Houzz Tour: A Cornish Coastal Cottage for 3 Generations
This century-old English seaside home gets an update for modern living yet retains its old charm
The same family has lived in this charming period home on England’s Cornish coast for years. Recently, however, they asked designer Charlie Wickenden of Wickenden Hutley to give the property an overhaul, so they could comfortably entertain and accommodate their children and grandchildren in 21st-century style.
“In the main living room, we wanted to create a grown-up but, at the same time, relaxing entertaining space,” Wickenden says. “We achieved this by keeping everything light and bright, apart from the backs of the bookshelves, which we painted dark gray to give the room a little more interest and to make the accessories displayed there stand out.”
Sofas: sofa.com; Down Pipe dark gray bookshelf paint: Farrow & Ball; Portman ottoman: Oka; pillows: de Le Cuona and Chelsea Textiles
Sofas: sofa.com; Down Pipe dark gray bookshelf paint: Farrow & Ball; Portman ottoman: Oka; pillows: de Le Cuona and Chelsea Textiles
All four rooms at the front of the house have built-in window seats, which come in handy when entertaining a crowd.
Irish linen curtains: Wickenden Hutley
Irish linen curtains: Wickenden Hutley
The stonework is exposed around the original fireplace in the family room. The trunk, which doubles as a coffee table, was found in a local antiques shop.
Sofa: sofa.com; table lamp: Oka; rug: French Connection; TV unit: Maisons du Monde
Sofa: sofa.com; table lamp: Oka; rug: French Connection; TV unit: Maisons du Monde
A light gray paint covers the walls in the family room to take advantage of the warm seaside light.
Slate wall paint: Paint & Paper Library; multicolored pillow: Anthropologie
Slate wall paint: Paint & Paper Library; multicolored pillow: Anthropologie
“The homeowner wanted to be able to enjoy her breakfast in the kitchen, and for it to always feel warm and sunny, which is why we added the roof lights,” Wickenden says.
A local Cornish supplier crafted the kitchen to Wickenden Hutley’s layout.
Travertine floor and wall tiles: Fired Earth
A local Cornish supplier crafted the kitchen to Wickenden Hutley’s layout.
Travertine floor and wall tiles: Fired Earth
They remodeled the house to stay in keeping with its period and chose traditional kitchen cabinets to flank a large range.
Ceiling lights: Jim Lawrence
Ceiling lights: Jim Lawrence
Although a step separates the two areas, the kitchen flows into the adjoining dining room, which is outfitted with hard-wearing oak floor boards.
Table: Maisons du Monde; lights: Jim Lawrence
Table: Maisons du Monde; lights: Jim Lawrence
In the master bedroom, Wickenden added storage in the form of built-in wardrobes on either side of the bed. These also support the bedside lights in this small room.
“As this twin room sits at the back of the house, which gets much less sunlight than the front of the property, it was important to make it as light as possible,” Wickenden says. “We achieved this by going for a very light paint on the walls and filling it with light-colored furniture, bed linen and window dressings.”
Persiennes headboards and chest of drawers: Maisons du Monde; lamp: Anthropologie; All White wall paint: Farrow & Ball; Hector wall lights: Original BTC
Persiennes headboards and chest of drawers: Maisons du Monde; lamp: Anthropologie; All White wall paint: Farrow & Ball; Hector wall lights: Original BTC
“The homeowner wanted this guest bedroom to be able to be converted from a double to a twin room,” Wickenden says, “so we went for an extra-wide headboard that will still cover both beds when they are separated.”
Lamps: Jim Lawrence; pillows: de Le Cuona
Lamps: Jim Lawrence; pillows: de Le Cuona
There’s a place for everyone in the renovated home.
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Who lives here: A couple who regularly host their extended family
Location: Cornwall, England
Size: Four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designer: Charlie Wickenden, director of design at interior architecture and design company Wickenden Hutley
Though its facade remains almost unchanged, this cottage has been drastically altered from within. “The homeowners have lived here for years,” Wickenden says. “The house needed to be completely gutted and extended to create a much more workable kitchen and spacious eating area, and more comfortable bedrooms. It also needed to be a very practical and child-friendly home, feel particularly cozy during winter, and stay in keeping with its period roots.”