Red Devon House

The approach to Red Devon House, from any direction, passes rolling Cotswold countryside, dipping and turning past woodland, wheat fields and truly bucolic English country scenes. From the south, pass Beaufort Polo Club’s immaculate playing fields and Westonbirt Arboretum’s towering trees, while to the north lie the natural playgrounds of the Stroud Valleys’ rivers, woodlands and Commons. Turn off Bowldown Road into a private, tree-lined driveway which opens to a wide gravel courtyard and handsome Red Devon House commanding the view ahead, inviting the visitor to step inside.

Red Devon House has a unique and lavishly designed interior, making it a delicious treat for the senses, with every room having its own individual design and artwork that draws inspiration from the owners’ worldwide travels. The ground floor has two sumptuously furnished reception rooms - each with an open fire - a stunning dining room that flows through to an expansive kitchen (perfect for self or private catering) and a study, should work have to continue while staying. Practicalities have not been overlooked, with a large boot room and laundry room provided for guests’ private use. The main part of the house has six wonderful bedrooms and six uniquely appointed bathrooms, including a magnificent master suite, with a further two bedrooms in the East Wing, accessed through the main house or via a secondary staircase, making them ideal for accompanying staff.

Outside, there’s plenty for guests’ complete relaxation and entertainment, including an inviting, 5x11 metre heated, outdoor swimming pool that’s set within a Cotswold stone patio with a lawn surround. After taking a dip, stretch out on one of the sun loungers and imbibe the stillness and quiet of the natural surroundings, or enjoy a sundowner with your feet dangling in the water as you watch the sun setting over the fields. Wander over the wide lawn, enjoy a game of croquet or perhaps badminton, and if you wish to venture a little further, open the garden gate and walk over the fields along the footpaths to the village pub in Leighterton or on to Westonbirt Arboretum.

Next to the house, immediately outside the dining room, there’s a wide, sun-kissed patio with a long table and armchair seating for 14 guests and a Weber BBQ, at the ready to cook a delicious barbecue feast. To one side of the patio there’s sofa seating, providing an inviting alternative space to relax with a morning coffee or evening drink.

Ground Floor

The Entrance:
This stunning family residence has two entrances, the original and handsome front door, which opens into an S-shaped hall with a beautiful, polished stone floor. The ‘S’ forms the backbone of the ground floor, off which are all the downstairs rooms, which flow beautifully from one to another, creating a fabulous living and entertaining space. A second, less grand entrance, to the right-hand side of the main house, opens into a large back hallway and the East Wing. The owners opt for this more practical entrance, which is where we will start this journey through Red Devon House.

The Back Hall:
There is more to this back hall than most, with its long, wooden seat – the ideal spot to perch while taking shoes and boots on or off - and fitted rush matting, a must-have at a large country house. Jacket and coats can be hung on one of the many hooks, while hats, gloves, maps and other outdoor paraphernalia can be stored on or in a bureau. A back staircase leads up to the Safari and Art Attack bedrooms, making them convenient rooms for teenagers or accompanying staff.

The Boot Room:
More than just a place to drop of your wellies, the Boot Room has a sofa and chairs, hooks for coats and jackets, storage for sports equipment and pool towels, and enough wall pegs to hang 16 pairs of boots! Feel free to use the pairs that are hanging up, for your local adventures.

The Laundry Room:
An essential and functional room where staff or family members can keep on top of all the laundry, with a large washer and two dryers, a sink, laundry baskets, ironing equipment (including a pro-steamer) and plenty of space to organise everything. A door leads out to a wide lawn where there is a washing line.

The Kitchen:
The fully equipped, shaker-style kitchen, with heated polished limestone flooring, is a fantastic space for you or a private chef to create culinary delights for all the guests. At the centre is a large island with three barstools, the perfect place for a quick bite or a glass of fizz while the chef is busy creating the main event. A grand arch links the kitchen to the dining room, creating a fabulous space for lunchtime and evening entertaining.

The Dining Room:
The splendid dining room, with its oriental tones, features a beautiful long table with comfortable armchairs that will make long lunches and evening meals a key feature of your stay. Draw the curtains in the winter and enjoy the warmth as it rises from the underfloor heating or throw open the double doors and extend the dining out onto the patio.

The Sitting Room:
This sumptuously decorated room has the air of a safari lodge, with its Africa-inspired art, furnishings and sisal flooring. The room is at once light and bright, with views out to the main drive and front lawn, yet cosy with the open fireplace providing a warm glow on a winter evening. It is a superbly calming and welcoming room where guests can enjoy the 46” TV or simply relax with a drink or a book on a plump, sink-in sofa or curled up in the window seat.

The Study:
If work has to continue while away, what better place to do it than in Red Devon’s richly decorated study? Here you’ll find a large, Regency-style desk and chair, with a fabulous view across the lawn towards the swimming pool terrace. A sofa provides a place to relax between bursts of work. The study has a 40” Smart TV, so may be used as a secondary TV room.

The Drawing Room:
The elegant drawing room is opulently furnished, with beautiful sofas, armchairs and walls decorated with artwork from all over the world. As the name suggest, it’s the place to withdraw to, away from televisions, where you can enjoy an open fire with good conversation, perhaps a drink in hand prepared at the beautiful, antique drinks cabinet, or simply sit and absorb the view out to the garden or read one of the many exquisite design and travel books.

