{"id":18199,"date":"2022-05-04T17:37:42","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T16:37:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/?p=18199"},"modified":"2022-10-14T16:33:56","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T15:33:56","slug":"cottage-renovation-in-cornwall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/home-tours\/cottage-renovation-in-cornwall\/","title":{"rendered":"Storybook appeal in a Cornish seaside cottage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perched above Cadgwith Cove, it was love at first sight for Lisa and James Bligh when they found their dream Cornish holiday cottage renovation project…<\/strong><\/p>\n

At Land\u2019s End, away from the seaside crowds, there is a rare delight: a model village of the ten prettiest houses in all of Cornwall. And although they didn\u2019t know it at the time, Lisa and James were about to buy one of them in real life: Fisherman\u2019s Knot.<\/p>\n

\u2018It was one of those \u201cwow moments\u201d when we saw the cottage,\u2019 Lisa smiles. \u2018We were looking for a second home to enjoy family holidays; somewhere to leave city stresses behind and get back to nature with the kids.<\/p>\n

It was so full of charm and just a stone\u2019s throw away from Cadgwith Cove\u2019s blue waters, as its name suggests. We were captivated within minutes.\u2019<\/p>

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Picture-postcard exteriors include a thatched roof and coastal blue paintwork on the cottage renovation. Photo credit: Colin Poole<\/p><\/div>\n

Restoring the original layout<\/h2>\n

The stone-built, grade II-listed bolthole is a story of two halves. Dating back to the 1700s, it was first a two-up, two-down, but then an even smaller one-up, one-down was added as a honeymoon home for a past owner\u2019s family.<\/p>\n

As Lisa wanted to rent the place out while the family weren\u2019t using it, this two-for-one layout was a happy discovery. \u2018It was being used as a single cottage when we bought it, but by taking it back to its original configuration, we could host two lots of guests at the same time or open it all up when we stayed there with friends and family,\u2019 she explains.<\/p>\n

Work began by extending the little honeymoon home to include a small second kitchen and bathroom, then a soundproof, hidden door was added to link the two together.<\/p>\n

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A minimal glass pendant lamp doesn’t detract from the bedroom’s scene stealing coastal views. Photo: Colin Poole<\/p><\/div>\n

Lisa knew she had her work cut out with cottage renovation. \u2018The same fishing family had owned the place for over 100 years and every room was chock-full of furniture and fishing paraphernalia, so a simple decorating facelift just wasn\u2019t going to be enough,\u2019 she remembers.<\/p>

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\u2018There was so many characterful details to preserve, too. It was like stepping back in time \u2013 we even found a tiny door upstairs that was used for quick getaways to avoid being forcibly enlisted into the navy. The whole place has a real storybook appeal.\u2019<\/p>\n

As well as updating the essentials, such as plumbing and electrics, the couple exposed the floorboards upstairs, fitted new ones on the ground floor, installed an open fire, re-thatched the roof and replaced the existing kitchen and bathroom, as well as creating a cottage garden to make the most of the spellbinding views.<\/p>\n

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The new open fire transforms the cottage into a cosy retreat for the winter months. Photo: Colin Poole<\/p><\/div>\n

‘Retro seaside chic’<\/h2>\n

When it came to the decoration, Lisa wanted the interiors to feel inspired by their coastal setting, but not rely on an off-the-peg beachy theme. \u2018I call it \u201cretro seaside chic\u201d\u2019 she smiles. \u2018It\u2019s an update on the classic look but with a vintage flavour.\u2019 Cleverly, her bright sunshine yellow and sea blue colour scheme means that whatever the British weather brings, memories of summer days are never too far away.<\/p>\n

Mid-century furniture forms the backbone of each room, and with their long, tapered legs and airy designs, the rooms feel bigger and none of the furniture obstructs the light or the views.<\/p>

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\u2018We sourced one-off finds and scoured reclamation yards to create a lived-in and loved look that still feels eclectic and luxurious,\u2019 she adds. \u2018These were the things that make the cottage distinctive, and they weren\u2019t expensive \u2013 they just took a little while to find.<\/p>\n

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Bright colours in cosy nooks add a sunshine feel whatever the weather. Photo: Colin Poole<\/p><\/div>\n

Emphasising the picture-perfect views<\/h2>\n

The chalky blue front door leads straight into the living room, where furniture nestles around the restored inglenook fireplace. In this small room, there are no fewer than four places to sit: on the beautiful velvet sofa, a recovered Eames rocking chair, a Fifties-style button-back armchair and a clever built-in alcove seat \u2013 and yet the room doesn\u2019t feel cluttered.<\/p>\n

\u2018It was tricky to find the best layouts in the rooms,\u2019 she adds, \u2018as some of them are fairly compact, so we had to be quite creative at times.\u2019 The new oak floorboards seamlessly flow into the kitchen-diner, where a space-saving round table takes in a stunning sea view. \u2018Each of the windows captures a picture-perfect slice of the cove \u2013 it made it so easy to fall in love with the place.\u2019<\/p>\n

Given Fisherman\u2019s Knot\u2019s heritage, it was important to Lisa and James that their renovations continued to celebrate Cornwall\u2019s past as well as its present. \u2018The new Shaker-style wooden kitchen was handmade by Rozen<\/a>, who are based just five minutes away in Ruan Minor,\u2019 Lisa says.<\/p>

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Keen to support the community, the new kitchen was handmade by local Cornish company Rozen Photo: Colin Poole.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018A lot of the bespoke artwork we bought are from local crafters \u2013 though the kids and I did create the pressed seaweed prints ourselves! Plus, the whole renovation was overseen by a team who live at the top of the hill, so we felt confident they would do the place proud, especially as we weren\u2019t there every day to check on progress.\u2019<\/p>\n

The cottage\u2019s rural seaside location didn\u2019t come without its problems \u2013 even with the neighbours as the builders. \u2018We entirely gridlocked Cadgwith Cove when our sofa was being delivered, much to the delight of the locals,\u2019<\/p>\n

Lisa grimaces. \u2018Oh, and removing 250 tonnes of earth down the coastal path when we excavated the extension and patio wasn\u2019t the most straightforward of tasks, either!\u2019<\/p>\n

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Lobster pots filled with seaside finds are stacked within a restored fireplace. Photo: Colin Poole<\/p><\/div>\n

Preserving part of Cornwall’s history<\/h2>\n

The whole cottage renovation took 12 months in total, but all the trials and tribulations seem like a distant memory to the family now. \u2018Logistically, it was a tough one, and we\u2019ve definitely learned that delivery drivers don\u2019t like Cornish roads or windy footpaths,\u2019 Lisa laughs. \u2018But I\u2019ll never forget excitedly making our way through the tiny village to see the cottage for the very first time.<\/p>

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We instantly knew we\u2019d feel at home and relaxed here. It has such a welcoming atmosphere \u2013 even more so now, with all of our hand-picked accessories and the new colour scheme, which always makes the whole cottage seem so bright and cheery.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s wonderful to think that we\u2019ve preserved a part of Cornwall\u2019s history for many generations to come, and that they will enjoy the cottage in exactly the same way as we do \u2013 sitting in front of the open fire or out on the patio, watching the boats bobbing by and listening to the sound of the sea.\u2019<\/p>\n

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With the 12-month cottage renovation now complete, the family can now relax and enjoy the incredible location. Photo: Colin Poole<\/p><\/div>\n

MORE COASTAL COTTAGE RENOVATIONS<\/h4>\n