A five-bedroom house to rent with a double life. Behind its stuccoed cover, a Scandinavian-inspired reinvention takes the architecture – and the atmosphere – somewhere unexpected.

The Georgian side of the house still knows how to make an entrance. Sash windows, restored fireplaces and original cornicing keep things crisply polished without tipping into precious. To one side, a more grown-up space, with ready-to-recline Eames chair, a reading corner and mid-century pieces – the garden a constant presence beyond the panes. Across the hallway, a little more playfulness enters the picture. A piano, foosball table, stacks of board games and space for getting crafty give younger guests free rein.

In-between spaces have their moments, too. A compact workstation tucked above the staircase looks out over a double-height view of the greenery outside – not a bad place to catch up on emails, should you absolutely have to.

Upstairs, the outside world continues to find its way in. Josef Frank’s botanical wallpaper echoes the leafy views in the guest bedrooms, while the principal pares it back again. Rich timber frames the bed and conceals a walk-in wardrobe, with three sash windows bringing the treetops into focus. An understated, white-tiled en suite keeps the mood unhurried. Up in the eaves, things loosen up. Two bunk rooms with sleeping nooks and plenty of desk space have all the makings of a childhood hideout.

The garden is more naturalistic than manicured, and all the better for it. Landscaped by Sara Jane Rothwell, its 35-metre length unfolds through winding paths, layered planting and places to pause. Lunches on the patio, something cooking on the Big Green Egg, give way to afternoons stretched out on the lawn – with greenery at every turn.