A beautiful former chapel, with honey-hued stone and charming features, has gone on the market in a quintessential Cotswold village for £750,000.
The Old Chapel is a chapel conversion nestled on a picturesque street in the sought-after village of Longborough, Moreton-in-Marsh. Dating from 1832, the property offers 1,498 square-feet of stylish accommodation spread over two floors.
While the style is contemporary and chic, the home still retains a wealth of attractive period features. Large windows allow natural light to flood into the bright living room, which is ideal for anyone who loves to entertain.
A magnificent original door makes a statement entrance into the modern rustic hallway, which leads to the open plan sitting/dining room. The original chapel windows and a fireplace with a woodburning stove make a cosy spot to curl up after those countryside strolls.
The stylish dining area sits beneath the chic mezzanine office, while the sitting area is double height with a beamed and vaulted ceiling. The cosy kitchen is finished in on-trend grey and would make the perfect spot for whipping up a roast or one-pot wonder.
The home boasts two bedrooms and two shower rooms on the ground floor, with a larger bedroom on the first floor.
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And when you want to enjoy that charming village vista, there's a lovely roof terrace for weekend breakfasts and brunching, and a terrace to the front for alfresco summer soirées.
Savills property agent David Henderson said: "I love the drama and style on offer at this former chapel, located in one of my favourite villages."
Longborough itself boasts fine period houses and cottages, as well as a host of country pubs and restaurants, while Stow-on-the-Wold offers specialist shopping and attractive antiques stores, and Cheltenham is nearby for more extensive facilities.
The Old Chapel is currently on the market with Savills for £750,000.
Want to escape to the country? Take a little tour of your new home below...
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13 things interior designers notice the first time they enter your home
The layout of the room
When designer Scot Meacham Wood first visits a client's home, he always picks out what isn't working (usually the layout and room function). Why? So he can offer solutions. "If we're doing construction, I look for architectural errors that we could fix, like poorly aligned doorways and oddly placed overhead lighting," he says.
If the sofa is against the wall
Within minutes of walking into a room, Sarah Vaile of Sarah Whit Interior Design says she's already reconfigured the furniture in her head. "Nothing drives me crazier than a sofa against the wall in a large room," she says. Bringing the sofa away from the wall can actually make the room look bigger.
MORE: 7 decorating habits that can make your home look smaller
Whether or not there are flowers
Small accents can say a lot, which is why CeCe Barfield Thompson of CeCe Barfield Inc always takes note. "Little touches help a space feel like a home," she says, like flowers by the door and an organised-but-used entry way.
The number of pillows on the couch
In this case, Vaile says more is always better: "It drives me crazy when there are only two sad throw pillows on a sofa." Not to mention that multiple throws will make your couch so much cosier. But, it's also about striking a balance and not having too many accessories that might end up increasing your stress levels. Take a look at 7 design choices you might not realise are making you stressed.
All the little items
The smallest items in the room catch interior designer Eche Martinez's attention: "I'm obsessive about spaces being uncluttered and personally prefer minimal styling," he says. "So many times I walk into beautiful homes only to encounter endless tiny memorabilia sitting on the mantle gathering dust!" Again, it's about striking the right balance between personalised and organised.
MORE: 20 organising tricks that have improved our homes the most this year
How shelves are arranged
Apparently, how you organise your books says a lot — at least, according to interior designer Frank Bostelmann. "Books stacked in piles generally show that no one is reading them and they are there as decorative props," he says. Personally, he likes his collection of hardbacks to be more accessible.
All the woodwork on the walls
We're talking about the trim, crowns and other millwork casings on your walls. "Investing in well-proportioned trims can establish the look and foundation of a room," says Bostelmann.
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Who actually lives in the home
It's all about the clients for interior designer Amy Berry. "Design is so personal and ultimately I hope to create spaces that reflect the people and families that inhabit them," she says. The clues she's looking for? The size of the family, if they entertain and what's on their wish list.
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What it smells like inside
According to Barfield, there's nothing more overwhelming than an over-powering fragrance as soon as you enter a home. "Whether it's too many candles, a powerful diffuser or incense, I can't help but wonder what they are trying to hide."
If the curtains touch the floor
Sure, it seems like a minor detail to you, but many designers said they (unfortunately for us) notice gaps when they exist. "I am always hyper aware of things that are out of scale," says Berry.
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How the bathroom is stocked
To Barfield, hand soap and clean hand towels are not only subtle, elegant additions to a powder room, but also important ones. "As a new mum, hygiene is definitely on my mind so why not encourage and elevate the hand-washing experience," she says.
If the decor matches
"There honestly isn't any judgment, if anything it helps point me in the right direction," Berry says.
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Where their furniture would go
Here's proof a designer's mind never stops working: "When I walk into a friend's home for the first time, I'm rarely (if ever) aware of their belongings," admits Wood. "In my mind, I'm always trying to decide how I would arrange my furniture in their house — not their furniture." Talk about passion for the job.
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