Retro Revival

Julie Smith has given a dated cottage a new lease of life, creating a contemporary home with accent colours that are full of the joys of spring

- Vivienne Ayers

“We wanted to live in the countryside,” says Julie. “We liked one particular village, but not much comes up for sale there, especially with land.” The village was sought after for its close proximity to three major cities, as well as its miles of surrounding stunning rural countryside. But when a cottage with a large garden on the outskirts of the village came on the market, it didn’t at first seem like the right fit. “I’d always liked Victorian houses with high ceilings – I hadn’t seen myself in a cottage. Nevertheless, we warmed to the place when we visited it. I just had one of those moments and I thought, ‘this is it!’” Julie recalls. The five-bedroom, Grade II-listed house had once been three cottages – one lived in by a miller, and two workers’ cottages, plus an adjoining barn. The oldest part dated as far back as 1636.