Berkeley Hawkes Debuts With A Historic Cotswolds Barn

Rip & Tan: Your Cotswolds’ Barn project was your first as a studio—what was it like launching Berkeley Hawkes with such a personal space?

Berkeley Hawkes: It was the perfect way to launch the studio. We had total creative freedom, which allowed us to really showcase our style and explore the full range of our vision and values—to create something that felt quietly atmospheric, grounding, and alive.

Rip & Tan: How did working together as a mother-daughter duo shape your creative process?

Berkeley Hawkes: Although this was our first project as Berkeley Hawkes, we both brought years of experience to it. Laura spent nearly two decades designing and running sought-after location houses across London, and Gracy grew up immersed in that world, absorbing the process until we eventually designed the final house together.

There is a natural rhythm to how we work. We know each other so well, and that history brings real trust and ease to the creative process. We often draw from the same eras and materials, shaped by visits to historic homes and palaces we have explored together, but interpret them differently. That contrast and balance is a defining part of the studio’s aesthetic. We are also both naturally organized and detail-driven, which brings structure and clarity to every project. We also challenge and shape each other’s ideas in conversation, a collaborative process that leads us to the most considered outcome.

Rip & Tan: How did the rural landscape and history of the Cotswolds inform your palette, materials, and layout decisions?

Berkeley Hawkes: The barn was built in the 18th century and sits just beyond Cirencester, once the largest Roman settlement outside London, so we drew from Georgian symmetry and Roman and Italian influence. Surrounded by greenery and honey-coloured Cotswold stone, the palette was guided by its setting—warm neutrals, soft greens, and autumnal tones that echo the shifting landscape through the seasons. Natural, sustainable materials that patina were used throughout to create a sense of grounding and to honor the history of the building. The layout was considered to strengthen the connection between house and landscape. The kitchen was kept close to the rear garden, and internal walls were adjusted to encourage a more fluid flow of movement and light, an approach that underpins every project we take on.

Rip & Tan: What role does tradition play in your design approach—especially in a location so rooted in history?

Berkeley Hawkes: Tradition grounds a space—it gives it depth, weight, and meaning. In many period properties, we restore what would have originally been there, reintroducing detail and proportion. We believe that in doing so, you give the soul of a place back to itself. In a landscape so steeped in history, tradition becomes a natural framework. It is not about replicating the past but allowing it to guide the present. We often layer in pieces from earlier periods—antique furniture and salvaged architectural elements, letting each one bring its own quiet story. These references to the past create a gentle dialogue with the present, and it is in that tension that a space gains its richness and atmosphere.

Rip & Tan: How do you strike the perfect balance between rustic textures and refined details?

Berkeley Hawkes: It is all in the layering and in knowing where to let contrast live. There is a rhythm to those pairings—a neutral linen beside a richly coloured velvet, a tadelakt wall with crisp nickel fixtures, something structured set against something relaxed. It is not about strict rules but about creating moments of tension that feel rich and natural, bringing just enough contrast to make a space feel considered, yet deeply comfortable.

Rip & Tan: What advice would you give to clients who want to create a space that feels both intentional and lived-in?

Berkeley Hawkes: Only bring in pieces you really love, things that make you feel something. Let go of the need for perfection. Embrace materials that age over time. We always design with all the senses in mind. How a space feels is just as important as how it looks. Thoughtful lighting, color, and textures are the things that build atmosphere and create a space that feels gently alive.

Rip & Tan: What did this project teach you about your aesthetic as a studio?

Berkeley Hawkes: That contrast and balance are at the heart of everything we do—between rustic and refined, old and new, structured and relaxed. This project helped us articulate what matters to us—calm, grounded homes with emotional depth. Spaces that are not over-styled, but are layered, personal, and timeless.