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Photography by Luke Atkinson. The Quist Treehouse based in Herefordshire. By Harriet Churchward and Matt Pescod

Nestled in the woodland of Herefordshire, The Quist offers a secluded and luxurious escape, embodying the perfect blend of natural beauty and high-end comfort.

This two-story treehouse, perched atop Merry Hill, has been three years in the making: one year for design, one year for planning, and one year for physical work. Accommodating up to four guests, it combines off-grid living with modern amenities, including an ethanol-fired burner, a Swedish wood-fired hot tub, a spacious reclaimed stone bath, and luxurious bedding.

'Lilac Pink' Sitting Room

'Lilac Pink' panelling with bare plaster ceiling. The cabin is gas heated, but a fire felt essential.

A charming and cosy wood-panelled hideaway sits on an 800-acre property in Herefordshire by Harriet Churchward an entrepreneur with a passion for interior design and her husband, Matt Pescod a carpenter and musician, combined their skills to create this unique treehouse. Harriet, whose family run a popular wedding venue on the estate, saw the potential for a small business. Matt, with a background in the music industry, realized his dream of building a treehouse after a year of planning and another year of construction, with occasional help from subcontractors for plumbing and electrical work.

“We wanted it to feel like a home belonging to someone who lives off the land: nothing too fancy or at all suburban but full of personality: someone really cares about this place.” says Harriet
Lilac Pink panelling adding warmth and a welcoming feel to The Quist
'Lilac Pink' walls, one of our bestselling neutrals as backdrop
Harriet says that the Arlow & Jacob sofa, which came out of their own living room, is “so big and squishy” that at least three guests have bought one for themselves.

'Lilac Pink' and 'Pompadour' Kitchen and Dining Room

Thoughtful Design and Natural Aesthetics

The interior of The Quist showcases the use of Edward Bulmer Natural Paint colours, Lilac Pink in the entrance as well as open kitchen and dining space, Etruscan Brown on the stairs, and Cinnamon in the guest bedroom. We were thrilled designer Harriet Churchward chose our paint colours for the treehouse which enhance the natural ambiance. Some of our bestselling neutral colours which add warmth and depth to the space, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere. Emphasizing sustainability, all materials are locally sourced from Herefordshire, ensuring an eco-friendly retreat that supports the local economy.

To make the most of the space, they created a dining area with nook seating. Matt built the table from “super fat dowels” and rounded the outer edge “so people don’t catch their hips.”

“Matt researches everything to the nth degree and found our solution: it’s not a wood stove, it’s an ethanol burner—something new that people need to know about because they’re great. You pour liquid ethanol into a cavity and light it with a long match. It kicks out a lot of heat and is smoke free (no ash or soot)—and doesn’t have a chimney, plus it can be moved around.” – Harriet   

'Lilac Pink' walls and 'Etruscan Brown' on the staircase
Harriet found the old ceramic salting sink on Facebook Marketplace: “It was in somebody’s back garden full of rain water and moss. They went with deVOL’s Aged Brass Mayan Taps.
The compact curtained kitchen has become Instagram famous, backdrop to 'Lilac Pink' on the panelling.

“A lot of the design came out of material we had available. The log ends in the gable were the final construction detail—we made them from leftover wood. I wanted texture and details that signify this is not just any cabin.” – Harriet

The wooden wall paneling in 'Lilac Pink' was a joint project: “Matt applied strip after strip; I primed and painted two coats on each,” says Harriet.
The terracotta tiles on the counter are from Topp’s Tiles, “the UK’s most bog-standard place to get tiles,” says Harriet. The blue sliver of a backsplash are encaustic tiles from Otto Tiles. For details on the frilly hanging light, see our recent Trend Alert.
An Indian stainless steel plate rack from Stovold & Pogue neatly holds all the dinnerware, plus cookbooks, sun hats, and games..

Features and Amenities

The bedroom project was a collaborative effort involving interior design studio Cote de Folk. Expertise has resulted in a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing environment, perfect for relaxation and reconnecting with nature.

