Berkshire Family Home

Historic 15th century Berkshire home reimagined for 21st century family life Once owned by Queen Elizabeth I and occupied by the same family for over 300 years, this stunning riverside home was a mouthwatering commission. Working in close collaboration with its new owners and their architects, we brought a simple, elegant interior vision to life. The family wanted a liveable space, so with 3 boys sharing the house with mum and dad, open plan was definitely off limits. Four very individual bedrooms gave the boys their own zones to be themselves – to be noisy without impinging on the rest of the house. Those other rooms – for dining, cooking and relaxing – have a peaceful, relaxing colour palette and smooth materiality. We upholstered soft, sumptuous seating in muted colours and specified pale wooden floorboards in reception rooms in the new extension and an oak herringbone hallway floor for the original part of the house. It’s in that space that the interior design language is established – a statement of restrained taste, with a statement contemporary table to balance the vintage tapestries inherited with the house. The minimal aesthetic is echoed throughout the ground floor – soft, neutral tones when relaxation is the priority, with darker, brooding shades demarcating the cinema room and office. We designed and handcrafted much of the home’s furniture and soft furnishings and specified statement lighting throughout. Upstairs, the boys’ bedrooms are subtly different, yet each maintains the home’s simple, pared back style, with traditional features retained to provide a backdrop for modern colours, textures and storage solutions. The family bathroom also features a stunning storage unit, created by the talented contractors, who sealed the units with micro-cement. Glance up as your wander through this landmark home and you’ll see the original beams, still doing their job, while looking fabulous doing it. These were sand blasted to reveal their original glory. The tones and colours of these fundamental supports are echoed elsewhere in the house, in spaces that are equally functional and just as beautiful. The boot-room is a prime example – dark wooden cabinetry and feature wall complementing the deep button tufting of the central bench seat. Photography: Sarah Griggs Architect: CSK Architects Builder: Tenon