My Houzz: A Small Seaside Home with a Cosy Cottage Feel
Built to house transatlantic cables, this southwest Wales hut is now a cute cottage with a space-smart layout
John Marsh and Eleanor Winn took an active approach to house-hunting. As they passed by likely homes during their travels, they noted those they liked and contacted the owners. This small property was one of them. “We wrote a letter and two months later the owner said, ‘I’m thinking of selling, come and see it,’” says Marsh.
The property was in poor condition back then, requiring a new roof, re-rendered walls, and rewiring and replumbing throughout. It also needed new windows and flooring, and a new kitchen and bathroom. The effort, though, was well worth it, resulting in a coastal gem of a home.
The property was in poor condition back then, requiring a new roof, re-rendered walls, and rewiring and replumbing throughout. It also needed new windows and flooring, and a new kitchen and bathroom. The effort, though, was well worth it, resulting in a coastal gem of a home.
The metal hut and attached stone cottage have a fascinating history. “During World War I, it was one of the main communication links with North America,” says Marsh. “It housed cables that went under the sea to Ireland, across Ireland via the land, across to Canada, then by land down to New York and Washington.”
The hut was where the cables terminated, while the stone building was where the keeper lived; soldiers were stationed outside to guard the strategic link during the war.
As communications improved, though, the facility that had allowed telegrams to be exchanged between London and Washington was left to go to rack and ruin, and the building was abandoned until the previous owner reclaimed it as a scenic bolthole.
The hut was where the cables terminated, while the stone building was where the keeper lived; soldiers were stationed outside to guard the strategic link during the war.
As communications improved, though, the facility that had allowed telegrams to be exchanged between London and Washington was left to go to rack and ruin, and the building was abandoned until the previous owner reclaimed it as a scenic bolthole.
Finding a contractor to take on the work wasn’t simple. “It’s a very small, finicky job renovating a tiny cable hut, and it put a lot of people off,” says Marsh. “Eventually, I got a local farmer/builder to do it.”
Working on the interior once the major renovations were complete was much easier. The black and white of the exterior were repeated inside in the contrast of walls and beams and in the furniture and fittings, too, while bright accents were added with soft furnishings.
Interior designer Paul Hervey found furniture and accessories with an industrial feel to nod to the history of the building. Many, like the cable reel table and wall clock, came from eBay.
Industrial metal sideboard; Key Wood armchairs, all Tikamoon. Madison and Mondo fabrics, Melin Tregwynt.
Working on the interior once the major renovations were complete was much easier. The black and white of the exterior were repeated inside in the contrast of walls and beams and in the furniture and fittings, too, while bright accents were added with soft furnishings.
Interior designer Paul Hervey found furniture and accessories with an industrial feel to nod to the history of the building. Many, like the cable reel table and wall clock, came from eBay.
Industrial metal sideboard; Key Wood armchairs, all Tikamoon. Madison and Mondo fabrics, Melin Tregwynt.
The bedroom-cum-living space is located in the hut that used to house the cables, “like an old telephone exchange”, Marsh says.
The seating area takes advantage of the sea views, with the sleep space at the other end of the room. Local materials were used where possible, including fabrics from the nearby woollen mill at Tregwynt.
Iron bed, John Lewis. Broadstripe red throws; cushions, all Melin Tregwynt.
The seating area takes advantage of the sea views, with the sleep space at the other end of the room. Local materials were used where possible, including fabrics from the nearby woollen mill at Tregwynt.
Iron bed, John Lewis. Broadstripe red throws; cushions, all Melin Tregwynt.
The interior walls of the hut are clad in tongue-and-groove, with knots that add to the building’s character. The sign over the iron bed is a salvaged piece sourced by designer Hervey.
Ribbed knit throw, John Lewis.
Ribbed knit throw, John Lewis.
From the kitchen-diner, which is in the white cottage part of the property, there’s a view through to the metal hut section.
The flooring is distressed engineered oak, selected to work well with the underfloor heating that warms the home.
