TWO BECOME ONE

Sarah Freethy and Phil Nockles turned two ancient thatched cottages into one large house that celebrates the past while providing the ideal setting for their future together

- NAOMI JONES

Deep, comforting colours, and the warmth of aged wood create a timeless feel in this old thatched cottage, which comes into its own during winter and looks incredibly welcoming adorned with freshly cut foliage for the festive period. ‘I enjoy all the seasons,’ says Sarah Freethy, a TV producer and keen photographer (peonyandpraxis.com). ‘But these shorter days make me really appreciate just how cosy this house is: I love to sit in the kitchen watching the weather rolling down the valley towards me, yet still be perfectly safe and warm.’

Although Sarah and her partner Phil Nockles feel very much at home here now, they had to travel a fair distance to arrive at this special place. ‘Phil and I needed to find a location that would work for both of us,’ says Sarah. ‘He was living in Southampton when we met and I was in Devon, so a house in Hampshire with its abundance of beautiful villages and excellent transport links seemed ideal.’