This Regency farmhouse renovation teaches us how to respect a home's history whilst making it work for modern life

As an interior designer, Gemma Tucker intuitively knew what path to take with her Regency farmhouse in the Wiltshire countryside. ‘I wanted to be a good custodian, to respect the house’s farmhouse history and rural setting using materials that suit the vernacular while making it relevant and practical for modern family life.’

Gemma, founder and creative director of Balance Interior Design, lives here with husband Mark and their children Matilda and George. After 17 years in London, they decided to make the move to the country a few years back. ‘We fell in love with the undulating, rural landscape and the local architecture, with its creamy-coloured Bath stone.

'We wanted a stronger connection with nature, more space for family living and to give the children a slower pace of life,’ recalls Gemma. They came to this farmhouse, having looked at several Georgian rectories. ‘This had better lateral space for a family and felt a bit less grand and more in keeping with our relaxed lifestyle.’

Back then, in 2022, it was dark and full of inappropriate finishes: 90s mosaic tiles, sparkly worktops and lots of stud-walled en suites with dubious lino floors. The house had evolved over several hundred years, fanning out in all directions from the original farmworker’s cottage – swallowing up the adjoining cowshed and hayloft along the way.

With plenty of experience, Gemma sorted the renovation work quickly and efficiently, finding an architect to navigate the planning stage for this Grade II-listed house, while a contractor waited in the wings to get started.

The changes were relatively simple but effective; moving the kitchen from a smaller room into a larger, lighter space – once the cowshed – opening onto the dining room, where Gemma added a large panoramic window, flooding the space with natural light and letting in views of the garden and surrounding countryside.

In the same way, Gemma opened up the double-height space over the central hall into the eaves above, with heritage skylights allowing light to drench the once-gloomy heart of the farmhouse.

Upstairs, a rejig of the layout gave the couple a main suite with a dressing room and generously-sized bathroom, as well as the children’s bedrooms and bathroom.

At the other end of the house, a guest suite features two further bedrooms and a versatile cinema snug, where the children love to spend time. ‘What I’ve tried to do throughout the house is to ensure that all the rooms are useful in everyday life, not just occasionally’.

Gemma wanted to keep the material palette simple and restrained. Finishes in the more rustic kitchen and dining areas include sawn, white-oak floors. ‘They’re beautifully textural, rather than being smooth and perfect. I would have liked an organic, travertine stone for the kitchen worktops but it’s not a suitable material, so I opted for a ceramic with the same look.’

Gemma designed the kitchen cabinets and had them made by local craftspeople – an approach that runs through the whole project – opting for clean-lined joinery, which creates a visual contrast with the earthier finishes in the room.

Elsewhere, the material mix includes greenish-hued flagstones, reclaimed pine floors stained a rich, dark chocolate tone, and lots of tactile, grainy linens. The subtle room color ideas feature neutrals, from pale stone to richer grey-browns, via khaki, olive and sage.

Beyond the aesthetics though, the key to this house’s success is an underpinning of practicality, with carefully considered storage ideas in hard-working rooms like the pantry and dressing room, making it easy to keep the whole house looking perfect so that the focus is on Gemma’s edit of beautiful art and objects.

‘If you don’t have somewhere for all the stuff of real life, you can’t achieve that relaxing, pared-back look,’ advises Gemma. ‘My mind is quite chaotic at times and so is family life, so I need that sense of serenity, with everything in its own place – as an antidote. That way I can enjoy the atmosphere we’ve created here, one of calmness and connection to nature.’

Q&A with Gemma Tucker

The designer shares her style inspiration

What was the biggest indulgence?

The Fred Rigby desk – it’s my dream desk. I love the deep, dark, ebonised-oak finish and the juxtaposition between the geometric form of the legs and the organic pebble shape of the top. The whole piece feels beautifully considered.

Do you have a go-to design detail?

Layered lighting. Creating the right mix of good lighting is one of the most impactful things you can do, bringing a sense of atmosphere and hominess to spaces.

What's inspiring you at the moment?

My main sources are nature, travel, books, and art galleries.

How does home make you feel?

Like myself. Our home feels relaxed, calm and joyful. It suits my family’s lifestyle perfectly – there is a place for everything and the mood can be adjusted to the occasion.

Finish the sentence, 'I know I'm a creative because...'

When I see anything beautiful – whether I’m on a walk or in a gallery – I can’t help but translate the colours and forms into my work.

Reveal a secret address we should know?

Among the Pines – a gallery in Bath with a beautifully curated selection of art