Houzz Tour: 15th-Century Stone Cottage Gets a Sensitive Update
Thoughtful design brings a cozy British cottage to life while highlighting its original features
When you purchase a property that’s been standing for hundreds of years, the prospect of renovating it might be daunting. How do you make it suitable for modern living without destroying the original beauty of the building?
Fortunately, the new owner of this 15th-century house, Beth Dadswell, was an experienced interior designer who had the skill and vision to put her stamp on it without taking away its character. The cottage was originally part of the oldest building in town, a coach inn, so with this legacy in mind, Dadswell sensitively transformed it from a dated, cramped space into a bright, cozy and functional weekend retreat.
Fortunately, the new owner of this 15th-century house, Beth Dadswell, was an experienced interior designer who had the skill and vision to put her stamp on it without taking away its character. The cottage was originally part of the oldest building in town, a coach inn, so with this legacy in mind, Dadswell sensitively transformed it from a dated, cramped space into a bright, cozy and functional weekend retreat.
Although the kitchen is fairly spacious for a cottage, Dadswell had to design the room around a few key features, including a chimney protrusion and two doors, plus a staircase that leads into it.
They wanted to keep the sink under the window and decided to move the oven from the chimney area to a more practical space with a countertop on either side. They designed the custom-made cabinetry to maximize the available space.
Dadswell hid the boiler in the tall cupboard on the right, and squeezed in a full-size dishwasher and under-counter fridge.
Cabinet paint: Raw Chalk, Paint & Paper Library
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They wanted to keep the sink under the window and decided to move the oven from the chimney area to a more practical space with a countertop on either side. They designed the custom-made cabinetry to maximize the available space.
Dadswell hid the boiler in the tall cupboard on the right, and squeezed in a full-size dishwasher and under-counter fridge.
Cabinet paint: Raw Chalk, Paint & Paper Library
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Dadswell chose an off-white for the cabinets to brighten up the Cotswolds stone walls and low ceiling.
1980s-style ceramic floor tiles were replaced with hardwearing checkerboard quarry tiles, and the cabinet maker fashioned traditional-style paneled door fronts that worked in different widths. Dadswell added wooden countertops and stained them dark for a contrast with the pale cabinets and to make them feel authentic.
“The autumnal palette that we used throughout was inspired by the colors of the local countryside, and the zellige [backsplash] tiles add a lovely warm glow to the kitchen,“ she says.
“It’s a lovely space to cook in now,” she says, adding that the interior window, which originally was the home’s front window before an addition, means you can see what’s going on in the living room too.
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1980s-style ceramic floor tiles were replaced with hardwearing checkerboard quarry tiles, and the cabinet maker fashioned traditional-style paneled door fronts that worked in different widths. Dadswell added wooden countertops and stained them dark for a contrast with the pale cabinets and to make them feel authentic.
“The autumnal palette that we used throughout was inspired by the colors of the local countryside, and the zellige [backsplash] tiles add a lovely warm glow to the kitchen,“ she says.
“It’s a lovely space to cook in now,” she says, adding that the interior window, which originally was the home’s front window before an addition, means you can see what’s going on in the living room too.
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“We also managed to squeeze in a low cupboard close to the courtyard door and utilized the cupboard under the stairs for the vacuum cleaner and cleaning items,” Dadswell says.
An old fireplace has been converted into a storage area, with a microwave and coffee machine tucked into it and a striped curtain below concealing food storage.
“We didn’t want the kitchen units to overpower the space, so using fabric rather than more doors helps to soften that area and add some contrast,” Dadswell says. “We found the antique wooden wine table and dining chairs at Ardingly Antiques Fair and they make the perfect spot for breakfast.”
“We didn’t want the kitchen units to overpower the space, so using fabric rather than more doors helps to soften that area and add some contrast,” Dadswell says. “We found the antique wooden wine table and dining chairs at Ardingly Antiques Fair and they make the perfect spot for breakfast.”
The front door and kitchen door both open into the living room, which limited the layout in the space.
“As we wanted to be able to seat five comfortably and for the fireplace to be the focal point of the room, we decided to use the door at the side of the cottage as the main entrance, so we could position a pair of vintage armchairs close to the front door,” Dadswell says.
A gate-leg table in the window can be opened out to seat six when needed, while the jute rug and thick curtain give a cozy feel to the room.
“As we wanted to be able to seat five comfortably and for the fireplace to be the focal point of the room, we decided to use the door at the side of the cottage as the main entrance, so we could position a pair of vintage armchairs close to the front door,” Dadswell says.
A gate-leg table in the window can be opened out to seat six when needed, while the jute rug and thick curtain give a cozy feel to the room.
A corner cabinet hides the TV and is complemented by a cupboard on the other side of the fireplace.
“We sanded the existing wooden flooring and stained it very dark so it tied in with the original floorboards in the bedroom above, which the previous owners told us are believed to have come from a galleon in the Spanish Armada” in the 16th century, Dadswell says. “We think the front section of the building was added at a later date, which would make sense in terms of timings.
“We also learned how to lime-plaster, which is a time-consuming process but means the stone can now breathe properly,” she says. “It has a lovely imperfect finish that adds character too.”