  • Secluded Location: Provides complete privacy with breathtaking views.
  • Luxurious Comfort: bio fire, an ethanol fireplace, high-quality bedding, and a stone bath.
  • Relaxation: Swedish wood-fired hot tub for a unique soaking experience.
  • Design Excellence: Interiors by Harriet Churchward using Edward Bulmer Natural Paint colors Lilac Pink, Etruscan Brown, and Cinnamon.
A ladder staircase leads to the top bedroom. “We couldn’t just put in a stair,” says Harriet. “With everything, we asked ourselves, ‘Is this too much like an urban home?’—and if it was we kept thinking.”
A considered space x Munro and Kerr wavy lampshade - Harriet wanted '"low lighting throughout to create a candlelit feel."

'Cinnamon' Bedroom

The downstairs bedroom, accessed off the entry, has a clever sliding headboard: the beds can be set up as twins or pushed together to form a super king. The thatched ceiling is rush matting from Brandon Thatchers and the striped duvets—a king-size design that Harriet cut in half—are by Australian line Society of Wanderers.

'Cinnamon' against the twin beds
'Cinnamon' on the panelling. Matt built the peg rack from offcuts, and “used personalized napkins rings from our wedding as loops,” notes Harriet
'Cinnamon' fills the space with warmth and its reflection works perfectly with the natural materials

'Lilac Pink' Bathroom

Curtains on a whittled branch divide the the washing up area, with an old concrete industrial sink (“so big you put your toiletry bag in the middle”) from the bathtub: “it’s a stone tub from Lusso,” says Harriet. “A wacking piece of white porcelain would have looked out of place, but I wanted something clean and really luxurious.” The toilet is another successful eco discovery of Matt’s: it’s an incinerator loo.

Plaster walls with the reclaimed stone bath
The barn door leads to the bathroom.

A Labour of Love

The exterior features a wood-fired hot tub and an outdoor shower, while the interior is adorned with unique details, such as plaid sink skirts, that guests love to replicate at home. The biggest challenge, according to Pescod, was committing to the project knowing they had to build the 960-square-foot structure 1,000 feet up a hill without turning back: “The biggest challenge was the mental shift of knowing that as soon as we pressed go, there was no stopping; we were going to have to build this 960-square-feet structure 1,000 feet up a hill,” says Pescod.

The shower was planned for the bathroom until Harriet realized this was a prime spot for showering with a view. The green zellige are from Otto Tiles.

The couple opted for a chunky stone bathtub because a white ceramic one would have felt too out of place in a forest. The plan was to have the shower in the same space, but at the last minute, Churchward moved it to the external wall. “There’s nothing like taking a hot shower outside,” she says, “and as it’s a treehouse in the middle of nowhere, people push their comfort zones a little bit.” Going with green zellige tile was a style-driven choice (it echoes the lush landscape), while opting for an unlacquered brass showerhead and taps was a practical must: “I do not want to be polishing metal all the time! It’s aging beautifully.”

The magical exterior of The Quist

Exterior part of The Quist which looks out onto picturesque views of Herefordshire and beyond
This two-story treehouse, perched atop Merry Hill, has been three years in the making.
Emphasizing sustainability, all materials are locally sourced from Herefordshire, ensuring an eco-friendly retreat that supports the local economy.
The wood-burning hot tub took a while to heat until Matt figured out a way to speed up the process using an industrial blower.

Nearby:

The Quist is well-located with quick access to outstanding beauty spots, wild swimming, canoeing and thriving villages and towns.

Weobley (8 min) has all the essentials while Hereford (18 min), with its breathtaking Cathedral and the Mappa Mundi, has great cafes, independent shops and a thriving market. Small-but-mighty world-famous Hay-on-Wye (32 min) is a must visit.

The Quist in a peaceful woodland in rural Herefordshire
“A lot of the design came out of material we had available. Those log ends in the gable were the final construction detail—we made them from leftover wood. I wanted texture and details that signify this is not just any cabin.” – Harriet

The Quist promises an unparalleled retreat experience, blending luxury with sustainability in the heart of nature. For more details and bookings, visit The Quist.

Instagram: @the_quist_treehouse

All photography is by Luke Atkinson, local to Herefordshire @lukeatkinson

Architecture by Will Millward.

Tree Surgeon work by Lewis Reed @lrts_uk

Minister Antiques Leominster for several of the antique pieces

 

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