Country style ideas from English country cottage

The good life of a country style

SARAH AND MATTHEW PIKE ARE FULFILLING A RURAL DREAM IN THEIR IDYLLIC 18TH-CENTURY FARMHOUSE

Country style ideas from English country cottage

AT COUNTRY HOME WITH...

OWNERS Sarah Pike runs her own catering company, Concoction, while her husband Matthew works in
London. They live here with their children., Katie, 1 7, Millie, 16, and Harry, 13, as well as Higgins the Labrador, Hettie the Norfolk terrier and Arthur the cat. They also have Aylesbury ducks and a Call duck, three horses and a Shetland pony, sheep, Belted Galloway cows and chickens

Country style ideas from English country cottage

HOUSE Eighteenth-century Sussex farmhouse with barns set in 30 acres

ROOMS Hall, living room, dining room, kitchen/diner, laundry room, office, den, snug/cinema room,
cloakroom, six bedrooms, two bathrooms, en suite

EXTERIOR The pretty English farmhouse is surrounded by beautiful gardens, with a stream, a picturesque
pond and a vegetable plot. The property sits in 30 acres, plenty of space for the family's Ryeland, Suffolk
and Hampshire Down sheep, horses and cows.

Country style ideas from English country cottage

For 15 years, Sarah and Matthew Pike cherished a dream to move out of London and live in the countryside. 'I was brought up on a smallholding' says Sarah, 'and Matthew was raised in the country too, so when we had children we wanted to give them a similar lifestyle to the one we'd enjoyed growing up.'

As Matthew needed to commute to London, he and Sarah spent time deciding on a suitable location and settled on Sussex. The family rented in the area for a year while they looked for somewhere to buy. Eventually, they heard about a farmhouse that was for sale privately. 'It was situated in a quiet valley We drove along and thought, "this is the one",' says Sarah. 'We loved the pretty approach to the house. In addition, it had a Sussex barn and stables, perfect for us as we wanted to keep horses.'

The Pikes swiftly moved in and set about putting their stamp on the house, which fortunately didn't need any major structural work. Their first task was to install a new kitchen because the existing one was too dark. 'As the ceiling is low, we wanted to make it less oppressive, so to lighten it up we commissioned cream units, an Aga and a limestone floor,' says Sarah.

'It transformed the room and it's easy to change the look with colourful country style accessories.' The couple also put in new bathrooms, turned one of the rooms into a snug and cinema room for the children and installed a woodburner in the living room.

The next step was to paint the house in a palette of muted colours, lay new carpets and hang new curtains. 'It freshened up the whole place instantly,' says Sarah. T was keen to create an easy feel with warmth and
simplicity. We wanted a comfortable family home.'

Undoubtedly, a major bonus is the land that goes with the house. 'The garden is gorgeous,' says Sarah. 'As well as at the front, we have a garden at the back with a stream, pond and a vegetable plot.' The 30 acres enable the family to keep ducks and chickens, as well as horses, sheep and cattle, and Matthew is also able to pursue his hobby of keeping bees.

'We all love the location,' says Sarah. 'It's very peaceful and we really notice the seasons. The community is strong and we have lovely friends here. Matthew often says, because he spends so much time commuting,
that he wants to spend a couple of weeks' holiday here and enjoy it!'

COUNTRY KITCHEN 

The open-plan space was decorated with a cream scheme to detract from the low ceiling height. The pine farmhouse table and chairs are classic country. On the table are pots of honey from Matthew's bees (far left). Units, Martin Moore & Company. Limestone flooring. Artisans of Devizes. Blind fabric, Vanessa Arbuthnott. Splashback tiles. World's End Tiles.

Country style ideas from English country cottage. Country cottage style kitchen

COUNTRY STYLE LIVING ROOM 

Sarah opted for a timeless country scheme with checks, floral fabrics and neutral sofas. Walls, painted in Chalk I by Paint & Paper Library. Footstool fabric, Colefax and Fowler. Sofa; armchairs. Sofa Workshop. Carpet, The Carpet Bureau.

Country style ideas from English country cottage

COUNTRY STYLE SNUG 

Dark wood furniture complements the beams perfectly, while a boldly patterned, toning wallpaper sets off the exposed brickwork beautifully. The table was inherited. Wallpaper, Nina Campbell. Chair cover fabric, Romo. Curtains, Blendworth Furnishings. Stools, Robert Thompson's Craftsmen.

COUNTRY STYLE SNUG 

COUNTRY STYLE MAIN BEDROOM 

Splashes of pink warm the neutral scheme. Bed, The Bramley Bed Centre. Bedlinen, John Lewis. Throw, Melin Tregwynt. Curtains, Jane Churchill. Walls, painted in New White by Farrow & Ball. Carpet, East House Carpets. Chair, Holly Park Interiors. Cabinets, Ann May & Daughter.

Country style bedroom ideas from English country cottage

COUNTRY STYLE BATHROOM 

Cottage-style tongue and groove adds charm. Panelling, painted in Cord; walls, painted in New White, both by Farrow & Ball. Flooring, City Ceramics. Ship, Holly Park Interiors.

Country style bathroom  ideas 

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