Houzz Tour: Subtle Coastal Style in a Rejuvenated Cornish Cottage
Soft greys and injections of bold colour create a relaxed and uplifting atmosphere in this Cornish cottage with stunning views of the sea
Seeing the finished images of this relaxed Cornish cottage, it’s difficult to imagine the work that went into getting it to this stage. Interior designer Rebecca Leivars was brought in alongside TFQ Architects to turn what had been a dilapidated clifftop cottage, untouched since the 1930s, into a comfortable, light and, most importantly, dry retreat on the Cornish coast.
When an interior designer takes on a new project, they almost certainly don’t imagine themselves locked in the property sheltering from a ferocious storm, with waves crashing against the village church just 100m away. The difficulties were numerous, with carpets having to be replaced following floods, and Rebecca having to ensure that all materials used would stand the test of the elements. ‘I spent a lot of time dealing with boatyards and specialists in marine quality,’ she explains. ‘I learned so much, it was a real lesson in renovating a coastal property.’
The project ended up taking much longer than expected, given all of these factors, but, thanks to some luck with the local planning agency and the cottage’s superb location, the end product was well worth the two-and-a-half-year wait.
Houzz at a Glance
Location Cornwall
Designer Rebecca Leivars of LEIVARS
Size 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
When an interior designer takes on a new project, they almost certainly don’t imagine themselves locked in the property sheltering from a ferocious storm, with waves crashing against the village church just 100m away. The difficulties were numerous, with carpets having to be replaced following floods, and Rebecca having to ensure that all materials used would stand the test of the elements. ‘I spent a lot of time dealing with boatyards and specialists in marine quality,’ she explains. ‘I learned so much, it was a real lesson in renovating a coastal property.’
The project ended up taking much longer than expected, given all of these factors, but, thanks to some luck with the local planning agency and the cottage’s superb location, the end product was well worth the two-and-a-half-year wait.
Houzz at a Glance
Location Cornwall
Designer Rebecca Leivars of LEIVARS
Size 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
To give the main bedroom – also on the ground floor – a little more interest, Rebecca decided to bring in pale blue and red in the soft furnishings. An electric log burner to the left of the bed creates a lovely cosy atmosphere. This room also has its own en-suite bathroom.
Bed and mattress, Loaf. Bedside tables, Cox & Cox. Bedside lamps; pendant light; bed linen; cushions, all John Lewis. Walls painted in Pavilion Gray, Farrow & Ball.
Bed and mattress, Loaf. Bedside tables, Cox & Cox. Bedside lamps; pendant light; bed linen; cushions, all John Lewis. Walls painted in Pavilion Gray, Farrow & Ball.
The kitchen opens onto a terraced area, with some steps leading up to a raised garden of driftwoods, hardwearing grasses and pebbles. ‘We wanted to give sea views from the garden, and also views out to the beautiful countryside and rooftops of the village behind,’ Rebecca explains.
Rather than going for anything too contemporary in the kitchen, Rebecca decided to opt for a country cottage style, but painted in a modern grey. ‘We wanted a nice, cohesive feel with the rest of the house,’ she explains. The grey provides a neutral backdrop to allow any accent colours to stand out, such as flowers during the summer. ‘It looks fresh in the sunshine and not too cold in the winter,’ she explains, ‘and you can see how nicely the daffodils stand out against it.’
The kitchen is housed in an extension the architects built onto the back of the property. The large skylight is perfect for star gazing. ‘The Cornish sky is phenomenally black at night,’ says Rebecca. ‘The stars are amazing.’
Kitchen, Howdens. Dining table and chairs, Loaf. Walls painted in Skimming Stone, Farrow & Ball.
Rather than going for anything too contemporary in the kitchen, Rebecca decided to opt for a country cottage style, but painted in a modern grey. ‘We wanted a nice, cohesive feel with the rest of the house,’ she explains. The grey provides a neutral backdrop to allow any accent colours to stand out, such as flowers during the summer. ‘It looks fresh in the sunshine and not too cold in the winter,’ she explains, ‘and you can see how nicely the daffodils stand out against it.’
The kitchen is housed in an extension the architects built onto the back of the property. The large skylight is perfect for star gazing. ‘The Cornish sky is phenomenally black at night,’ says Rebecca. ‘The stars are amazing.’
Kitchen, Howdens. Dining table and chairs, Loaf. Walls painted in Skimming Stone, Farrow & Ball.
The door seen here leads into the living room, with the two stairs up to the left leading on to the final bedroom. The staircase is what you’d expect in a cottage – small, narrow and traditional. With all of the sand coming in from the beach, Rebecca wanted flooring that would be easy to clean and maintain. The carpet she chose is 100% wool from a local supplier, so is good with water damage and general wear and tear. The feel is simple, soft and clean, with little quirks, such as the ‘first class waiting room’ sign, to entice people upstairs.