Distressed vintage oak engineered flooring, Wood2U.
The flooring is distressed engineered oak, selected to work well with the underfloor heating that warms the home.
Distressed vintage oak engineered flooring, Wood2U.
Hervey found a neat round table to create a dining area in a corner of the kitchen. The table and chairs continue the industrial ambience.
Dining table, French Connection. Toledo stools, Cult Furniture.
Dining table, French Connection. Toledo stools, Cult Furniture.
Modest dimensions and a long list of must-have elements – including oven and hob, washer-dryer, dishwasher, and a Belfast sink – made the kitchen challenging for Marsh to plan. “Because it’s a small room, rather than big cupboards, there are solid oak shelves on the wall,” he says.
99 ingenious ideas for your small kitchen
99 ingenious ideas for your small kitchen
Marsh made his budget go further by using economical carcasses with more expensive door fronts in the kitchen. Like the shelves, the worktop is oak, but it’s a substantial end-grain version. “It weighs a ton, and I have to oil it every year,” he says. “But wood’s a lovely material and I think it gives it a more natural, homely feel.”
The kitchen blind is also made from fabric from the local woollen mill.
Cooke & Lewis Carisbrooke framed doors and drawer fronts, B&Q. Oak end-grain work surface, Norfolk Oak. Blind fabric, Melin Tregwynt.
The kitchen blind is also made from fabric from the local woollen mill.
Cooke & Lewis Carisbrooke framed doors and drawer fronts, B&Q. Oak end-grain work surface, Norfolk Oak. Blind fabric, Melin Tregwynt.
Space was of the essence in the bathroom, but with no compromise on luxury: as well as the bath, the room has a walk-in shower.
The black and white theme inspired by the exterior of the property is continued in here with local Welsh slate floor tiles contrasting with the white metro wall tiles. The washstand – found on eBay – picks up the pairing with its black granite top, and black features in a picture frame and accessories, too.
The black and white theme inspired by the exterior of the property is continued in here with local Welsh slate floor tiles contrasting with the white metro wall tiles. The washstand – found on eBay – picks up the pairing with its black granite top, and black features in a picture frame and accessories, too.
Marsh chose a short, high bath that enables a long soak with a view to the sea, but doesn’t crowd the room. “You sit in there with your knees tucked up and water up to your neck,” he says of the freestanding design.
Tubby tub bath, Albion.
Is a freestanding or fitted bath right for your scheme?
Tubby tub bath, Albion.
Is a freestanding or fitted bath right for your scheme?
The front door of the home leads directly into the kitchen. The black fridge is part of the monochrome palette that links inside and outside.
Fridge, Gorenje.
Should you get a black fridge-freezer?
Fridge, Gorenje.
Should you get a black fridge-freezer?
The house has a generous garden with plenty of seating areas from which to enjoy the fresh air and long views.
The property is in a National Trust area, so approval was necessary for changes such as the new windows, as well as the new metal sheeting on the hut’s exterior, which had to be replaced on a like-for-like basis.
“A lot of Welsh farm buildings are covered in the same iron finish and it’s generally black,” says Marsh.
“A lot of Welsh farm buildings are covered in the same iron finish and it’s generally black,” says Marsh.
The couple use the hut as a holiday home and visit regularly.
This house is now available to rent: go to Unique Home Stays.
Like the look of this cosy coastal home? Let us know in the Comments section.
This house is now available to rent: go to Unique Home Stays.
Like the look of this cosy coastal home? Let us know in the Comments section.
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Who lives here John Marsh and Eleanor Winn
Location Near Abermawr beach, Pembrokeshire
Property A former hut for cables, plus attached living accommodation
Size 1 bedroom/living room, 1 bathroom
Interior designer Paul Hervey of PHI Concepts
Photos by Mark Watts © Unique Home Stays
The cottage is in an amazingly peaceful location. “You can see one other cottage across the valley,” says John Marsh. “The striking thing is, when you arrive and turn off the headlights, it’s pitch black and you can’t see the ground when you step out of the car.”