Page 43 - Country Homes & Interiors (August 2019)

Devon CoTTAGe

Guest bedroom
A calming, neutral colour
scheme is an ideal choice
for holiday rentals. Beds,
Ikea. Mirror, Coach House.
Pendant light, Amazon

LIVINg THE DREAM
we’d both grown up with one, so it seemed like fate, Buying a holiday home gave
and we liked the wooden floorboards and the fact it Georgina the opportunity to put
all of her interior design experience
was such a light home. Because it was a coastguard’s
into her own home
cottage it had so much history behind it. Plus, it was
such a short walk from the beach, too.’
The house didn’t require any structural work, so How was it trying out
ideas on your own house?
Georgina and James only needed to make cosmetic
‘It was so much fun! We always knew
changes. ‘We had decorators in for a couple of weeks it would be let out to guests so
and an electrician to replace sockets, switches and light wanted it to have a fresh, holiday
fittings. We painted the kitchen cabinets and replaced cottage feel, with some coastal-
the handles to update it and painted or varnished all themed pieces, but also to be practical.‘
of the floorboards. We also chose new curtains and What are the essential
elements of holiday
light fittings and a mix of new, upcycled and antique
home decor?
furniture,’ says Georgina. The house was done up in ‘The most important thing is to feel
record time – the purchase completed in September that the holiday has begun the
and the house was finished by November. second you walk through the door.
A pale, neutral palette was chosen for the entire You want to create a scheme that
encourages happy times and
property. ‘We wanted it to feel like our holiday home,
memories, so nothing too precious.’
but were mindful that we planned to rent it out, too,’
How does the house
says Georgina. ‘As we would be having guests here,
reflect your personality?
we invested in high-quality curtains, bedlinen, towels ‘When we come to the cottage
and comfy beds, which are so important in making we want to relax and unwind and
it feel like a home from home. We did it on a budget I think the soft colours reflect that.’
so we picked up relatively inexpensive pieces and >

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