Formerly a wine merchant’s house, a girls’ school, and a doctor’s surgery, this Grade II-listed 17th-century house in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, has lived many lives. Its current iteration has seen a playful dimension introduced by a palette of spirited paint colours and beautiful materials. Spanning some 3,820 sq ft, the home encompasses six bedrooms and a set of generous reception rooms in addition to a long, private garden at the rear, filled with mature trees and shrubs.

Chipping Norton was granted a royal charter by King John in the early 13th century; it later flourished during the medieval wool trade, which brought great prosperity to the town. It has a wealth of period architecture, including a Norman castle, a Grade I-listed 12th-century church, and an array of Georgian domestic dwellings. 

With a 17th-century core, this house was refronted in the early 18th century with golden-hued Cotswold stone. It has rows of six-over-six sash windows - a Georgian hallmark - as well as the original carriage entrance to one side. Inside, period fireplaces and beams remain in situ, along with a number of additions made during the Victorian era. Careful consideration has gone into upholding the home’s period integrity while updating it for comfortable modern living. The current owners also worked with Farrow and Ball colour consultant Paddy O'Donnell to curate a selection of sensitive paint colours.