Jewel Bright

Vibrant shades of sapphire, ruby and turquoise bring a real sense of exuberance to Nellie Shepherd and Andy Charlton’s pretty cottage.

- Maggie Colvin

Friesian cows graze in the meadows surrounding Andy Charlton and his fiancée Nellie Shepherd’s farm worker’s cottage in Cheshire.Having found the secluded property, Andy bought the house so that his dog Kirsty’s barking wouldn’t disturb any neighbours.

Once Andy moved in, he began to alter the property’s configuration. His first decision was to turn the garage into a summer sitting room, as there was plenty of parking space out front. ‘It’s south facing, so I installed windows along the south side, and some French doors at the end opposite the kitchen, opening onto the garden,’ he explains. ‘This room now feels beautifully airy and light, in contrast to the dark and cosy winter sitting room. It also makes a perfect overflow space for parties, which tend to focus on the kitchen.’

Andy owned a lot of brown furniture, maroon carpets and Persian rugs, but when Nellie came into his life, she added a lighter, more feminine feel. ‘I softened the look with foliage and my floral paintings,’ she says.