07/10/2026
Heart Over Head: Four Features We Couldn't Let Go ✨
Most of our restoration decisions were guided by a simple belief: that heritage and modern life can sit beautifully side by side. As we brought County House into its new chapter, we took great care to preserve its architectural character while creating a welcoming, contemporary space for our family business. There were, however, a few features we simply couldn't part with; kept not for their practicality, but for their charm, their authenticity and the history they carry. These were…
Hidden above our windows, antique glass conceals the shutter workings; a small detail that took great skill to achieve. Few ever notice it, but we'd encourage you to look up.
Our flags are, admittedly, one of our less practical choices. With every gust of Sidmouth wind they wrap themselves around their poles, and Simon is dutifully dispatched to untangle them. But we wouldn't be without them; they lend County House a sense of regal heritage that feels entirely fitting for such a grand old building.
Two stone hexagons sit within the timber of our interior floor, painstakingly fitted and easily scratched. They ask for extra care, but their diamond inspired shape and the meeting of stone and wood capture what we stand for: heritage and modern retail, side by side.
Our curved side window is perhaps our most ambitious act of preservation. Restoring it meant sourcing new curved glass, commissioning experts to fit it, and remaking the surrounding carpentry by hand; a costly and time consuming process. Yet this historic feature is too beautiful to lose, and remains a wonderful example of craftsmanship and timeless design.
