a delightful Cotswold Cottage

The other day I found myself walking the magazine aisles of my local Coop with not only time to spare but with out any tiddlers to supervise (me supervise them as opposed to me requiring supervision). 

Now this is rare for three reasons:

1. I only go to the super market three or four times a year (and obviously Waitrose is my super market of choice dahling)

2. I always have a child or two (rarely three) with me and therefore I shop very quickly

3. I never have spare time - unless you count the time between 10pm and midnight when I start pottering and faffing.

So, there I was flicking through all the magazines that I wasn't going to spend any money on, but pretending that I was trying to decide which to buy, when I spotted a lovely cottage feature. 'Ooooh, thats a nice house and built to an exceptional standard,' I thought to myself (hopefully not out loud because that would sound pretencious?)

And would you believe it - the house in question was a beautiful Border Oak cottage! Ha!

Based on the Pearmain Cottage but faced in local stone rather than render, it really is a little gem. Here are the photos for you to judge, but I think you might quite like it.

Let me know what you think......

1, 2, 3 - yippee!

Twenty thirteen has started brilliantly - we came back to work after the chrimbo hols to find three national awards waiting for us - THREE!! The best part is that the awards are for three very different houses/projects, in three very different locations and awarded by three different judging panels for the Federation of Master Builders. These awards are nominated by the clients, who must have been especially complimentary because the FMB awards a designed to recognise exceptional workmanship and customer service. The entire Border Oak team were honoured, surprised and a little bit overwhelmed to do so well. We knew we had amazing customers, but now we have proof!

Award winner No 1 - Best New Build

Award Winner No. 2  - Best extension and renovation

Award Winner No 3 - Best New Build

There is also a lovely article in Homebuilding and Renovating - about a client who built a little holiday cottage - with other articles coming soon in The English Home and Build It. 

its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....apart from the flooding and rain

Here is a pretty brick cottage from Herefordshire, with an oak frame inside - dressed for a Christmas photoshoot (in the sun) built by Border Oak for a client (this is her third Border Oak house) who has also just set up a lovely homewares company Milton &Manor (www.miltonandmanor.co.uk). Phew, that was a long sentence!

We took the pics in September, when the sun shone and shone

so we waited 'til dusk to get a 'seasonal' atmospheric photo of the externals - what do you think?

The interior is light, neutral and tactile. A large hall leads onto the traditional sitting room

With exposed oak framing throughout

From the kitchen you get a sneaky peak into the utility room

With a blind made from Milton and Manor fabric (our client has turned her lovely portfolio of sketches into a great range of fabrics and homewares after struggling to find the right interior products for her Border Oak homes)

The kitchen dining room leads onto a garden room area and a little study nook - the ultimate living space for a modern family I think. Spaces to cook, eat, sit, read and work but in one light, bright open room.

Milton and Manor have cushions, footstools, mugs, cards, fabric, bags, tea towels..............

 and wrapping paper (see above and below)

A lovely oak post and brace to distinguish the 'zones' - works well as an architectural feature and for texture and interest

Simple shaker units and vintage accessories

And the best bit about styling a photoshoot is eating cake and drinking tea

Could it get any more cosy than this?

A clever little area created from the eaves over the garden room - great for grandchildren sleeping over

a lovely, simple and fresh bedroom with Milton and Manor cushions to add colour

a sweet and simple bathroom

and it really was a lovely sunny day as you can see from the light flooding in - we had a great couple of days dressing and shooting this beautiful Border Oak cottage for winter to share with you all.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas - best wishes, Merry