Enter This Absolutely Fabulous Cottage: the Living Room Is Plain Stunning

Charming Cornish Retreat

You'll fall in love with this Cornish Oak framed retreat. The home has a traditional frame that is cleverly designed for small space living. This single-story home has two mezzanines in the roof space and 115 square meters of space. The owners were looking to create a Cornish retreat in which they could relax and escape together. Having spent several holidays in Cornwall, it was a natural choice. For two years they looked at everything from terraced small cottage plans to barn conversions, but nothing was ever right. Eventually, they found a derelict bungalow with planning permission for demolition and replacement on a perfect plot. With a long-nurtured dream of a characterful wooden house, the couple approached Carpenter Oak and set about changing the planning permission to a home that would blend seamlessly with the rural plot. The single-story cottage building is modest and traditional in styling and materials.

Small Space, Big Personality

This small cottage home is a small space with a big personality. It is full of character and bright inside, with an open floor plan that makes the most of its relatively small footprint. The cottage has a relatively steep roof pitch which allows for a mezzanine space at either end of the house providing two guest rooms. The mezzanine areas are accessed by loft ladders, chosen to save space and maximize light flow. The main bedroom with ensuite is on the ground floor. The oak frame is viewable in every room, an excellent example of how to achieve maximum effect in a small space without feeling overpowering. The striking sling brace is situated in the main living space.

Eco-Conscious Design Choices

The couple's tight budget and eco-consciousness went hand in hand with this amazing cottage design. To keep costs down, specified products and building materials were chosen in standard sizes. The majority of the windows are uniform in size. Structural insulated panels provide good insulation, solar panels heat the water and underfloor heating which is topped up with a wood burner in the colder months. The reclaimed Delabole slate adorns the roof of the cottage property. The natural cream color of the lime render meant there was no need for further finishes. The floors are finished in inexpensive softwood and painted with eco products. Leaving these raw building materials visible helps to save money, reduce environmental impact, and keeps with the rural, almost agricultural feel of the oak framed cottage building.

Ideal Location for Activities

This well-planned and thought-out home is a charming example of what you can achieve on a smaller budget. The small cottage plan is in an excellent location where there is plenty of things to do from beaches, attractions, activities, walks, and museums, with a little something for everyone. There are events in South Devon that can be enjoyed all year round which provides an endless array of new and exciting things to keep you busy. The cottage is located close to several beaches, perfect for long walks to enjoy the scenery or family beach days. There are also hundreds of attractions and places to go in Devon.