Houzz Tour: Sophisticated Coastal Style in a Cornish Cottage
A clever layout and a mix of subtle textures have given this small rural bolthole a fresh but warm and welcoming mood
We all know classic coastal style, with its breezy blue and white palette and plenty of pale wood, but this cottage revamp by designer Nicola O’Mara is a masterclass in bringing the look together in a sophisticated way. Asked to design the interior of the one-bed Cornish property for architect Angus Webster, she used gorgeous textures and subtly toning shades of blue to create an airy space with a stylish nod to its seaside setting.
The kitchen unit fronts are tactile band-sawn wood stained blue. Nicola showed Angus the style she envisaged and he commissioned a local carpenter. “It’s beautifully made, with dovetail joints inside,” she says. “The handles are copper – and even the fingerholes are inlaid with copper.”
They’ve managed to squeeze a lot in: there’s a fridge-freezer and two ovens in the tall unit, plus a 45cm space-saving dishwasher to the left of the sink.
“The best thing is, when you walk in the room, the kitchen is more of a focal point than a ‘kitchen’,” Nicola says. “It feels warm and welcoming and it’s pleasant to look at. You have things on show, but it doesn’t shout kitchen.”
They’ve managed to squeeze a lot in: there’s a fridge-freezer and two ovens in the tall unit, plus a 45cm space-saving dishwasher to the left of the sink.
“The best thing is, when you walk in the room, the kitchen is more of a focal point than a ‘kitchen’,” Nicola says. “It feels warm and welcoming and it’s pleasant to look at. You have things on show, but it doesn’t shout kitchen.”
The worktop is concrete, which adds an edge to the rustic wood. “It’s really tactile – you want to touch it all the time,” Nicola says. “It has a beautiful quality to it.” The splashback tiles add a bit of pattern without being overwhelming. “They don’t shout at you, but they add some lovely interest,” she says.
Scaffolding plank shelves keep the area open and allow all the gorgeous Broste stoneware to be on display. “Because the cottage is only for two, you don’t need a lot of bits and pieces,” Nicola says.
The extractor hood has been treated with a white oil, so it sits lightly next to the shelves, keeping the whole of the upper wall feeling unobtrusive.
Splashback tiles, Best Tile.
Scaffolding plank shelves keep the area open and allow all the gorgeous Broste stoneware to be on display. “Because the cottage is only for two, you don’t need a lot of bits and pieces,” Nicola says.
The extractor hood has been treated with a white oil, so it sits lightly next to the shelves, keeping the whole of the upper wall feeling unobtrusive.
Splashback tiles, Best Tile.
Nicola added subtly textured panelling routed with a modern chevron pattern. “Rather than a plain white wall, it adds a bit of interest and texture,” Nicola says, “plus it’s durable and wipeable.”
The dining table, which has a stone top, is teamed with vintage wood chairs.
Table, One.World. Vintage dining chairs, from a flea market.
Inspired to revamp your home? Find an interior designer in your area in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
The dining table, which has a stone top, is teamed with vintage wood chairs.
Table, One.World. Vintage dining chairs, from a flea market.
Inspired to revamp your home? Find an interior designer in your area in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
The bookcase not only hides the side of the fridge-freezer, it also creates a focal point. “So much is at the same level – your sofa, your sideboard – so it’s good to create different heights in a room,” Nicola says, “and having a bookcase with different colours brings your eye up.”
The flooring in here and the bedroom is engineered oak, with underfloor heating for warm toes even in winter.
Behind the sofa there’s a wall of cupboards, one of which hides a washing machine.
On the opposite wall to the kitchen, behind the camera, is a run of bifold doors, so the space can be opened up to the patio and little garden.
The flooring in here and the bedroom is engineered oak, with underfloor heating for warm toes even in winter.
Behind the sofa there’s a wall of cupboards, one of which hides a washing machine.
On the opposite wall to the kitchen, behind the camera, is a run of bifold doors, so the space can be opened up to the patio and little garden.
Immediately off the living space is the bedroom, with the bathroom beyond. On the left of the bathroom door is an original thick stone wall, which is why the doorway into the bathroom is so deep. Happily, that meant the wall could be built out right across to create a neat, roomy wardrobe on the right.
Throw, House Doctor. Pots on top of the wardrobe, HKliving.
Throw, House Doctor. Pots on top of the wardrobe, HKliving.
The chevron panelling continues in here behind the bed.
Cushions, Broste. Side tables, Cox & Cox.
Cushions, Broste. Side tables, Cox & Cox.
The ceiling was removed in here, too, revealing the beams. The skylight has a motorised blind.
Mirror, One.World.
Mirror, One.World.
Subtle links throughout the cottage create cohesion. The concrete-look basin in the bathroom, for instance, chimes with the kitchen worktop, while the metro tiles link with the panelling, and the rug echoes the large round mirror.
Mirror, House Doctor. Concrete-effect floor tiles, Mandarin Stone.
Mirror, House Doctor. Concrete-effect floor tiles, Mandarin Stone.
The attention to detail that lifts this project can be seen clearly in here at the junction of the metro tiles and the wall. “Angus has aligned the cladding with the grout lines,” Nicola says. Continuing the subtle links that run through the cottage, the shower frame echoes the bedroom mirror.
Decorative shower tiles, Best Tile. Vintage passageway wall lights, Any Old Lights.
Decorative shower tiles, Best Tile. Vintage passageway wall lights, Any Old Lights.
The look is clean and simple, but, along with the tactile materials throughout, the freestanding bath adds elegance.
The view is a reminder of the special location. “There’s a farm nearby and you get all the cows coming over,” Nicola says. Sounds idyllic.
Tell us…
What do you like about this revived cottage? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The view is a reminder of the special location. “There’s a farm nearby and you get all the cows coming over,” Nicola says. Sounds idyllic.
Tell us…
What do you like about this revived cottage? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? The cottage is a holiday let
Location St Minver, Cornwall
Property A wood-clad stone cottage
Size One bedroom and one bathroom
Interior designer Nicola O’Mara of Nicola O’Mara Interior Design
Architect Angus Webster of Angus Webster Architects
The cottage has three rooms, with the kitchen, dining spot and living area in the biggest space. Angus had opened up the ceiling to the roof at the back to bring in more light and make the room feel larger, but it was still a small area in which to fit everything. “There was quite a lot of toing and froing to get the layout of this room right, because it’s so tight,” Nicola says.
Several design tricks help the space work, including the bookcase, which creates a hidden niche for a bank of tall kitchen cabinets, and the discreet cupboard in the wall opposite the sofa, which conceals the TV to keep an uncluttered feel. “We didn’t want the television to be the focal point of the room,” Nicola says.
The brief for the design was for a contemporary coastal feel, but nothing twee. The key, Nicola says, was to include lots of texture. “We kept the beams where we could, added textured wall panelling, and used rustic materials,” she explains. She also layered toning blues in timber, velvet and sheepskin against a crisp white background.
Sheepskin rugs, Hide Rugs. Sofa, Andrew Martin.