This is Farrow & Ball’s Joa Studholme’s home, once a Victorian schoolhouse. It is surrounded by fields with a view of the village church visible through the canopy of trees.
Joa applied her talents as a colour curator to her 19th century schoolhouse turned home in rural Somerset.
“We were staying with friends in Somerset for the weekend and, over dinner on the Friday night, some friends of theirs mentioned that they were selling their weekend home nearby, a 19th-century schoolhouse. Intrigued, we drove over early the following morning and, by the afternoon, it was all agreed.
“We had bought a house. What made it particularly appealing were the lofty ceilings in the kitchen and the main living area – I’m not tall, but my husband and children are 6ft and over.”
Approaching the schoolhouse, the view from the hillside resembled scenes of rural England. There was a flock of sheep grazing in the field below. The village church and its tower was visible through the trees.
A Room Full Of Eclectic Pieces:
This was originally the main classroom. It has been transformed into a space furnished with an eclectic mix of pieces.
Joa explains how it all began: “I was friends with Tom Helme who, in the early Nineties, with his business partner Martin Ephson, acquired Farrow & Ball – the Dorset-based company known for producing fine-quality traditional paint.
“Tom had worked for the National Trust and was knowledgeable about historic colours, so when he and Martin opened the first Farrow & Ball shop in London on the Fulham Road in 1996, I helped out on a part-time basis.
“I’d been working as a decorative artist, so my experience with colour and finishes was useful when customers needed advice. One thing led to another – these days, in my role as colour curator, I consult all over the UK and abroad, advising homeowners, interior designers and architects on a range of projects.“
Joa’s Changes To The House:
The biggest changes Joa made to the house was, as you might imagine, the paint colors.
“I think there’s a definite link between the colours we choose for our homes and what is going on in the wider world. Currently, customers are opting for strong, saturated colours, whereas five years ago, all anyone wanted was shades of grey.
“At least in the world of colour, things are now looking brighter,” she said.
This room, now a dining room, was what was originally the smaller classroom.
Joa inherited aged red velvet curtains and a braided headboard from her great uncle.
Danny Robbins, a decorative artist and florist, painted the checkerboard design on the bath panel and wooden floor.
Joa, standing in the corridor that leads to the bedrooms and bathrooms.
The gardens, lush with plants and flowers, has views of the Somerset countryside.
{Photography via Home & Garden UK}
The picture of the outside has so many different green colors that it is just so lush looking and so spring-like. That alone is enough to draw a person in. I also think the blue in the kitchen is bold but there’s enough natural light coming in that it doesn’t feel moody. Thanks for sharing, it does show the power of paint.
Rather too eclectic inside for me. The windows, gardens & bucolic country setting are perfection. i like the checkerboard design in the bath but not the color chosen. What a wonderful place to dine al fresco as often as possible!
I am enjoying the variety in these Thursday tours!
Those views and that garden are just the best. The house has a lot of character, with the big windows, rounded door frames, and the library. Wonderful place.
That place is so very beautiful…you want to be there just to enjoy the view..and the inside is beautiful too…how lucky they are💕
I love the bookshelves in the main living room and the gardens are gorgeous. I am not a fan of the uncovered see-through windows in the bathroom, I think bathroom windows should always have opaque dressing of some kind that you can open and close whenever you want privacy. I know the home is in the Somerset countryside, but what if somebody is out for a hike – do you really want to be seen in your bathroom? The idea just creeps me out!
Love this house inside and the outside is idyllic. Would love to live there. We came to Canada in 1977 from England and love it here. We considered going back last year to buy a house in the countryside but came to our senses when we realized we would have to drive on the wrong side of the road and get used to English currency again etc etc. I think we are just too old for that now.
Beautiful home! Thank you for sharing, Brenda.
Love, love this home both inside and out. Love en eclectic boho vibe.
What an incredible house! The setting alone is like a dream or a storybook from childhood. And the garden!
Thanks, Brenda!
Hope your mystery plant arrives safely and soon!
I appreciate your post from yesterday about fitting a plant in the right sized container. I do have a tendency not to follow that thinking. I always want a plant to “mother”, usually about ten! Yesterday I got a small peace lily. I had been gifted a large peace lily then passed it on to my daughter. Don’t know why but lately I have had the urge to buy a new plant every month or so. Like another reader said, we have been inspired by your home decor and plants. Enjoy your new beautiful plants.