Sylvan House, Oxfordshire

In the drawing room, grasscloth wallpaper by Holland & Sherry brings warmth and luxury to the high-ceilinged space. The room is anchored by a large limestone fireplace and includes bespoke joinery to conceal the TV for relaxed entertaining. French doors open onto the garden, dressed with sheers and blackout curtains on dark aged brass, double French return poles. We incorporated existing furniture, reupholstering an ottoman and fire fender to harmonise with the new scheme, while the original floor was carefully stained to match the new oak in the hall.

The adjoining dining room is defined by its unique, hand-painted floor. A whimsical mural of botanical wildlife was painted directly onto boards finished in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Railings’, then sealed, creating a captivating and durable centrepiece for family meals.

A guest bathroom continues the traditional feel with a classic toile de jouy wallpaper by Lewis & Wood, alongside a custom Calcutta marble vanity finished with a charming skirt.

The principal suite is a layered and individual retreat, unified by a consistent design narrative. In the bedroom, walls are lined with ‘Mythical Land’ linen wallpaper by Andrew Martin, its tall tree motif mirroring the property’s woodland views. This theme continues in the dressing room, where the coordinating ‘Pear Tree’ wallpaper offers a smaller-scale version of the same pattern. Here, joinery is inset with a luxurious grasscloth wallpaper and finished with antique brass handles from Armac Martin.

The en-suite bathroom continues the theme, using a different colourway of the bedroom wallpaper to unify the suite. It features a freestanding double shower by Drummonds in polished nickel, with a matching freestanding bath painted in the same colour.

The children’s spaces are designed for creativity and play. The playroom, set beneath a cupola, features a large verdigris glass pendant from Jamb and practical yet soft carpeting from Alternative Flooring. The room is colour-drenched in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Hay’, with the soft, invigorating shade applied to the doors, radiators and windows. In one bedroom, the pitched roof has been transformed into a blackboard ceiling, set against wooden panelling.

Another child’s bedroom features a hand-painted woodland mural wrapping around the walls over a blush backdrop, depicting the family home and its surrounding gardens and animals. Meanwhile, the guest bedroom has been designed around the client’s existing antique brass bed and bedside tables, featuring the ‘Marigold’ wallpaper by Morris & Co. The windows are dressed with a sheer for privacy and a heavyweight curtain in a chintz floral rose fabric that mimics the wallpaper.

The kitchen embraces an eclectic style, playfully clashing patterns within a tonal palette that complements the family’s antiques and nods to the home’s woodland setting. The scheme is grounded by the russet tones of ‘Country Walk’ wallpaper by Mulberry Home, set against a patterned tile backsplash. Classic Shaker-style units, painted in ‘Yard Party’ by Coat, are paired with a warm walnut worktop and a traditional AGA, while rattan scallop-edged pendants add a touch of childlike charm.

In the bootroom, existing joinery was repainted in ‘Sunflower’ by Morris & Co and topped with walnut. The room was colour drenched – with the walls, skirting, architrave and ceiling painted in ‘Tobacconist’ by Coat to create a traditional country setting for the family’s own antique furniture.

The entrance hall immediately establishes the home’s warm, textured feel. A shimmering grasscloth wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries adds a soft, woven backdrop for the family’s art collection. A key part of our process was planning the placement of their pieces, mixing antinque and contemporary to create a personal gallery that extends up the staircase. Underfoot, character-grade oak herringbone by Chaunceys flows to meet the elegant curve of the stone staircase.

A smaller guest room uses vertical tongue-and-groove panelling, which extends onto the ceiling to add a sense of height. An oak burr headboard sits below a picture rail, perfect for displaying art and collected accessories.

By weaving the family’s own collection of art and antiques into the fabric of the design, we created a scheme that is entirely personal. The result is a playful, warm and characterful backdrop for modern family life.