Full of handmade quilts and vintage finds, this home offers the warmest welcome

A New England-style porch, a garden complete with roses, hydrangeas, homemade shelters, and pristine white-painted brick and pebbledash walls all attest to the hard effort that’s gone into making this Edwardian house a warm and welcome home.

No detail has been overlooked, from tearing apart rooms to putting in hundreds of hours in the garden. Chris Myers, the owner, has handcrafted soft furnishings, refurbished furniture, and established a lush cottage garden. In her husband’s workshop, he has reused salvaged materials.

The 1904 house in Buckinghamshire, UK, was unloved, its yard an untamed wilderness before the couple took it on, and today with an addition, a renovated basement layout, and that gorgeous veranda, it is one of the world’s best residences.

HOMEY KITCHEN

The couple chose to knock through the walls, beginning with the kitchen, to link the kitchen, sitting area, and dining room. They didn’t want to change the original Edwardian design too much, but they didn’t want to distract from the period property’s appeal. In reality, the view of the original sitting room fireplace has improved the kitchen.

A traditional twin Aga range cooker would always be part of this couple’s kitchen design. It is set into the original fireplace alcove and features a vintage tiled backsplash with classic Delft-style motifs. The original quarry tiles cover the floor. A patchwork quilt acts as a tablecloth, mismatched old crockery arranged on drawers, and a plate rack adds to the cosy atmosphere.

DINING ROOM WITH VINTAGE APPEAL

With layers of winter whites amid Gustavian-style cupboards and furniture, dining room ideas take on a vintage Scandi character. The handmade wooden picket-fence pelmet above the original windows replaced an outdated cloth that made the bay window treatment appear excessively formal. The dining room is used for both fun and group sewing and handicraft sessions at The Cozy Club.

LIVING ROOM

Curtains in Colefax & Fowler’s Bowood chintz adorn the bay windows in the living room. The almost 120 years of history of this building are reflected in the original wood fireplace.

Ideas for the living room skilfully blend cosy details and functional implementations. Like the floors throughout the room, the floor is painted white to let in as much natural light as possible. Vintage French linen sheets now adorn the upholstery of an armchair, and a crocheted quilt serves admirably as a sofa throw. A TV is concealed behind a salvaged wood door framed by books on the left side of the alcove, while other less aesthetically pleasing sitting room necessities are hidden under a curtain on the floor.

MUD ROOM AND UTILITY

The room was built alongside the rest of the house and its subsequent extensions. The simple brick floor, walls covered with tongue and groove panelling, and storage made with an assortment of shelving are all great ideas worth stealing for your boot room. Vintage fabrics, baskets, and crates can give even a cramped room a charming antique air.

BEAUTIFUL BEDROOMS

Anyone needing bedroom design inspiration can find at least one beautiful bedroom layout to pique their interest.

This sleigh bed fits beautifully in the room on the ground floor, and it’s one of our favourites! It’s the cosiest spot to catch some shut-eye, with all the handmade pillows and comforters and the old Colefax & Fowler print wallpapering the walls. There’s even more cosiness provided by the wooden storage crates, pine bed frame, and antique wall cupboard.

CHILD’S ROOM

This room has been prepared for visits from the grandchildren; it is furnished with various quilts and more gingham in different check sizes. This is a hospital bed from World War II, one of two.

ATTIC ROOM

The attic room won the cuteness lottery the moment the dormer window was nestled into the eaves and the floral wallpaper was carried to the ceiling. A modest desk and chair provide a relaxing spot to read or write, and the room’s painted floorboards continue.

SHOWSTOPPING BATHROOM

All four bedrooms and three bathrooms are located upstairs and have all been renovated in a vintage or period manner. This enormous en suite is the couple’s bathroom of choice.

Before the addition, that space served as the main bedroom, but Chris and Neil repurposed it as a luxurious bathroom with a window seat and a view. They removed the room and installed a bay window bath with a cast-iron roll-top. The tub was heavy, so bringing it upstairs was the major issue, not the plumbing. Professional movers were recruited in the end to prevent any further injury to the movers.

VERANDA ADDS CURB APPEAL

Chris’s front porch designs were motivated by her recollections of her time spent in Canada as a child. She is pleased with the new location, where she can relax in the garden and engage in friendly conversation with neighbours. More treasured quilts, chintz textiles, and antique furniture round out the ambience, complemented by shiplap cladding and a handcrafted, scallop-edged pelmet. The pair was eager to create a piece blended with the existing decor.

FRONT OF HOUSE

The enormous cottage-style garden that cascades through this lovely Edwardian home’s country-style gate create a picture-perfect scene before you enter. Underneath a rose arch, a brick and pebble pathway leads to the entrance.

THE BACK OF THE HOUSE

Every home’s windows were installed at the time of construction in 1904. “They’re a touch drafty, especially in the winter, but I’d rather freeze than alter them!” Chris exclaims.