Houzz Tour: An Old Stone Cottage Gets a Sensitive and Cosy Update
Thoughtful design brings a 15th century cottage to life while highlighting its original features
When you purchase a property that’s been standing for hundreds of years, the prospect of renovating it might be daunting. After all, how do you make it suitable for modern living without destroying the original beauty of the building?
Fortunately, the new owner of this 15th century house was an experienced interior designer, Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors, who had the skill and vision to put her stamp on it without taking away its character.
The cottage was originally part of the oldest building in town, a coaching inn, so with this legacy in mind, Beth sensitively transformed it from a dated, cramped space into a bright, cosy and functional bolthole.
Fortunately, the new owner of this 15th century house was an experienced interior designer, Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors, who had the skill and vision to put her stamp on it without taking away its character.
The cottage was originally part of the oldest building in town, a coaching inn, so with this legacy in mind, Beth sensitively transformed it from a dated, cramped space into a bright, cosy and functional bolthole.
Although the kitchen is fairly spacious for a cottage, Beth had to design the room around a few key features, including a chimney breast and two doors, plus a staircase that leads into it.
“We wanted to keep the sink under the window, and decided to move the oven from inside the chimney breast and into a more practical space with worktop either side,” she says. “We designed the units and had them made by a joiner, so they maximised all of the available space.”
Beth hid the boiler in the tall cupboard on the right, and squeezed in a full-size dishwasher and undercounter fridge.
Cabinets painted in Raw Chalk, Paint & Paper Library. Silver nickel taps, Lefroy Brooks. Ticking Stripe blind fabric, Ian Mankin. Wall lights, Pooky.
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“We wanted to keep the sink under the window, and decided to move the oven from inside the chimney breast and into a more practical space with worktop either side,” she says. “We designed the units and had them made by a joiner, so they maximised all of the available space.”
Beth hid the boiler in the tall cupboard on the right, and squeezed in a full-size dishwasher and undercounter fridge.
Cabinets painted in Raw Chalk, Paint & Paper Library. Silver nickel taps, Lefroy Brooks. Ticking Stripe blind fabric, Ian Mankin. Wall lights, Pooky.
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Beth chose an off-white for the units to brighten up the Cotswolds stone walls and low ceiling.
1980s-style ceramic floor tiles were replaced with hardwearing chequerboard quarry tiles, and the joiner made traditional-style panelled door fronts that worked in different widths. Beth also added wooden worktops and stained them dark for a contrast with the pale cabinets and to make them feel authentic.
“The autumnal palette that we used throughout was inspired by the colours of the local countryside, and the zellige tiles [on the splashback] add a lovely warm glow to the kitchen,“ she says.
“Its a lovely space to cook in now,” she adds, “and the internal glazed window [which was the original front window before a previous extension was added] means you can see what’s going on in the living room, too.”
Zellige tiles, Mosaic Factory.
1980s-style ceramic floor tiles were replaced with hardwearing chequerboard quarry tiles, and the joiner made traditional-style panelled door fronts that worked in different widths. Beth also added wooden worktops and stained them dark for a contrast with the pale cabinets and to make them feel authentic.
“The autumnal palette that we used throughout was inspired by the colours of the local countryside, and the zellige tiles [on the splashback] add a lovely warm glow to the kitchen,“ she says.
“Its a lovely space to cook in now,” she adds, “and the internal glazed window [which was the original front window before a previous extension was added] means you can see what’s going on in the living room, too.”
Zellige tiles, Mosaic Factory.
“We also managed to squeeze in a low cupboard close to the courtyard door and utilised the cupboard under the stairs for the vacuum cleaner and cleaning items,” Beth says.
An old fireplace has been converted into a storage area, with a microwave and coffee machine tucked into it and a striped curtain below concealing food storage.
“We didn’t want the kitchen units to overpower the space, so using fabric rather than more doors helps to soften that area and add some contrast,” Beth says. “We found the antique wooden wine table and dining chairs at Ardingly Antiques Fair and they make the perfect spot for breakfast.”
