WARM WELCOME

Creating social spaces to entertain family and friends was key to the design of Emma Shaw's inviting country home

- HEATHER DIXON

Sitting room

The wooden fire surround was painted by James and the seating grouped cozily around the coffee table. Armchairs, Oka. Lamp, Loaf. Rug, Rug Vista. Cushions, Neptune. Coffee table, Hearnes of Beaconsfield

Kitchen

It's now a light, multi-purpose living area and the focal point of the house. Chichester units; marble worktop, Neptune. Bar stools, Barker and Stonehouse. Floor tiles, Artisans of Devizes

AT HOME WITH

Owners Emma Shaw works in advertising and her husband James works for an IT company. They bought the property in September 2020.

House A five-bedroom detached cottage built in the 1920s and extended some time around the 1980s.

The last thing Emma and James Shaw expected to find when they went for a house viewing was the previous owners having dinner on the patio. 'Far from feeling as though we were intruding, we were given such a warm welcome that we felt instantly at home,' says Emma. 'In fact, it was that relaxed atmosphere and the instant sense of belonging that sealed the deal.

The five-bedroom detached house stands in a large, mature garden with stunning views across a wooded valley - perfect for keen walkers like Emma and James. Furthermore, they loved the property's warm red brick exterior and saw potential to transform an under-used extension into a sociable open-plan living kitchen.