Houzz Tour: Space and Character are Boosted in a Small Cottage
Design that put back the personality and respected its age and location gave this pint-sized property a fresh start
“This building had been empty for about three years,” says interior designer Paul Hervey. “It just wanted to be loved again.” The affection-starved property was formerly the village reading room in a settlement located at the edge of Bodmin Moor and near the fishing villages of the north Cornwall coast.
Now, the tiny house is still charmingly rustic, but, with ugly later additions stripped out and sympathetic décor and furniture brought in, it’s at one with its history and the local landscape.
Now, the tiny house is still charmingly rustic, but, with ugly later additions stripped out and sympathetic décor and furniture brought in, it’s at one with its history and the local landscape.
The cottage is located in a little wooded valley and isn’t naturally light-filled. Although this sunroom – at the side of the house – receives more daylight than the rest of the home, its scheme is in the same palette of pale shades employed throughout. “The owners wanted muted, chalky colours to get the space as well lit as possible,” Paul says.
Armchairs in Grey linen; grain sack cushions, all eBay. Old trunk, Louisa Grace Interiors. Boot store, Garden Trading.
Armchairs in Grey linen; grain sack cushions, all eBay. Old trunk, Louisa Grace Interiors. Boot store, Garden Trading.
The sunroom multi-tasks as both entrance and living space, so Paul created room for coats, shoes and boots to be stashed (the shoe storage is visible under the window). “The flooring is a sisal lookalike that’s easy to wash and you can even use bleach on it,” he says. It’s made from recycled plastic. “It looks like sisal, doesn’t mark, and copes better in a cottage in the southwest.”
The windows were left undressed, as the room’s not overlooked and the space is designed for daytime use. “There’s a blind fitted on the door to the living room, and that’s your cosy den for winter evenings,” Paul says.
Smart ways to store your shoes
The windows were left undressed, as the room’s not overlooked and the space is designed for daytime use. “There’s a blind fitted on the door to the living room, and that’s your cosy den for winter evenings,” Paul says.
Smart ways to store your shoes
The living/dining room – located beyond the sunroom – was zoned to keep it feeling uncluttered. The back of the sofa divides the dining table and chairs from the seating area. Above the dining table, a cupboard constructed from scaffold boards conceals internet and electrical fixtures.
With both granite and slate predominant in the house, softening the rooms with alternative textures was essential to make the interior feel comfortable. The squashy sofa, piles of cushions and throws do the job in here, and the floor’s made more welcoming underfoot with a faux sisal rug.
Throughout the cottage, Paul’s mixed vintage items – such as this room’s antique shutter – with newer buys for an eclectic mix that makes the house feel loved again.
Freddie sofa in Thatch house fabric; Bossy dining chairs in White, all Loaf. Vintage trunk; shutter, both Louisa Grace Interiors. Throw at far end of sofa, West Elm.
With both granite and slate predominant in the house, softening the rooms with alternative textures was essential to make the interior feel comfortable. The squashy sofa, piles of cushions and throws do the job in here, and the floor’s made more welcoming underfoot with a faux sisal rug.
Throughout the cottage, Paul’s mixed vintage items – such as this room’s antique shutter – with newer buys for an eclectic mix that makes the house feel loved again.
Freddie sofa in Thatch house fabric; Bossy dining chairs in White, all Loaf. Vintage trunk; shutter, both Louisa Grace Interiors. Throw at far end of sofa, West Elm.
The living room’s wood-burning stove was reconditioned and modified so it simply heats the room rather than the hot water as well, as it was required to do previously. “We didn’t over tidy the granite fireplace, as it’s old and we wanted to keep authentic things,” says Paul. You can still see the old bread oven to the right of the stove.
Cushion, eBay. Rug, Graham & Green. Armchair, John Lewis. Log basket, Garden Trading.
Cushion, eBay. Rug, Graham & Green. Armchair, John Lewis. Log basket, Garden Trading.
The kitchen was made bespoke for the small space, with painted cabinets that have been rubbed back. “Because it’s quite a small space, I wanted a bit of depth with the colour,” Paul says. “Rubbing back softens it and gives it a patina of age.”
The worktop above is whitewashed beech, adding to the home’s palette of raw materials and country finishes. An upstand made from scaffold boards hides pipes and cabling, and also adds a mini shelf for small kitchen bits and pieces, spices, oil bottles and the like.
Scaffold boards were also used to construct the shelves. They’re teamed with copper, giving the small room glowing highlights.
The room’s slate floor is original.
Bespoke kitchen, Nick Hartley. Kitchen painted in Plummett, Farrow & Ball. Large Smithfield clock, Garden Trading.
Wall units, shelves or nothing: which is best for your kitchen?
The worktop above is whitewashed beech, adding to the home’s palette of raw materials and country finishes. An upstand made from scaffold boards hides pipes and cabling, and also adds a mini shelf for small kitchen bits and pieces, spices, oil bottles and the like.
