Houzz Tour: An Open-plan Retreat in Cornwall With a Modern Coastal Mood
A thoughtful renovation has given this 1970s bungalow an airy, modern look and an open-plan layout designed to welcome family and friends
When Mike Ross and Tamar Tammes go on holiday, it can be an extended affair involving not just their own two girls (aged three and 10), but also a string of nieces, nephews, grandparents, dogs, babies and friends in tow. It’s what drew the couple to this property, called Pentyak, which is set amid green fields near Padstow and has views down to the beach and sea beyond.
It also meant the couple had a clear idea of how they wanted the house to look and function and, with help from family and a professional team on side – particularly Charlie Turner from local bespoke joinery company Broad & Turner – they were able to turn their dream into a reality.
It also meant the couple had a clear idea of how they wanted the house to look and function and, with help from family and a professional team on side – particularly Charlie Turner from local bespoke joinery company Broad & Turner – they were able to turn their dream into a reality.
Put simply, Pentyak is all about enjoying the views and spending family time together. Originally built in the 1970s as a bungalow but redesigned in 2013, Pentyak is set overlooking rolling fields down to Harlyn beach and the ocean beyond.
The house is also filled with the odd quirky touch too, and as well as a conventional staircase linking the ground and first floor, Turner also built the family wooden slide for the young – and young at heart…
Explore ways to incorporate seascapes into your interior
The house is also filled with the odd quirky touch too, and as well as a conventional staircase linking the ground and first floor, Turner also built the family wooden slide for the young – and young at heart…
Explore ways to incorporate seascapes into your interior
‘The couple were great to work with,’ says Turner. ‘They had really thought about every detail, but were also very open to other ideas.’
As well as wanting the house to feel connected to its landscape and to be spacious enough to accommodate the typically very large family group – plus dogs – staying here, the couple wanted Pentyak to have a real inside-outside feel.
What was initially a three-bedroom bungalow was extended up into the roof to create two more bedrooms while the garage was converted into a games room/teenage den with an en suite that doubles as a wet room.
Sustainability was another requirement in the architect’s brief, which included upgrading the thermal insulation of the exterior walls, a heat recovery system and solar panels.
As well as wanting the house to feel connected to its landscape and to be spacious enough to accommodate the typically very large family group – plus dogs – staying here, the couple wanted Pentyak to have a real inside-outside feel.
What was initially a three-bedroom bungalow was extended up into the roof to create two more bedrooms while the garage was converted into a games room/teenage den with an en suite that doubles as a wet room.
Sustainability was another requirement in the architect’s brief, which included upgrading the thermal insulation of the exterior walls, a heat recovery system and solar panels.
The middle of the house was originally quite dark so a key design feature in the architect’s brief was to open up the kitchen, lounge and dining areas and let in as much natural light as possible.
The result is a breezy, open-plan design with a distinctly modern coastal feel. ‘It’s contemporary coastal, with ideas taken from American lakeside cottages and Scandinavian cabins,’ explains Turner, who was involved in the overall design of the house, including the spacious kitchen.
The oiled oak floorboards are chic, practical and harmonious, while the comfortable sofas and armchairs in a palette of slate, granite and ash create a sociable hub where everyone can sit and enjoy the views.
One major job Turner undertook was to move the staircase – and its unusual slide, which you can see in this photograph. ‘We ended up moving it after spending hours trying to work how the space could best be used,’ he recalls. ‘Originally, the staircase was 90 degrees to where it is now, and cut across the glass door into the room. The new layout made the space more workable and, with the slide, made it a better balance.’
Oiled oak floorboards, Kahrs. Sofas and armchairs, Loaf.
The result is a breezy, open-plan design with a distinctly modern coastal feel. ‘It’s contemporary coastal, with ideas taken from American lakeside cottages and Scandinavian cabins,’ explains Turner, who was involved in the overall design of the house, including the spacious kitchen.
The oiled oak floorboards are chic, practical and harmonious, while the comfortable sofas and armchairs in a palette of slate, granite and ash create a sociable hub where everyone can sit and enjoy the views.
One major job Turner undertook was to move the staircase – and its unusual slide, which you can see in this photograph. ‘We ended up moving it after spending hours trying to work how the space could best be used,’ he recalls. ‘Originally, the staircase was 90 degrees to where it is now, and cut across the glass door into the room. The new layout made the space more workable and, with the slide, made it a better balance.’
