Here to stay: the rise of the independent guesthouse

In the hit Netflix series The Perfect Couple, family and friends come together at a stunning Nantucket Island estate in Massachusetts for a wedding, and high drama ensues. But what’s also impressive is the glamour of the guesthouses on display, part of a growing trend to put up visitors in independent luxury, rather than in the main house with their hosts. It ensures that everyone can escape the drama, and affords privacy in which to relax.

You don’t, of course, have to be embroiled in a murder-mystery show to appreciate these advantages, which is why, in the real world, increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to have separate guest accommodation on their property. In the United States, you’ll find cottages on luxurious waterside estates, as well as ranches with old barns turned into ultra-stylish living spaces. In Europe, the outbuildings of French chateaux and Italian villas are often converted into stylish, modern guesthouses.

Britain has been slower to embrace this hosting style, but all that is changing. “Up to 40% of buyers are now looking for properties in which their family can be based in separate accommodation,” says Crispin Holborow, joint head of Savills Private Office. “People want a place where they can gather together. With families, it is about providing an environment that encourages the family to come and stay. A son and daughter-in-law with a young baby are going to be far more relaxed in a separate property and not be anxious about crying at breakfast. And for guests who are not family, it allows them to come and stay for a week but without everyone having to see each other for every meal.”

Planning has a role to play, too. “If you have a 4,000 square foot house, you may not be able to turn it into a 15,000 square foot house, but you might have a cottage or outbuildings you can replace or extend,” says Holborow. “If you’re in an area that is particularly beautiful, you will often find that, because of planning restrictions, your choice is to transform an existing building so there is no further impact on the environment.”

Repurposing, though, is no bad thing. “It gives new life to structures that might otherwise remain unused,” says Mike Fisher, founder and creative director of Studio Indigo. As part of the renovation of Fisher’s magnificent, early Georgian mansion, Ven House, in Somerset, the studio transformed a derelict stable block into a guest apartment. It’s situated in an 18th-century pavilion that was originally designed as a Roman triumphal arch, with the horses housed on the ground floor and the grooms above. “Externally, the façade and structure were left untouched to maintain their architectural harmony with the main house,” says Fisher. “Internally, the space was transformed to better serve modern living.”

Within the arch of the building is a raised kitchenette, which naturally separates the living and dining areas while preserving a sense of openness. The one bedroom includes a freestanding bathtub within the space for that luxury-hotel experience. “We retained the original features, such as exposed wooden beams, while introducing a more relaxed cottage-like aesthetic,” says Fisher. “This is a contrast to the grandeur of the main house, offering a charming, informal retreat with a distinct identity, yet one that still reflects the estate’s overall energy.”

While one-bedroom guesthouses are typical, they can often be larger. When interior designer Francis Sultana renovated Poston House, a handsome Grade II* listed shooting lodge in Herefordshire, he redesigned not just the main building with its three bedrooms, but also a four-bedroom outhouse within the grounds. “It had its own laundry room, which was very helpful for the housekeeper,” he says. “There was also a kitchen so guests could have a cup of tea or coffee and make their own snacks without bothering the host, which is particularly important for those with younger children.”

In the south of France, as well as a large family house, Sultana redesigned a five-bedroom guesthouse with a substantial kitchen, living and dining areas. He opted for similar décor throughout the estate, “but toned down slightly with fewer precious heirlooms or objects on show, and with more durable furniture and fabrics” in the guesthouse. As he says: “It is more like designing for hospitality, as you need to think about what will be robust and child-friendly. It’s important for guests to feel relaxed, and so if there are fewer things that might get damaged, it works for everyone.”