Aintree Holiday Cottage (at the back of the courtyard to the left of the central arches) was once a stable, but you would never guess it. The front door opens into a lofty drawing-room, large, handsome and rather grand - more country house than holiday cottage, with its pictures, 18th century engravings, lamps, books and flowers. Through the French windows is a large terrace, with magnificent views over the lawn and borders of the walled garden. Inside, there are stone-coloured chintz curtains, trimmed with Colefax & Fowler fringe, which hang in generous folds to the floor, their colour echoed in the windowpane-checked loose cover of the huge, down-cushioned Howard sofa. There's a smaller buttoned sofa in a subtle green Lelievre velvet, and a big comfortable armchair.

A large gilt mirror over the antique pine mantelpiece accentuates the elegant proportions of the room. The walls are stencilled in a fern pattern, green on green, by Jocasta Innes, author of 'Paint Magic' and more recently, design guru for Tate Modern. There's a vast ottoman in front of the open fire, covered in a rosy rust kelim. To one side is a tall George III secretaire and opposite, a painted bookcase with a large collection of books.

Opening out of this room, and facing west through its own trellised arbour, is the oak-beamed kitchen, floored in pale apricot terracotta. The walls are yellow, the units off-white, and there's a handsome Irish antique pine dresser, its shelves crowded with blue-and-white china.

A flight of stairs leads up from the drawing-room to the landing, its walls festooned with Spy engravings of Victorian and Edwardian worthies. On the right is the master bedroom, large, airy and dominated by a magnificent mahogany four-poster bed, which is hung in indigo-and-white Ralph Lauren cotton, and has a matching quilt. The buff of the walls is set off by thick cream cotton damask curtains. An elegant little fauteuil by the oak bureau and a white buttoned armchair offer a chance to relax in peace.

The large ensuite bathroom, which is stencilled in a willow pattern design (again by Jocasta Innes), has a power shower over the bath, a bidet, a mahogany-seated lavatory and a huge marble washstand with inset basin, which runs the length of the wall.

There is a shaving point and a heated towel-rail.

To the left of the staircase is a twin-bedded room decorated in a terracotta Farrow & Ball paper, with two handsome antique beds marbled in green and terracotta. Opposite is another twin-bedded room with a leafy Nina Campbell wallpaper and brass beds. They share a bathroom with a marble-topped washstand, a lavatory, a bath with power shower, a shaving point and a heated towel-rail.

Facilities

• Sleeps 6 plus cot
• 1 double with ensuite
• 2 twin
• Private terrace
• Oak-beamed kitchen
• Rustic decor
• Books for the family
• Open fire
• Four poster bed
• Power shower
• Heated towel rails

About Bruern Holiday Cottages

Bruern Holiday Cottages, comprises twelve five-star graded luxury self-catering cottages, which sleep two to ten; they were converted from the mellow stone Victorian stable yard and outbuildings of Bruern Abbey, a handsome eighteenth century house visible over the trees opposite. Our self-catering holiday cottages are uniquely stylish and luxurious, and exceptionally well equipped, with open fires, antique furniture and four-poster beds, as well as state-of-the-art kitchens and bathrooms.

Each self catering cottage is decorated differently, and has a private enclosed terrace with garden furniture, a big white umbrella and a barbecue; many self-catering cottages at Bruern have their own secluded gardens too. All of our self-catering cottages have full oil central heating, (thermostatically controlled), a stereo system, CDs, satellite TV with all premium channels plus Disney, and videos with access to an excellent video library.

Each self catering cottage has a good collection of books and board games as well. All of our self catering holiday cottages have direct-dial telephones with automatic billing, power showers, microwave ovens, dishwashers, washing machines, tumble dryers and fridge-freezers. Cots, high chairs and stairgates can be supplied. Cleaning equipment, towels and linen are included: guests can ask for backboards, and choose duvets or blankets (non-allergenic if preferred).

There's a wonderfully generous welcome basket provided at our self catering cottages with cheese, butter, milk, tea, coffee, cereal, eggs, chocolate, a bottle of wine, and homemade bread, jam, cakes and biscuits. So that even though Bruern Holiday Cottages describes itself as self-catering you can have something to eat and drink on your arrival, without needing to visit the shops first. Bruern Holiday Cottages have won the Excellence in England Gold and Silver Awards in 1998 and 2003, official recognition that we are the top providers in luxury self-catering holiday cottages in the UK.