Oak House No. 1

OAK HOUSE NO 1 ROCKS. Step inside this luxurious Georgian townhouse in the Cotswolds, and walk into a Chelsea designer den of jewel colours, lavish artworks and chic furnishings that’s bursting with visual Wow.

Designer collectibles – wacky art, ornate mirrors and eclectic objets d’art – are set against walls in full-on shades of scarlet, pewter and jade. Trad mixes irreverently with contempo-cool in an irresistible mix of rustic and rock star glam. One thing’s for sure – Oak House No 1 is anything but your average B&B.

Interior designer Gary Kennedy and his partner Nicola imbue this anything-but-ordinary Cotswold gem in the market town of Tetbury with a chilled and sociable vibe that makes guests feel they have arrived at a wealthy friend’s hip hideaway for the weekend. While it’s great for twosomes, Oak House No 1 is also tailor made for small groups looking for a sumptuous private homestay.

Metropolitan mood

Huge and glamorous bedrooms – rich in colour and designer detail – are made for privacy and indulgent stays. The most opulent of the four is the Cavalier suite, with its expensively silk-smothered four poster bed, charcoal-grey walls and tartan-clad armchairs. A second bedroom that forms part of this suite – the Library – sports an elegant metropolitan look with its monochrome prints and mirrors.

All come loaded with luxury: Frette linen sheets, cashmere throws, an iPod dock, flatscreen TV with Sky channels, DVD/CD player and silver tea set with home-baked cakes ready to nibble on and a fridge stocked with champers. There’s even a complimentary gift to take home.

Brick-red walls set off the kingsize four poster bed in the Prince’s suite, traditional in style but with an arty twist. The Garden View suite contrasts with soft, creamy tones, a kingsize mahogany sleigh bed and elegant antiques.

Glossy bathrooms made for pamper-time sport the best in glass and chrome designer fittings. Expect power showers, Molton Brown body products, fluffy robes and super-thick towels. Two even have an Aquavision TV for you to watch while soaking beneath the suds.

Dining at Oak House No 1 is en famille around a huge dining table laid in crystal and bone china. Fellow guests – and your hospitable hosts – ensure it’s a sociable time and the cooking is first-rate. Have a drink in the blue-walled, Tibetan-rugged sitting room to start, or enjoy the fabulous secluded rear garden, with its pot plants and parasols, on warm summer days.

© Room for Romance