Pippa Paton Design Restores a Characterful and Historical Cotswold Estate

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a characterful residential design by 2024 SBID Awards Finalist, Pippa Paton Design.

Pippa Paton Design led the restoration of a Grade-II listed Cotswold estate, re-instating and accentuating historical features, whilst transforming it into a stylish, practical family home in a pale neutral palette against a backdrop of stone windows, timber flooring and reclaimed Cotswold flags. A derelict granary, now a stunning bar, features an illuminated curved brass bar accentuating the stone chimney behind, stables provide enticing guest accommodation and a stone barn doubles as cinema and large-scale dining room. This is a now beautiful example of a Cotswold village estate, re-envisioned for 21st century family living whilst respecting it’s heritage.

What was the client's brief?

To renovate a Grade II listed manor to create a family home, making it more liveable in terms of layout and functionality and bringing it into the 21st century. We were asked to incorporate a derelict granary to use as utility room on the lower level and a bar above, make another estate barn into a party dining space and provide a variety of guest accommodation.

What inspired the design of the project?

The overall concept was to reinstate architectural and design features in the house befitting a 19th century manor, the majority of which had been removed over time.

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

To identify the limited amount of remaining internal architectural details and from that developing a suite of panelling, skirting, architraves etc which reflected the history of the house.

We then selected a contractor and various artisans with experience and expertise in renovating listed buildings, which was critical to restore architectural details such as badly-treated timbers, staircases etc. and to produce the architectural detailing which we had designed.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Seeing the beautiful craftmanship such as the finishes and detailing in the joinery which we had designed come to life, particularly in the bar, the kitchen and the master ensuite.

We also loved designing future heirloom pieces for the client such as a bespoke card games table, a pair of bespoke console tables in the drawing room and a large, curved mirror designed for the hallway.

Another highlight was the client’s feedback that they absolutely love the spaces that have been created - from the serene drawing room, the dark, moody snug for after dinner drinks, the bar seating twenty-two guests in the granary and the entertainment space in another barn for large dinner parties.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

To get recognition for the project and for what we do as a studio.

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

The client appreciates the recognition, and we always meet interesting future suppliers and collaborators at the awards evening itself.

Questions answered by Pippa Paton, Founder of Pippa Paton Design.