A Storybook Cottage in the English Countryside Defined by Lived-In Creativity

UK-based Textile Designer Vanessa Arbuthnott invites us into her whimsical Cotswolds home, a true reflection of her imaginative spirit and signature fabrics.

What was once a derelict cow byre is now a storybook English country house—thoughtfully reimagined by Vanessa and her architect husband. The home is layered with charm, warmth, and a joyful sense of lived-in creativity. Vanessa’s beloved textiles are everywhere—draped on windows, wrapped around sofas, scattered across floors, and folded into every soft surface imaginable. It is a deeply personal home that celebrates imperfection and embraces daily life. There are open books on the cushions, games mid-play, fabric snippets and half-finished sketches strewn across tables.

Upstairs, a maze of tiny bedrooms connected by winding staircases and endless doors feels plucked from a Nancy Meyers film. And outside, a courtyard that strikes the perfect balance between formal and relaxed is framed by artisan studios where craftspeople “pay” rent in creative collaboration.