With a discerning curatorial eye and a confident sense of colour, artist and interior designer Joshua Hale transformed his rented Oxfordshire cottage over the course of a mere two weeks. His landlord is the watercolourist and designer Matthew Rice, who lives in Ham Court just up the drive (which was featured in House & Garden in January 2017). Joshua managed to negotiate a rent holiday which gave him the opportunity to dedicate himself to speedily refreshing the interiors over a fortnight.
His practice as a painter has undoubtedly informed the impulsive use of rich colours and compositional arrangement of antique curiosities and artworks throughout the cottage. Below, we delve into Joshua's sourcebook and discover the treasure trove of pieces that make up this quaint and distinctive cottage.
The dining area
Joshua's painterly tendencies have come to the surface on the dining table decorated with winding red and black snakes, which he did himself - the snakes were an impromptu addition wisely made after a glass of wine one evening. The bench behind the table was handed down by Matthew, who no longer needed it. They enlisted a local craftsman to cut it to size, so that it fits snugly into the alcove. The walls of the cosy space are eclectically decked out with classic blue Willow plates and paintings, while Staffordshire pottery figurines sit on the windowsill and shelf. The warm tones of the flatweave kilim rug pair well with the deep mustard of Farrow & Ball's ‘Wet Sand’, in which the walls are painted.
The kitchen
Joshua loves to cook, and the kitchen is his favourite room to spend time in. He prefers a kitchen to have pictures on the walls, hence the decorative plates and paintings that adorn the walls. A large, colourful canvas, painted by Joshua, dominates one tongue and groove-panelled wall of the small kitchen. This painting is inspired by the ‘hustle and bustle’ of one of Joshua's favourite Roman trattorias. The red backdrop of the artwork is picked up on by the classic Le Creuset casserole pot that sits atop the cooker.
A collection of Emma Bridgewater and Royal Crown Derby plates are artfully arranged on an impressive dresser that has been painted white and stands out against the deep wall colour, while a high-backed Orkney chair stands proudly in the corner.
The sitting room
Joshua's magpie-like eye for treasure has led him to some truly astonishing finds, whether they are hand-me-downs, discovered on his travels, salvaged from skips or bargains won at auction. The latter was how he came to be the proud owner of the denim-covered Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler ‘Lancaster’ winged armchair. ‘I spotted those telephone-shaped arms and my heart stopped’, says Joshua. The delightfully rich olive colour - ‘Light Bronze Green’ by Little Greene - grounds the eclectic yet cohesive colour scheme, while the white panelled ceiling brings in a brighter element to offset the darkness.
The spare room
In the small spare bedroom, Joshua decided to get crafty. He took a pair of scissors to the bed pelmet, tracing the botanical shapes of Le Manach's ‘Balmoral’ fabric, which results in a more interesting silhouette against the bright white of the sheer curtains beyond. These voile drapes were sourced from Ikea, as Joshua dislikes the 'the weird snobbery around expense that can exist in the interiors world. Things can be cheap and also amazing.'
