A coastal house in Cornwall gently refreshed by Sims Hilditch
Sitting on the coast on the east side of Cornwall, practically at the southernmost tip of the England and down a lane so small that – I am told – a Mini Cooper would struggle, there is a house set back from the lane amidst a riot of wild, tropical planting. The slate building is home to a family of four, who, after buying it in 2018, turned to Sims Hilditch to overhaul its interiors. It was a natural choice: the design studio founded by Emma Sims Hilditch in 2009 is skilled at creating spaces which feel both comfortable and deeply sophisticated. ‘They wanted a demure space, and one that was calm and pared-back. The most important thing was connecting the interiors with the sweeping views and the water beyond’, says Hannah Linford, the senior studio lead at Sims Hilditch who oversaw the project. Calm it certainly is, and it has a pleasing seaside feel: white walls and neutral fabrics are interspersed with sea shells and nautical themed artwork. These aren't the only reminders of the cottage’s coastal location; the house has wonderful views over the Mylor Creek.
The owners were leaving London and had set their sights on something close to water, where they could readily enjoy water sports with their two young sons. This house, built into the cliff, provided not just staggering views but also direct access to the water from the garden. But its layout was convoluted and desperately lacked a central hub where the whole family could spend time together. There was a utility room straight off the dining room, and all of the communal rooms were separated by walls and corridors.
Hannah worked alongside Truro-based CSA Architects to rework the footprint of the ground floor. They knocked out unnecessary walls, replaced wooden doors with Crittal ones (‘internal windows help to link the rooms’, says Hannah) and added a large extension which now houses the open-plan kitchen, a dining area and a sitting room. Sliding glass doors on the sea-facing walls of the kitchen allow light to flood the room, their anthracite-coloured frames making a picture of the landscape beyond. Brightly coloured floor tiles and carpets throughout the house were replaced with wood-effect porcelain floorboards, and walls were painted in different shades of white. The space became an airy shell onto which warmth, soft colours and texture could be layered.
‘A big portion of the house was taken up by a large central staircase and we wanted to celebrate it. We added tongue and groove panelling to keep a calm feeling but introduce texture’, explains Hannah, who used the wall cladding throughout the house. Staggered pendant lights hanging through the middle of the stairwell draw the eye upwards.
Hannah designed the kitchen with an island that offers concealed storage and open shelves. ‘We wanted it to feel neat and tidy, but not devoid of life’, she explains. Copper pots and a collection of precious ceramics have found a happy home on display. Enhancing the otherwise white palette, the green cabinets ‘help to make the kitchen pop’, says Hannah.
Linking the kitchen with the sitting room is a dining table from Rose Uniacke. It took months of trying rectangular and round ones before finally deciding that this was the one. With its oval shape and angular carved wooden legs, ‘it adds something contemporary and allows the family to gather around it’, says Hannah. ‘The detailing brings something different in the middle of quite a linear space’. These contemporary pieces mingle with the client’s own antiques, including the mahogany grandfather clock which takes pride of place in the dining area.
The charming cottage offers many places to steal a moment of contemplation, and surely one of the loveliest is the window seat on the landing: overlooking the sea, and flanked by bookshelves, it is easy to imagine spending quiet hours with a book, or enjoying the expanse of blue sky and bluer waters beyond.
‘We wanted to push the owners to use more colour in some places’, explains Hannah who covered the walls of the downstairs loo in a stripy green wallpaper by Schumacher, and specified ‘Hindi Rose’ by Lewis and Wood is on the headboard in the guest bedroom. In the main bedroom, olive-coloured Sisal wallcovering and wardrobes painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Ball Green’ were used to bring warmth and a sense of depth.
On the top floor, three bedrooms became two to allow the creation of a new playroom. The sons share a bedroom and there is an art to designing a room for those in early adolescence. It must suit them now but be future-proof too: you don’t want to have to redo it all in a couple of years when tastes have changed. There are two bobbin beds from Chelsea Textiles which flank the window, and above them, porthole-style mirrors create a satisfying symmetry. A striped blind adds a barely-there pop of colour and pattern. Nothing is too imposing, yet it is far from dull.
‘If you know what Cornwall is like on a miserable day, you’ll know how important it was to make the house feel happy and interesting even on miserable days’, says Hannah. Thus, neutral walls play host to pops of artwork – some belonging to the client, and some sourced by Hannah. Notably, the client’s own painting depicting a rural countryside scene above the sofa in the sitting room was chosen for the bucolic delight it brings.
Some houses break new ground – admired for their innovation and out of the ordinary decisions. Others may be quieter, but are nonetheless exciting for the simple beauty they possess. Can you imagine anywhere more idyllic than this to bask in the British summer, or – as it is the UK we must be realistic here – shelter from a storm? I certainly can’t.
Sims Hilditch is a member of The List by House & Garden, our essential directory of design professionals. Visit The List by House & Garden here.
May we suggest: Inspiring houses by the sea from the House & Garden archive
Christopher Horwood1/16The cottage is nestled in sub-tropical planting.
Christopher Horwood2/16The walls of the hallway are either painted in Farrow and Ball’s ‘Schoolhouse White’, or clad in rough sawn timber with Neptune’s silver birch finish. Above a console from Chelsea Textiles is the ‘Buckingham’ mirror from Neptune. An antique shell bowl from 1st dibs acts as a reminder of the houses’ coastal location. The lamps are from visual comfort, topped with the ‘Grey Ferns’ lampshades from Pooky.
Christopher Horwood3/16The kitchen was designed in collaboration with Neptune. Counters topped with Carrara marble mimic the airy feel of the room.
Christopher Horwood4/16The kitchen cupboards are painted in ‘Honed Slate’ from Neptune.
Christopher Horwood5/16The grandfather clock is the client's own. It mixes happily with contemporary pieces and a vintage map hung on the other side of the door to the terrace.
Christopher Horwood6/16Rose Uniacke’s ‘Oval Oak Table’ is a contemporary addition to the dining room. Above it is the ‘Reed Chandelier’ in Bronze from Visual Comfort. The chairs are from Chelsea Textiles.
Christopher Horwood7/16
Christopher Horwood8/16Bespoke joinery has transformed the landing into a cosy reading nook. The blinds and window seat are both ‘Baker House Linen’ in ‘Pebble’ from GP&J Baker – a neutral material with a natural feel.
Christopher Horwood9/16Bespoke wardrobes in the main bedroom are painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Ball Green’.
Christopher Horwood10/16Pictures of boats from Etalage are another subtle nod to the nautical history of Cornwall. The fabric on the blind – a suitably maritime stripe – is ‘Ambrose’ from Colefax and Fowler.
Christopher Horwood11/16The guest bedroom has a headboard upholstered in ‘Hindi Rose’ with Romo’s ‘Istra’ trim.
Christopher Horwood12/16The windows of the main bathroom weren't centred over the sink, and so Hannah cleverly added a mirror behind the shutters to increase a sense of space while maintaining a pleasing symmetry.
Christopher Horwood13/16Another bathroom features Victorian Plumbing’s ‘Elba Blue Star’ ceramic tiles on the floor.
Christopher Horwood14/16The new extension was designed to sympathetically blend in with the existing slate facade of the house.
Christopher Horwood15/16
Christopher Horwood16/16
