Houzz Tour: A Sympathetic Restoration Brings a Kent Cottage Up To Date
Bespoke furniture, an open layout and a few playful surprises, including a secret doorway, bring this historic cottage into the 21st century
‘Bespoke became a key word on this project,’ says Holly Christian of MillChris Developments, who headed up the renovation of this 17th century Grade II listed cottage in Sandwich, Kent. ‘There are no straight lines here,’ she says. ‘The floors slope and the ceilings bow. That’s why renovating it became a labour of love and took as long as it did.’
It took a year of painstaking work to renovate and reconfigure the cottage, and care was taken throughout to restore original features and show off the property’s beautiful bones. Today, it still feels like a cottage – cosy, welcoming and fitted with gorgeous bespoke furniture – but it also has elements that are decidedly of the now, such as flowing space and a contemporary glass extension. ‘We have restored and highlighted original features and improved the functionality of the space,’ says Holly, ‘but we have also preserved its unique charm.’
It took a year of painstaking work to renovate and reconfigure the cottage, and care was taken throughout to restore original features and show off the property’s beautiful bones. Today, it still feels like a cottage – cosy, welcoming and fitted with gorgeous bespoke furniture – but it also has elements that are decidedly of the now, such as flowing space and a contemporary glass extension. ‘We have restored and highlighted original features and improved the functionality of the space,’ says Holly, ‘but we have also preserved its unique charm.’
The extension is home to a bespoke kitchen with oak cabinetry, designed and made by Holly’s team. ‘I suggested the dark shade, as it’s slightly contemporary, but also ties in with the other deep, warm tones in the house,’ says Holly.
‘Modern rustic was the look the owners were after for the property,’ she says, ‘but we wanted to steer away from the claustrophobic feel some cottages have. The kitchen extension, with glass bifolding doors and a glazed roof, really opens up the ground floor and allows lots of light into the rest of the house.’
Cabinets painted in Black Blue Estate Eggshell, Farrow & Ball. Pewter kitchen taps, Perrin & Rowe.
Browse 10 beautiful kitchens in deliciously dark shades
‘Modern rustic was the look the owners were after for the property,’ she says, ‘but we wanted to steer away from the claustrophobic feel some cottages have. The kitchen extension, with glass bifolding doors and a glazed roof, really opens up the ground floor and allows lots of light into the rest of the house.’
Cabinets painted in Black Blue Estate Eggshell, Farrow & Ball. Pewter kitchen taps, Perrin & Rowe.
Browse 10 beautiful kitchens in deliciously dark shades
‘The owners didn’t want a big, shiny, contemporary kitchen,’ says Holly. ‘We wanted to balance the original features with the new and it needed to nestle in and look as if it belonged in the cottage.’
The cabinets were designed and manufactured specially for this space, based on traditional Shaker style, but with any beading removed to update the feel and minimise fuss. The work surfaces are antique brown granite and the floor is limestone flags. ‘The light is fabulous in the kitchen,’ says Holly. ‘When it catches the units, they become a really intense colour, and the granite has iridescent patches, which are just beautiful.’
Classic Jerusalem white gold tumbled limestone flooring, Mandarin Stone.
The cabinets were designed and manufactured specially for this space, based on traditional Shaker style, but with any beading removed to update the feel and minimise fuss. The work surfaces are antique brown granite and the floor is limestone flags. ‘The light is fabulous in the kitchen,’ says Holly. ‘When it catches the units, they become a really intense colour, and the granite has iridescent patches, which are just beautiful.’
Classic Jerusalem white gold tumbled limestone flooring, Mandarin Stone.
The timber folding doors are fully double glazed and lead out to the courtyard garden.
Door frames in Black Blue Estate Eggshell, Farrow & Ball.
What to consider when planning an extension
Door frames in Black Blue Estate Eggshell, Farrow & Ball.
What to consider when planning an extension
The courtyard garden is a real suntrap. On warm days, the owners can push the doors right back to create one open, flowing area, stretching from the front of the house to the back of the garden. The paving is reclaimed York stone.
External door timber painted in Black Blue External Eggshell, Farrow & Ball.
External door timber painted in Black Blue External Eggshell, Farrow & Ball.
Holly carefully sourced materials that would complement the cottage and suit its heritage. ‘We didn’t want any obtrusive elements that would outshine the original features,’ she says. ‘We have used antique limestone, oak doors and smoked and oiled oak flooring.’
Even tiny details, such as the sockets and switches, were carefully considered. ‘They are handmade in pewter,’ she says. ‘This helps them blend into the background. They don’t punctuate the rooms, but add to the handcrafted feel.’
Even tiny details, such as the sockets and switches, were carefully considered. ‘They are handmade in pewter,’ she says. ‘This helps them blend into the background. They don’t punctuate the rooms, but add to the handcrafted feel.’
The original configuration of the cottage made it feel claustrophobic. ‘It was important to the owner that we open it all up,’ says Holly. ‘He wanted to be able to sit in the living room and see right through to the garden.’
Now, the entire ground floor is open plan and light from the kitchen extension spills through the space. A double-sided fireplace is the centrepiece for the whole ground floor.
Now, the entire ground floor is open plan and light from the kitchen extension spills through the space. A double-sided fireplace is the centrepiece for the whole ground floor.
Due to its age, the cottage lacks the clean lines and neat dimensions of a more contemporary home. It meant a great many of the fittings and most of the furniture had to be made bespoke to fit, including these beautiful oak shutters.
The entrance hallway downstairs was removed to make a bathroom. ‘It’s a wet-room style, to make the most of the space, with large-format travertine tiles on the walls and floor,’ says Holly.
