We were invited to film this project with Claudia Dorsch Interiors in September 2025, capturing one of her most striking recent transformations - a complete redesign of a traditional country house in the heart of the Surrey Hills.

In this feature, we step inside a home that balances heritage and modernity - where bold contemporary design meets the warmth of a timeless family residence. What was once a dark and compartmentalised Tudor Revival house has been reimagined into a bright, open-plan home, surrounded by nature and flooded with light.

Across this tour, Claudia shares how she approached the project from the ground up - reconfiguring the flow, layering textures and tones, and introducing modern detailing while preserving the home’s soul.

Defining the Brief

When a young family decided to leave the pace of London behind, they found their forever home in Wonersh Park - a serene pocket of Surrey countryside surrounded by ancient parkland and a glistening lake. The house, part of a former 17th-century deer estate, carried immense charm but little light.

Inside, small windows and low ceilings made spaces feel enclosed, and the interior offered only glimpses of the beautiful gardens outside. The brief to Claudia Dorsch was clear: open it up, bring in the light, and create a timeless family home that feels equally modern and rooted in its heritage.

Transforming the Flow

Working in collaboration with local architects, Claudia and her team reimagined the ground floor layout entirely. A new open-plan kitchen, dining and living space now forms the heart of the home - a generous area where light floods in through ultra-slim sliding doors and skylights.

The extension subtly connects the house to its natural surroundings, while a pair of symmetrical adjoining rooms - a family snug and a library - create balance and flow. Throughout the plan, Crittall-style glazing introduces rhythm and visual continuity, while practical utility spaces are hidden seamlessly behind the scenes.

The Kitchen: Refined and Dramatic

The kitchen is both a showpiece and a workhorse. Designed in collaboration with Arclinea, it’s a study in contrasts - black rough-sawn oak, leathered black lava stone, and polished stainless steel sit against sand-coloured flagstone-effect flooring.

A concealed butler’s pantry hides preparation and storage zones, ensuring the main kitchen remains calm and sculptural. It’s an environment that feels robust yet refined - a perfect reflection of Claudia’s modern country aesthetic.

Designing for Light

Much of the home’s transformation came from carefully orchestrated architectural changes. Low ceilings were levelled, beams removed, and heavy doors replaced with elegant glass Crittall frames to invite natural light deeper into the house.

The staircase became a striking focal point - now featuring slender metal spindles and a bespoke glazed wine room beneath. Across the ground floor, lighting design played a vital role, layering functionality with atmosphere. Fixtures from leading Italian brands bring warmth and versatility to every corner, with soft oak floors tying each space together in a bright, modern finish.

Suite Comforts: Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Upstairs, the home’s five ensuite bedrooms and two additional bathrooms each carry a distinctive palette, unified by tone and texture. Claudia’s approach was to celebrate individuality within harmony - combining marble, onyx, zellige, and printed porcelain for a collection of spaces that feel bespoke yet cohesive.

Soft greens, blues, and blush tones bring calm and continuity from room to room, creating restful sanctuaries for every member of the family.

A Room with a View

The main living room epitomises the project’s spirit - modern, comfortable, and full of light. Oversized sliding doors frame views of the garden, while a Calacatta Vagli marble fireplace by Chesneys anchors the room with quiet elegance.

Custom bookcases painted in a soft violet tone complement the marble’s natural veining, introducing Claudia’s signature play on colour and symmetry. The furnishings are deliberately minimal, allowing the architecture, and the view, to take centre stage.

Modern Hideaways

On either side of the new kitchen extension sit two very different yet equally thoughtful spaces. The library is designed as a calm retreat - dark oak joinery, balanced storage, and a large central table make it both functional and deeply personal.

Opposite, the movie snug embraces mood and intimacy through deep petrol-blue tones, richly textured fabrics, and carefully layered lighting. Together, these spaces show how colour and proportion can completely redefine atmosphere within the same architectural framework.

Anything but the Downlight

Lighting is often the unsung hero of great design, and here it takes centre stage. From recessed LED floor washers to statement chandeliers by Flos, every circuit was considered to transform the mood from day to night.

The staircase alone features six lighting layers - each creating depth, drama, and warmth. Throughout the home, wall lights, picture lights, and pendants were chosen to complement the mix of old and new, enhancing the home’s quiet modernity.