Set high above the Meon Valley, this Grade II-listed Georgian house gazes out across Hampshire’s tranquil countryside. Every window captures a view of undulating green – fields, copses, and distant hills bathed in soft English light. When Philippa Thorp, founder of Thorp Design, first saw the property, its pink-painted brick and kaleidoscope of interior colours did little to hide its potential. “It had such lovely bones,” she recalls. “I knew immediately it could be something special.”

At the time, the house was an eccentric collection of buildings: two structures stood just three metres apart with no link between them, and over the years successive generations had added wings that stretched and skewed the original plan. Beneath that irregularity, however, Philippa could see the makings of something extraordinary. “By the time I sat at my desk that afternoon, I had sketched out the new layout on the back of a napkin,” she laughs. What followed was a complete transformation: a home rebuilt not just in structure, but in spirit.

The project was both ambitious and personal. Having bought the property in 2008 after her divorce, Philippa set out to create a sanctuary for herself and her three daughters – a house that would feel nurturing and deeply their own, but equally capable of hosting the gatherings and dinners she loved. The renovation was total: the interior was gutted, the 1960s extension removed, and a new basement excavated. The two separate buildings were joined by a glass link that transformed the entire layout, uniting what had been disjointed into a fluid, light-filled home.

The master suite captures this spirit of calm and craftsmanship. A soft, neutral palette flows seamlessly from bedroom to bathroom, where the Drummonds Spey bath, painted in muted earth tones, forms the serene focal point. Its sculptural lines are echoed by a marble-topped Lowther double vanity, lending a sense of quiet grandeur and permanence. “Freestanding baths always give you that ‘wow’ factor,” Philippa notes. “They bring a sense of grace and occasion to a room.” The result is understated yet indulgent – a restorative retreat overlooking the gardens beyond.

Drummonds pieces were chosen instinctively. “I’ve always loved Drummonds,” Philippa explains. “Our company is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and we’ve used them for decades – ever since they were a little reclamation yard on the A3. I remember buying old baths and having Drummond Shaw himself come to re-enamel them.” That enduring sense of craftsmanship remains central to her design philosophy. “You can’t easily find reclaimed baths like that anymore,” she says. “But with Drummonds, you still get that authenticity – that sense of permanence and proper British making.”

Elsewhere, practicality meets charm: the laundry houses a walk-in linen cupboard, the family dog, Ted, has his own washing station, and the ground floor is wired for music so that the house can transform from quiet retreat to full-blown party at the flick of a switch.

Today, the Georgian home stands renewed – elegant, personal, and full of life. In the light-filled bathrooms and fabric-lined halls, the blend of old and new feels entirely natural. Thorp’s hallmark philosophy, living in the details, runs through every room: a commitment to craftsmanship, proportion, and a kind of enduring comfort that never goes out of style.