Pendant light, John Lewis. Walls painted in Skimming Stone, Farrow & Ball. Artwork, Loaf.
Pendant light, John Lewis. Walls painted in Skimming Stone, Farrow & Ball. Artwork, Loaf.
For the decorating scheme, Rebecca wanted to give a subtle nod to the cottage’s location without going too coastal. ‘I wanted an emphasis on lazy, rainy days – sitting there with a hot chocolate or a nice glass of wine in hand while the wind’s howling outside,’ she says. She went for calming grey tones with injections of acid yellow – which contrasts beautifully with the sea, just 10m away – to lift the room on gloomy days.
‘It was lovely to work with the pitched ceiling,’ Rebecca says. ‘I wanted to ground it and bring it down a bit further, so we tried to emphasise the railway sleeper beams.’ There’s a railway very nearby, and it’s gentle nods to the surroundings like these that give the cottage its homely feel.
Armchairs; sofa; pouffes; artwork, all Loaf. Mirror; ladder, both Cox & Cox. Pendant Light, John Lewis. Cushions, John Lewis and Loaf. Walls painted in Skimming Stone, Farrow & Ball. Beams painted in Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball.
‘It was lovely to work with the pitched ceiling,’ Rebecca says. ‘I wanted to ground it and bring it down a bit further, so we tried to emphasise the railway sleeper beams.’ There’s a railway very nearby, and it’s gentle nods to the surroundings like these that give the cottage its homely feel.
Armchairs; sofa; pouffes; artwork, all Loaf. Mirror; ladder, both Cox & Cox. Pendant Light, John Lewis. Cushions, John Lewis and Loaf. Walls painted in Skimming Stone, Farrow & Ball. Beams painted in Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball.
To balance out the high, pitched ceiling, Rebecca clad the alcoves in wooden panelling and painted it a warm grey to tone with the rest of the room. The greys and raw woods keep the look very neutral and natural, while the cushion adds just that touch of coastal mood to give the room a beach hut feel.
Browse more grey and yellow schemes
Table lamp, Loaf.
Browse more grey and yellow schemes
Table lamp, Loaf.
Rebecca wanted to give each bedroom its own individual feel while keeping a level of continuity throughout the cottage. This bedroom has a slight seaside feel, with the striped blind fabric and wood panelling echoing the living room without feeling too contrived.
Blind fabric; cushions; towels; throw, all John Lewis. Bed and mattress, Loaf. Pendant light, John Lewis. Walls painted in Pavilion Gray, Farrow & Ball.
Learn more about coastal style
Blind fabric; cushions; towels; throw, all John Lewis. Bed and mattress, Loaf. Pendant light, John Lewis. Walls painted in Pavilion Gray, Farrow & Ball.
Learn more about coastal style
The two bathrooms are quite small, but have everything one might need. Rebecca kept them traditional, with white sanitaryware and chrome fittings, and neutral tiles from a local tile company.
Bath fixture & shower fixture, Bathstore.
Bath fixture & shower fixture, Bathstore.
Directly in front of the property, where a garage formerly stood, is one of the gems of the property – a chill-out area with a sheer, 12m drop down to the beach. The retreat consists of a simple room, which seats six, from which full-height doors open onto a little balcony, paved with local stone and fitted with a glass balustrade.
It’s the perfect place to sit and relax, have a barbecue, play some board games and even star gaze – a retreat within a retreat, if you like. Fitted with wheels, the barbecue can easily be taken outside before it’s lit.
BBQ, John Lewis. Beanbag, Fatboy. Hurricane lights, John Lewis. Coffee table, Loaf. Tiles, Topps Tiles.
TELL US…
Do you like this Cornish coastal retreat? Tell us why in the Comments below. If you’ve been to any great places in Cornwall, feel free to share tips and advice, too!
It’s the perfect place to sit and relax, have a barbecue, play some board games and even star gaze – a retreat within a retreat, if you like. Fitted with wheels, the barbecue can easily be taken outside before it’s lit.
BBQ, John Lewis. Beanbag, Fatboy. Hurricane lights, John Lewis. Coffee table, Loaf. Tiles, Topps Tiles.
TELL US…
Do you like this Cornish coastal retreat? Tell us why in the Comments below. If you’ve been to any great places in Cornwall, feel free to share tips and advice, too!
In the first bedroom on the ground floor, the designer went for more of a country feel, to echo the views of the rugged coastal terrain through the window. ‘It felt appropriate to do this room in these tones,’ Rebecca explains. ‘You can actually see hay bales from the window.’
Bedside tables, Cox & Cox. Lamps, Loaf. Artwork, Rockett St George. Cushions, John Lewis. Hurricane light (the candle lamp), John Lewis. Walls painted in Pavilion Gray, Farrow & Ball.