Meet the Designer Behind one of  Winchester’s Most Stylish Holiday Homes

​Designer’s Town House is more than just a holiday let in Winchester – it’s a one-of-a-kind Victorian home crafted by award-winning architect and designer Claire Hart. From bespoke cabinetry to antique details, this beautifully restored townhouse blends luxury interiors with thoughtful design, offering guests an inspiring and comfortable stay near the city centre.
The Designer's House is owned by award winning Architect and designer Claire Hart, a busy working mum with a young child. Claire has a portfolio career; she is a freelance designer, she manages her family lakeside holiday business and farm in Northamptonshire, and designs for a a bespoke cabinetry company https://modernenglishcabinetry.com/

Claire opened up the doors to her house in the summer of 2018 enabling guests to stay close to Winchester city centre in an individual stylish and quaint home.

Her love of food and cooking ensures guests will find a well equipped kitchen with everything you need from a good chopping board and sharp knifes to a blender, electric whisk, weighing scales and baking equipment.

A believer in quality you can be sure to enjoy interior luxuries during your stay; fluffy towels, sleeping on divine mattresses in Egyptian cotton, dining with bone china and cozying up with velvet cushions and throws are all special features throughout Designer's House that will make you not want to go home.

The combination of a deeply loved home and a true passion for design provides an unrivalled experience in a uniquely gorgeous home with real heart.

Service

Hosting with Care and Experience
Designer’s Town House is hosted by Claire Hart, an experienced and dedicated property owner who also runs other exceptional holiday homes, including Sonnenhof Juliet in the Swiss Alps and Brook Meadow, a multi-award-winning lakeside glamping and camping retreat in Northamptonshire. Claire’s hands-on approach ensures guests enjoy top-notch communication, a seamless booking process, and the highest standards of cleanliness. All of Claire’s properties are beautifully maintained, thoughtfully equipped, and designed with creativity and comfort in mind—providing a truly special and reliable experience every time you book.

Design 

This home has been a true passion project for Claire. She has kept many of the original features including, coving, fireplaces, archways and joinery.  She's employed a subtle palette of colours with a rich mix of quality finishes such as stone, rugs, luxury wallpapers, fabrics and chalky paints, and the decor encourages guests to relax and feel at home. Original artworks sit side by side with antiques, which have been reupholstered. Designer furniture has been installed adding a contemporary edge; and unusual touches keep the interior fresh. Bespoke built in cabinetry has been fitted throughout by Modern English Cabinetry; including fitted wardrobes, fire surrounds and the fitted daybed. These items are built in to the fabric of the building and appear to belong. The loose furniture pieces, chandeliers, pattern and colour add further layers.
Due to Claire's interest in the history of interior design and architecture, her built-in furniture replicates Victorian detailing, silk chandelier chain covers authentic to the period of the house have been used and ceiling roses have been installed to match in with the original coving.

​Antique Marie Thérèse antique chandeliers, venetian mirrors, light floors, high ceilings, large Victorian sash windows, light colours and southerly aspect ensure the house feels bright and spacious with a calmness through unity in design throughout. The atmosphere oozes femininity without being overly cute. The pink dining room utilises geometric black and white stripes to counter the femininity and softness of the antique pink walls by providing a cool edge.

Accommodations and companies Claire Owns & or designs for

Claire is an architect and designer and takes on occasional small to medium sized projects. Note website still under construction.
Claire is the designer behind Modern English Cabinetry.  The built in furniture in the house is designed by Claire and built by Modern English Cabinetry.  This includes the fitted wardrobes, fire surrounds, panelling to the hall and the stunning bespoke bleached oak kitchen.
In 2017  Claire moved from Winchester and returned to her family farm to runs her family's business, a lakeside holiday on the family farm in Northamptonshire where she has created multi award winning glamping accommodation and luxury camping.
In 2022 Claire's created her dream holiday home - a swiss retreat in the alpine village of Saas-fee, home to Wham's Last Christmas video!

About the Garden

The garden at Designer's House a little oasis containing a mixture of ferns, roses, hydrangeas, herbs, boxes and a magnolia tree. Guests can sit out during hot summer evenings under the parasol in a rich luscious green garden. The garden has evolved over many years and has many well established plants from pervious owners dating back some 25 years.