Capacious, classical, contemporary and comfortable. These directives were at the heart of the brief when we embarked on a project to redecorate an elegant eighteenth-century house in Norfolk. It needed to accommodate a large extended family who love entertaining and want to enjoy country life in this beautiful part of England. We wanted to combine a modern and more traditional approach to express their hospitable way of living. This meant adding generous sofas to the drawing room alongside a marble fireplace, Arts & Crafts 'Thebe' stools, an angular chandelier by Cox London and some of their collection of contemporary art. In the dining room, a specially commissioned table that seats 24 was combined with classical notes of gilt, brown and smart red leather chairs, all mitigated by the rush matting underfoot. The conservatory is light and informal and hosts another large table, but this time made of plywood. A generous oak leaf chandelier hangs from the skylight, in echo of the foliage outside. The bedrooms offer all the tenets of country house living, four-poster beds, working fireplaces and generous armchairs but are rendered contemporary in feel, through the use of bright rugs and sophisticated paint colours: yellows, citruses and blues.