Exterior
The farmhouse, built in the 1930s, is surrounded by gardens and woodland, with fragrant nepeta lining the path leading to the front door
Hallway
A collection of hats, a vintage card table and storage basket add character. Front door painted in Studio Green, Farrow & Ball
AT HOME WITH
Owners Interior designer Melissa Hutley lives here with her husband Oli, who works in property, and their children aged six, four and two, plus cat Miskers
House A three-bedroom farmhouse in Surrey, built-in the1930s, with a barn-frame extension added in 2011.
Most people move from city to country to upsize, but for Melissa Hutley, it took some clever reconfiguring to make this Surrey farmhouse work as hard as the family’s previous London home. Its interiors were no larger in square footage, but an extensive garden, an airy double-height living area, a potting shed-cum-office and uninterrupted rural views easily sealed the deal.
Fortunately, Melissa, an interior designer who founded Hutley & Humm with colleague Charlie Humm in 2013, had plenty of tricks up her sleeve. ‘The house had a lot of advantages, even though its bedrooms were pretty compact compared to our last home,’ she says. Downstairs, a recent barn-framed extension had created a generous living space. ‘We could instantly visualise the children running around, the French doors open on warmer days and, in the winter, the fire lit and a giant Christmas tree reaching the beams. I knew that we could make the space work efficiently.’
This story is from the February 2022 edition of Country Homes & Interiors.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2022 edition of Country Homes & Interiors.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A day in the country
The TV presenter and author stays close to home in the Wye Valley, walking at dawn and ending the day making supper for friends
MINIATURE MARVELS
Tiny but mighty mini bulbs bring sparks of colour to springtime garden borders and containers
UP THE GARDEN PATH
Affordable and easy to lay, these DIY path ideas will add form and purpose to your garden, providing a fast track to planting, focal points and outdoor rooms
Bring the family
Rediscover the simple life with these gloriously back to nature staycations that kids and adults will adore
'Handmade glass looks watery and beautiful'
As anyone who surfs will know, despite the crash, chaos and roar of the ocean, there is a strange moment of peacefulness when you ride a wave.
Knock on wood
Transform damaged and dingy wooden flooring with expert techniques to return its structure and shine
COLOUR CONFIDENT
Breathe new life into your kitchen with a colourful design from Magnet
STOCK UP
The best ideas for maximising food storage in the kitchen, from walk in pantries to woven baskets-and everything in between
STORAGE STORIES
Faced with cluttered rooms and overflowing cupboards, four homeowners found smart solutions to help them get more organised
Installing fitted wardrobes
Everything you need to know about integrating built-in storage into your bedroom