Designers' houses

Enchanted by its idyllic setting, Louise Jones could see the merits of this 16th-century Surrey farmhouse despite its interior having been stripped of any character. With ingenuity and hard work, and the introduction of pattern and colour, she has given it personality in abundance

Involving an ambitious restoration project and a reconfiguring of the layout, James Thurstan Waterworth and Scarlett Supple’s transformation of a Wiltshire farmhouse has resulted in a calm, pared-back interior defined by James’s eclectic antique finds

Behind the ordinary façade of Katie Glaister's 1930s house in south-west London lies an interior full of unexpected colour and personality, enriched by the work of talented artists and craftspeople

Having lighted on his ideal house in the wild Devon countryside, Tom Cox of HÁM Interiors set about making it into a warm and welcoming place to get away, filled with the distinctive art and antiques he has grown up with

The simple lines and rectilinear shapes of her 18th-century rectory left landscape and interior designer Lesley Cooke rapt as she embarked on a two-year campaign of understated modernisation

Interior designer Laura Logan has carved a calm family home out of a jumbled Victorian terrace in Leytonstone, working with EJ Studio to create spaces filled with light

When interior designer Lucinda Griffith fell for a cottage that took her back to her Welsh heritage but was almost beyond her means, she cleverly employed all the tricks of her trade to furnish it in a thrifty, inventive and charmingly inviting fashion

With its Robert Adam interiors and Capability Brown landscape, Bowood is the epitome of an eighteenth-century English country house, formed by the taste and vision of previous inhabitants and now adapting gently to the needs of the twenty-first century

With a clear colour palette lifted by occasional pattern and an eclectic mix of furniture, interior designer Victoria Gray has created a Cotswold retreat for her family that marries rustic charm with minimalism, and transcends modern trends

Interior designers Nicholas Spencer and Sophie von Wedekind have created a stylish family home for themselves and their children by joining two houses in west London

In her Chelsea mansion flat designer Jane Taylor has employed a number of clever space-saving devices to turn a potentially awkward space into a smart, comfortable interior

The sense of peacefulness that so enticed 19th-century city dwellers is perfectly embodied at this former vicarage in Combe Down This was the feeling that Anna Haines wanted to evoke when she revitalised the Grade II-listed former rectory on the outskirts of Bath. From the predominantly pale palette of natural hues to the layering of antique textiles, her choices have brought harmonious charm to its interiors.

Fuelled by nostalgia, interior designer Gregory Mellor hastily snapped up this house in the leafy suburbs of Cape Town. Now his treasured collections are layered with classic chintzes, ikats and kente cloth to create a comfortable haven for his young family.

Designer Nina Litchfield has brought the influences of her Brazilian roots and German upbringing to bear on her house in west London, in which her strong and distinctive look is enlivened with an elegant exuberance.

Never one to rush things, Emma Milne-Watson has gradually breathed new life into a centuries-old rectory in Sussex, respecting its history while creating a distinctive home for her family by effortlessly mixing classic and contemporary elements

When a series of events got in the way of her initial plans, interior designer Bunny Turner decided to move from London to this former rectory in Oxfordshire, which turned out to be the perfect place for recovery and renewal.

Interior designer Martin Brudnizki and his art consultant partner Jonathan Brook like to let their imaginations run riot at home in West Sussex, especially at this time of year. Part of a large 17th-century house in West Sussex, their flat, with its grand proportions and ornate original features, provides the perfect backdrop for indulging their lavish, country-house decorating dreams.

Marie-Louise Sjögren’s historic house on the Stockholm archipelago was built as a summer retreat, but her family now enjoy the tranquil location in comfort all year round–especially at Christmas

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, Duncan Campbell and Luke Edward Hall favour a more is more approach and add further layers of colour and visual interest to their jewel box cottage.

The couple behind Rapture & Wright fabrics and wallpapers are used to combining their talents to creative effect – not least in the design of the Gloucestershire barn conversion where they live and work