modern regency

Meredithe and James’ handsome house is a mix of heirlooms and contemporary classics, all set against period architecture

- Rachel Ward

It’s graceful and has grand rooms, but that’s not why this house is special to me – it’s special because we raised our children here,’ says Meredithe Stuart-Smith of her Regency home in Gloucestershire. ‘It’s elegant and grown-up, but it’s not so precious that tons of kids couldn’t pile in – it hits all of our needs.’ Creating such environments, ones that appeal to different generations, is something that comes naturally to Meredithe: she’s the owner of Meri Meri, a children’s partyware brand that’s both magical and stylish, pleasing parents and children alike.

Born in America, Meredithe relocated to the UK after marrying her British husband James in 1997. After a two-year search, they discovered this Grade II-listed property, built in 1840, then split into two dwellings in the 1950s, which needed ‘everything’ doing to it. ‘We lived in it while we did it – and we did wing a lot of it,’ says Meredithe.