2019-06-01 25 Beautiful Homes

25bh | ideas to share

Room En v y

Each month we bring you a hotel space that intrigues, inspires and dazzles

Feature

Patrick Hamilton courtney

H

eckfieldPlace,a Georgiangemnestledin 400 acres

ofruralHampshire,is redefiningwhatit meanstobe

acountryhousehotel.Nowhereis thatmoreevident

thaninitssuperbinteriors.BenThompson,a young

designerwhoworkedunderIlseCrawford,wasbroughtintostyle

thehandsome18th-centurybuilding.HisworkatHeckfieldis a

studyineffortlesselegance;therearenogimmickshere,nosilly

flourishesordesignegosgonemad.Instead,thepared-backlookis

luxurious,culturallyinformedandsuitablymatchedtoitspastoral

surroundings.Thesophisticatedloungespacepicturedaboveis

a brilliantexampleofThompson’sworkonthisproject.Deep

upholsteredseatingincalmingivoryanddenimtonesinvitesguests

toimmediately feel at ease, while the collection of rustic potted

plantsandhonestybartraycontinuethehomelyfeel.High

ceilingsandoriginalplasterworkmouldinggivetherooman

innategrandeur,whichis softenedbytheoatmeal-paintedwalls

andfreestandinglighting.Displayedliberallythroughoutthehotel

areworksfromtheowner’simpressivecollectionofmodernBritish

art,includingthisstrikingtext-basedpiecebyDavidSpiller.The

overalllookfeelsappropriate,butwithcontemporaryflair.

Elsewhere,thehotelis hometo 44 bedroomsandsuites

finishedina similarlyclassicstyle,aswellastheluxuriousLittle

BothySpa,andtworestaurantsrunbyculinaryauthoritySkye

Gyngell.HercookingatMarleandHearthechoHeckfield’s

sustainableethos,providingnatural,authenticfood,mostly

sourced from the property’s own biodynamic farm and gardens.

Guestroomsfrom£450a

night, heckfieldplace.com

146 | 25bhjune 2019