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Project Details:
Products Used: Hazlebury Limestone Seasoned, Carrara C Marble Honed
Bespoke Details: Costa Smeralda Granite Worktops & Window Sills, Carrara C Honed Tabletop, Crema Marfil Honed Marble Vanity & Shower Niche, Juparanda Bordeaux Granite shower wall
Designer: Alexandra Young
Photographer: Patrick Williamson
Nestled within the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this country house and estate is surrounded by ancient woodland, rolling landscapes, and endless opportunities for walking, horse riding, and mountain biking. When the clients purchased the property, they sought to strip back the ostentatious layers left by a 2014 refurbishment and re-establish a connection with the natural setting.
The brief was to create a home that was earthy, textural, and reflective of the family’s love of the outdoors. Alexandra Young began with practical “back-of-house” rooms, including a boot room, complete with luxury boot warmer for skiing and equestrian gear, and a map and storage space to house climbing, biking, and other equipment, before moving into a full renovation of the house.
At the heart of the design was a desire to bring the outdoors in. In the kitchen, Costa Smeralda granite was chosen for the worktops and window sills. Its soft, organic green tones mirror the gardens beyond and sit beautifully against raw oak cabinetry, allowing the kitchen to flow naturally into the surrounding woodland when the steel doors are opened wide in summer.
The expansive kitchen also features a reimagined antique scrub table, its extended legs topped with Carrara C honed marble, introducing a break in the long island and providing a gentle transition between the working and social zones. Beneath it all, the floors in the entrance hall and kitchen were laid with Hazlebury Limestone in a seasoned finish, grounding the house with a rich, farmhouse character - a deliberate contrast to the polished marble flooring previously in place.
Upstairs, Alexandra reconfigured one side of the property to create a new master suite, designed to embrace views over the gardens. In the bathroom, Crema Marfil honed marble brings a soft, subtle character to the vanity and shower niche, its warmth perfectly paired with blush herringbone tiles and Edward Bulmer’s Jonquil paint. This gentle combination creates a feminine, tranquil atmosphere.
For contrast, a bold feature shower wall was clad in Juparana Bordeaux granite, a richly veined stone that reminded the client of climbing expeditions abroad. Its deep, natural character harmonises with bespoke bronze Drummonds fittings while balancing the softness of the Crema Marfil elsewhere in the room.
In the adjoining bedroom, Crema Marfil continues across bookshelf seating and the fireplace hearth and back, creating a subtle continuity that ties the suite together and complements the fabrics and furnishings with understated elegance.
Every design decision, from relocating staircases and vaulting ceilings to sourcing antique furniture and commissioning bespoke cabinetry, was made to restore balance to the property. Alexandra’s choices brought texture, warmth, and authenticity back into the house, resulting in a home that now feels deeply connected to its landscape.
“Ca' Pietra have been one of our go-to suppliers for many years, and one that we know we can rely on to provide excellent customer service, detailed product knowledge and advice and of course high-quality beautiful products” says Alexandra. “Our Account Manager was always responsive to our queries, along with being on hand for advice on which product would be the most suitable for our design. And the joy and ease of working with the bespoke team always ensure a successful outcome for our projects. In my view, the products are the ultimate in luxury and refinement for any comfortable country house.”
