A food writer's idyllic 600-year-old cottage in Berkshire

When food writer Juana Pepa first came across this 600-year-old cottage in Berkshire, she was only looking for a weekend house. Her family had been coming to the area on a weekly basis, staying in rundown Airbnbs and hotels, but the constant to-ing and fro-ing was starting to take its toll. ‘In the end,’ Juana explains, ‘I just really wanted to feel at home on the weekends.’ And so the hunt began for a house that was small enough to be cosy and inviting, but with room enough for Juana, her husband and their two young children. ‘Then I found this cottage and it was not little,’ she laughs, ‘but it was super charming.’

Though the Tudor cottage is Grade-II listed, it had been gently modernised by previous owners which meant no structural work was required and the decorating process could begin right away. Juana began refreshing the interiors based on shorter stays, making decorative decisions that lent themselves to weekends away. Baths were installed instead of showers, walls upholstered in fragile fabrics and the kitchen painted in a sunny yellow hue. ‘But a couple of months after we bought it, my children started to say that they didn’t want to leave and we decided to move here full-time. It turns out, having a weekend house and a house for every day is totally different. I can't always take baths!’

Tom Griffiths

Luckily, the house had great bones for full-time living, and even with all the classic Tudor hallmarks: low ceilings, dark wood beams, stone mantlepieces, it remains surprisingly airy. ‘I think it’s rare for a house this old to be so light,’ says Juana. ‘One of my favourite spaces is the dining room, which has these two large windows which you can open and it feels like you’re outside.’

MAY WE SUGGEST: At home with Argentine food writer Juana Pepa as she prepares for an abundant Easter

Whilst many of the original features had been retained, there were a few period-insensitive additions that needed attention. The ceilings were full of spotlights (‘those had to go!’) and fitted carpet had been used throughout. To her delight, when Juana pulled up the carpet, she found old pine floorboards underneath. ‘Some of the boards were damaged, so we took up some wood from the barn and used it inside. Now we have these colourful “patches” of floor that are different throughout the house. I think it brings so much character.’