17th Century Cottage in Cotswolds Expanded Using a Delightful Modern Reading Room

Altering a historic home comes with its own set of perils and is a task that demands plenty of care along with the right approach and execution. Reading Room designed by George King Architects in Cotswolds, England is one such elegant project that saw a modern reading room being added to a seventeenth century cottage even while linking the old with the new in a seamless fashion. The home is located next to Uley Bury, an Iron Age hill fort and the new reading room extends into the garden even as those inside can enjoy lovely views of conservation area around this classic residence.

Gorgeous-new-reading-room-extension-blurs-lines-between-the-interior-and-the-exterior-37871 — Gorgeous new reading room extension blurs lines between the interior and the exterior

The design of the reading room is essentially simple and modest with sliding glass doors being used to connect the interior with the landscape outside. The glass doors disappear into the dark wooden walls and sections that contain open bookshelves. The bookshelves along with locally sourced stone walls give the interior a modern-classic look while the skylight ushers in more natural light. Décor inside the house also features a bespoke design with plywood frame and adds to the sense of uniqueness of this 16 square meter British reading room where the ambiance is relaxing and cheerful!

Classic Cotswold stone walls make a big impact this cottage extension

Custom-furniture-of-the-reading-room-adds-to-its-unique-style-38335 — Custom furniture of the reading room adds to its unique style

Garden-adds-to-the-style-of-the-reading-room-while-extending-the-interior-outdoors-56481 — Garden adds to the style of the reading room while extending the interior outdoors

Glass-walls-and-doors-that-dissappear-when-not-needed-completely-open-up-this-reading-room-to-the-world-outside-94891 — Glass walls and doors that dissappear when not needed completely open up this reading room to the world outside

Historic-site-and-a-heritage-cottage-get-fabulous-modern-reading-room-that-offers-connectivity-with-nature-34145 — Historic site and a heritage cottage get fabulous modern reading room that offers connectivity with nature

New-reading-room-extension-to-classic-17th-century-cottage-in-UK-27699 — New reading room extension to classic 17th century cottage in UK

The new extension is clad in charred timber to reference the original dark stained windows, Victorian ironwork and wooden beams of the cottage while the interior finishes are light birch plywood to complement the existing Cotswold stone walls. These walls were in a poor condition having been painted previously and so were restored by stripping off the paint, repointing and repairing where necessary in order to expose the beautiful Cotswold stone