Rachel Crow

2 weeks ago | idealhome.co.uk | Pippa Blenkinsop |Rachel Crow

When they decided to relocate to the Cotswolds from a Victorian home in Lincolnshire, seasoned renovators Nichola and Richard Keeble decided they wanted a project. They didn't, however, anticipate some of the discoveries they’d make peeling back the layers of this home’s 400 years of history. They found their perfect property in the small town of Painswick. The exterior had all the charm of classic Cotswold architecture – gables, a slate roof and stone mullioned windows.

3 weeks ago | idealhome.co.uk | Janet McMeekin |Rachel Crow

Lilli King shrieked with delight after discovering that the pretty Cotswold cottage she desperately wanted to buy had come back on the market. ‘Within 24 hours, we’d stepped inside the property, put in an offer, and were keeping our fingers crossed that we would clinch the deal,’ she says. Back in 2020, the Kings were passing through the picturesque village of Southrop when they spotted the cottage with its attractive, decorative porch.

1 month ago | idealhome.co.uk | Alison Gibb |Rachel Crow

The owner of this two-bedroom London maisonette spends prolonged periods abroad for her work with a government conservation agency, so employing an interior designer to help decorate her apartment seen in this house tour was the perfect solution. Describing herself as a time-poor interiors enthusiast, Gemma Edwards wanted a home that was quirky and different.

2 months ago | idealhome.co.uk | Janet McMeekin |Rachel Crow

Despite having their hearts set on buying a Victorian property, when the owners initially viewed a dated four-storey house with a higgledy-piggledy layout, they agreed that such a major project would be a step too far. ‘Even though we walked away, it had left an impression on us. About 18 months later, when it was still on the market, we returned.’This time, the couple decided that the property’s period charm, location and potential outweighed the prospect of tackling a huge renovation.

2 months ago | idealhome.co.uk | Alice Roberton |Rachel Crow

Sometimes, it pays to take time renovating or decorating a property, rather than rushing in. Living in a home for a while allows you to experience spaces through the seasons, getting a better feel for what will work. This was the case for the gradual transformation of this home. Having already tackled an extensive renovation of their previous home, the homeowners were looking for somewhere that needed less work. This three-storey Victorian property was the perfect move.