Oiled oak floorboards, Kahrs. Sofas and armchairs, Loaf.
This is a home that’s used all year round, so a wood-burning stove cosies up the space during the winter months. The fireplace surround is actually created from vertically stacked pieces of slate, known as Cornish hedging, and is another nod to the home’s location.
‘The house is very inclusive,’ says Turner, ‘and has been designed for all ages, with quiet places in the main areas so people can be alone but not lonely.’
Wood-burning stove, Kernow Fires. Nest of tables, Achica.
‘The house is very inclusive,’ says Turner, ‘and has been designed for all ages, with quiet places in the main areas so people can be alone but not lonely.’
Wood-burning stove, Kernow Fires. Nest of tables, Achica.
The large kitchen-diner/living room is the heart of this home. ‘The family love cooking,’ says Turner. ‘So a first requirement was to make a “cook’s kitchen” but one where the person cooking would not feel isolated.’ He continues: ‘The kitchen had to be sturdy and it needed an island but it had to be an unusual shape to make the most of the space and how the room would be used by this large, extended family. Tamar loves the tones of grey that are all round the house and we used that as our starting point for the kitchen colours.’
The pale-coloured door fronts and worktops and neutral-painted walls allow the saturated hues of the great outdoors to take centre stage.
Oak units painted in Dash of Soot; island unit painted in Knightsbridge; walls painted in Down, all Little Greene. Ceramic Belfast sink, Caple. Blinds in Organic Ticking Mist fabric, Ian Mankin.
The pale-coloured door fronts and worktops and neutral-painted walls allow the saturated hues of the great outdoors to take centre stage.
Oak units painted in Dash of Soot; island unit painted in Knightsbridge; walls painted in Down, all Little Greene. Ceramic Belfast sink, Caple. Blinds in Organic Ticking Mist fabric, Ian Mankin.
The curvaceous and multi-functional kitchen island has a sweeping area at one end where family and friends can perch and enjoy a morning coffee or chat with the chef. It houses a sink, fridge-freezer and extra storage, as well as a range cooker featuring a five-burner gas hob.
The worktops are Silestone, a tough composite that can be cut and shaped into sweeping curves – ideal for a space where children are likely to be charging about.
Worktop, Silestone in Crystal Beige. Bar stools, Loaf. Built-in ovens and microwave, Neff. Toledo 110 range cooker, Rangemaster.
Browse 10 alternative ideas for kitchen islands
The worktops are Silestone, a tough composite that can be cut and shaped into sweeping curves – ideal for a space where children are likely to be charging about.
Worktop, Silestone in Crystal Beige. Bar stools, Loaf. Built-in ovens and microwave, Neff. Toledo 110 range cooker, Rangemaster.
Browse 10 alternative ideas for kitchen islands
Refrigerator and freezer drawers are chic, ergonomic and fit perfectly into one side of the central island. The stainless-steel finish works well with the grey cupboard fronts.
Fridge-freezer drawers, Fisher & Paykel. Sink, Caple. Extractor fan, Elica.
Fridge-freezer drawers, Fisher & Paykel. Sink, Caple. Extractor fan, Elica.
Turner made the generous, solid ash dining table, which is positioned perfectly for enjoying views out to the garden.
Tammes’ brother, Andre Tammes, is a lighting designer and chose most of the fittings, including the Ingo Maurer installation over the dining table.
Eames DSR chairs, Vitra at John Lewis.
Tammes’ brother, Andre Tammes, is a lighting designer and chose most of the fittings, including the Ingo Maurer installation over the dining table.
Eames DSR chairs, Vitra at John Lewis.
Andre Tammes was also behind the concept of the unusual sloping windows that sweep around the front of the house.
The windows bear the hallmarks of a lighting designer’s thinking: ‘As it’s all about the scenery, we wanted to maximise that and not have “veiling reflections” of the inside lights after dark, which impact on the view – amazing even at night,’ explains Tamar Tammes. ‘These ship’s-bridge-style, sloped windows achieve that.’
The windows bear the hallmarks of a lighting designer’s thinking: ‘As it’s all about the scenery, we wanted to maximise that and not have “veiling reflections” of the inside lights after dark, which impact on the view – amazing even at night,’ explains Tamar Tammes. ‘These ship’s-bridge-style, sloped windows achieve that.’
