Ivy House

This is Nicola’s former family home in the Cotswolds. The seventeenth-century farmhouse hadn’t been touched for 40 years, so Nicola’s task involved unravelling the building and piecing it back together in a way that would create a nurturing place for her family and friends. Although she was first greeted by a rabbit warren of dark rooms and wall-to-wall peach carpet, Nicola could see there was something special. Working with architect, Christian Fleming, a modest single storey timber extension was added in a style inspired by Edwin Lutyens, which meant three rooms could be connected to create an open-plan space that accommodates the kitchen, living and dining room. Colour was important for creating an atmosphere. A green fresco finish was used in the open-plan area as it connected to the garden and worked well with the low-light levels. As much as possible was kept from what was inherited, such as some of the previous owner’s curtains, pink loo and sink and various other treasures that took on new leases of life thanks to some creative rearranging.