Kremna travertine tiles, Tile Giant. Sparta honed travertine (in shower tray), Mandarin Stone. Rainfall showerhead, Grohe.
Kremna travertine tiles, Tile Giant. Sparta honed travertine (in shower tray), Mandarin Stone. Rainfall showerhead, Grohe.
Preserving, repairing and making the most of the original features was an essential element of the renovation for Holly and the owners. A new oak staircase was designed for the space and the original brickwork and fireplace mantel restored.
‘We completely redesigned and rebuilt the staircase,’ says Holly. ‘We manufactured it in our workshop.’ Pewter tops were added to the newel posts. ‘We thought they would be a smart finishing touch that tied the staircase in with other features in the room,’ says Holly. ‘It also gives the stairs a sense of age and character, helping them look as if they’ve always been there.’
‘We completely redesigned and rebuilt the staircase,’ says Holly. ‘We manufactured it in our workshop.’ Pewter tops were added to the newel posts. ‘We thought they would be a smart finishing touch that tied the staircase in with other features in the room,’ says Holly. ‘It also gives the stairs a sense of age and character, helping them look as if they’ve always been there.’
‘With period properties like this, and especially in Sandwich, nothing is ever square,’ says Holly. ‘It means that everything has to be made bespoke to fit, including the wardrobes, beds, bookcases and kitchen cabinetry!’
The bed was handmade, but one leg had to be cut down so it didn’t wobble on the uneven floor. ‘When you walk from the study to the bedroom, it feels as if you’re going up a ramp,’ laughs Holly. ‘And just look at how the ceiling beams bow!’
The bed was handmade, but one leg had to be cut down so it didn’t wobble on the uneven floor. ‘When you walk from the study to the bedroom, it feels as if you’re going up a ramp,’ laughs Holly. ‘And just look at how the ceiling beams bow!’
The luxurious bathroom is full of warm tones and gorgeous materials. ‘The colours in the tiles are great,’ says Holly. ‘They have an almost rusty tone in them, which really picks up the richness of the oak flooring and beams.’
All the furniture and cabinetry was made bespoke for the room. ‘We made the oak shutters with two opening internal panels,’ says Holly. ‘They let in light, but still allow complete privacy.’
Syncro Acero large-format porcelain tiles (on walls and bath surround), Tile Giant. Victorian black porcelain mosaic tiling (on shower floor), Topps Tiles. Rainfall showerhead, Grohe. Shower controls and wall-mounted taps, Vado. Basin, Duravit.
All the furniture and cabinetry was made bespoke for the room. ‘We made the oak shutters with two opening internal panels,’ says Holly. ‘They let in light, but still allow complete privacy.’
Syncro Acero large-format porcelain tiles (on walls and bath surround), Tile Giant. Victorian black porcelain mosaic tiling (on shower floor), Topps Tiles. Rainfall showerhead, Grohe. Shower controls and wall-mounted taps, Vado. Basin, Duravit.
The bathroom was cleverly designed with a smoked-glass screen fitted along the side of the bath surround to act as an enclosure for the shower on the other side.
Antique tumbled double smoked oak flooring, Fine Oak Flooring. Toilet, Roca, with a wall-hung concealed system by Geberit. Wall-mounted taps, Vado.
Antique tumbled double smoked oak flooring, Fine Oak Flooring. Toilet, Roca, with a wall-hung concealed system by Geberit. Wall-mounted taps, Vado.
The study is lined with shelves made to fit its unique dimensions. Painting the shelves and the walls in the same shade helps them feel unobtrusive.
Hague Blue Estate Eggshell (on shelves and window frames) and Estate Emulsion (on walls), Farrow & Ball.
Hague Blue Estate Eggshell (on shelves and window frames) and Estate Emulsion (on walls), Farrow & Ball.
A secret door concealed in the study bookcase gives access to the bathroom. ‘It’s functional and fun,’ says Holly. ‘It means any guests staying can access the bathroom without going through the master bedroom, but it’s a playful addition as well as a practical one!’ It’s activated by a button hidden inside one of the books.
The attic has been converted to house a single cabin bed at one end and a double bed at the other. ‘It means although only technically a two-bedroom cottage, it can sleep five,’ says Holly.
A run of cupboards has been tucked into the eaves to provide useful storage in the attic. This end of the space is home to a double bed for guests.
Storage cupboards painted in Ruby Starlet Extra Deep, Dulux.
Storage cupboards painted in Ruby Starlet Extra Deep, Dulux.
At one time in its long history, the cottage was a sweet shop, but its renovation means it’s now a much-loved home. ‘The original size of the cottage was about 100 sq m with a 50 sq m courtyard garden,’ says Holly. ‘We have increased the size of the house to about 120 sq m by adding the kitchen. The configuration works so much better now, so it looks a lot bigger!’
TELL US…
What do you think of this sympathetically modernised cottage? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
What do you think of this sympathetically modernised cottage? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A professional couple
Location Sandwich, Kent
Property A Grade II listed cottage built in the 17th century
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Designer Holly Christian of MillChris Developments
That’s interesting At one time in its long life, the cottage was a sweet shop
Holly says the cottage was ‘well lived in’ when she was asked to redesign it. ‘It was very outdated and needed a huge overhaul,’ she adds. ‘It’s compact, but the available space was not being well used and it felt claustrophobic.’ The abundant original features were rather lost, too, and the owners and Holly were determined to highlight them.
The cottage was rewired, the walls were stripped back so new insulation could be added, a new heating system was put in, all the rooms were reconfigured and original features were repaired. ‘Adding the kitchen extension was a big change, too,’ says Holly. ‘It’s bright and surprisingly spacious. It’s like a Tardis!’