Take a tour around a historical country cottage
Rustic wooden floorboards are teamed with chalky colours to set the country-style scene in this 17th Century cottage.
Impressive hallway
Rustic wooden floorboards are teamed with chalky colours to set the country-style scene in this 17th Century cottage. Metal banisters give the wooden staircase a smart update and follows the mix of old and new that is present in the rest of the house.
1/10 hallway - country-style cottage decorating
2/10 living room - country-style cottage decorating
Playful living room
This room is full of clever ideas, from the old chesterfield sofa bought on eBay given refreshing new life with a patchwork of vintage fabrics, and the built-in bookcase that conceals a door into the cinema room, to the simple styling trick of different-toned candles in the candelabras.
3/10 dining room - country-style cottage decorating
Family dining area
A table that was once central to the boardroom of the Liberal Party HQ in Brixton, is teamed with a mix of chairs to create a relaxed space that's perfect for a large family. Two pendant lights define the dining space, while original beams and stone flooring complete the country-style feel.
The Series 7 chairs are from The Lollipop Shoppe. The Calendar Clock is from The Conran Shop, and go to Stone Age for Belgian Blue stone flooring.
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4/10 table - country-style cottage decorating
Chalkboard dining table
The family dining table has been painted with blackboard paint so the kids can express themselves. As well as allowing the children to get creative, it works well for adults as an accessible notice board.
Head to The French House for a vintage table. Craig & Rose sells blackboard paint.
5/10 kitchen - country-style cottage decorating
Rustic kitchen-diner
With its wall of chunky units built from floorboards and hard-wearing stone flooring, this kitchen is resilient to boisterous family life. The large island table is ideal for cooking while entertaining. Metal hooks allow kitchenalia to be stored away, saving space on the worktops.
The units are painted in Farrow & Ball's Charleston Grey. Harvey Jones can build cabinets like this. Summerill & Bishop sells butcher's blocks and find metal stools at Baileys.
6/10 kitchen - country-style cottage decorating
Country-style accessories
Weathered accessories are perfect for the country-cottage look, and metal hooks allow pretty teacups to be kept on display.
Find pretty country-style accessories at Dibor.
7/10 bathroom - country-style cottage decorating
Bargain buy
This rectangular sink was bought for 99p on eBay, and a great example of the owners' love of all things salvage. Encaustic tiles create a pretty splashback and colourful flowers from the garden complete the look.
The encaustic tiles are from Europe but they are available via the owner's website, elizabarnes.com. Try Cox's Architectural Salvage for taps like these.
8/10 bathroom - country-style cottage decorating
White attic bathroom
A luxurious ensuite is completed with a traditional roll-top bath that is more compact than modern options. A double-basin is ideal for busy mornings, and the delicately detailed mirrors add a romantic touch. Soft stone flooring is comfy underfoot and perfect for the bathroom.
Fired Earth sells roll-top baths like this. Try Lassco for reclaimed double basins. Stonell sells French limestone floor tiles.
9/10 bedroom - country-style cottage decorating
Stylish master bedroom
The bedroom is part of a recent extension at the top of the house, but reclaimed oak beams and old floorboards give it an aged feel. Classic-styIe bedroom furniture like the buttoned headboard and bistro side table provide plenty of elegance and completes this attic escape
Visit Laura Ashley for a chaise like this. The bed is an antique, but try frenchfinds.co.uk for similar. The Balcony Gardener sells a similar pedestal table and galvanised pots.
10/10 bathroom - country-style cottage decorating
Luxurious shower room
Nothing goes to waste in this house - the doors flanking the shower room are made from old floorboards painted pale grey.
Create a similar effect with Livingetc Paint's Serpentine. Find reclaimed boards at your local salvage yard, and contact Trunk Reclaimed, who can turn them into doors.
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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.
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