A charming cottage set amongst the lush landscape of North Carolina
There is a question that frequently comes up in the interiors world: what is it about cottages that holds so much sway over us? For one American couple with two young children, the answer lies in their practicality. When they set about renovating their weekend house on the borders of the Black and Smoky mountains in North Carolina, it was the cottage’s ability to deal with the messier parts of life that caused them to look across the pond for inspiration. Upon hiring their friend, interior designer Kate Towill of Basic Projects, she was instructed that the couple ‘needed someone to make sure the house felt comfortable and worked with two little boys running around between it and the surrounding forest. They wanted it to be kid friendly, not precious, not pretentious. It’s what England does really well with cottages - you never feel like you’re going to ruin anything and it’s all very practical.’
The couple in question – Dave and Jennifer Dawson – own and run Urban Electric, a lighting company with a generous amount of beautiful fixtures, so lighting was not something Kate had to worry about. In fact, she was brought on board halfway through the renovation. ‘I was a little hesitant as I don’t love coming on halfway through,’ says Kate, ‘but they’re great friends and have wonderful taste and I love their company, ethos and lights, so it was a great opportunity to work with them on a very cool project. The property itself excited and inspired me.’ The property is a two bedroom cottage surrounded by woodland and a babbling brook, with lots of original wood panelling and flooring inside. The downstairs comprises the living room, kitchen, a library and bathroom, with another bathroom upstairs and the two bedrooms.
At the time that Kate joined the renovation, the owners had already picked out cabinets, electrical and plumbing fixtures, and gutted the house to replace damaged walls, but they kept the same layout and all the original wood panelling. ‘They really were in the driving seat and knew exactly what they wanted and I was there to facilitate that with sourcing knowledge and antiques,’ she explained. ‘They have great taste, they just needed help getting there.’ That meant little tweaks to Dave and Jen’s original plans, like replacing the contemporary backsplash that the couple had chosen with hand-painted Portuguese tiles for a more rustic aesthetic.
Kate set about sourcing the right pieces from all over the world; a Moroccan rug anchors the library, while a Swedish 1960s loveseat complements a mid-century tambour bar cabinet. In the living room, a faded pink Turkish rug sets the tone, sitting happily with a Japanese white oak coffee table, chairs sourced from 1stDibs and a Moroccan table between them. In the kitchen, with its Portuguese tiles, dining chairs from a flea market in LA and a Schumacher fabric-covered loveseat create a cheerful 1970s feel. In every room, this variety of styles and periods create a space that is wonderfully undone and completely charming. This sense of relaxed design was precisely what drew Dave and Jen to Basic Projects; ‘I love when you can really see the original materials of a house with minimal dressing on top,’ Kate says of her design approach. ‘In fact, I really dislike the feeling of overly designed spaces where it’s clear that the interior designer did it all. I was a set designer for seven years and that really helped me with my aesthetic.
The house has been named Tinks Cottage, an ode to Dave’s grandmother, who wanted to feel like he was going out to visit her when heading to the house at the weekend. Kate is proud to have achieved ‘a cohesive feeling of comfort yet keeping a nod to his grandma.’ There is a special tribute to her in the children's room; Kate found an old trunk to keep their toys in, and stencilled Tinks on it as a surprise for Dave. However, her favourite thing about the house is the library, a room that Dave described as a place ‘where Mick Jagger would go’. It has a lively spirit compared to the calmer main living space, with a drinks cabinet for making cocktails, plaid curtains, vintage posters and a fireplace. ‘The room feels so unexpected,’ says Kate, ‘it has the stone fireplace and exposed beams for an English cottage feel, but the decoration brings you into another world.’ That sense of being in another place was the impetus for Dave and Jen to buy and renovate the cottage in the first place, as a calm refuge from their busy lives in Charleston, and it’s a brief that has been achieved with aplomb.
Basic Projects: basicprojects.us
Urban Electric: urbanelectric.com
Urban Electric1/14It is traditional in style with a porch out the front that the family use as an outdoor dining space.
Urban Electric2/14The front door leads into the main living area, which the family call the reading room. It is a light, calm space with original wood panelling.
Urban Electric3/14The chairs were chosen because Kate 'wanted something that felt serene and calming for the eye.' A Moroccan table sits between them. The light is by Urban Electric, the company owned and run by the couple.
Urban Electric4/14All the wood panelling in the house is original and any damage was patched rather than replaced. Another Urban Electric light sits by the mix of artwork above the brown velvet sofa.
Urban Electric5/14An English drinks cabinet has been placed here for the owner to explore his love of mixing cocktails. The light fixtures are all Urban Electric.
Urban Electric6/14The kitchen also has a rug sourced from Cashiers. The cabinets are a simple Shaker style.
Urban Electric7/14The backsplash is comprised of hand-painted Portuguese tiles. Originally, the owners had picked something more modern, but Kate persuaded them to switch to these charming tiles instead to keep the cottage feel. The pot rack is from Lostine.
Urban Electric8/14In the dining area, chairs from a flea market in LA are joined by a loveseat upholstered in a Schumacher fabric. As Kate explains, 'it feels out of left field but that helps add to the undesigned feeling of the cottage'. The light over the table is an antique French find.
Urban Electric9/14The kitchen and dining room also have original panelling.
Urban Electric10/14In the downstairs bathroom, the old pharmacy style wall lights are a collaboration between Workstead and Urban Electric. 'I love how modern those feel next to the old medicine cabinet and mirror we found,' says Kate. This room represents the house really nicely - the lights are modern and clean so nothing feels too 'granny house' and nothing feels too modern or like you can’t sit on it. That is the essence of the house.’
Urban Electric11/14The upstairs is divided into three rooms; the master bedroom, boys' bedroom and another full bathroom.
Urban Electric12/14One surprise of the house is the garden shed turned into a wet bar. It is how you enter the house from the garage and feels like a hidden secret. The panels are painted in 'Cabbage Patch' by Benjamin Moore.
Urban Electric13/14Another shed on the grounds.
Urban Electric14/14The house is situated in lovely surroundings, with ample space for the children to run wild.
