Imagine combining a 19th century French Baroque aesthetic with a demure yet imaginative interior — and placing it in a quaint setting in the English countryside. This is London-based theater designer Niki Turner’s refurbished 5-bedroom house in Stroud, Gloucestershire and it is a feast for the eyes. Turner has done a fantastic job of balancing the opulent French Baroque exterior with a degree of simplicity that makes this house radiate a feeling of inner peace and equilibrium.
The vast kitchen space merges with the dining area and is connected to — yet visually separated from — an elevated study located on the mezzanine level. While the combination of immense spaces and dark hues may seem destined to weigh down the mood of the house’s central area, it’s obvious that special attention was paid to lighting and the inclusion of warm wood hues. In particular, the kitchen island, dining room table and vintage cupboards radiate the space with an affable and homey feel.
As you move closer to the living area, the view opens up to the outside garden — during the daytime, the bay window allows you to make the most of the odd ray of sunshine as you lounge on one of the fabulous extra-long twin sofas.
Apart from the living and dining areas, the bottom floor also has three bedrooms and a large bathroom. Both the master bedroom and the bath are painted in low-key white and beige hues, allowing the spaces to be accentuated by details such as the marble mantlepiece in the bedroom and the unconventional DIY copper faucets in the bathroom. A bedroom on the top-floor, also painted in crisp white, is beautifully framed by the oeil-de-boeuf window and the minimalistic furnishings.
While it’s clear that each of the individual rooms have been composed and thoroughly thought-through on their own, the corridors and transitional areas make the house feel like a harmonious whole. Whichever way you happen to look, a towering bookcase filled to the brim is staring back at you.
Musical instruments scattered throughout the house — a piano here, a harp there — give this home a creative, scruffy feel rather than an inflated or flashy vibe. This is emphasized by the intentionally worn-down carpets and rugs, giving off a sense of industrious indifference. Whether you are looking for inspiration to redesign your entire home or ideas for a few pieces to spruce up your already furnished living space, this home is a creative tour de force!
Photography by Matt Lincoln via The Modern House
