Meadow Lodge

At the edge of a beech wood, with a wild meadow unfurling beyond the windows, this delightful 3-bedroom barn is bathed in birdsong and dappled light. Yet it’s only 3 miles from the historic colleges, galleries and café tables of Cambridge; ideal for those who want both countryside hush and city buzz. Owned by Simon and Sophie, it has been dressed with her interior designer’s eye but shaped by the family’s heart: this was once their home. Over 10 months, they slowly transformed it from a humble office annexe to this dreamy retreat, whilst raising 3 small boys and coaxing the surrounding land into bloom. And that sense of lived-in warmth is what makes it sing. This isn’t a house that’s been filled in one go, but one gathered over time. There are bespoke linen sofas from Caravane, tapestry-upholstered armchairs inherited from Sophie’s French grandparents, an oak dining table handmade by her godfather, a 19thC indigo wall hanging from Japan, and bamboo threaded throughout to tie it all together.

In spring and summer, the soundtrack is pure countryside theatre – swifts slicing through the sky, bees humming over the lavender; it feels slightly Provençal. As the seasons turn, the beech trees cast a copper glow, owls hoot and the strange cry of muntjac deer carries through the trees. Beyond the meadow, Cambridge offers just the right counterpoint year-round: culture, a little wandering, punting on the Cam, brilliant food. And if the day calls for less doing and more drifting, you can book a massage or simply read under the linden trees.