Aintree (at the back of the courtyard to the left of the central arches) was once a stable, but is now more country house than cottage, let alone stable. In fact it ranks among the most elegantly decorated luxury holiday cottages in the UK,
The front door opens into a lofty drawing room, large, handsome and rather grand, with pictures, 18th century engravings, table lamps, books and flowers, and walls painted in Farrow and Ball’s ver de terre. There’s a vast, down-cushioned sofa in a Colefax and Fowler albeck rose gold; a small buttoned Victorian sofa in a subtle green Lelievre velvet and a big comfortable armchair. There is a club fender surrounding the open fire, and a large ottoman covered in a kilim. A tall George III secretaire is on the left of the fireplace next to the French windows to the terrace, and at the back of the room a big pale wood art nouveau sideboard is full of toys & board games. (Another treat for the children is the den under the stairs with its own door, and inside, dressing up clothes, more toys and a cooker). It is strictly out of bounds to all grown ups.
Opening out of this room, and facing west through the French doors to its own trellised arbour, is the oak beamed kitchen and dining room, floored in pale apricot terracotta. The walls are white, the units are mizzle with brass handles, and there’s a handsome Irish antique pine dresser, carrying an appealing display of blue-and-white china. The round pine pedestal dining table has chairs with cushions.
On the working side of the kitchen there’s an impressive American style fridge-freezer, hob, and oven, dishwasher, plate rack, microwave, Belfast sink and washer/dryer.
