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Color in the interior Something old, something new
Color in the interior Something old, something new
Something old, something newI wanted the children to have a country childhood, says Sian Webster. We were living in London and decided to move out as my husband Bruce was working from home. They chose Wiltshire because it was close enough to London for Bruce and also because it was roughly midway between their parents living in Somerset and Buckinghamshire. Id lived on an RAF base near Marlborough as a child and really liked the area, says Sian. But after nine months the couple had only viewed two houses, neither of which was suitable. They were very keen to buy a Georgian house and had decided they definitely didnt want a thatched cottage. But matters were becoming urgent because the children were due to start at a local school and they still didnt have anywhere to live. So when estate agents told them about a rather interesting thatched cottage, they decided to see it anyway. We needed a garden with lots of space and from the details we could see the cottage fitted the bill, says Sian. I loved the countryside around it and as soon as I saw the barn room I knew it could make the most wonderful kitchen. The house was airy and light, not dark like many cottages. I loved it because it was quirky - it was something of a mongrel with old and new bits. I loved the high ceilings of the barn and the low ceilings of the old part. The fact it wasnt like anyone elses house was attractive. It had a friendly feel and I thought it was a lovely family house. Above all, it was a great place to play hide and seek! The first thing the Websters did after moving in was to change the barn. They put in underfloor heating and a seating area, updated the windows, doors and lighting, and plastered the brick walls. They then installed the kitchen units. Their next project was a built - in larder room adjacent to the kitchen as Sian didnt want to clutter up the beautiful timber framed walls of the kitchen with cupboards. Work continued in the rest of the house for the next five years. Rooms were swapped around - the original kitchen became a laundry and sewing room - and new bathrooms were installed. The exterior had something of a makeover when the Websters removed the secondary glazing and put in new period - style, double glazed windows where necessary. They also rethatched the roof. Ventilation was poor in the old part of the allow the house to breathe. The thick walls had become damp and the chimneys were blocked so we had to improve the fabric of the old part.  Sian is completely taken with country life. I love the view from the kitchen to the hills, which changes throughout the year, she says. We grow our own vegetables and flowers - we are almost self - sufficient in flowers from spring to autumn. Its the kind of place I wish Id grown up in - Id have loved those hiding places!
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