Interior Design for Heritage Estates & Rural Diversification

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Dorset based interior designer for estate cottages, barns, listed buildings and agritoursim ventures

Preserving the character of heritage estates while helping farms and estates unlock new life through rural diversification.

From listed farmhouses and estate cottages to barn conversions and agritourism ventures, every project is approached with the same sensitivity to history and an understanding of what it takes to make a space commercially viable.

Thoughtful interiors for rural diversification

Interior design for Pig Set Parley Manor Estate Cottage for Grooms Party
Interior design for Pig Set Parley Manor Estate Cottage for Grooms Party

I'm passionate about creating spaces that are luxurious, practical and built to last. From barns and farm buildings to estate cottages and outbuildings, I combine a flair for style with an eye for detail, helping landowners turn redundant spaces into holiday lets, wedding venues and agritourism ventures that are as commercially viable as they are beautiful.

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Heritage & rural diversification expertise

A well-designed space doesn't just look good, it works harder. Whether it's a heritage estate that needs to function for modern living, or a barn, cottage or outbuilding being converted into a holiday let, wedding venue or agritourism business, every design decision is made with commercial viability in mind alongside character and craftsmanship.

With over 20 years of interior design experience, I find the sweet spot between practicality, beauty and return on investment, delivering spaces that support the people who live in them and the businesses that depend on them.

Our Work

Preserving character, building value

Every space should reflect its purpose, whether that's a family home, a heritage estate, or a rural building with a new commercial future. Good design preserves what makes a property special while making sure it works, practically and financially, for the people who own it.

From listed farmhouses to barns converted into holiday lets and wedding venues, the aim is always the same: interiors that support the atmosphere a space needs to succeed, and the return it needs to deliver.

Heritage Interior Design

Heritage estates, listed buildings and period properties require an eye for detail and sensitivity to cultural and historical influences. I restore and reimagine historic spaces, balancing practical, modern living with genuine respect for the past.

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Hospitality Interior Design

Turning a barn, farm building or estate cottage into a commercial success takes more than good looks. I design interiors for holiday lets, wedding venues and agritourism ventures that are robust, characterful and built to perform, standing up to years of guests while staying true to the building's history.

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WHERE WE WORK

Our Coverage

I create beautiful, commercially considered schemes for heritage estates and rural diversification projects across Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, the New Forest and London, with occasional projects further afield for the right venture.

  • Dorset

  • Wiltshire

  • Hampshire

  • The New Forest

  • London and Southern England.

Our Feedback

  • "Sonia re-designed our main bedroom and en-suite bathroom and also oversaw the completion of the work. Previous builders had been unable to solve the various problems associated with the design and construction of our 18th-century cottage. Sonia worked closely with us to achieve and then exceed our expectations. The bedroom is now characterful and practical whilst the bathroom has a freestanding bath and large shower despite its sloping ceilings. Both rooms appear more spacious and have been carefully thought out. We are delighted with the results. Sonia was easy to work with and professional at all times. I would highly recommend her services."

    National Trust Heritage Cottage, Wimborne, Dorset

  • "Sonia at Aucott Interior Design was able to breathe life into a rather neglected shop and produce stunning plans for Thorngrove's future development. Sonia was a pleasure to work with and we look forward to working with (her) again soon"

    Garden Centre Client, Gillingham, Dorset

  • "We have worked with Sonia for a few years now, giving her the brief to make our window display fabulous and appropriate for our local community. We are a Funeral Directors, so Sonia has to not only be considerate of her design but also, while swapping our window display by the season, be respectful of our clients and business around her whilst working. We can highly recommend both her design capability but also her professionalism while on site. Sonia has also created competition windows for us—and we have won an award for our 'In Bloom' competition in our town. Sonia has also worked with our Corfe Mullen branch, which is newly built and a blank canvas, and has made our reception and family rooms and Service Chapel warm and welcoming, but also beautiful. We look forwards to working with Sonia on our next project."

    Funeral Directors, Wimborne & Corfe Mullen, Dorset

  • Sonia’s eye for detail and wonderful knowledge of colour, texture and fabrics was put to great use in our home. She advised on everything from furniture, rugs, fabrics, wall coverings, paint colours, and lighting. Her extensive knowledge of the atmospheric use of colour, lighting and her use of existing fixtures, fittings and paintings encouraged my choice of colours and gave me confidence to create a refreshed, updated and totally new look for the rooms that I needed advice for. Using Aucott Interior Design has been absolutely invaluable. If you want to make confident choices then I highly recommend this investment which will have a lasting impact on your interior choices giving you the confidence to create wonderful, welcoming rooms in your home. Thank you Sonia.

    N Brearley, Private Client, New Milton