Arabella Youens looks at Rosanna Bossom's work at Manor Farmhouse in Conderton, Worcestershire.
When Rosanna Bossom was first asked to redecorate Grade II-listed Manor Farmhouse in Conderton, a great deal of reconfiguring was required to provide eight en-suite bedrooms and a large boot room to create a holiday property for big groups of guests.
Firmly subscribing to the view that practical rooms deserve as much aesthetic attention as any other, Miss Bossom transformed a warren of small spaces, including a pantry and a larder, into a boot room and adjacent utility area. ‘I wanted a punchy autumnal colour — it seemed the perfect starting-off point for long walks. We went through several iterations of orange paint, many of which were dismissed for being too “burnt”, before deciding on The Long Room by Paint & Paper Library,’ she says.
Each of the bedrooms has an allocated (and numbered) section for guests’ coats and walking paraphernalia. A simple oak bench runs around three sides, offering ample space for removing boots. Below this are boxed-in plinth heaters that ensure outdoor clothing is always warm and dry.
In the centre of the room is a heavy oak table that was found in one of the barns during the project and restored. The floors are laid in reclaimed limestone. ‘We opted for an indoor/outdoor rug from Ikea, which is invincible and helps to soften the space,’ says Miss Bossom. She sourced an oversized mirror from Robert Langford, which creates a feeling of space and is useful for taming unruly hair after blustery walks. Other decorative details, such as the cushions and wicker animal heads, come from shopping sprees around a miscellany of shops in nearby Tetbury.
Rosanna Bossom — www.rosannabossom.co.uk
Manor Farmhouse — www.manor-farmhouse.co.uk
The Country Life guide to the Cotswolds: Where to go, what to see, where to stay and what to eat
Straddling five counties, the Cotswolds is arguably England's most famous region outside of London. Here’s our guide to what to
Where to live in the Cotswolds: A guide to choosing the perfect spot
Where in the Cotswolds should you move to? The answer will depend on what is more important to you and
The Treehouses at The Fish Hotel: Spending a weekend as the Cotswolds Family Robinson
The Fish is a lovely Cotswolds hotel where you can can stay in normal rooms, shepherds' huts or treehouses. And
