Photographing the work of three of my clients on one renovation in the heart of Cirencester was such a wonderful collaboration.
Owners of this Grade II listed property are Stratton House Hotel. Renovating the building was Inndecs. And finally the Dyer Street Interior Design was designed and implemented by GR Design Studio.
I’ve been working with Stratton House Hotel for years now and I was so excited to photograph their very first fully serviced apartments are now available to rent in the heart of Cirencester. An additional accommodation offering for those visiting the Cotswolds and requiring more space than a hotel room.
The apartments are located on Dyer Street, right in the centre of the historic market town of Cirencester. They are a perfect Cotswolds bolt hole for families, couples and business travellers looking to explore the beauty of the Cotswolds.
The Dyer Street property has two apartments. You can see the three bedroom apartment here:
This two bedroom apartment is on the ground floor and even has its own mini terrace which is used to access the property.
There is a spacious and airy open plan living/dining area complete with comfy sofa, which is also a sofa bed for an extra guest (or 2 in a cosy way!) and dining table and chairs for 6 guests.
The entire property including the upstairs apartment can also be rented as one for larger groups and the interconnecting doors unlocked for this purpose.
The booking link is here.
“This shoot is based at Dyer Street in Cirencester, a Grade II listed property full of character and history. The house dates back to the late 18th/early 19th century and has a fascinating past, it was once the home and practice of Dr. R Edgar Hope-Simpson, a notable figure in epidemiological research. There’s even a plaque outside that tells part of the story: in 1947, with support from the Medical Research Council, Dr. Hope-Simpson set up a research unit here, followed by a virus lab in the 1960s.
When Aidan bought the property, it was being used as office space and a flat. The vision was to bring it back to life as two beautiful, character-filled apartments- each with its own feel but both staying true to the building’s roots.
The upstairs flat leans into its heritage charm, with original features lovingly restored and a soft, timeless colour palette that enhances its period details. Downstairs, where much of the original character had been lost during its time as a doctor’s surgery, the space has been completely reimagined into a modern 2-bed flat with a separate entrance through a private courtyard garden. While the layout and style are more contemporary, there are thoughtful nods to the building’s past – like framed newspaper clippings that were discovered during the renovation, now proudly on display as little time capsules of the house’s story.
Across both flats, we’ve woven in artwork and design details that celebrate the old while introducing fresh energy. This shoot is about capturing that balance, the blend of past and present, the beauty of restoration, and the creativity involved in making something truly special from such a unique building.”
GR Design Studio
Thank you to my Clients who have provided the words for this blog.
“The key goal for this shoot was to capture a collection of inviting, beautifully styled images that would help promote the two newly renovated apartments on Airbnb. Since the flats form part of Stratton houses offering, the photos needed to do more than just show the space – they had to tell a story. We wanted to highlight the building’s historic charm, showcase the thoughtful design details, and make sure the listings stood out in a competitive Airbnb market. The aim was to give potential guests a real sense of the atmosphere, comfort, and character they can expect when staying here.”
GR Design Studio
Why did you choose Carlé & Moss / Nikki to take your interiors photographs?
“We have commissioned Nikki previously to photograph the public areas at Stratton House Hotel and the Spa and know that she delivers exceptional true to life and exquisite on brand interiors imagery. She was the obvious choice for us for this photography brief.”
Aidan Stevens – Owner of Stratton House Hotel
“This project at Dyer Street is a great example of the kind of work we do at GR Design Studio, thoughtful, story-led interior design that brings spaces to life while honouring their history. As the interior designers for this project, our role was to reimagine both flats in a way that felt authentic to the building’s period charm, but also made them feel warm, welcoming, and ready for modern living.
A key part of this project was ensuring that everything we specified met commercial standards, given that the flats are now available to book on Airbnb. Every finish, fixture, and piece of furniture had to be both durable and beautiful – able to withstand the wear of a short-term rental while still offering the comfort and charm of a boutique stay.
This wasn’t about creating statement pieces or filling the space with high-end, expensive items. Instead, we focused on smart, budget-conscious design – using accessible, off-the-shelf items in a way that feels curated, homely, and full of character. From the framed newspaper clippings found during the renovation to carefully chosen artwork and soft furnishings, every detail was designed to elevate the space without overcomplicating it.
This project reflects our broader approach to design: creating spaces that are stylish, practical, and grounded in real life.”
GR Design Studio
What was the business need that pushed you to seek out professional interiors photography?
“We have recently added two further properties to the Stratton House Hotel accommodation options. The renovations of a Grade II listed property in Dyer Street, Cirencester have provided our guests with even more choices for accommodation according to their holiday needs.”
Aidan Stevens – Owner of Stratton House Hotel
“This project was a commercial to residential refurbishment for our client. Having explored the holiday market he wanted to convert this property into an Airbnb. Whilst the upstairs was fairly straight forward, the downstairs was an old office and required substantial works to convert. Working alongside GR Design, we were able to convert this listed building back to a beautiful residential property.”
Inndecs
“Working with Nikki was honestly such a joy. She brought such a calming presence to the whole process, it never felt rushed or overly staged, which made it really easy to relax and trust her vision. That ease and sense of flow made the session feel really natural, and I had complete confidence that the final images would be beautiful. And they absolutely were.”
GR Design Studio
“Working with Nikki at Carle & Moss was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. She was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which instantly put me at ease, and brought such a calm, professional energy to the shoot. Her attention to detail and ability to capture the atmosphere of a space is second to none – the final photos were absolutely beautiful and really told the story of the project in a way that felt both authentic and elevated. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with Nikki again and highly recommend her to anyone looking for thoughtful, high-quality photography.”
GR Design Studio
What were the key images required for this shoot/session and what was the business need that drove this decision?
“The newly renovated and refurbished property at 86 Dyer Street in Cirencester has been sympathetically completed and we needed high end interiors images to showcase and sell these serviced apartments.”
Aidan Stevens – Owner of Stratton House Hotel
“We understand the importance of the quality of finish on projects like these, but we also have a thorough understanding of the property market too, this enables us to work with the client efficiently to ensure they are getting the best possible result for the budget employed! We can also work at speed on projects like these, so that the client get it renting it sooner and make their money back!”
Inndecs
“We’ve been working with Nikki for four years now and we know that she always delivers. Her images are exceptional and her planning is second to none. The perfect combination when your business is running at a fast pace. It’s so easy; you just give her the brief and let her get on with it. She is enthusiastic about our business and takes genuine delight in her engagements with the team and the projects she works on. She’s one of our biggest cheerleaders! We are delighted with the results as we knew we would be and are looking forward to the next project with her.”
Aidan Stevens – Owner of Stratton House Hotel
“The day ran smoothly, and it all felt really well organised from start to finish.”
GR Design Studio
What advice would you give anyone planning their own interiors photography session(s)?
“Nikki is great at planning and scheduling her interiors photo shoots to ensure that everything is captured and nothing is missed. This time spent in the preparation is essential (and something Nikki insists on!) and means that the shoot will go smoothly and give you the images you need. Nikki also takes the time to understand your brand and how the images should look from a lighting perspective to reflect the overall look and feel of the property. My advice would be to let Nikki take the lead on this. Invest the time, spend the money. You won’t be disappointed.”
Aidan Stevens – Owner of Stratton House Hotel
To commission bespoke interiors photography and/or film for your completed Interior Design project to provide you with this high level of imagery to enhance your business, please do get in touch.