How we found The Farmhouse its soul
Finding the wow factor
I was invited to visit The Farmhouse in autumn 2025. Hannah and Ellie, the sisters who ran and own it, had poured themselves into a redecoration during lockdown — and you could the effort in every room. But somewhere along the way, the house had drifted away from itself. Years of redecoration, fittings that didn't quite belong. A kitchen that felt too polished. Pale walls that felt undefined and hushed the character of the building, which was quietly begging to be unleashed.
A house like this - a mix of medieval bones, Georgian additions, all set within a remote wooded valley, had a voice. It just needed someone to listen to.
The different eras of the house offered up very different living styles. Beamed lower ceilinged older parts demanded warm deep colours inviting you to snuggle up. Whilst the Georgian elevation full of light from the long windows. The challenge was to pull the style together across the whole house.
The long landings and hallways make the space curious and rambling (in a good way). Each room was spacious without being cavernous. I knew this home was calling out for a little soul. So we set about a plan.
The initial brief was to add some colour and character with furniture and paint - a fairly light touch. But the more we dug into the changes that needed to happen, and do the house justice, the bigger hte project became. The kitchen was re-designed, beams sandblasted floorboards stripped with bathroom refits. The project has grown and expanded and with it the ambitions of the owners creating a home to welcome and host guests, offering bespoke catering packages and hampers.
We decided to strip back anything that didn't belong and lean hard into the age, warmth, character and imperfections this house offered. The kind of home that gives you a hug the moment you walk through the door, regardless of its size.
I started with a paint palette. Warm taupes and moody, evocative tones for the snug and lounge. Accents of deep Etruscan red in the kitchen lounge areas. A pink taupes runs through the spine of the house — the hallway, staircase, landing tying everything together with a sense of warmth and continuity.
The beams were stripped. The cream kitchen came out, replaced with a softer colour. Units were removed and a dresser added - a farmhouse staple. Open oak shelves replaced wall cupboards. Perfect for displaying kitchenalia, pictures and adding texture. Traditional pine chairs painted in a rich Entruscan red adding a pop of colour which fit the style of the rustic feel. A ladder was hung above the big oak table - newly sanded and waxed. This dressed with foliage and fairy lights provided a great focal point and perfect for year round styling.
Upstairs — every room with its own story.
The bedrooms is where we embraced colour. Ellie and Hannah the owners love a splash of colour and wanted a statement master with ensuite. They ended up with two plus no bedroom left behind - because who wants to get the short straw. Out went the pale. In came deep greens, dusky pinks, dark aubergine, and mustard yellows. Each room has its own personality now — you could stay for a week and feel like you'd slept in five different places.
I spent hours in vintage stores and flea markets, hunting for the right pieces. Not decorating a room, but building each one up; from floor rugs, to furniture, wall decor and lighting. Antiques that fitted the vibe. Lighting that was softer and more natural. Mirrors that caught the light. Textiles that made you stop and stare and reach for the feel. The mass-produced came out - the one-offs moved in.
"The idea behind The Farmhouse is for it to feel big enough for your tribe yet Despite its generous size, gives you a hug "
As with all our Boltholes outside as well as in are all part of the experience. After all we don't escape to the country to sit indoors, generally we want to immerse ourselves nature. So we invite you to get outdoors. Fire pits, hot tub, hammocks and outdoor dining makes it all possible.
We added a generous outdoor dining space and the owners invested in a big electric hot tub overlooking the lake. Lounge seating has a fire pit so you have plenty of places to sit and stare, and share moments with your family and friends. As with all Secret Boltholes, we never consider our houses are finished, just evolving. These are living, breathing spaces that evolve over time, so always more to do.
Are you an owner searching for us? An agency that isn't chasing volume over curated, where personal still matters and year round occupancy is our mantra. Well let's have a chat.