Life at Mulberry House is elegant and easy – a world of simple, minimalist luxury married to 18th-century grandeur and sophistication. Tactile textiles abound, in cool, clean, block-painted walls and wooden floors. Squishy sofas invite coffee and crosswords. Homely rugs inject a happy warmth.
Life here revolves around the open-plan kitchen/diner. There’s space to gather around the giant farmhouse table, to laugh and relive the day and plan for tomorrow over a pitcher of wine and a plate of braised chicken and beans.
After dinner, get the fire crackling in the living room and crack on with cards, games and stories, or gather round the giant TV for a family film night. There’s space to be apart here, too, with toys, books and DVDs a delightful diversion.
Under the spotlit ceiling, chop and chat in the fabulous open-plan kitchen/diner. At your disposal are an electric range double oven, induction hob and microwave. There’s a butler sink, but the dishwasher might be more attractive after a tipple or two.
If you prefer resting to roasting, options abound. Shout for our chef and you’ll enjoy anything from a specially prepared meal to a fully catered holiday using fresh local ingredients. Why waste time washing up? We’ll do that, too. Alternatively, we’ll simply drop delicious dishes off and leave you to it.
Out and about, River Cottage Restaurant in Axminster promises a seasonal taste of celebrity dining. You can sink an oyster or six at Hix’s, while a 40-minute drive gets you Michelin-starred dining in Dorchester. There’s heartier fare on offer at the Red Lion in Axminster or the Talbot Arms, just a windy-laned stagger away.
Sleeping 12-14, Mulberry House’s bedrooms have an individual and simplistic elegance served with a side order of woodland views and rural silence. You’ll be squabbling over a super king, three king-sized and two twin bedrooms. Two z-beds complete the nocturnal options.
Four of the rooms come with en-suites, two have Jack and Jill bathrooms and one makes use of the family bathroom. So a long soak won’t lead to short tempers.
Just a 30-minute walk away from the endless pleasures of Lyme Regis and the South Coast, you’d be forgiven for wanting to head straight for the sand, but at the same time there’s enough for all ages at the house – inside and out.
When the kids have had their fill of movies, music and books, let them loose in the gardens to soak up the sun and the fresh southern air while challenging each other to a stretched out game of football – or boules.