Turner and his team designed and built the fabulous treehouse – a boon for children of all ages.
The utility room is used by everyone as the entrance to the house.
The bespoke storage was built by Turner, and as well as housing laundry appliances, includes a space underneath the units for the dog bed and a nook above the appliances for a washing basket. There is a sink for scrubbing dirty shoes and clothes, racks for hanging coats and a bench for storing shoes and muddy boots.
The rubber flooring is practical and easy to maintain, particularly as this is the main route into the house, where dirty boots, sandy feet and wet dogs often trail through.
The bespoke storage was built by Turner, and as well as housing laundry appliances, includes a space underneath the units for the dog bed and a nook above the appliances for a washing basket. There is a sink for scrubbing dirty shoes and clothes, racks for hanging coats and a bench for storing shoes and muddy boots.
The rubber flooring is practical and easy to maintain, particularly as this is the main route into the house, where dirty boots, sandy feet and wet dogs often trail through.
The downstairs den is the ideal hang-out for children. It’s equipped with all the essentials: comfy beanbags, gaming equipment and a large TV.
‘The offset bunk beds had to be spare beds as well as extra seating if lots of children are watching TV.’ explains Turner. ‘They also had to feel part of the larger space – just like the kitchen – as well as having the ability to be separate entities if needed.’
‘The offset bunk beds had to be spare beds as well as extra seating if lots of children are watching TV.’ explains Turner. ‘They also had to feel part of the larger space – just like the kitchen – as well as having the ability to be separate entities if needed.’
Turner built the bespoke cabin bed in the den. The cute, porthole-style windows echo the coastal mood.
Find more bunk bed inspiration
Find more bunk bed inspiration
The other bedrooms in the house stick to the fresh, neutral feel.
Three of the bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, including this spacious one on the ground floor. The freestanding bath and white-painted oak vanity unit are teamed with a mix of tiles, including pretty glass mosaics above the basins and a subtle, washed-out blue design around the bath and shower.
Fired Earth designed the bathroom layouts with the owners. The stud-work boxing-out around the bath was used to conceal a new water supply which went up into the loft space. It has been made into a design feature thanks to the LED spotlights embedded into the recess.
Tiles, bath and vanity unit, all Fired Earth.
Fired Earth designed the bathroom layouts with the owners. The stud-work boxing-out around the bath was used to conceal a new water supply which went up into the loft space. It has been made into a design feature thanks to the LED spotlights embedded into the recess.
Tiles, bath and vanity unit, all Fired Earth.
The shower room with sloping ceiling is for the triple room upstairs.
Fired Earth’s Newlyn tiles are made from smooth porcelain but have a warm, wood-effect finish that is perfect for this bathroom.
Fired Earth’s Newlyn tiles are made from smooth porcelain but have a warm, wood-effect finish that is perfect for this bathroom.
The bedroom on the first floor has spectacular views out to sea and a balcony to make the most of it. The calm, neutral palette and crisp linens enhance the serenity and chilled-out ambience of this sociable holiday spot.
Walls painted in Down, Little Greene. Carpet, Alternative Flooring.
When the family aren’t staying in it, Pentyak is available to rent for holidays through Perfect Stays.
TELL US…
What do you think of this Cornish retreat? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Walls painted in Down, Little Greene. Carpet, Alternative Flooring.
When the family aren’t staying in it, Pentyak is available to rent for holidays through Perfect Stays.
TELL US…
What do you think of this Cornish retreat? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A holiday home for Mike Ross and Tamar Tammes, their two young daughters, and their large extended family
Location Just outside the village of St Merryn, near Padstow, Cornwall
Size 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Architect Catchfrench Design
Kitchen and joinery work Charlie Turner of Broad & Turner
The brief for the renovation of the house, recalls Charlie Turner, whose company designs and makes everything from complete kitchens to treehouses, was chiefly that the house should feel like it belonged to the stunning location. The couple wanted the style and materials to reflect the local Cornish environment, and for the design to reflect nature – the sea and local landscape – as well as tapping into a sense of history and local culture.
In terms of the living spaces in the house, Ross and Tammes specified a large kitchen/dining/living space with TVs, sofas and family spaces all in one, and some quiet space for reading and in which Tammes could work. The family would also need plenty of storage for surfboards, bikes, kayaks and dog paraphernalia.