Kim Stephen’s Modern Country Interior Design in a Stylish Tudor Revival Home
Robyn Alexander
Before the read
Q: What is modern country interior design and how is it used in classic homes?
It blends rustic charm with clean, sophisticated elements—breathing new life into traditional styles like Tudor Revival.
Q: How does interior designer Kim Stephen approach a Tudor Revival renovation?
With a thoughtful mix of texture, tone, and function that respects the home’s character while adding modern appeal.
Q: What makes this Surrey home a standout example of contemporary country interiors?
It’s a seamless fusion of classic English architecture and laid-back elegance that invites modern, cozy living.
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In a Tudor Revival home in Cobham, Surrey, interior designer Kim Stephen has crafted a chic yet laidback take on modern country style
After spending a number of years searching for the right property in the ideal location, the new owners of this characterful tudor revival home in Cobham, Surrey, asked London-based interior designer Kim Stephen to assist them with its renovation. They wanted “a house that had a contemporary feel, but that was still homely and comfortable,” says Stephen.
Elegant country style entryway decor
Cozy modern country living room
Bright airy country style bedroom
After eight months of work, the update was complete, with the result being interiors that encapsulate the understated elegance that constitutes a very contemporary update on country living. The house is home to a family of five who moved to the United Kingdom from South Africa five years ago and is situated within walking distance of the heart of the village of Cobham.
Rustic country cool workspace ideas
Warm inviting country kitchen design
Very much in accord with the location of the house are its readily recognizable Tudor Revival elements—including classic half-timbering on the upper floors—which made the interior renovation project something of a challenge. “The ceiling lines in the bedroom areas really were a struggle as they were all over the show, at angles and starting at different points where the wall meets the ceiling,” says Stephen. This meant that using wallpaper was impossible in many of these first-floor spaces, and explains the very practical, yet also elegant, decision to either end wall paint colour an even 50cm below the ceiling line or paint ceilings and walls in exactly the same colour in several of the bedrooms.
Cozy neutral tone country bedroom
Minimalist country-inspired bathroom decor
Light filled modern country bedroom
Despite the challenges, the end result throughout the home is a feeling of cocooning comfort with a relaxed but contemporary aesthetic. “I used plenty of texture and layering to achieve this,” says Stephen, whose design style always balances sophistication with a relaxed liveability. The house is spacious, including five bedrooms and five bathrooms, but the interiors give it an easy-going appeal that means it never feels rambling or overly large. One of the key structural elements added during the renovation is a set of glass and metal interior windows (and a door), which were inserted between the entrance hall and the main living room of the home. These serve to demarcate and add a more intimate sense of privacy to the living room area while also allowing a clear view through to the front door.
Modern Country Interior Design
The choice of an early 20th-century industrial-style aesthetic for these glass and metal windows is an inspired one. They provide a subtle contemporary feel to the home while simultaneously complementing the more traditionally styled elements, such as the wooden staircase, which was also installed during the renovation.
Adding yet more up-to-the-minute appeal to the elegantly furnished living room are discreet touches of colour on scatter cushions and in artworks, as well as a plethora of indoor plants. Says Stephen, “I am a big believer in making a home come alive with greenery and it works especially well in this home against the textured charcoal wallpaper used in much of the ground floor.”
Beautiful rustic textures country decor
Relaxed modern country cool lounge
Classic country bedroom with charm
Leading off one side of the living room is a compact home office, while on the other side a pair of wood and glass doors opens onto the kitchen and dining area. These are open plan, with all the storage required of modern kitchen-diner spaces tucked discreetly away behind bespoke cabinetry designed and made by kitchen joinery specialists Martin Moore.
There is informal bar-style seating at a marble-topped kitchen island, as well as an elegant wooden dining table in an elongated oval shape (another of Stephen’s designs) surrounded by comfortable, upholstered dining chairs. Finishes and fixtures throughout this space—which include wood, marble, and brass elements—combine understated luxury with tactile appeal.
Country chic reading nook corner
At the rear of the house are a casually elegant outdoor living area and extensive lawn that form additional entertaining spaces, while the first floor is much more private, being entirely given over to the family’s bedrooms. These include a spacious and tranquil master suite with an enviable bathroom that sports cabinetry and wallpaper in a supremely chic shade of pale duck-egg blue.
Contemporary country-inspired workspace decor
The entire renovation of this home is redolent of Stephen’s signature style. Both elegant and playful—there is always a subtle touch of the unexpected to please the eye in these interiors—this house is sophisticated in design as well as being easy to live in.
