French charm of Cotswolds cottage created by the owners of Anton & K interiors
After three years of hard graft, Anthony and Karen Cull's Cotswolds cottage has finally reached the last stages of its transformation into their home.
But there is no need to ask for a personal tour because they have styled it very much on the pieces they sell at their Winchcombe interiors shop.
Karen describes the look as a traditional Cotswolds cottage with a contemporary twist and more than a touch of provincial French style.
Where once stood a Tudor-style black and white cottage, there is now a home with neutral colours, plenty of wood and many quirky features that make it unique.
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A quick look round makes you understand why they sold their former home in Majorca so easily and why the new owner insisted on buying it up lock, stock and barrel.
"We came back to England with very little as the man we sold it to wanted us to leave almost everything there," said Karen.
Lucky, then, that their Winchcombe-based business is an interiors heaven, stuffed full of pieces that Anthony and Karen love as well as their customers.
Anton & K specialises in French and Swedish furniture, decorative objects, mirrors, lighting and vintage textiles.
They have recently opened a new barn showroom in the town, where customers can view even more of their furniture and other pieces.
The couple travel to Europe, particularly France, Belgium and Sweden, to source new pieces and garner inspiration.
Although the building of their cottage was in good shape when they bought it, there was a lot to be done inside and the pair have certainly stamped their signature on it.
Both the kitchen and bathroom were completely ripped out and restored, with oak units in the kitchen, limestone floors and underfloor heating.
A large, roll-top bath and basin with ornate legs gives the bathroom a traditional feel, while a large shower adds luxury and comfort.
They bleached the oak kitchen worktops to lighten the room and give it a contemporary Swedish feel.
The dining room has an old timber oak table and French chairs covered with antique linen.
A huge inglenook fireplace dominates the sitting room which Karen jokes seems larger than the house.
Both bedrooms have large French Corbiere beds, exposed beams, sisal matting and linen blinds.
And Karen has completely relandscaped the garden, with hurdle fencing and stone walls, a limestone patio and gravelled drive.
"We took down the overgrown hedge and planted a laurel one, which nearly died but has made a good comeback this summer," said Karen, who took on the garden as her project.
"It's been a lot of work but restoring houses is what we like to do and we're really pleased with how it has turned out."
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