Be inspired by this cosy country cottage in the Lake District

This country cottage from 25 Beautiful Homes is packed with inspiration for creating your own traditional look. For more house tours and decorating ideas, go to housetohome.co.uk

1/8 A Cumbrian country cottage

exterior with trees

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)

This detached cottage in Cumbria was converted in the 1970s from a house and adjoining barn. It comes with a living room, dining room, kitchen, drawing room, four bedrooms (one en suite) and bathroom.

2/8 Traditional living room with tweed sofa

living room with tweed sofa

(Image credit: Future PLC /Colin Poole)

With the exception of the armchairs, almost every item in the cottage has been unearthed from a fair or second-hand shop and then modified, colour-washed or reupholstered. The window seat was created out of a discarded church pew, while an old Chesterfield sofa was brought up to date with a trendy tweed covering.

Similar sofa
The Original Sofa Co.
Armchair
John Lewis

3/8 Country-style drawing room with purple patterned footstool

living room with wall gallery

(Image credit: Future PLC /Colin Poole)

In the drawing room a collection of 19th-century tapestries that someone had thrown out make an eye-catching feature wall. Meanwhile, a palette of soft-greys throughout allows the owners to show off their bargains while the odd injection of colour gives each room a lift. Flashes of purple bring this homely area to life.

Sofa and footstool
Vickerstown Interiors
Similar sofa
Homebase

4/8 Farmhouse-style kitchen with crockery shelves

Farmhouse-style kitchen with crockery shelves

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)

This kitchen space has a delightfully rustic, lived-in feel. The charming island has a low-level open shelf for storage and display, as well as hanging rails for tea towels. Enamelled crockery is too pretty to hide away. Here, open shelves showcase the best of it.

Similar island
Ikea
Similar cabinetry
Eastburn Country Furniture
Similar ceramic jugs, vases and bowls
Rural Interiors

5/8 Neutral dining room with painted country furniture

dining room with painted country furniture

(Image credit: Future PLC / Colin Poole)

Mismatched furniture has been hand-painted in the same shade to create a coordinated feel. Cut clutter and get your dining room under control with a pretty yet functional dresser. A stylish dresser isn't just for display purposes - here, it provides essential storage for fine china and beautiful serving platters.

Paint
Country Grey from Annie Sloan
Similar dresser
John Lewis

6/8 Main bedroom with red and cream accents

Main bedroom with red and cream accents

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)

A large low window makes this a wonderful place to wake up in the morning. Splashes of red, in striped, floral and patchwork prints bring this classic bedroom scheme to life. Brass detailing on the iron-framed bed adds a touch of glamour into the mix, while the stripped wood shutters make a rustic alternative to a blind or curtains.

Similar throw
Homestore Plus

7/8 Cream and lilac children’s bedroom with bunting

Cream and lilac children's bedroom with bunting

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)

This colourful space is ideal for a children's room. Use bright furnishings and accessories to bring a traditional scheme to life. Replace a child's bed with something a little more grown-up, such as this sturdy iron bedstead. Hang bunting on the bed rails to add an extra pop of colour.

Bunting
Laura Ashley

8/8 Country bathroom with claw foot bath

bathroom with claw foot bath

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)

The pale shades in this country bathroom create a tranquil feel. Beautiful, hardwearing and timeless, natural stone has enduring appeal. Great for high-traffic areas, marble tiling works well in the bathroom. A cast-iron bath and traditional towel rail complements this bathroom's bold, period architecture, complete with stunning beams.

Similar bath
Bathstore
Similar towels
The Missoni Home

Heather Young
Editor

Heather Young has been Ideal Home’s Editor since late 2020, and Editor-In-Chief since 2023. She is an interiors journalist and editor who’s been working for some of the UK’s leading interiors magazines for over 20 years, both in-house and as a freelancer.