Mr & Mrs Smith

Didmarton House

Cotswolds, United Kingdom

It's no surprise that Didmarton House's owner is an acclaimed interior designer – one glance at the flea market treasures and modern flourishes (Philippe Starck chairs, black Smeg fridge, bold black and white photography) and you'll know you've reached style heaven. This fabulous farmhouse sleeps eight in four characterful rooms, and is just minutes from historic Tetbury.

Need to know

• Rates information Week-long stays are: £1,480 in low season; £1,675 in mid season; £2,285 in high season and £3,265 for Christmas. Shorter breaks are available for £1,110–£2,450.
• Ideal for Couples, families, sociable groups of friends, guests at a nearby wedding.
• Sleeps Eight (with space for two more in the studio on the grounds).
• Property style A detached 17th-century farmhouse built from buttery Cotswolds limestone, with the addition of a separate modern studio.
• Grounds Landscaped gardens (just under two acres) with a private terrace, child-friendly fishpond, lights and a tennis court.
• Minimum hire Two- or three-night breaks can be arranged (weekends and mid-week), but at Christmas, New Year, Easter, July and August, a full week’s rate will be charged.
• Children This is definitely one to bring the children to – the owner’s little one used to live here. More...
• Booking process 40 per cent of the fee will be taken via bank transfer upon booking, with the remainder due four weeks before arrival. A damages deposit (£500) will also be taken when the booking is made, and will be refunded within 14 days of departure, subject to inspection. A Smith deposit will also be taken.
• Also Diminutive dogs and cats can come too. Massages can be booked in advance.

Floor plan

• Bedrooms

  La Reine suite: What was once the attic is now a playfully seductive little love nest, all chunky-beamed ceilings, cosy corners and elegant Farrow & Ball paint. The bathroom is worth starting a dangerous liaison for alone: fairytale slipper tub, sexy buttoned-leather poufe, and whitewashed rustic furniture. An anteroom tricked out with a French writing bureau and some striking artworks (plucked from fleamarkets and New York galleries) leads into the debonair bedroom, which has a chateau bed, ornate chandelier and a set-the-mood nude.

  Beaufort suite: The Salon’s equine theme continues in this suite, which has a king-size bed, an ensuite bathroom, and French doors opening up onto a little sun terrace. This room feels bright and airy, decorated with a vibrant rug and some envy-inducing oil paintings.

  Dorothy room: Styled with Provençale charm, key features of this room include the wrought-iron king-size bed, plump Chesterfield, freestanding Victorian-style washbasin, exposed beams and white French window shutters.

  Toad room: This cosy little bedroom is designed for children, decorated with bright colours, a kitsch fabric hanging above the bed, and photos of the owner’s adorable little girl. The red double bed means the room can also be used by a couple, too.
   

• Kitchen

  There’s plenty to admire in this sociable space: a 1920s butcher’s block with undulating wooden curves, a beautiful black and white photograph of the owner and her daughter in Turks & Caicos, a glossy black Smeg fridge, an original Aga, tangerine Philippe Starck chairs, and plenty of assorted vintage treasures: framed insects and fungi, antique photographs from Brussels, and bold modern art. All the staples are tucked away in the cupboards.

• Living room

  The Salon takes inspiration from the horse-populated fields opposite the property – decorations include a red, retro horse painting and a few equine trinkets and statues dotted around the room. This room is the perfect setting for pre-dinner drinks, or late night cocktails. There’s also a cosy snug, with a 50-inch TV and a DVD player.

• Dining room

  The open-plan kitchen has a dining area with a hefty wooden table, and seats 10.

• Other

  There’s a utility room with a washing machine and dryer, sink, cleaning products, storage space and access to the log store.

  The area by the front door has been turned into a cosy little sitting area, with two chairs clustered around the wood-burning stove, and shelves laden with intelligent tomes – art, design, philosophy, wellness and fiction.

  The studio is a separate building opposite the main house, useful for accommodating extra guests, or for using as an office or creative space.

• Gardens There’s a tennis court next to the garden (rackets and a ball machine are stashed away in the studio).
• Private parking There is plenty of free parking by the house.