“I’ve always retreated to making as a form of therapy,” explains Amanda Bannister.
“I love making and I love looking at other people’s craft and engaging with other makers, so when the cottage next door came up for sale, and the concept of a holiday home emerged, I decided to use it as a vehicle to celebrate British craft.”
The exterior of the Craftsman’s Cottage, which is built out of Shaftesbury greenstone with a slate roof.
The bench and peg rail in the hallway are by Another Country. It was important to include examples of contemporary design as well as British antiques and heritage brands (Ercol, Liberty, Heals), so there is a Russell Pinch table, sofa and chairs.
In the main living room is the Boyd sofa and Brody high-back armchair by Pinch Design, The coffee table and Hardy chair are by Another Country.
The bespoke, Shaker-style kitchen is by deVol.
A double butler sink looks out over Semley Common.
I want people to pick up a Knighton Mill jug, fill it with water and put it on the table.”
The breakfast nook, which overlooks the garden, comprises an oak settle and table made out of a local Semley oak tree.
In the main living room is an early (circa 1960) blue label sideboard in elm with beech legs by Ercol—an English furniture company still working from High Wycombe.
Anglepoise lamps in Seagrass in the twin bedroom. The cottage sleeps six in the main house, with room for another couple in the annex.
The master bedroom is decorated with GP&J Baker ‘Nympheus’ wallpaper.
A late Victorian mahogany chest of drawers with Edwardian barley twist framed mirror above.
A view from the hallway into a wood-paneled WC.
A set of four historical prints in the WC, which is stocked with Bramley products, which are made entirely from British plants.
A view of the exterior of the Craftsman’s Cottage. There is outdoor seating for eight and a grill and preparation area.
The self-contained annex is available to hire if your party exceeds six.
The annex has an open plan living area with underfloor heating at ground floor level and a mezzanine level that sleeps two (with room for an infant).
The kitchen in the annex is by Sebastian Cox for deVol. There are empty milk bottles in the kitchen which you can take to the local dairy and fill with fresh raw milk for just £1.
A sunny reading spot in the annex.
The cottage has proved so popular that Amanda is looking to roll out the concept to other properties, and organize craft-making events and bespoke workshops for guests, including a collaboration with the nearby Messums Wiltshire, a pioneering gallery and arts center that opened in Tisbury last year.