It’s time for a reno update!
In collaboration with Coco Wedding Venues we’re keeping you up to date with the renovation of our stunning Farmhouse on the Tythe estate in Oxfordshire, and if you’re new to this mini-series shared exclusively by Coco then you can catch up with our first instalment here.
We have been running Tythe since 1998 and the charming cluster of 14th Century barns sit at the heart of the family’s working farm. Adjacent to the event spaces sits The Farmhouse – a wonderful 17th century building that has been home to generations of the Deeley family for over 500 years. The plan for The Farmhouse is to create boutique accommodation for couples and their guests a stone’s throw from the barn.
Keep reading for all the updates and some behind-the-scenes snaps of all the progress!
THE PLAN
If this is the first feature you’re reading, then you can catch up about my big ideas for The Farmhouse here. But as a little recap we gained access to The Farmhouse in early November, and the team and I set about refurbishing the house with a plan to offer 7 double ensuite bedrooms, an impressive kitchen diner with garden room, a lounge, library, Shepherds Hut and manicured gardens to include a full size tennis court and wood-fuelled hot tub. With a completion date of mid May 2022 it was full steam ahead from the very beginning!
The Farmhouse has been the home of The Deeley family for more than five centuries, it’s a special place with heaps of memories so it’s incredibly important that we reflect this throughout the refurbishment – not only the history of the house but the story of the family who have resided here for so many years. There is many a tale to tell from this wonderful building, dating back to the early 17th century (15th in parts we are told) but stories like those of the three priests’ holes discovered in the house, the tunnel and the secretly ordained priests at The Rectory next door in 1662 can be left for another day. Right now, let me talk you through our vision for transforming this charming Farmhouse into luxury guest accommodation.
ROOM DESIGNS
Many of the rooms remain pretty much as they were however a few tweaks have taken place to allow for modern day living. Some of the rather delicate walls, erected years ago by our farming ancestors, served as simple room dividers and required some structural help to ensure they were fit for purpose. In the main, we have been incredibly sympathetic with any building work and only those things that were absolutely necessary were given the go ahead. In true Tythe style, incredible attention to detail was shown in restoring the bare bones of the house and we are thrilled with what we have both discovered and achieved so far.
Bedrooms + Bathrooms
The overall design for the rooms at the house is very much influenced by the existing materials and aesthetics. With an abundance of natural stone and exposed wooden timbers to work with, the character of the house is able to dictate the design quite naturally. My interior design style suits these earthy hues perfectly and I am working towards muted palettes in the bedrooms that are punctuated by the charm of antique dressers and vintage guilt frames, with a softer touch brought about by mixing fabrics in antique linens, sumptuous woollen throws and sheep skin rugs. The bathrooms, like the bedrooms, will all offer something different and I currently have my eye on a fantastic copper freestanding bath tub – watch this space!
Lounges
There will be two lounges, in addition to the large kitchen diner. One will offer a more cosy space with wood-burner and sink-into-sofas whilst the other will cater for a more social setting – think drinks, board games, music and playtime!
Both spaces have required a fair bit of refurbishment. The Farmhouse needed to be completely re-wired and has had a new heating system installed. The biomass heater even involved a trip up to Aberdeen to ensure it was absolutely suitable for the job.
Kitchen + Dining
Here, we have taken a huge space, previously used as the family’s swimming pool and garden room and began the transformation into an impressive kitchen diner. The pool being drained was the very first job we set upon once we had full access into the house. The floor is now levelled and awaiting beautiful oak boards as well as some gorgeous black and white stone tiles. The feel for the kitchen could be described as a ‘glamorous modern rustic’, if such a term exists. The inspiration has been sparked by a wonderful beech kitchen design that I came across at deVOL whilst working on a previous kitchen project. The raw brick, stone and timber beams will act as an incredible backdrop to crystal chandeliers and a roaring fire.
Outdoor Spaces
With the tennis court, wood-fuelled hot tub, manicured lawns and outdoor lounge guests are going to be spoilt for choice when it comes to the outdoors. Landscaping will be taking place to provide a dedicated area for the hot tub with plenty of opportunity for pretty country garden florals and there is presently discussions underway for a kitchen garden. Looking back at old family photographs it is clear that the gardens were always a space to enjoy family time together and an opportunity to indulge in the traditional garden games such as croquet, tennis and bowls.
The short walk between the Barn, Cowshed and Nook to The Farmhouse is a pleasant one and takes in the wisteria arched pergola and pretty wooden gate leading to the more formal gardens of the house. Whether you are taking your first few steps towards the aisle for your ceremony at the Barn or are strolling back through the gardens following the excitement of your wedding day – the connection between these two buildings and the history that envelopes the whole estate is remarkable. Look out for the discreet little postcards dotted around the house that tell the tale.
The Story Continues
The Farmhouse at Tythe has an interesting story to tell. We are thrilled that you are joining us on this journey and we hope that you enjoy keeping up to date with the progress of this wonderful 17th century home.
We will be keeping all of our Instagram followers regularly up to date with the progress of The Farmhouse on both our @tythebarnlaunton account and our @fromhitchedtohome account which gives those of you who are a little more intrigued or curious (nosey!) about the developments a greater insight into the design, planning, sourcing and interior elements of the project. Follow us on Instagram, grab a coffee and enjoy!
And, of course, with Coco by our side, we’ll be updating this series soon with the final reveal!
All photography by Binky Nixon
