Houzz Tour: A Tiny Rural Cottage Gets a Cosy, Sustainable Update
A mix of inherited, reclaimed and vintage pieces are combined with natural elements to add character to this period home
Amanda Pollard
19 November 2020
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
When designer Hannah Foden Dixon and her husband first viewed this compact 18th century cottage, they knew it had the potential to be a bright, airy space. “It’s a light-filled house with south-facing windows on the front,” Hannah says. “Even though it’s small, it’s always had a really good feel about it.”
Hannah opened up the ground floor and mixed natural colours and materials with upcycled features to create a warm and inviting space.
Hannah opened up the ground floor and mixed natural colours and materials with upcycled features to create a warm and inviting space.
House at a Glance
Who lives here? Designer Hannah Foden Dixon and her photographer husband Paul rent out the cottage as a holiday home
Location South Devon
Property An 18th century cottage
Size One bedroom and one bathroom; 45 sq m in total
Designer Hannah Foden Dixon of Studioamano
Photos by Paul Dixon
The kitchen and living room of this snug period cottage were previously divided by a wall across half the space. For Hannah, it made sense to open up the room and allow light to stream through from both ends.
Who lives here? Designer Hannah Foden Dixon and her photographer husband Paul rent out the cottage as a holiday home
Location South Devon
Property An 18th century cottage
Size One bedroom and one bathroom; 45 sq m in total
Designer Hannah Foden Dixon of Studioamano
Photos by Paul Dixon
The kitchen and living room of this snug period cottage were previously divided by a wall across half the space. For Hannah, it made sense to open up the room and allow light to stream through from both ends.
Here’s how the open-plan space looks now. The kitchen, which was already positioned by the back door, was reconfigured using a mix of existing cabinets and new ones.
“We shifted the sink unit to below the window and the joiner fitted new wooden worktops,” Hannah says.
The cabinet fronts were painted a terracotta shade to reflect the berries growing on a bush outside the window. The base unit next to the door is covered by a linen curtain, as a hinged door might have intruded on the space. “It also adds to the cottage feel of the kitchen,” Hannah says.
“We shifted the sink unit to below the window and the joiner fitted new wooden worktops,” Hannah says.
The cabinet fronts were painted a terracotta shade to reflect the berries growing on a bush outside the window. The base unit next to the door is covered by a linen curtain, as a hinged door might have intruded on the space. “It also adds to the cottage feel of the kitchen,” Hannah says.
The joiner built a wooden unit, with useful cupboards around the oven and a bench seat Hannah had designed.
“I didn’t want to put a table and chairs in the middle of the room,” she says. “A bench along the wall unifies the space, allowing seating that connects the living area and kitchen.”
A divider on the side creates privacy for the kitchen and also works as a splashback next to the oven. The reclaimed table was originally circular, but this would have been too wide, so the joiner made the surface oval.
Hannah’s husband is a trained electrician as well as a photographer, so he helped with the lighting. Vintage pendant lights were strategically hung to illuminate the table and work surfaces.
Reclaimed dining table, Totnes Refurnish Store. Reproduction Eames DAW chair, Cult Furniture. Vintage Holophane fluted glass pendant lights, Church Street Market, London.
“I didn’t want to put a table and chairs in the middle of the room,” she says. “A bench along the wall unifies the space, allowing seating that connects the living area and kitchen.”
A divider on the side creates privacy for the kitchen and also works as a splashback next to the oven. The reclaimed table was originally circular, but this would have been too wide, so the joiner made the surface oval.
Hannah’s husband is a trained electrician as well as a photographer, so he helped with the lighting. Vintage pendant lights were strategically hung to illuminate the table and work surfaces.
Reclaimed dining table, Totnes Refurnish Store. Reproduction Eames DAW chair, Cult Furniture. Vintage Holophane fluted glass pendant lights, Church Street Market, London.
Another pendant light, made from a bamboo fishing pot, hangs in the corner of the living area. “I like corner lighting, because it’s there, but not in the middle of the space,” Hannah says. “This shade gives out a really nice, warm light.”
The walls throughout the home were given two coats of an eco-friendly mineral paint, which has a lovely matt finish. “The beams were very dark, so I gave them a wash with the same paint,” Hannah says.
Walls and beams painted in mineral paint, KEIM Ecosil-ME. Vietnamese bamboo fishing pot pendant light, Etsy. Carnival jute rug, The Braided Rug Company. Curtain fabric, Romo.
