Janelle’s former home in the UK

Set on the edge of Exmoor, this Georgian rectory was Janelle’s own home while living in the UK — a place that embodied her love of history, comfort, and the quiet poetry of English country life. The brief was to inject personality and refresh the interiors while turning attention to the restoration of the extensive grounds and outbuildings. A separate cottage was fully renovated to serve as a holiday home, helping support the restoration of the gardens, driveway and façade.

The intent was to preserve the house’s English country character while ensuring it functioned effortlessly as a modern family home. Its size demanded restraint; only what was necessary was changed. The approach was intuitive and layered — pairing inherited pieces and antiques with contemporary finds to create rooms that felt as though they had evolved naturally over time.

Nothing is overly perfect here — that’s its charm. Pattern and patina sit comfortably beside practical ease, the sort of home where you can walk through the ground floor in welly boots without disturbing the beauty of the space. Lived-in, timeless and entirely authentic, this was a house designed not to impress, but to belong.