More: How Do I Plan My Kitchen Layout?
“We didn’t want the kitchen units to overpower the space, so using fabric rather than more doors helps to soften that area and add some contrast,” Beth says. “We found the antique wooden wine table and dining chairs at Ardingly Antiques Fair and they make the perfect spot for breakfast.”
More: How Do I Plan My Kitchen Layout?
The front door and kitchen door both open into the living room, which limited the layout in the space.
“As we wanted to be able to seat five comfortably and for the fireplace to be the focal point of the room, we decided to use the door at the side of the cottage as the main entrance, so we could position a pair of vintage armchairs close to the front door,” Beth says.
A gate-leg table in the window can be opened out to seat six when needed, while the jute rug and thick curtain give a cosy feel to the room.
Table and chairs, Station Mill Antiques.
“As we wanted to be able to seat five comfortably and for the fireplace to be the focal point of the room, we decided to use the door at the side of the cottage as the main entrance, so we could position a pair of vintage armchairs close to the front door,” Beth says.
A gate-leg table in the window can be opened out to seat six when needed, while the jute rug and thick curtain give a cosy feel to the room.
Table and chairs, Station Mill Antiques.
A corner cabinet hides the TV and is complemented by a cupboard on the other side of the chimney breast.
“We sanded the existing wooden flooring and stained it very dark, so it tied in with the original floorboards in the bedroom above, which the previous owners told us are believed to have come from a galleon in the Spanish Armada [in the 16th century],” Beth says. “We think the front section of the building was added at a later date, which would make sense in terms of timings.
“We also learned how to lime plaster, which is a time-consuming process, but means the stone can now breathe properly,” she continues. “It has a lovely imperfect finish that adds character, too.”
Sofa, Love Your Home. Jute rug, Ikea. Walls painted in Slate ll, Paint & Paper Library.
“We sanded the existing wooden flooring and stained it very dark, so it tied in with the original floorboards in the bedroom above, which the previous owners told us are believed to have come from a galleon in the Spanish Armada [in the 16th century],” Beth says. “We think the front section of the building was added at a later date, which would make sense in terms of timings.
“We also learned how to lime plaster, which is a time-consuming process, but means the stone can now breathe properly,” she continues. “It has a lovely imperfect finish that adds character, too.”
Sofa, Love Your Home. Jute rug, Ikea. Walls painted in Slate ll, Paint & Paper Library.
Previously, there was a blue plastic corner bath in the first floor bathroom, which Beth removed as soon as she could, as it was impossible to lie down in and didn’t drain properly. She replaced it with a large shower lined in the same zellige tiles as in the kitchen, and added solid oak floorboards from a local reclamation yard on top of the existing pine boards in the rest of the room.
She also concealed the plumbing of the new basin and loo with tongue-and-groove panelling.
Silver nickel sanitaryware, Lefroy Brooks. Walls painted in Slate ll, Paint & Paper Library. Wall lights, Pooky
She also concealed the plumbing of the new basin and loo with tongue-and-groove panelling.
Silver nickel sanitaryware, Lefroy Brooks. Walls painted in Slate ll, Paint & Paper Library. Wall lights, Pooky
“Nothing in this room is level and we wanted to embrace its quirkiness while also making it clean and cosy,” Beth says.
Existing built-in louvred wardrobes in the first floor bedroom were sanded down and repainted in a rich brown tone and finished off with new ironmongery.
Bedding, The White Company. Bedspread, Soho Home. Wardrobes painted in Copper Beech; walls painted in Slate ll, both Paint & Paper Library.
Bedding, The White Company. Bedspread, Soho Home. Wardrobes painted in Copper Beech; walls painted in Slate ll, both Paint & Paper Library.
“We also sourced and renovated an antique pine cupboard to hide another TV,” Beth says.
Plum and mustard textiles and a dark wooden floor contrast with neutral walls. “The house is so old and characterful and we wanted to draw attention to the stone, the wonky walls and the quirky architectural details, rather than the colour of the walls or furniture,” Beth says.