The walls throughout the home were given two coats of an eco-friendly mineral paint, which has a lovely matt finish. “The beams were very dark, so I gave them a wash with the same paint,” Hannah says.
Walls and beams painted in mineral paint, KEIM Ecosil-ME. Vietnamese bamboo fishing pot pendant light, Etsy. Carnival jute rug, The Braided Rug Company. Curtain fabric, Romo.
The wood-burning stove was already in place, as the previous owner had used it as their only source of heating. The couple had it serviced and added oak edging to the slate hearth.
The rest of the home’s heating is from sustainable suppliers, while a solar thermal panel on the roof provides hot water even on a dull day.
The rest of the home’s heating is from sustainable suppliers, while a solar thermal panel on the roof provides hot water even on a dull day.
The original floor was concrete, so Hannah had it removed and replaced with engineered oak floorboards.
The upstairs floorboards were also stripped out and replaced with new ones that have soundproofing below.
The couple kept the original bed in place and had bedside stools made by a woodsman. “My grandfather was a dairy farmer and he would have had a milking stool like these,” Hannah says.
Bedside stools, created by a woodsman on Etsy. Throw, Nido Notte Italia. Bed linen, Christy.
The couple kept the original bed in place and had bedside stools made by a woodsman. “My grandfather was a dairy farmer and he would have had a milking stool like these,” Hannah says.
Bedside stools, created by a woodsman on Etsy. Throw, Nido Notte Italia. Bed linen, Christy.
“When we bought the property, the owner asked us if we wanted to keep anything,” Hannah says. “We chose to keep this Art Nouveau walnut washstand with a carved surface, ceramic tiles and a red marble top.”
Heavy patterned curtains hang at the newly painted windows to block out morning light and add warmth to the room.
Ellington opal glass pendant light, available at Holloways of Ludlow.
Heavy patterned curtains hang at the newly painted windows to block out morning light and add warmth to the room.
Ellington opal glass pendant light, available at Holloways of Ludlow.
The couple created these pendant lights themselves. They attached half a coat hanger to the wall and threaded a twisted electrical cord around it, which then drops down to hold the stunning marbled lampshade in place.
Marbled drum shades, Munro and Kerr.
Marbled drum shades, Munro and Kerr.
Hannah added a reclaimed fireplace to the empty chimney breast, which she painted and topped with a wooden mantel.
Reflected in the mirror is a double wall sconce that Hannah inherited from her late father. “We have three sets – in the hallway, bedroom and downstairs,” she says. “They mean a lot to me.”
Marbled half shades (on wall sconce), Antiques Centre York. Fireplace surround, Totnes Refurnish Store.
Reflected in the mirror is a double wall sconce that Hannah inherited from her late father. “We have three sets – in the hallway, bedroom and downstairs,” she says. “They mean a lot to me.”
Marbled half shades (on wall sconce), Antiques Centre York. Fireplace surround, Totnes Refurnish Store.
“The previous avocado bath suite was very old school and didn’t work in the space,” Hannah says.
She turned the bath area into a large walk-in shower and covered the walls and basin splashback with vintage-style tiles.
A practical bevelled mirror above the basin has an electric demister pad behind it.
Scandilux opal glass globe wall light, Holloways of Ludlow. Porcelain tiles, Best Tile.
A practical bevelled mirror above the basin has an electric demister pad behind it.
Scandilux opal glass globe wall light, Holloways of Ludlow. Porcelain tiles, Best Tile.
A built-in cistern is covered with an oak shelf to provide useful storage.
By incorporating both new and old elements throughout the cottage, the couple have managed to bring their personality into the property. “It’s cosy yet contemporary,” Hannah says, “and although it’s small, it feels quite open.”
Tell us…
What do you like most about this cosy, rural cottage? Have you incorporated reclaimed items into your home? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments.
By incorporating both new and old elements throughout the cottage, the couple have managed to bring their personality into the property. “It’s cosy yet contemporary,” Hannah says, “and although it’s small, it feels quite open.”
Tell us…
What do you like most about this cosy, rural cottage? Have you incorporated reclaimed items into your home? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments.
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Really lovely. Exudes a sense of tranquility. Especially love the repurposed hangers.
This is a great renovation and a place of peace and calm and warmth. Well done!
I particularly like the terracotta painted cupboards in the kitchen area. Would you be able to share, what paint and colour was used?
I like the wash on the beams. Could I ask what you used and how were the beams finished before? I too have dark beams and whilst I don't want to completely cover I feel that my roomd could benefit with them being 'lightened up' a bit.