It was a deceptively simple brief: the father of this young family wanted somewhere he could feel relaxed in the minute he walked through the door. That meant giving this tasteful Berkshire new-build a special sense of warmth and softness. The house is hidden in an orchard and built with reclaimed bricks: inside, I made best use of the natural light with mirrors, lots of neutral tones and plenty of curves – from the kitchen table to the rugs in the lounge. The house gains its distinctiveness too through those signature family touches – like the feature lampshade in the conservatory and the bespoke wallpaper in the boys’ playroom.