Fiona and Tim Cartmells Cotswold home was only built 10 years ago, but it is already at one with the countryside. Hankering after a rural lifestyle. London - based Fiona and Tim Cartmells search for an idyllic village location took them through Dorset. Norfolk and Suffolk. We did consider moving within London but. at the time, properties were in hot demand. says Fiona, and relocating really appealed to us. One day. the couple happened to be in the Cotswolds. when they decided to look at a new country development. Wed visited the village before/ recalls Fiona, and felt quite at home there, so we saw the plans and walked round the site. There was nothing except the lovely old stone walls in the garden and an orchard next door, but we made up our minds pretty quickly. We picked our plot and returned at weekends to watch our house grow. The property was designed to reflect the traditional local architecture and Fiona was keen to add similar character to the interior. It made sense for the sitting room and kitchen to take on die colours of the landscape seen through the windows. she says. We chose fabrics with patterns of leaves and the country. Fiona continues. I also picked out its mid - green and copper beech tones for tlx kitchen, and then settled on honey and terracotta shades in the sitting room.