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Making The Old Rectory Oxfordshire into a wonderful family home

Rebecca Bennett

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The Old Rectory Oxfordshire by Louise Holt Interior Design 01

Elegant relaxed drawing room

About The Old Rectory Oxfordshire project.

The Old Rectory in Oxfordshire had the bones of a beautiful family home, but had a number of unsuccessful modernisations and lacked personality. There were a number of large rooms, but none had a distinct purpose and, as a result, the house wasn’t working for family life. Interior Designer Louise Holt’s brief was to create a wonderful family home; to add character, and create a contemporary yet relaxed interior, where each room would have a distinct purpose to fit with the demands of family life.

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Drawing room

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Drawing room

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Drawing room fireplace

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Drawing room

The natural light in the room was beautiful, so an elegant drawing room was created with a focus on a natural chalky palette of materials, and quiet considered pieces. The design started with the architectural details of the room. New herringbone floor, elegant wall panelling, window shutters and fireplaces were installed, in keeping with the period of the property.

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Natural materials in a chalky palatte

Furniture, fabrics and lighting were selected, along with bespoke pieces, to create a scheme which felt calm, elegant and relaxed. The design involved mixing the more contemporary furniture with vintage chairs and a vintage Italian chandelier. The room was then accessorised with items chosen from British craftsmen.

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Drawing room

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Chandelier

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Dining Room

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Hallway

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Dining room

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Interior details

The dining room had original wall panelling which was sensitively repaired. A contemporary floor, which had been added by the previous owners, was removed and an antique block parquet floor laid in its place. The interior design of the room was completed with the selection of contemporary furniture, rugs and a sculptural chandelier.

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Interior details

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Staircase

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Family room

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Family room

As a complete contrast to the Drawing Room, the Family Room was designed to have a more contemporary and relaxed feel – a space where the whole family could be together. With a focus on natural materials and textures, pieces were selected and commissioned from a number of British craftsmen to complement the contemporary seating. A strong palette of colour was chosen to provide contrast; inspired by the artwork selected for the room.

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Texture and natural materials

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Family room

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Family room

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Fireplace

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Dark walls

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