THE STYLE
Renovating Armada Cottage has been a real labour of love- we got the keys just before one of the coldest winters on record and spent several of those months staying here and working on it ourselves- without heating and sometimes without hot water too! We stripped out the tired modern elements and replaced them with fixtures and fittings that feel more authentic to the character & period of the cottage. We have lime plastered walls, redecorated throughout, retiled, installed new bathrooms & heating as well as a hand-built kitchen so that your stay is as comfortable as it can be.
.
We wanted it to feel warm & cosy without being twee or ‘neutral’, like so many generic holiday lets seem to be. We want our guests to leave feeling that they have had a unique experience in a stylish but comfortable home. The stone structure and original dark floorboards set the tone for the design, which takes it cues from the colours of the countryside. A rust velvet sofa is paired with vintage wood & rattan armchairs in the sitting room, sisal carpets & jute rugs add warmth to dark wood floors, whilst unfussy antiques & vintage inspired fabrics add colour & character to the house. Olive green, mustard, wine & teal mix with linens, velvets, zellige tiles & bronze fittings- luxurious mattresses and modern appliances sit comfortably alongside old oil paintings & modern art that we have collected over the years.
.
The gravelled courtyard garden is small but very pretty, has a barbeque & is large enough for 4 to eat outside. It is very private & quiet, gets the sun for most of the day & is filled with pale pink climbing roses & scented jasmine as well as foxgloves & a vine. The gate can be locked if you want to store bikes here whilst you visit. There is space in the outdoor cupboard to store wet wellies & coats after a walk, and there are two deckchairs that you are welcome to use. You will also find a clothes line and pegs in here if you need to do some washing- the washing machine is hidden in the bathroom
.
The cottage was built in the 15th & 16th centuries so the doorways and ceilings in some rooms are low, the staircases are narrow & the floors are wonky- as you would expect from a house from that period. These are the quirks that made us fall in love with the house and we hope that you love them just as much as we do. We have really enjoyed sourcing pieces and designing this house as an escape from urban life and as somewhere to spend time with family & friends, and we welcome you to enjoy it in the same way
.
Beth & Andrew
.
To see more of Beth’s interior design projects visit