find a builder who could also project­manage the initial stages of the work, including bringing in industrial heaters to dry out the damp rooms and getting re-wiring and new plumbing under way.

'Fittings and furnishings for a large familv have to be practical,' says Noreen. 'Anything that can be wiped clean is an advantage! Emma is also a mother so she understood our requirements exactly. I can

point to everything in a room and say where I saw it with her. She led the way but I wanted to be involved.'

Noreen and Emma had agreed that a muted palette of colours should run through

•

au three COttages. 'With neutrals you can always build m colour Wlth accessones,' says Noreen, 'and those can be changed

inexpensIVely when they W9lU out or

fashions move on.' The first. cottage has a scheme that revolves around neutrals wit.h soft reds and pinks, the middle cottage leams neutrals with blues, brown and red and the t.Imd marries neutrals with FJench gl6y. All walls are pamted, some have tongue and groove boarding, and the floorcovenng throughout is sisal, which Emma advised should be pre-treated with stam inhibitor,

'One of the best decisions we made was to supplement the central heating with Jotul woodburmng stoves 10 each cottage: cr

KITCHIN A splash of pink adds a modern twist to the neutral kitchen with its traditional brick floor. A classic country feature is the log-fill&d fireplace (right). Chichester kitchen units, End Grain chopping block, Suffolk painted dining chair, Neptune. Simplicity Cream tiles, Marlborough Tiles. Four Seasons blind, Vanessa Arbuthnott. China, Susie Watson Designs. Clock, Alessi.

HOW TO ...

CARE FOR BRICK FLOORS Brick floors are very porous so need sealing. • 'It's how the sealing is done that's important: says Charles Howey of floor specialist Kamstar. Historically brick floors were sealed with boiled linseed oil. but now there are modern eco·friendly sealants around. We recommend ProtectGuard, from £26 a litre: • Once sealed you can sweep, vacuum or mop the fioor With a detergent (as long as it's not abrasive), Charles recommends NetGuard, £36 for 5 litres, which is eco·friendly. • Kamsta"s reclaimed brick fioors start at £52.80 a square metre.

COUNTRY CLASSIC

Stack the alcove with prepared logs that won't go mouldy or be infested with insects. Buy

Douglas fir logs from FSC approved sources ill The

log Basket.

countryhomesandinteriors.co.uk 43

"With a big family like ours it's lovely that we can an have oS'!, country-style attic bedroom'

MAIN IIDROOMTh. ,,191.S afthe ceiling impose a pleasing symmetry on the .rrangement of furniture. Chichester bed, Neptune. Upholstered panels, Cadogan, Zimmer & Rohde. Henley console ,abl., Neptune. Cashmere throw, Johnstons of Elgin. a.au' IIDROOM Soft reds and pinks add rteminine touch in the

44 countrynomesandinteriors.CQ,uk

older girls' bedroom. Upholstered bed panels. Pie in the Sky, VanasUl Arbuthnott. Eiderdowns, Eiderdown Studio. IATHROOM A large walk·in shower instead of a bath creates II f.eling of space in ,,(ott<l9. bilthroom. Classic shower, Lefroy Brookes. Basin, CP Hart. Simplicity til •• , Marlborough Tiles. Mirror, Graham & Gre.n.

On our doorstep ... BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Noreen and Tony Goodwin recommend their favourite local haunts VISIT .•. 'Waddesdon MMor (01296 653226, waddesdon.org.uk) In ,-

Waddesdon, to admire Its gardens. The children enJOy Ihe now Explorer Trails' SHOP AT ••• 'Moss (01280 82131 4, mossofbucklngham.co.ukl in Buckingham lor plants, pots and home accessories' GO FOR A MEAL AT ... 'Halibut (0 1280 817141, thehalibut.co.uk). also In

Budtlngham. It's a fishmonger with an clIcelienl dining room upstairs'

says Noreen 'If we stoke them up at mght,

the house is exua cosy In the mom mg. And, although It may seem suango lO Ilva m three oottages. each With Its mdlvldual Slttmg room, kItchen, bathroom and bedrooms, we all use everywhefO aU tho urne and nowhol6 IS out of bounds'

BUIlt's the property's outdoor Space

that's really the ]cmg on the cake for the family. 'The children Just adore It,' says

Noreen. 'Thore IS so much for thorn to do and they have a real sense of froodom We aU love It hew, Irs relaxmg - thal's what

hVIng in the counuy IS aU about'

BOYS' B'DROOM Bunk beds are the perfect solution for the older boys so they can invite friends for sleepovers. Sleigh bunk beds, bedside tables, Bump. Curtains, Small Check Powder Blue, Chelsea TeICtiles. Rug, Vanessa Arbuthnott. Chichester Grand chest of dr.lwen (above), Montague chairs, Neptune. Tabl. lamp, India Jane. llntln posters, All Posters.

SEE PAGE 132 FOR PHONE NUMBERS AND WEBSITES

6lStep Inside more of our readers' stunning homes at bousetohome.co.uklhouses

countryhomesandinteriors.co.uk 45