Currently on the market: a former vicarage in Crowan, England, that dates back to 1880 and is said to have been designed by J. P. St. Aubyn, an English architect known for his Gothic Revival church designs. (See the complete listing on The Modern House.) The structure, with its steeply pitched roof and arched windows, is true to form, but thanks to an extensive yet sensitive update by renowned British architect Amin Taha, with a goal of turning the imposing property into a welcoming family home, the interiors defy easy categorization.
Above: The property is set in the Cornish countryside and includes a 5,000-square-foot main house (shown), as well as three small outbuildings, each of which has been turned into separate guest quarters. Above: The building’s original millwork, stonework, floor tiles, and fireplaces have been exposed and restored. Above: One of the two reception rooms on the first floor. Every wall in the home is painted white for a fresh and modern look. Above: Olive-green trim is featured in each room. Here, in the library, minimalist bookshelves have been seamlessly built in alongside existing millwork. Above: The showstopper—a double-height dining hall. Above: Furniture was kept to a minimum in order to let the materials shine. Above: The kitchen is a new modern addition; its rustic stone walls and flooring tie it stylistically to the rest of the home. Above: The roof and one entire wall of the addition is glass. The picnic table and benches are from Piet Hein Eek’s Industriell collection for Ikea.
Above: The sliding glass door leads to a secluded area of the garden. Above: The view from the outside in. (For another greenhouse-like kitchen, see An English Glasshouse Addition with a deVol Kitchen for an Aesthete and a Chef.) Above: One of the six bedrooms on the second floor. The 19th-century floorboards have been stripped and restored throughout. Above: Two of the bedrooms have en suite baths. This one features an open shower, exposed wood beams, and an industrial sink. Above: Two of the cottages are studios (each with its own kitchenette and bath). This one is the largest outbuilding and has two floors. Above: All three cottages are lined with birch-ply and fitted with underfloor radiant heating. Above: White square tiles with black grout in the upstairs bath echo the bathrooms in the main house. Like the wall-mounted toilet? Check out 10 Easy Pieces: Wall-Mounted Toilets.
For more inspiring English country house tours, see:
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