When architect Tom Gresford, founder of Gresford Architects, set out to retrofit a 1960s bungalow in the Oxfordshire countryside, the goal was twofold: achieve the rigorous EnerPHIT (Passivhaus retrofit) standard and create a joyful, sustainable, and personal sanctuary for his family of four. The design is a celebration of the couple’s heritage and travels. They used Western Red Cedar to clad the exterior, which they harvested almost entirely from trees on the site, and they organised the interior around a series of colourful boxes, separated by sliding pocket doors and inspired by the silk palettes of traditional Japanese kimonos.“We have coloured boxes that make up a series of contained, functional spaces, and they're all painted different colours, inspired by my wife's life in Japan,” says Gresford. “So each colour is a colour of a kimono, or relating to a colour of a kimono.”The kitchen island, topped with 50mm Caesarstone Mink, sits in the centre of the home, creating an anchor for the family who wanted a “great relationship between cooking, eating and living”, as well as an orientation to — and breathtaking views of — the landscape beyond. The overall vision is truly remarkable. Then, you look closely and discover little details that make such a big difference: the double sink on the island (so washing up and drying dishes won’t clutter the counter), the Quooker tap that’s ready when you are, and a professional-grade BORA downdraft hob that draws steam down instead of up. The finishes tie the look together, with Flint and Natural Oak seamlessly bringing the outside in (aided by the extensive areas of glazing and the Cotswold landscape). With the colourful boxes, joyful living abounds. There’s even an indoor slide connecting the first floor to the ground, so the kids and grown-ups can arrive playfully in the kitchen every morning.