Interior Design
Cotswolds Houzz: Country-Meets-Coastal Makeover in a Tiny Cottage
A designer's restoration-renovation revives the period charm of a Cotswolds cottage, bringing the UK home back to life
This cosy, 18th-century UK cottage needed a lot of work to bring back its character and create a roomier living space for the couple who live here. “They worked with architects to design an extension and we completely updated the bones of the building, including wiring, plumbing and reinstating stone walls,” says interior designer Jo Shore, who worked on this project. To give the owners the rustic country look they were after, Shore brought in plenty of texture with natural linen, wool, seagrass and stone.
The living room before works.
A wall of Cotswolds stone was built in front of the plasterboard at the side of the living room. “We relied on the builders’ beautiful craftsmanship to create the stone walls around the house,” says Shore.
Thinking of renovating? Bring your home from ‘before’ to ‘after’ with the help of an interior designer near you
A wall of Cotswolds stone was built in front of the plasterboard at the side of the living room. “We relied on the builders’ beautiful craftsmanship to create the stone walls around the house,” says Shore.
Thinking of renovating? Bring your home from ‘before’ to ‘after’ with the help of an interior designer near you
The living room after works.
At the other end of the living room is a wood-burning stove. Shore extended the hearth below by sourcing the same dark limestone as the existing surface. The mantelpiece beam was stripped back and made good, and an alcove was created to store firewood.
The ceiling beams were originally stained a dark colour, so Shore painted them white to give a fresh look to the room. She hung a cosy wool herringbone curtain over the front door at the side of the space for added insulation. The result is an interior that mixes country and coastal styles.
At the other end of the living room is a wood-burning stove. Shore extended the hearth below by sourcing the same dark limestone as the existing surface. The mantelpiece beam was stripped back and made good, and an alcove was created to store firewood.
The ceiling beams were originally stained a dark colour, so Shore painted them white to give a fresh look to the room. She hung a cosy wool herringbone curtain over the front door at the side of the space for added insulation. The result is an interior that mixes country and coastal styles.
An extension was built on the side of the kitchen to accommodate a dining room. The owners found the table and chairs in France, and Shore’s cabinet maker adjusted the legs to make it lower.
“We built a bench beneath the windows with hinged seats for storing outdoor cushions,” she says. “It was tricky to find the right colour to paint the windows, as they’re uPVC, but we were happy with this choice in the end.”
The builder crafted the solid-oak barn door that leads to the laundry behind the kitchen. Previously, the room was an old outbuilding and is now connected to the new extension.
“We built a bench beneath the windows with hinged seats for storing outdoor cushions,” she says. “It was tricky to find the right colour to paint the windows, as they’re uPVC, but we were happy with this choice in the end.”
The builder crafted the solid-oak barn door that leads to the laundry behind the kitchen. Previously, the room was an old outbuilding and is now connected to the new extension.
A pendant light was made from a basket that Shore found at a garden centre. “I sourced a filament bulb and a suitable cable and asked the electrician to make it into a pendant,” she says. “It’s hung from the central beam of the sky lantern [skylight] and gives a lovely focal point.”
The tiny kitchen needed to accommodate ample storage. “The utility room [laundry] helped, as we could put the laundry appliances in there,” says Shore. The kitchen’s base cabinets house an integrated dishwasher and plenty of drawers for pots and pans, as well as a corner cupboard with a pull-out rack inside.
“We wanted to keep it nice and open, so we only installed wall units on one side,” says Shore. Three brass wall lights complement the brass fittings elsewhere in the kitchen.
Limestone flooring covers the entire kitchen and dining space, and a seagrass rug from Africa softens the surface.
“We wanted to keep it nice and open, so we only installed wall units on one side,” says Shore. Three brass wall lights complement the brass fittings elsewhere in the kitchen.
Limestone flooring covers the entire kitchen and dining space, and a seagrass rug from Africa softens the surface.
The stairs are located directly opposite the kitchen. “We kept the existing banister and handrail and tidied up the underside of the staircase,” says Shore.
Pictured here, the owners bought the desk in France, and Shore found the reconditioned Anglepoise lamp in a local shop.
Pictured here, the owners bought the desk in France, and Shore found the reconditioned Anglepoise lamp in a local shop.
In the main bedroom, the back wall was plastered, so the team built a layer of Cotswold stone in front of it. “It takes up some space in the room, but creates more character,” says Shore.
Brass sconces function well as reading lights and can be turned on with a separate switch, while the table lamps are turned on at the wall for more decorative illumination.
“The wall had to be immaculately planned for the back boxes [which wiring is fixed to in a wall] and switches,” says Shore.
“The wall had to be immaculately planned for the back boxes [which wiring is fixed to in a wall] and switches,” says Shore.
“We built an upholstered seat in the recessed window,” she says. “The curtains are cotton with tassels to add a pretty edging.”
Browse more beautiful bedrooms featuring stone
Browse more beautiful bedrooms featuring stone
Two vintage-style basins and a shower were installed in the first-floor bathroom. Shore contrasted bright white subway tiles with dark grey walls, and covered the floor with patterned tiles.
Render was taken off the landing wall to reveal the beautiful stone underneath. This was repointed, while downlights were installed along the ceiling to wash the wall with light.
Render was taken off the landing wall to reveal the beautiful stone underneath. This was repointed, while downlights were installed along the ceiling to wash the wall with light.
In the small single bedroom, Shore’s team built a bed in a nook with storage underneath. “The tongue-and-groove doors with Suffolk ironware give it some character,” she says.
Again, the windows are uPVC, but the dark grey paint and new handles help tie them in with the old house.
Again, the windows are uPVC, but the dark grey paint and new handles help tie them in with the old house.
The attic before works.
In the attic bedroom there were some existing beams, so Shore’s team added a second vertical beam to give the space symmetry.
In the attic bedroom there were some existing beams, so Shore’s team added a second vertical beam to give the space symmetry.
“We also put tongue-and-groove behind the bed to add character,” she says of the wall cladding.
Table lamps are again complemented by wall-mounted lights. “It’s a lovely, luxurious touch to have separate reading lights,” she says.
Table lamps are again complemented by wall-mounted lights. “It’s a lovely, luxurious touch to have separate reading lights,” she says.
Storage was built into the eaves, concealed by tongue-and-groove doors.
In the adjoining bathroom, Shore worked with what was already there. “We panelled the side of the bath and added new taps,” she says. The flooring matches that in the first-floor bathroom to give the home a cohesive look.
Your turn
What’s your favourite room in this revived Cotswolds cottage? Share your thoughts in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
For another old-meets-new transformation, you won’t want to miss this stunning Devon Houzz: A Crumbling Old Cottage Gets a Fresh New Update
Your turn
What’s your favourite room in this revived Cotswolds cottage? Share your thoughts in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
For another old-meets-new transformation, you won’t want to miss this stunning Devon Houzz: A Crumbling Old Cottage Gets a Fresh New Update
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: The Cotswolds, UK
Property: An 18th-century cottage
Size: Three bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer: Jo Shore of Jo Shore
To give this tiny cottage a more spacious feel, the wall that separated two small living rooms was removed to create a larger space. At one end is a seating zone where the owners can read, watch TV or relax with friends.
“They were keen to conceal the TV, so we designed a storage unit with doors for the screen and a drinks area above,” says Shore. Wall lights either side add a cosy glow to the bookcase.