Originally built in 1710, this whimsical cottage is surrounded by rolling green hills and sprawling pastures in western England.
Despite the cottage’s rich history in the Cotswold area, many modern elements have been incorporated to make it fully functional and livable. Designed by Caroline Hideaway, the renovated home is truly a work of interior design ingenuity.
“The challenge was to marry the two parts together bringing a sense of harmony and history back to the property. Found materials were used for flooring, shelving and reclaimed local stone for cills to do this,” she says on her website.
Stepping into the English cottage is like stepping back in time.
Original elements of the home, such as the stone walls, hold onto the cottage’s historical roots. The antique furniture pays homage to the cottage’s past as well. Caroline opted for a bright purple armchair with matching ottoman, as well as a bold patterned chair that sits across. Visitors can chat while staying warm by the woodstove.
Looking the opposite direction, you can get a full sense of the cottage’s seating and living space. Caroline went for another bright pop of color with a light blue velvet antique sofa. Wooden beams adorn the ceiling, and a vintage door provides access to the home’s dining room.
The dining table is a hodgepodge of reclaimed wood and pieces of furniture.
The small dining table is made from unfinished reclaimed wood, and it’s surrounded by three mismatching chairs, as well as a small bench on one side. The dining room sits beneath a large skylight which provides plenty of natural light to dine underneath.
The cottage’s kitchen is the perfect combination of vintage and contemporary.
The walls were painted a stark white, making the kitchen feel bright and airy, and the unfinished wooden floors retain a piece of the cottage’s centuries-old heritage. Subway tiles provide the backsplash to the kitchen’s black vintage stove and oven, and a small bench with table is the perfect space for prepping meals.
A deep-basin farmhouse sink sits nestled in between gorgeous marble countertops. Rustic wood was used to create exposed shelving for pots, pans, and dishware. It’s simple elements such as these that flood the cottage with charm.
The adorable cottage features two generously sized bedrooms.
“The bedroom ceiling in the original part of the property was of modern construction and punishingly low. After a tussle with the local authorities removal was agreed, the apex was clad in old match boarding purchased from the demolition of a local village hall and some dignity was returned to the original building,” Caroline says.
Both bedrooms feature distressed, antique dressers, unique light fixtures, and simple decor. When a home’s architecture has so much character, it essentially speaks for itself and doesn’t require much decorating.
“The tradition of Scandinavian rural design is admired for its modesty, clarity, and beauty. A thread of it runs through this Cotswold Cottage.”
The bathroom is possibly one of the most elegant rooms in the home.
White wood paneling was used throughout the bathroom, a far cry from the avocado green that it originally once was. The bathroom also boasts a luxurious deep soaking tub, just another way to relax in this countryside cottage.
The tiny cottage boasts a backyard with greenery and flowers, perfect for enjoying a morning cup of tea.
“I am excited every time I leave London with the thought of being here. It is a very welcoming cottage and very giving. When we are really busy at work, it becomes more important to be here and I sleep here so well; it is dark and totally quiet. This cottage is now a part of us, an effortless comfort blanket,” Caroline told House & Garden.
View more pictures and learn more about Caroline, as well as her other projects, at her website.
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