Explore This Small Holiday Home That’s Big On Design

We wanted this to be a welcoming space with an equal sense of warmth and formality, so it didn’t become a dumping ground. We worked hard to choose furniture that wasn’t too formal and that brought plenty of texture into the space. We also wanted to ensure the lighting was warm and elegant in the evenings and darker months. There’s a range of decorative lighting used here, including lamps, floor lights, picture lights and library lights on the joinery – it was key to make sure the property had lots of atmosphere in the evening, with each zone of the open-plan living area feeling like its own space.

By adding tongue and groove panelling, we added character without overcrowding the artwork. We decided early on to steer away from the typical blues of nautical homes. As we started the creative process, green quickly became the colour that flowed into each area. Texture through fabrics such as linens, cotton, dark green bouclé on the armchairs, chunky sisal rugs and the raffia stools add plenty of interest, and we used a mid-tone timber floor throughout the house, from top to bottom, which had to be practical for cleaning.

WALLS - CELADON - Edward Bulmer

As this was a holiday home, we didn't need to add lots of storage, so we decided to design an ‘under the stairs home bar’, fully equipped with a fridge and small wine storage – an unexpected but incredibly luxurious addition for a terraced cottage. We went quite bold with the decorating, such as drenching the joinery in Paint & Paper Library 'Gamboge', designed open shelving to create a sense of space, paired with marble countertops, a mirrored antique glass backsplash that bounces the light around, and bronze hardware that looks incredibly smart. The light fitting is Hector Finch Mast Light.

BAR PAINT COLOUR - GAMBOGE - Paint & Paper Library 

We needed to maximise the sense of circulation and wanted the space to feel elegant and not too cluttered. Luckily, as it’s a second home, we could be efficient on storage without needing to maximise every inch – we designed open shelves with articulated lights (we didn’t need full wall-hung units that can feel so top heavy) and upped the style stakes with a wonderful arabascato marble and statement green on the units. 

In the dining area, we designed a built-in bench seat with a glass-fronted storage piece to the right — the darker green tones in this area separate it from the living room. The captain's chairs around the dining table came with the house, and our client had grown up with them. They were reconditioned and spray-glossed raspberry red. The client was unsure but trusted us and, thankfully, loved them.

KITCHEN UNITS COLOUR -  CELADON - Edward Bulmer
LIGHTS - Holloways of Ludlow 
HANDLES - Armac Martin 

This needed to be a sanctuary away from the rest of the busy house. We had large windows to work with, which opened up the balcony space, so plenty of light flooded in. We drenched the walls and ceilings to give it a sense of calm and used space-saving tricks, such as mounted bedside lights, to help make space for good-sized bedside tables on either side. ~

The shower features pink zellige tiles and a floral wallpaper adds some whimsy, contrasting the boldar abescato marble on the base of the shower.  

WALLS - GREEN BLUE - Farrow & Ball
HEADBOARD -  Pierre Frey
READING LIGHTS - Pooky
BEDSIDE TABLES - Trove 
VANITY UNIT - Porter
WALLPAPER - Barneby Gates

In this double room, we wanted it to feel calm. Soft colours such as pale greens, sky blue and raspberry give it character and colour, drenching the walls and ceilings without feeling overbearing. 

WALLS - CROMARTY  - Farrow & Ball
HEADBOARD - SEMI KALAMKAR -  Pierre Frey

Deep teal tiles on the lower level, timber cladding on the higher levels and large oversized brass fittings give this bathroom subtle nautical vibes without being too obvious. 

WALLS - CROMARTY - Farrow & Ball
BLIND - Pukka Print
LIGHTS - Visual Comfort 

This room was such an awkward space, but when we were playing with the floor plan, we realised that by concentrating on a bunk system along the length of the room, we could have four full-sized single beds – each with its own cubby hole complete with a power charger, leather and brass wall light, and a built-in shelf for a book and water. The darker tones make the space feel so cosy, and a wall-mounted TV opposite means that this is the perfect cinema space for children and teenagers on rainy days.

WALLS - VERT DE MER - Edward Bulmer
BLIND - Nicky Haslam for Paolo Moschino Melba 
LIGHTS (IN BEDS) - Ralph Lauren