Houzz Tour: A 17th Century Cornish Manor is Transformed for Modern Life
Barely touched since the 1950s, this Jacobean home has undergone a remarkable modern transformation without losing any of its period charm
This country manor house in Cornwall was built in 1642 and although it’s been occupied continuously ever since, not much work had been done on it since the 1950s. ‘The present owners bought it two or three years ago. It had a dated kitchen housed in a 60-year-old extension and only one bathroom, which was particularly surprising for such a large house,’ explains Russell Taylor of Russell Taylor Architects, who was tasked with bringing the property up to date.
‘The core task,’ says Taylor, ‘was to provide more bathrooms and a new kitchen-breakfast room, as well as to make the house flow into the garden. Although the property is set in lovely grounds, there were no doors on to the main part of the garden and you had to go around a corner and up a hill to get to it.’
The old square kitchen was replaced with a rectangular kitchen-breakfast room, which features subtle divides between the prep and serving area and the calm dining space, which overlooks and now opens out on to the garden. The table is positioned so it gets the sun in the morning.
The rustic-look slate flooring has underfloor heating beneath it, so radiators don’t clutter up the walls.
Kitchen design and build, Martin Moore.
The rustic-look slate flooring has underfloor heating beneath it, so radiators don’t clutter up the walls.
Kitchen design and build, Martin Moore.
The old, single-storey extension that sat on this spot has been replaced by an elegant, two-storey one, which was built using locally sourced materials, such as granite and slate, so it flows into the old part of the house.
As the house is Grade II listed, Taylor first undertook an analysis of the property to look at which parts were particularly important historically. He then designed the new extension, covering the footprint of the kitchen block that was added in the 1950s.
‘We were able to show that we were working with the history of the site and understood the building, so we gained the confidence of English Heritage and the planning authority,’ says Taylor. ‘Apart from the fact that it’s cleaner, the new extension is almost indistinguishable from the old part.’
‘We were able to show that we were working with the history of the site and understood the building, so we gained the confidence of English Heritage and the planning authority,’ says Taylor. ‘Apart from the fact that it’s cleaner, the new extension is almost indistinguishable from the old part.’
To make way for the extension and to create direct access from the kitchen-breakfast room on to the garden, it was necessary to dig into the hillside, which conveniently made space for this impressive wine cellar, off the kitchen and down a flight of stairs. Ceiling-high racks provide plenty of space to store bottles, while a bank of wine coolers runs below the worktop.
‘This room is underground, so a beautiful, even temperature is retained constantly, making it the perfect place to store wine,’ says Taylor.
‘This room is underground, so a beautiful, even temperature is retained constantly, making it the perfect place to store wine,’ says Taylor.
The original features in the old part of the house were restored where possible. The existing front door opens on to an impressive hallway, which features the building’s original slate flooring. ‘We designed the internal doors opening off this hallway and put in the cornicing here, but it has all been made to look original,’ says Taylor.
See these top tips on subtle ways to bring technology into a period home
See these top tips on subtle ways to bring technology into a period home
Taylor was also tasked with creating a library by knocking two ground floor rooms into one. The result is an impressive array of shelves that also run above the door.
‘We laid new flooring in the library and carefully designed the bookcase and fireplace to ensure it was all in keeping with the period of the house,’ says Taylor. Apart from the windows, everything else in the room is new.
Sofas and armchairs in a mix of fabrics and casually dressed with a selection of cushions give this space a laid-back, casual feel.
Sofas and armchairs in a mix of fabrics and casually dressed with a selection of cushions give this space a laid-back, casual feel.
The drawing room is more formal and was once the manor house’s main hall. To break up the large space, Taylor created two seating areas: a more sociable space around the rug by the impressive original fireplace, and a more solitary area at the rear of the room.
Having taken so much care to ensure the new exterior worked with the old, the homeowners were also keen for the interior design to be in keeping with their home’s roots. They opted for antique or period-inspired furniture and stuck to a relaxing soft, muted palette warmed up with accents of bold – but not bright – colours, such as burgundy and emerald.
The homeowner was very keen to include marble in the bathroom to add a luxurious feel. It’s been elegantly incorporated in the bath splashback and the shower, but as Taylor says, ‘To step into a building built in 1642, go up to the first floor and come across a marble floor would have just felt wrong.’
Although such a large bathroom is unlikely to suffer too much from condensation, the classical-style mirror has an anti-mist device.
Bathroom sanitaryware, CP Hart.
Although such a large bathroom is unlikely to suffer too much from condensation, the classical-style mirror has an anti-mist device.
Bathroom sanitaryware, CP Hart.
Taylor used the original fireplace in the main bedroom, which is made from granite and plaster, as a blueprint for the new fireplaces he designed for other areas of the house. ‘The plaster relief above the fireplace in the main bedroom is original, as is the frieze that runs along the top of the walls. We actually extended this frieze to complete the circuit around the room,’ says Taylor.
Want to improve a period fireplace? Check out these 10 easy ways
Want to improve a period fireplace? Check out these 10 easy ways
Radiators have been used to heat the upper levels of the house, but are carefully concealed in casings under the windows. This small guest bedroom has a bolder colour palette with strong floral print curtains elegantly framing the quaintly askew window.
Not keen on radiators? Here’s how to hide them in style
Not keen on radiators? Here’s how to hide them in style
Just across from the kitchen-breakfast room is a little summerhouse complete with an open fire. This room gets the sun in the afternoon and the intention is that it will naturally encourage people who are enjoying the morning sun in the breakfast room to stroll across the lawn later in the day to catch the rays here.
TELL US…
What do you think of this Cornish manor house? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
What do you think of this Cornish manor house? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A couple with grown-up children
Location Cornwall
Property A Grade II listed Jacobean country house dating from 1642
Size 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Architect Russell Taylor of Russell Taylor Architects
Project completed December 2014