Nestled amongst the rolling hills of the South Downs in West Sussex, Cowdray is one of England’s finest Estates, boasting true rural bliss and tranquillity. Unbeknownst to many, there are four luxury holiday cottages across the Estate that serve as the perfect getaway for families, friends, and couples alike.
Ambersham House, which sleeps 6, is the most recent property to be added to Cowdray’s holiday let portfolio, joining Challens Yarde (sleeps 8), Costers Lodge (sleeps 6), and Apsley Cottage (sleeps 4). All the cottages are tucked away in the beautiful West Sussex countryside, located in the most charming and unique locations, and have all been decorated with both style and comfort in mind, with open-plan living areas, fully equipped shaker kitchens, and beautiful gardens.
All the interiors were curated by Amelia Heggie, founder of Studio Denim, a boutique Interior Design studio. Amelia has been in interior design, for both commercial and residential properties, for the past twenty years. She spoke to us about the design process, what inspired and drove the vision for each property, and her favourite features of each.
What are some of your biggest style inspirations?
“I find inspiration in everything around me and am always taking photos so I can remember things that have caught my eye. Art and film are also incredibly inspiring; Wes Anderson films, for example, are full of wonderful symmetry. My mother also loved design and is a big inspiration of mine.”
What are some of the values that are important to you whilst you design?
“Sustainability is very important to me; it’s why I love the natural finishes and high-quality paints. I then spend time hunting for vintage pieces and antiques to add personality, style, and texture. I also love finding and working with local suppliers, so for the Cowdray cottages, I found pieces from Midhurst and Petworth.
“Ultimately, my ethos, and something that inspired the name of Studio Denim, is that interiors should be like good quality denim: age beautifully and withstand the test of time.”
What drove many of the design decisions behind Ambersham House, Apsley Cottage, Costers Lodge and Challens Yarde?
“I always consider the building itself, and all the individual locations of each property. I wanted to make each comfortable and functional, marrying old and new.
“For example, for Ambersham, I wanted to make the most of the setting, given it’s situated so close to the historic Ambersham polo fields. We brought the outdoors in by using a lovely colour pallet, layering natural colours and muted tones to curate this.”
What was your vision for the cottages, and who did you imagine there whilst you were designing?
“I wanted each of the cottages to be a true rural escape for its guests. It was all about curating something for people that they don’t have at home.”
How did you choose the art going into each property?
“Choosing art can be difficult; it’s very personal so you don’t want it to be too themed.
“My ambition was to bring ‘happy art’ into all the cottages as this is how I wanted guests to feel whilst they were staying here.
“The cottages also have a few gallery walls, which give a very homely feel. It gives the impression that the collection of art has evolved and come together over time in a considered way.”
What are your favourite features in each of the properties?
“For Ambersham House, I love the hallway and the flow of the property between the hallway, kitchen, and dining room – it’s designed beautifully. I wanted to enhance this by using the layered blues and greens throughout and incorporating a shaker-style kitchen.
“For Costers Lodge, it’s also the hallway! The property is so grand with its high ceilings and open-plan design, and I wanted to enhance this with bold coloured paints, wallpapers, and tiles throughout.
“For Challens Yarde, the master bedroom; it has a mezzanine level, which I think is so special, and a wonderful feature for guests to enjoy.
“And finally, for Apsley Cottage, the location. When you’re in the dining room with a roaring fire, you feel as if you could be in The Holiday!”
What’s your favourite part of the design process?
“The undoing and then the redoing. All the properties had magnolia-coloured walls and white gloss woodwork when we started, and the process of reimagining the cottages and curating them to be what they are now, was so fun.
“For Ambersham in particular, it was such a collaborative process with an incredible team, and I was brought in right at the start. I was included in every decision, and it was so helpful to have a talented team to sense check ideas with.”
