GRACE UNDER PRESSURE

Having endured fire, flood and storm damage over the past eight years, this 16th-century cottage belonging to Jo Brown has been beautifully restored to become a home full of elegance and style

Every house, they say, has a story to tell. And this cottage, home to interior designer Jo Brown has, over the years, clocked up quite a few. Situated at the foot of the Surrey hills, it is in an area of outstanding natural beauty, with picturesque villages, bridleways and footpaths giving way to views that stretch for miles. ‘From the top of Leith Hill you can see both into London and down to the South Coast; it’s the main reason I wanted to live here,’ Jo says, of the impetus behind her move from city to countryside 22 years ago. ‘I have had horses all my life so needed a safe and beautiful area to ride and also walk my dog. As soon as I stepped into this house all those years ago, I had a very good feeling about it.’

Dating back to the 16th century and built as a humble two-up two-down with a brick façade, the cottage had maintained its cosiness inside. It also boasted an intriguing history. ‘It was once used as a smokehouse, where all the local meat was cured,’ Jo explains. ‘When I moved in, the giant pulleys for the meat in the replaces were still in place!’ Thankfully, the grime of the smoking days has long gone and, in its place there’s a sophisticated interior scheme consisting of neutral tones and natural textures.