Inside the new modern farmhouse (and why we all want to live in one)
telegraph.co.ukKelly Hoppen. Her name is synonymous with a luxurious, polished style and her signature neutral palette is a look that brings to mind London townhouses and sleek city penthouse apartments, rather than disused agricultural buildings.Yet, when she and her partner bought this particular barn in the Cotswolds just over two years ago, which was at the time a derelict empty shell in need of renovation, its raw state inspired something of a decorative departure.That’s not to say she suddenly developed a penchant for strong colour and maximalist pattern; far from it.
But she did take her cue from the bones of the building, and embraced a more relaxed look than she normally would. “The starting point was really the colour of the beams, which was a sandy tone,” she says, “so I chose greys, whites and black as the base colours.
I also wanted a mix of vintage and modern classics, with a base of creased linens.”The laid-back style of the interior was also inspired by the change in lifestyle it represented: once the renovation was complete, after a break in the building works during the first lockdown, Hoppen and her partner started to split their time between London and the country, and they continue to spend as many weekends as possible there. “It’s heavenly,” she says; “just the space, the quiet and the country air is a change from the fast pace of London.
I love being here.”It’s also a perfectly executed example of an interior-design style that is now much in demand. “Modern farmhouse” espouses a relaxed yet stylish and contemporary approach to rural living, and was one of the most Googled interior design styles last year; “modern rustic” was in the top five design trends according to Pinterest.
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