Tale of the unexpected

Elements of surprise are found everywhere in this village house, which has spirited schemes that feel both classic and completely modern

- WORDS VIVIENNE AYERS STYLING CLAUDIA BRYANT PHOTOGRAPHY JON DAY

The owners of this extensive nine-bedroom Georgian village house in Hampshire have a mantra: 'It's a crime to be boring'. So when it came to renovating the interior, elements of surprise were inevitable. Interior designer Charlotte Smiley, who has worked for Martin Brudnizki and Salvesen Graham and is the mastermind behind the statement interior of the ancient Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, has gained a reputation for distinctive schemes and was enlisted to breathe new life into the property. She rose to the challenge with an intoxicating interior that celebrates chic colour and playful pattern. 'I knew the clients would be happy to push the boundaries and do things that were a bit wacky,' explains Charlotte.

Because the house isn't listed, the clients were able to make structural changes to suit their lifestyle. The front door, for instance, was moved from one elevation to another, which felt more natural. This then entailed building another staircase near the new entrance to allow easy access to the basement with its recently completed cinema room, gym, laundry and bedrooms. New glazed doors were installed to enable the clients to step out onto the terrace from the drawing room, while a storage barn was transformed into a space that functions for both work, rest and play with an office and a wow factor party barn for entertaining.