Scaffold boards were also used to construct the shelves. They’re teamed with copper, giving the small room glowing highlights.
The room’s slate floor is original.
Bespoke kitchen, Nick Hartley. Kitchen painted in Plummett, Farrow & Ball. Large Smithfield clock, Garden Trading.
Wall units, shelves or nothing: which is best for your kitchen?
In the bedroom upstairs, Paul opted for a bed made from vintage wood palettes and bedside tables in reclaimed fir to help create depth and character.
As elsewhere in the cottage, the window is simply dressed – here it’s with a linen blind – to avoid robbing the room of daylight.
The flooring throughout the first floor is, again, imitation sisal in a mottled grey finish.
Bastille bedside tables, Loaf. Lamps, PR Home. Cushion, Stiffkey Stores. Bedspread, Maisons Du Monde.
As elsewhere in the cottage, the window is simply dressed – here it’s with a linen blind – to avoid robbing the room of daylight.
The flooring throughout the first floor is, again, imitation sisal in a mottled grey finish.
Bastille bedside tables, Loaf. Lamps, PR Home. Cushion, Stiffkey Stores. Bedspread, Maisons Du Monde.
Hooks were attached to reclaimed timber to create extra hanging space in the bedroom; the room also has a built-in wardrobe. The shallow shape of the pendant light is space-saving and the shade has an industrial look that complements the cottage’s other honest materials.
Cupboard, Loaf. Peg rail, eBay.
Old Factory vintage pendant light, Industville.
Cupboard, Loaf. Peg rail, eBay.
Old Factory vintage pendant light, Industville.
An upstairs snug is a work or quiet reading space, although it’s large enough for a single bed.
Desk, Louisa Grace Interiors. Bossy dining chair, Loaf. Mirror, Homesense. Armchair, eBay. Sheepskin, John Lewis.
Desk, Louisa Grace Interiors. Bossy dining chair, Loaf. Mirror, Homesense. Armchair, eBay. Sheepskin, John Lewis.
“The bathroom was very old-fashioned with an Anaglypta ceiling,” Paul recalls. It was stripped out completely, but although the replacement fittings are modern, they’re sympathetic to the old cottage.
Toilet, Victorian Plumbing. Towel rail, Better Bathrooms. Vintage storage jars, eBay. Sheepskin, John Lewis.
Toilet, Victorian Plumbing. Towel rail, Better Bathrooms. Vintage storage jars, eBay. Sheepskin, John Lewis.
The bathroom cupboard was built from raw scaffold boards and a copper basin positioned on top. The flooring is wood-look ceramic tiles, which are practical but in keeping with the cottage style.
Bespoke scaffold cupboard, Nick Hartley. Tiles, Bocchetta Ceramica. Mirror, Distinctly Living. Peg rail, Homesense. Bulkhead light, Garden Trading.
Bespoke scaffold cupboard, Nick Hartley. Tiles, Bocchetta Ceramica. Mirror, Distinctly Living. Peg rail, Homesense. Bulkhead light, Garden Trading.
A summerhouse located in the cottage garden is a utility area and has a washing machine built into a cupboard, but it also adds an extra living space.
It was partially clad in wood, so Paul continued it, then whitewashed it for a relaxed cabin look. The room’s not heated, but it does have a little wood-burner and, with its comfortable seagrass armchairs, it’s an atmospheric indoor-outdoor room.
Sheepskin, John Lewis.
It was partially clad in wood, so Paul continued it, then whitewashed it for a relaxed cabin look. The room’s not heated, but it does have a little wood-burner and, with its comfortable seagrass armchairs, it’s an atmospheric indoor-outdoor room.
Sheepskin, John Lewis.
The chairs on the summerhouse wall are vintage. “They’re quite fragile,” Paul says. “Hung as little bits of wall art, they look cute.”
Trunk, eBay. Seagrass chairs, PR Home. Vintage chairs (on wall), Goose Home and Garden. Console table, French Connection.
This house is now available to rent: go to Unique Home Stays.
Tell us…
What do you think of this compact cottage? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Trunk, eBay. Seagrass chairs, PR Home. Vintage chairs (on wall), Goose Home and Garden. Console table, French Connection.
This house is now available to rent: go to Unique Home Stays.
Tell us…
What do you think of this compact cottage? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here Phil and Patricia Smith
Location Near St Breward, Cornwall
Property A stone cottage dating from the 1880s that was originally the village reading room
Size One/two bedroom(s) and one bathroom
Interior designer Paul Hervey of PHI Concepts
Photos by Mark Watts and Unique Home Stays
Practical challenges had to be overcome before the decorating could start. “There was an underground river going through the kitchen,” Paul says. Old panelling was stripped out, and the room was tanked to make it watertight.