Through the keyhole: A country farmhouse in Taunton

When the owners of a country farmhouse on the outskirts of Taunton wanted to decorate their home, they were in need of some inspiration, as interior designer Mel Thorne reveals

The flooring and lighting were both replaced in the kitchen (Image: Archant)

Classic and modern

We started with some of the bedrooms and bathrooms using more modern colour combinations whilst working with some of the existing furniture. A classic wrought iron day bed with painted cabinet furniture sits happily with more modern combinations of fabrics used for dressing the bed and the curtains.

The dusky pinks and greys set off the beautiful natural colours in the brickwork and using this palette we continued into the en-suite choosing a pale grey polished tile for the shower along with fabulous Dee Hardwicke-designed vinyl flooring tiles.

Colour palettes are affected by the season (Image: Archant)

Changing the detail

Our next project was to refurbish the kitchen. The existing kitchen was in great condition and required more of a facelift than a complete overhaul and redesign. With this in mind we addressed areas which were not working such as the lighting and the flooring. Replacing the old, small terracotta tiles with large bright porcelain tiles meant the kitchen would feel lighter and more spacious. The tired strip lighting was replaced with more contemporary led lights tensioned on wire for a contemporary look and a more practical versatile working solution. We also added huge feature lanterns from Original BTC to sit in the apex of the roof and create a real feature in the interior. A more up to date palette of pale greys was used for the walls and cupboards and the centre island was re-designed to accommodate seating at each end and it was painted in a contrast rich blue from Zoffany to complement the existing Aga.

The old wooden handles were replaced for a combination of chrome cup handles and knobs to add a more contemporary feel to the cabinets.

The balance of contemporary styling with the more classic design of the existing kitchen harmonises the old with the new to create a lovely bright, practical and stylish space.

The TV room, or snug, is designed to be cosy, but also practical (Image: Archant)

Cosy and practical

The TV room or snug is very much a family space and needed to be cosy, comfortable but also very practical. We chose a light colour palette and added accent colours into the furnishing fabrics. Deep sofas for lounging in were upholstered in stain repellent fabrics, a must-have for all family homes! Gorgeous printed linens from Lewis and Wood dressed the window, bringing in the garden with pale sage colours and heather hues.

A mix and match of cushions from Designers Guild and Sanderson on the sofa alongside the footstool which is upholstered in a beautiful heather-coloured check fabric added pattern and interest to the interior.

The existing layout was changed to be more practical for the family to use and new modern lighting installed on the walls and ceiling gives a more gentle, ambient lighting.

A mix of classic and modern styling in the bedrooms (Image: Archant)

Season change

The winter lounge is used in the colder months so the colour palette was informed by the season. The use of a rich raspberry coloured soft chenille from Osborne and Little on the sofas and a soft wool check on the footstool added a feeling of depth, warmth and richness to the room.

We combined this with a pretty paisley curtain fabric from Ralph Lauren to lift the scheme and a mix of cushions on the window seat and sofas from G P J Baker and Zoffany balanced the colours and patterns beautifully throughout the room.

This is a space to snuggle up in, under a cosy throw on a dark winter's night in front of the fire.

To find our more, visit countryknoleinteriors.co.uk.