Hamilford Design Blends British Countryside Charm with Modern Elegance

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxurious family home design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, Hamilford Design.

This thoughtful project transformed a scientifically protected site into a luxurious family home, blending British countryside charm with modern elegance. Hamilford Design provided interior architecture, project management, full construction oversight and FF&E design. A neutral palette and natural materials, including a locally sourced stone fireplace and three-metre arched doorways, emphasise local craftsmanship to enhance character and quality. Thoughtful spatial flow and natural light were prioritised to connect indoor and outdoor spaces. Sustainability was prioritised through the use of smart technologies, eco-friendly materials and energy efficient systems.

What was the client’s brief?

The client wanted a home that felt deeply rooted in its Cotswolds setting and fit in with its surroundings, somewhere that captured the palette and feel of the landscape while functioning as a modern family retreat. The brief required a balance between comfort and elegance, with interiors that respected the site’s protected status and celebrated British craftsmanship.

What inspired the design of the project?

The starting point was the site itself. Set beside a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, the surrounding woodland, lakes and rolling hills shaped every design decision. We drew inspiration from the textures and tones of the landscape; Cotswold stone, reclaimed timber and an earthy palette. But this was married with a modern elegance too.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Working within a scientifically protected site brought with it a responsibility to tread carefully. Every element (from sourcing local stone to ensuring construction methods respected the environment) had to be meticulously planned. Coordinating sustainability, craftsmanship and the client’s wishes was a challenge.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Seeing the home come together with so many bespoke elements, such as the three-metre arched doors, the hand-built local stone fireplace, the bespoke joinery, it was hugely satisfying. We work with trusted suppliers and craftspeople that we’ve known for over a decade, seeing them bring our vision to life is a wonderful feeling for the whole team.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

It’s always a great feeling, sharing a project that you’re proud of and potentially having it recognised by the SBID is a real honour. The SBID awards are a real benchmark for excellence in design and entering helps us share our work within the design community as a whole. We felt the Woodland Estate embodies a lot of what the SBID stands for and we were excited to showcase a project which felt really personal to us as designers.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being a finalist has been a proud moment for our whole team who are always striving to be creative and are so dedicated. Also, our suppliers and co-collaborators who we are constantly grateful for.

Questions answered by Manuela Hamilford, Founder of Hamilford Design.