In Conversation with @clairehewitsondesign

A Colourful Country Home, Thoughtfully Reimagined

A home with history is a wonderful thing, particularly when its next chapter is approached with sensitivity and imagination.

Having been in the same family for over fifty years, this beautiful country property was ready for a new lease of life. Untouched for more than three decades, the house required a thoughtful reconfiguration to accommodate the demands of modern family living, while retaining the character and memories that made it so special.

Working alongside architect Scot Masker, interior designer Claire Hewitson has transformed the property into a colourful, welcoming home that balances traditional architecture with a fresh and playful approach to design.

A Home Designed Around Family Life

With three children and three dogs, practicality was always going to be central to the renovation.

One of the most significant changes was relocating the kitchen from its original position at the side of the house to the very centre of the home. Opening into a generous new breakfast room, the redesigned space has become a natural gathering place for family and friends.

A new extension provides a dedicated entrance and boot room, complete with bespoke joinery and individual pull out shoe storage for each family member. Practical tongue and groove panelling offers a durable solution for muddy paws, while a large skylight fills the space with natural light.

For Claire, understanding how her clients live was fundamental to the design.

"My clients are well travelled and love colour, so I wanted to create a joyful, characterful home that directly reflects their personalities."

Throughout the property, each room has been given its own identity while remaining part of a carefully considered whole.

The kitchen and breakfast room are light and welcoming, with warm greens, soft corals and playful accents of blue and pink. In contrast, the former kitchen has been transformed into a wonderfully inviting snug, wrapped in rich terracotta and furnished with a bespoke sofa, wood burning stove and illuminated bookcases displaying the family's treasured possessions.

Preserving the Past

While the layout has been extensively reimagined, preserving the property's history remained an important part of the renovation.

At the heart of the new kitchen sits the family's original bottle green Aga, a much loved feature that holds childhood memories for the homeowner.

Carefully dismantled and stored for nine months during the building work, it was painstakingly restored and reassembled in its new position, where it now provides the starting point for the kitchen's colour palette.

Handmade green tiles from Balineum complement the Aga, while a thoughtful mix of colour, pattern and natural materials brings warmth and individuality to the surrounding spaces.

Elsewhere, original arched doorways have been retained and celebrated, while existing furniture and antiques have found new purpose within the redesigned interiors.

The original butcher's block, for example, now serves as a console table in the new entrance, a lovely reminder of the property's past.

The Beauty of Considered Details

Throughout the renovation, Claire has paid particular attention to the smaller architectural details that bring a scheme together.

From carefully planned thresholds and bespoke joinery to discreet practical features, each element has been designed with both appearance and everyday living in mind.

A concealed dog gate, held in place by magnets integrated into the existing staircase, provides a clever solution without compromising the surrounding joinery. Elsewhere, a hidden door to the downstairs cloakroom is seamlessly incorporated into the entrance hall, adding an unexpected touch of character.

"The devil really is in the detail! The transitions at every threshold or step, the interplay between hard and soft finishes are all painstakingly considered and designed."

It is this attention to detail that extends to the choice of architectural ironmongery.

A Timeless Choice of Hardware

For the property's doors and windows, Claire selected From The Anvil's Newbury collection in Aged Brass, choosing a finish that would sit comfortably alongside the existing architectural features while complementing the newly designed interiors.

With its understated character and warm, aged appearance, Aged Brass provides a natural connection between the original elements of the house and its more contemporary additions.

"I have long admired From The Anvil for their craftsmanship, durability, and accessible pricing. I knew instantly that the Newbury range would complement the architectural feel of the house."

The collection's breadth allowed Claire to specify coordinating door and window furniture throughout the property, establishing a consistent approach to the finishing details.

"The Aged Brass finish perfectly matches some of the property's existing ironmongery, creating a sense of established charm and blurs the line between new and old."

Rather than drawing attention to individual pieces, the hardware sits naturally within the interiors, adding warmth, definition and a sense of continuity from room to room.

For Claire, these seemingly small decisions are an essential part of creating a successful scheme.

"When you repeat those tiny, considered details throughout a property, it forms a cohesive design language that elevates the entire house and weaves a consistent thread through every room."

A New Chapter

The result is a home that feels both familiar and entirely renewed.

Colourful, comfortable and full of personality, the interiors reflect the family's love of travel, their treasured possessions and the practical realities of everyday country living.

For Claire, the greatest satisfaction comes not simply from the finished spaces, but from seeing how the renovation has transformed the family's experience of their home.

"We've given them a home that works hard for their busy lives, in an uplifting, colourful, and textile rich interior that just feels good to be in."

A wonderful example of how thoughtful design can honour a property's history while creating something entirely suited to the present, this project celebrates the enduring value of craftsmanship, character and beautifully considered details.

Explore the full Case Study here.

Interior Design: Claire Hewitson
Architecture: Scot Masker
Photography: From The Anvil