Cloakroom:
The downstairs loo, with its eclectic collection of art, including a fantastic Stars Wars Pez collection, is at the back of the main hall, in a handy spot at the centre of the ground floor.

First Floor

The Blue Orient Bedroom:
The master bedroom lies through a private doorway, off the main landing, past a magnificent ensuite bathroom. The bedroom is exquisitely furnished and decorated, creating a deeply cosseting space, with a superb super-king bed, antique, lacquered bedside furniture and sensual artwork. The chalky blue walls and moss green accents draw the eye in and on out through to the countryside beyond.

Ensuite Bathroom:
The bathroom, with its striped wallpaper and wall-length zebra wall art, is a wonderful space to relax and prepare for the day or evening to come. At the centre is a full-size bath with a distinctive, marble surround, while a double-width walk-in shower sits to one end, complemented by a double wash basin with a large mirror and a WC.

The True-Blue Bedroom:
This beautiful bedroom is sunny whatever the weather, with its blue, floral walls creating a light and bright ambiance. The super-king bed is overlooked by a splendid set of luscious blue lips while to one end is an elegant, glass dressing table and a nook with an armchair. True-Blue has an ensuite WC and wash basin.

Family Bathroom:
This bathroom has a sense of 1930s style with its Art Deco-inspired mirror and cream-coloured, marble bath and vanity unit surrounds. Enjoy a soak in the full-size bath, with central taps, or walk into the double-width deluxe shower.

The Flora Bedroom:
Delightful Flora exudes a country house feel, with its rambling rose wallpaper and furnishings with accents of pink. The bedroom has a super-king size bed and plenty of space to hang clothes in a walk-in double wardrobe. Gaze out the window to the fabulous country view unfolding in front of you.

The Wildwood Bedroom:
Sitting at the back of the house, Wildwood, with its winding woodland print, super-king bed, buttoned, end-of-bed bench and two double wardrobes provides of serene and calm space to retire to. A door to one side opens to a bathroom, which can either be dedicated to this room or shared, in a Jack and Jill fashion through a connecting door, with the Safari Bedroom.

Family/Jack and Jill Bathroom:
This country-house-styled bathroom has a full-size bath, with central taps and a hand-held shower, set within a cream-coloured marble surround, with a vanity unit and a WC and an antique dressing table and chair.

The Safari Bedroom & The Art Attack Bedroom:
These two delightful, cosy bedrooms are both furnished with a standard double bed and have plenty of storage with chests of drawers and wardrobes. They can be accessed through the Wildwood Bedroom or, more usually, via the rear staircase rising from the East Wing. They are ideal for older children wanting some independence or for guests’ accompanying staff.

Family Bathroom:
Sitting between Safari and Art Attack, this bijou bathroom has a small, single-ended bath with an over-bath shower, wash basin and WC.

Second Floor

The top floor is the perfect place for teenage guests to occupy and enjoy their own company, or nimble grandparents to climb to for some quiet away from the family hubbub!

The Icons Bedroom:
Right up in the eaves, this gorgeous ensuite twin bedroom, with original exposed timbers, has a quirky and fun feel as Marilyn and Audrey look down over the beds, blowing bubbles. Sit at the polished mahogany desk or enjoy the fabulous view to the front of the house from the adorable window seat.

Ensuite Bathroom:
This light and bright, baby-blue coloured bathroom features a full-size, single-ended bath with a hand-held shower, a vanity unit with a large mirror and a WC.

The Playroom:
This spacious room, with its majestic, exposed timbers, has two divan beds and plenty of floor space, which is ideal for lounging on the floor while playing games, hanging out listening to music, or reading the wide choice of books. (The divans are generally set up as sofas but can be made up as single beds on request for +2 guests.)

The Lookout Bedroom:
High up, looking out over the Cotswold countryside, this bedroom feels rightly named with a stunning view that can be enjoyed from the cushioned window seat. With the air of a beautiful glamping pod, the Lookout is furnished with a king-size bed on a low base, a large wicker chair, a leather-topped desk and benefits from a large walk-in wardrobe. (The Lookout is only accessed through the Playroom.)

Family Bathroom:
This relaxing bathroom is a great place to soak while gazing up at the sky or, indeed, the remarkable exposed timbers that arch above. There is a full-size bath with over-bath shower, a large custom-built vanity unit with a wash basin and mirror, and a WC complete with Mickey Mouse on hand!

Outside

The magnificent interior of Red Devon House is perfectly complemented by its stunning grounds. As you drive through the main gate onto the gravel courtyard, the house sits proudly ahead, with a lawn and a covered pond to one side. Open the garden gate to the side of the house and step into the expansive garden with its long and wide lawn surrounded by hedges and flowering borders. A gate at the far end opens to a footpath and uninterrupted countryside beyond, with a trampoline to one side for the youngsters, or for the young at heart.

To one side of the lawn is a large patio, immediately outside the dining room, furnished with a long table, seating and a BBQ, simply crying out to host a fabulous outdoor feast. Comfortable sofa seating provides an alternative space to relax with a morning coffee or evening drink. Head left across the lawn, up three wide stone steps to the fantastic, heated, 5m x 11m outdoor swimming pool. Here you‘ll find sun loungers, drinks tables and perfect peace and tranquillity.

The gravel courtyard to the front of Red Devon House provides space for up to eight cars.