SHH's client purchased an existing property near the Devil's Punchbowl area in Surrey, set in its own vale and surrounded by 40 acres of private land. The property had originally belonged to a formal Royal Navy Admiral, who had built a Queen Anne-style house on the land in the 1950's and had landscaped the grounds meticulously to include a lake, a stream, wooded areas and a number of stairs, follies and more formally-planted areas. The house on the estate was replaced by a Georgian-style building in 2002. The singer Shania Twain had owned it subsequently for a brief period, but there were no further changes to the property until its new owners purchased it as a country home, to sit alongside their Mayfair and Belgravia properties. SHH was commissioned to refurbish the entire property and to add a 2,858sq ft rear extension, in order to improve the proportions of the rooms inside. The commission also included the design of a new build, 3 bed house in the grounds of the property, to offer additional guest accommodation. A new space was devised for each floor of the extended main house to improve the flow of what was previously a rather awkward set of spaces. The lower-ground floor also had to be completely demolished because it was leaking, due to poor construction. Externally, the property is clad in natural bath stone, with a brand new roof. Terracing to the rear was also greatly extended and the house's indoor pool has been extended by a further 7 metres. SHH's Interior Design, Decoration & Styling team created a new light and airy scheme for the interior. This uses punchy colours and furniture to build on a fairly neutral palette of natural stone and light coloured timbers. A large central atrium will link all four floors, with a spectacular carved stone central stair, top lit by a dome roof light. The house is suffused with natural light and has superb windows, serving as picture frames to give extensive views over the estate.