Oxfordshire Country Home
Situated at the foot of the Berkshire Downs within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this project is a beautifully renovated 1960s home, thoughtfully restored to embrace its exceptional countryside setting.
Unmistakably Sims Hilditch, the project embodies our signature approach to country living, pairing timeless British design with a bright, fresh aesthetic.
Reimagined inside and out, the renovation of this Oxfordshire Country Home sought to strengthen the relationship between the house and its remarkable setting, creating interiors that feel deeply connected to the landscape while reflecting the personalities and lifestyle of its owners.
Designed as a forever home, the house was shaped by decisions guided by a desire to create spaces that are elegant yet practical, balancing everyday comfort with effortless entertaining. The result is a warm, characterful home where thoughtful planning, bespoke craftsmanship and a carefully curated palette come together.
Although the house offered generous proportions and exceptional views, its original layout did little to celebrate its surroundings. Working alongside architects, the design team completely reconfigured the rooms, maximising natural light and strengthening the connection between the interior and the gardens beyond.
Ground Floor
Many of the defining elements of this home were designed specifically for the project. The reception room and snug feature bespoke sofas, each carefully scaled to suit the proportions of the space while encouraging relaxed family living. In the music room, custom walnut joinery was designed around the clients' extensive collection of vinyl records, books and CDs. Fabric-lined wall panels introduce warmth and improve acoustics, creating a room equally suited to listening, reading and quiet retreat.
Subtle references to the clients' love of music and the natural world are woven throughout, grounding the interiors in both their lifestyle and the surrounding Berkshire landscape.
Beyond the principal living spaces, the ground floor unfolds into a series of beautifully considered back-of-house rooms that are synonymous with classic country living.
A traditional kitchen is accompanied by a pantry, wine bar and a practical mud room, complete with a dog shower inspired by our award-winning WOW!house Courtyard Room. Unified by a palette of soft creams, olive greens, natural stone and warm brass, these hardworking spaces balance timeless country-house character with a fresh, contemporary aesthetic.
As the design developed, considerable attention was given to how each space would function. Without significant structural constraints, the design team had the freedom to rethink the internal layout entirely. Multiple iterations of the ground floor plan allowed each room to be refined until it achieved the ideal balance between practicality, proportion and flow. Bespoke joinery formed an important part of this process, responding directly to the clients' day-to-day routines while maintaining a cohesive architectural language throughout the house.
First Floor
The upper level comprises a collection of inviting bedrooms and beautifully detailed bathrooms, designed for modern country living. Framing views across the surrounding landscape, the rooms combine bespoke craftsmanship with a considered palette of natural materials and understated textures.
The master suite is defined by soft neutrals and delicate finishes, creating a serene backdrop to the views beyond. In the adjoining dressing room, the walls are upholstered in a tactile fabric, introducing warmth and a quietly feminine character.
In the adjoining guest spaces, pattern and colour introduce a more playful character. Accents of pink and green add depth and visual interest, balanced by the softer tones and natural materials used throughout.
The upstairs laundry room has been designed with everyday practicality in mind, with the washing machine and tumble dryer integrated into bespoke joinery to keep them easily accessible yet discreetly concealed. A traditional wooden ceiling drying rack provides a useful place to air clothes, while a generous work surface offers space for folding and organising laundry.
Perhaps the home's greatest asset is its relationship with the landscape. Throughout the house, the surrounding landscape informed both the planning and the palette. Furniture layouts and sightlines were designed to celebrate views across the gardens, while warm timber, tactile natural materials and a restrained palette of soft greens, stone and earthy neutrals subtly echo the Oxfordshire countryside.
