Home Style: The Art of the Country Retreat

Old school comforts and pops of colour have created a relaxed holiday atmosphere in the home restored by Caroline and James Browne 

Surrounded by woodlands and beautiful views across the landscape, it’s hard to imagine a better place to switch off and enjoy life. James and Caroline Browne bought this striking country property and have since breathed a whole new life into the home. “It’s wonderfully relaxing,” Caroline confirmed. “We moved here as we both love the sea. James works in hospitality and his skillset is all about creating wonderful relaxing environments for people to enjoy. He was far more excited about the house than I was!” 

Caroline said it was definitely not a case of love at first sight for her. The previous owners spent a lot of their time abroad and seemed to love horses more than the house which meant the interiors were unloved and the garden had been neglected, with large overgrown hedges and trees making the house dark and gloomy inside. 

However, after spending such a long time looking at other houses Caroline concluded it was rare to find such a large, characterful, 18th century house in such a beautiful area. As well as being easily accessible to London, a ten-minute drive from the beach and near schools for their girls, Grace, Lilly and Beth all ticking the boxes. 

One of their first decisions was to rip out the large tarmac drive that the previous owners had used for parking horseboxes. They then removed the large, dying hedge and overgrown trees that made the house unnecessarily dark inside. 

Once the area was cleared, they could concentrate on the garden transformation. It was redesigned as a country garden with numerous flowerbeds created and planted with pretty peonies and roses, as well as fruit trees. “I am glad we started on the garden first, because plants can take years to establish and grow.” 

The next stage was a speedy and carefully orchestrated refurbishment to the house. They started at the top of the house restoring period features and rectifying all sorts of issues such as blown plasterwork and rotting joinery. “Because a fireplace is such an integral part of the human psyche – offering homely comfort, we installed wood burning stoves in the fireplaces in the hall, snug, sitting room and games room. One of the most exciting days was when a piece of modern plaster covering the snug fireplace fell away. This disaster actually enabled us to restore the original 16th century opening.” Caroline admitted, “It really added huge character, charm and depth to the room.” 

Thankfully some of the furniture from their previous home fitted perfectly, such as the sofa they had bought when they first married. Being able to buy the kitchen table and benches from the previous owners was another lucky break. “The benches are a bonus – asyou can squeeze in lots of little bottoms to sit around the large table. Perfect for the raucous dinner parties that this house is well known for.” James smiled. “Caroline would love to re-invent the kitchen to make it more user friendly, but the worktops are made from local beech trees and frankly it still works well and feels homely.” 

Painting the banisters red and the stairs a blue-grey created a colourful thread for linking the three floors. Extra pops of colour are injected by an eclectic collection of artworks that was given to the couple by a friend. “He helps James find artwork for his pubs and he gave us about fifty surplus prints one Christmas which we had framed. We were so pleased, and they really brighten up the rooms,” explained Caroline, who had the task of commissioning the beautifully crafted wardrobes from a local firm and choosing the fabrics for the soft furnishings. 

Meanwhile, James bought rugs in Morocco, as well as locally, to complement Caroline’s relaxed style – which she describes as, ‘Very old school and not at all cutting edge!’ 

Designed to achieve high levels of comfort all year round, the house was planned to be enjoyed as a winter retreat as well as a summer holiday home. Caroline expanded, “On winter days when the rain lashes against the windows, the big boys play pool, the children take over the football table and I play a board game with my youngest daughter Beth, while my sister-in- law reads a book by the fire. Even in the rain and wind, it’s still fun to put on your wellington boots, wrap up warm, and get out for a walk on the beach. We come home to snuggle up by the fire and drink one of James’s wines. Being the pub owner that he is, his cellar is pretty impressive!” 

Photography: Robert Sanderson/ Living4media

Words: Maggie Colvin/Living4media