Contemporary touches have given an Oxfordshire farmhouse a stylish update

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Many homeowners decide to move house when their children leave home, but this was not the case for Liz Houghton and her husband Richard. ‘We’d lived here for 19 years, doing rooms piecemeal when we had the money, living the chaos of family life with our three children, Will, Tom and Sophie,’ says Liz. ‘We loved our home’s quirky feel, the eaves, casement windows –even the outdoor loo. So as the children started to leave for university, we decided to refresh it rather than move.’ Tragically, this decision coincided with the death of eldest son, Will, in a cycling accident in 2016. ‘Will is very much part of our lives and we talk about him all the time,’ says Liz. ‘Losing him made us more determined to make this house a haven.’ Framed by brooding hedges, the north-facing country house was cosy, but dark, so Liz and Richard enlisted the help of local architects GMTW to help reconfigure the layout. The architects’ brief was to change the perspective of the house, introduce more light and connect the inside with the garden, as well as to improve the awkward flow of rooms.

During the remodelling, key spaces were enhanced and enlarged. The existing small kitchen at the back of the house was widened and extended, creating a spacious eat-in kitchendiner and a large living area. The new kitchen extension provides a space for the family to come together and relax, while enjoying views over the one-acre garden.

Various architectural features were also updated. The ‘mean’ front entrance was scrapped and a new, more welcoming glass-framed front door was designed to fit beneath the arts-and-crafts porch of the original architecture. The old boxed-in staircase was also removed and replaced with a

LIVING AREA ‘Natural textures, light, honest materials –that more or less sums up my style,’ says Liz. This added-on space is a year-round hub where family and friends can eat, work and spend time together. Free-range marble coffee table, £979, Blu Dot at Heal’s. Try Moroccan leather pouffe, £98, Bohemia Design

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graceful metal and oak balustrade. Another standout feature is the stylish new Crittall glazing, linking inside and out.

When it came to revisioning the decor, Liz favoured an eclectic approach. ‘I love a mix of styles: Scandinavian, industrial, with a dash of glamour,’ says Liz. ‘But I also wanted to conserve the traditional feel of the house, so I enlisted designers at Kinnersley Kent Design to help realise my plans.’

The refurbished hallway tells you everything you need to know about Liz’s taste. Serene, candle-scented and layered with natural textures, it’s a modern-country interior with a cocooning warmth and conviviality. ‘I discovered the concept of hygge on a buying trip to Copenhagen,’ says Liz, who is co-founder of fashion label Mint Velvet. ‘I loved the idea of an interior that’s like a cashmere jumper – cosseting and comfortable.’ Liz’s commercial acumen (‘as a buyer you learn to balance the commercial with the creative,’ she says), leads her to favour thrifty details, such as a desk made from a kitchen worktop and Ikea furniture ‘pimped’ with brass handles. Decorative objects and artwork are carefully curated, including watercolours by Liz’s late father and photos of the family spilling out of their camper van: ‘I like things that mean something to me; objects which evoke an emotion,’ says Liz.

Connections, not possessions, define the appeal of this home. ‘I like working at the kitchen table while Tom or Sophie do their university assignments,’ says Liz. My girlfriends come round for supper in their slippers and we play silly games. We’ll light candles and put on the log-burning stove. That’s what matters: being together.’

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MASTER BEDROOM false half wall behind the bed provides a perching place for artwork. Pendant light 250, from £248, Rubn. Croft cashmere throw, £250, John Lewis & Partners. Avery stacking stool, from £410, Pinch Design MASTER E N SUITE Tadelakt polished plaster on the walls contrasts nicely with the natural oak and brassware. Tadelakt plaster, price on request, Tadelakt. Try oak stool, £175, Design Vintage