Victoria English Cottage 2020

editors letter

Dear Friends Like many of our readers, my heart is captivated by the romance of Great Britain. Rich history, architecture, and culture draw me back to this part of the world time and again. And while I treasure any opportunity to stroll the cities of Europe as a tourist, I also appreciate English Cottage for inviting me to step into the cherished havens of its people through the magazine’s vibrant images and equally engaging text. In the following pages, we revisit abodes from the past several years of this perennially popular Victoria Classics issue. In “Through the Garden Gate” on page 19, retreat to England’s Peaks District, uplands known for their rolling hills and wild moors, to discover a three-story charmer surrounded by peonies, foxgloves, and other blooms. On page 35, a…

posies and picket fences

As the world welcomed in the new millennium in 2000, Chris and Neil Myers decided it was the perfect time for a change of address. They wanted a place that offered rural surroundings and good local schools for their two sons yet was an easy commute for Neil’s job in London. Though Chris dreamed of the wood-clad dwellings with airy rooms and wide porches she had known growing up in her native Canada, the brick-and-stone structure they found in Buckinghamshire fit the rest of the couple’s criteria. “To be honest, I didn’t like this house when we first saw it,” says Chris. “It was dark, and I wasn’t very keen on the Edwardian style, but the garden was large enough for the boys to play in with their friends, and that…

through the garden gate

So lush are the surroundings at the estate where Lucie-Clare Watson resides that the loveliness of the outdoors seems to have grown beyond its borders, spilling into the eighteenth-century abode at the heart of the property. Creeping vines give storybook allure to its weathered stone exterior, and tangles of peonies, foxgloves, and other cottage blooms lend a bounty of inspiration to the tasteful décor found inside. “I wanted a better quality of life,” explains Lucie-Clare. An antiques dealer and interior designer, she had established a firm in London but ultimately returned to her roots in England’s Peak District, a vast upland area known for its rolling landscapes with wild moors, ancestral villages, and Elizabethan manors. Nestled among towering trees and a shimmering duck pond, a three-story charmer in the town of…

of light and tranquil spaces

When a character-filled property in Aylesbury’s Old Town district was posted for sale, Melanie Kirk couldn’t resist taking a look. She had long admired the home, which had stood empty for some time and was in poor repair. “It was shabby but not very chic,” she says, “but we loved the character and made an offer straightaway.” Situated closer to work and with good schools nearby, the location was perfect. With no major structural renovations necessary, Melanie set about improving and updating the interiors. Kitchen cabinets were removed and replaced with freestanding furniture; dark beams were repainted in a lighter tone; and walls became a soft, pale gray. The Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi’s muted shades of gray and blue influenced Melanie’s choice of hues throughout the home. “I think the Scandinavian…

a rural retreat

A converted stone barn nestled in the tranquil Oxfordshire countryside has proven the ideal rural retreat for Kate and Paul Gerrish, whose desire for beautiful views and longing to live in a period property drove their search for a new residence. “We moved from a three-story, six-bedroom, modern house in a nearby town,” explains Kate. “The children had left home, so we took the opportunity to downsize.” Listed as a Grade II in the historic registry, the building dates from the 1850s and was converted a few decades ago into a character-filled home. “We immediately loved the vaulted ceilings throughout,” Kate says, “and the quirkiness of the second building in the garden, which we now call the studio.” With plenty of ideas for updating interior finishes, the couple set about planning…

the comforts of home

In search of an escape from London’s harried pace, interior designer Antonia Stewart and her husband, Henry, wanted a place where their three children could run and play in the great outdoors. “Ever since I met him, my husband has talked about moving to the countryside,” says Antonia. “Even before we were married, it was always the dream.” With family connections to the Cotswolds, the Stewarts concentrated their search there, and after several years of looking, they found a gem. Constructed in the 1600s, the original three cottages had been converted into one residence that belonged to an Oxford don and his wife. “We loved the fact it was all books and beams and yet still had so much potential,” Antonia says. Upon purchasing the property, the Stewarts started spending weekends and…