Plum and mustard textiles and a dark wooden floor contrast with neutral walls. “The house is so old and characterful and we wanted to draw attention to the stone, the wonky walls and the quirky architectural details, rather than the colour of the walls or furniture,” Beth says.
Tiny antique shelves work well as space-saving bedside tables. “We were determined to get a king-size bed in here, so we had to be creative in order to still be able to open the wardrobe doors and have bedside lamps,” Beth says.
“We also centred a picture light above the bed and replaced all of the existing white plastic switches and plug sockets with wooden and bronze versions, which feel much more in keeping with the house,” she adds.
“We also centred a picture light above the bed and replaced all of the existing white plastic switches and plug sockets with wooden and bronze versions, which feel much more in keeping with the house,” she adds.
Beth sanded back the multiple layers of paint from the ceiling to expose the beams, and added tongue-and-groove panelling to distinguish the sleeping area from the bathing area.
The staircase is narrow, so the only way to get the super-king-size bed up there was to have four separate bed bases and two headboards that combine to make one huge bed or two singles.
“We had lots of lovely fabric offcuts that we wanted to use, so these were made into slipcovers for the headboards, bespoke cushions, and curtains and blinds throughout the cottage,” Beth says.
Bedding, The White Company. Bedspread, Etsy. Walls painted in Slate l, Paint & Paper Library.
The staircase is narrow, so the only way to get the super-king-size bed up there was to have four separate bed bases and two headboards that combine to make one huge bed or two singles.
“We had lots of lovely fabric offcuts that we wanted to use, so these were made into slipcovers for the headboards, bespoke cushions, and curtains and blinds throughout the cottage,” Beth says.
Bedding, The White Company. Bedspread, Etsy. Walls painted in Slate l, Paint & Paper Library.
The top floor had previously been used as an occasional room, with a futon in one corner and a tiny desk in the other.
“It had such an incredible atmosphere, because of the shape of the roof and the views of the church spire, so we knew we wanted this to be the main bedroom,” Beth says.
“The roll-top bath and basin under the window mean you can listen to the church bells ringing at the weekends and look out across the stone rooftops of historic Charlbury,” she says. “In the summer, you can watch the swifts from here, too. It’s a very peaceful and special space.”
Roll-top slipper bath, Victoria & Albert. Silver nickel taps, Lefroy Brooks.
“It had such an incredible atmosphere, because of the shape of the roof and the views of the church spire, so we knew we wanted this to be the main bedroom,” Beth says.
“The roll-top bath and basin under the window mean you can listen to the church bells ringing at the weekends and look out across the stone rooftops of historic Charlbury,” she says. “In the summer, you can watch the swifts from here, too. It’s a very peaceful and special space.”
Roll-top slipper bath, Victoria & Albert. Silver nickel taps, Lefroy Brooks.
There were concrete tiles on the courtyard floor, which Beth replaced with gravel. She also dug out some flowerbeds and added metal edging. These have been planted with climbers such as jasmine, roses and clematis, as well as tulips, daffodils, geraniums and hellebores.
“In the spring, the garden is full of self-seeded bluebells and cow parsley, which feels lovely and natural,” she says.
Tell us…
What do you like about this period cottage? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
“In the spring, the garden is full of self-seeded bluebells and cow parsley, which feels lovely and natural,” she says.
Tell us…
What do you like about this period cottage? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? Designer Beth Dadswell and her family, who use it as a weekend retreat
Location The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire
Property A 15th century cottage
Size Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors
Photos by Dean Hearne
“We wanted the cottage to feel cosy and relaxing without being twee; light and bright, but still authentic to its humble 15th century roots,” Beth says.
Outside, the window frames and doors had been painted in white gloss, so Beth’s team sanded and repainted them in a dark greeny-brown. “This tied in much better with the colour of the stone and felt much more in keeping with the period of the building and the other houses in the town,” she says.
Window frames painted in Bronze (283), Paint & Paper Library.