Formerly a wine merchant’s house, a girls’ school, and a doctor’s surgery, this Grade II-listed 17th-century house in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, has lived many lives. Its current iteration has seen a playful dimension introduced by a palette of spirited paint colours and beautiful materials. Spanning some 3,820 sq ft, the home encompasses six bedrooms and a set of generous reception rooms in addition to a long, private garden at the rear, filled with mature trees and shrubs.

Setting the Scene

Chipping Norton was granted a royal charter by King John in the early 13th century; it later flourished during the medieval wool trade, which brought great prosperity to the town. It has a wealth of period architecture, including a Norman castle, a Grade I-listed 12th-century church, and an array of Georgian domestic dwellings.

With a 17th-century core, this house was refronted in the early 18th century with golden-hued Cotswold stone. It has rows of six-over-six sash windows - a Georgian hallmark - as well as the original carriage entrance to one side. Inside, period fireplaces and beams remain in situ, along with a number of additions made during the Victorian era. Careful consideration has gone into upholding the home’s period integrity while updating it for comfortable modern living. The current owners also worked with Farrow and Ball colour consultant Paddy O'Donnell to curate a selection of sensitive paint colours.

The Grand Tour

Entry is to the kitchen and dining room, a thoughtfully appointed space at the front of the house. Three sash windows draw in plenty of light, and the walls are finished in a gentle neutral shade, 'Peach Blossom' by Little Greene.

Sleek charcoal-coloured timber units lie on one side, with pink granite worktops and integrated appliances. The remainder of the room has space for a large dining table and plenty of books in a built-in timber dresser. A useful pantry adjoins.

Next door is the first of several living rooms, here picked out in an exuberant coral pink. Towering ceilings create an exaggerated sense of volume and lend the room a versatile feel. A more intimate sitting room adjoins, with a log-burning stove and a wall of exposed stonework.

At the furthest end of the ground floor is a sage-green sitting room, a refined space with panelled walls, an original fireplace, and access to the garden. All three ground-floor living spaces have original, elegantly patinaed floorboards.

The lower ground floor is home to a flexible set of spaces that include stores, a study, a bedroom, and a WC. One end of the room has been carefully reimagined as a generous dining space with parquet floors. Steps descend here to a sunken living space with doors to the rear garden.