Wall paint: Slate ll, Paint & Paper Library
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“We sanded the existing wooden flooring and stained it very dark so it tied in with the original floorboards in the bedroom above, which the previous owners told us are believed to have come from a galleon in the Spanish Armada” in the 16th century, Dadswell says. “We think the front section of the building was added at a later date, which would make sense in terms of timings.
“We also learned how to lime-plaster, which is a time-consuming process but means the stone can now breathe properly,” she says. “It has a lovely imperfect finish that adds character too.”
Wall paint: Slate ll, Paint & Paper Library
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Previously, there was a blue plastic corner bath in the first floor bathroom, which Dadswell removed as soon as she could as it was impossible to lie down in and didn’t drain properly. She replaced it with a large shower lined in the same zellige tiles as in the kitchen and added solid oak floorboards from a local reclamation yard on top of the existing pine boards in the rest of the room.
She also concealed the plumbing of the new sink and toilet with tongue-in-groove paneling.
Wall paint: Slate ll, Paint & Paper Library
She also concealed the plumbing of the new sink and toilet with tongue-in-groove paneling.
Wall paint: Slate ll, Paint & Paper Library
“Nothing in this room is level, and we wanted to embrace its quirkiness while also making it clean and cozy,” Dadswell says.
Existing built-in louvered closets in this bedroom were sanded down, repainted in a rich brown tone and finished off with new hardware.
Closet paint: Copper Beech; wall paint: Slate ll, both Paint & Paper Library.
Closet paint: Copper Beech; wall paint: Slate ll, both Paint & Paper Library.
“We also sourced and renovated an antique pine cupboard to hide another TV,” Dadswell says.
Plum and mustard textiles and a dark wooden floor contrast with neutral walls. “The house is so old and characterful and we wanted to draw attention to the stone, the wonky walls and the quirky architectural details rather than the color of the walls or furniture,” Dadswell says.
Plum and mustard textiles and a dark wooden floor contrast with neutral walls. “The house is so old and characterful and we wanted to draw attention to the stone, the wonky walls and the quirky architectural details rather than the color of the walls or furniture,” Dadswell says.
Tiny antique shelves work well as space-saving bedside tables. “We were determined to get a king-size bed in here, so we had to be creative in order to still be able to open the wardrobe doors and have bedside lamps,” Dadswell says.
“We also centered a picture light above the bed and replaced all of the existing white plastic switches and plug sockets with wooden and bronze versions, which feel much more in keeping with the house,” she says.
“We also centered a picture light above the bed and replaced all of the existing white plastic switches and plug sockets with wooden and bronze versions, which feel much more in keeping with the house,” she says.
Dadswell sanded down the multiple layers of paint from the ceiling to expose the beams and added tongue-in-groove paneling to distinguish the sleeping area from the bathing area.
The staircase is narrow so the only way to get the super-king-size bed up there was to have four separate bed bases and two headboards that combine to make one big bed or two singles.
“We had lots of lovely fabric offcuts that we wanted to use, so these were made into slipcovers for the headboards, bespoke cushions, and curtains and blinds throughout the cottage,” Dadswell says.
Wall paint: Slate l, Paint & Paper Library
The staircase is narrow so the only way to get the super-king-size bed up there was to have four separate bed bases and two headboards that combine to make one big bed or two singles.
“We had lots of lovely fabric offcuts that we wanted to use, so these were made into slipcovers for the headboards, bespoke cushions, and curtains and blinds throughout the cottage,” Dadswell says.
Wall paint: Slate l, Paint & Paper Library
The top floor had previously been used as an occasional room, with a futon in one corner and a tiny desk in the other.
“It had such an incredible atmosphere because of the shape of the roof and the views of the church spire so we knew we wanted this to be the main bedroom,” Dadswell says.
“The roll-top bath and basin under the window mean you can listen to the church bells ringing at the weekends and look out across the stone rooftops of historic Charlbury,” she says. In summer, they also can watch swifts, the highly aerial birds, in flight. “It’s a very peaceful and special space.”
“It had such an incredible atmosphere because of the shape of the roof and the views of the church spire so we knew we wanted this to be the main bedroom,” Dadswell says.
“The roll-top bath and basin under the window mean you can listen to the church bells ringing at the weekends and look out across the stone rooftops of historic Charlbury,” she says. In summer, they also can watch swifts, the highly aerial birds, in flight. “It’s a very peaceful and special space.”
There were concrete tiles on the courtyard floor, which Dadswell replaced with gravel. She also dug out some flowerbeds and added metal edging. These have been planted with climbers such as jasmine, roses and clematis, as well as tulips, daffodils, geraniums and hellebores.
“In the spring, the garden is full of self-seeded bluebells and cow parsley, which feels lovely and natural,” she says.
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“In the spring, the garden is full of self-seeded bluebells and cow parsley, which feels lovely and natural,” she says.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Beth Dadswell and her family, who use it as a weekend retreat
Location: The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, England
Size: Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer: Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors
“We wanted the cottage to feel cozy and relaxing without being twee. Light and bright, but still authentic to its humble 15th-century roots,” Dadswell says.
Outside, the window frames and doors had been painted in glossy white, so Dadswell’s team sanded and repainted them a dark greenish-brown. “This tied in much better with the color of the stone and felt much more in keeping with the period of the building and the other houses in the town,” she says.
Window frame paint: Bronze (283), Paint & Paper Library
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