This pretty stone cottage is like something out of a fairytale – 10 tips designers used to create festive style

Is one of your holiday goals to make one’s house feel more like a warm and welcoming haven? Cottage life is not required, although it does help.

Cottage-style furnishings and accents abound in this Welsh home, which showcases natural features like thick stone walls, terracotta floors, and old sash windows. Its original wood-burning stove and old tile fireplace add to its charm and beauty all year round, but they shine during the holiday season.

Jane Griffiths, the owner, has decorated the entire place in a style that blends French country, Scandinavian, and country elements. Its raw, unaltered beauty is accented with cunning finds and adornments from the past.

1. RETURNED CHARM BY FOCUSING ON ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS

The cottage is on the grounds of a bigger house, which features a Georgian front and additional, older structures in the back. The cottage is used for guests and short-term rentals, while Jane, Owain, and their children live in the main house.

Jane speculates that the cottage may have been built as a one-story home for an employee of the larger estate. The cottage was originally a workshop, but a different story was erected at some point, and it is now utilized as a part of the larger house’s kitchen.

The structure was sound, but there was some dampness, one of the unattractive design elements that put off potential homebuyers. But that didn’t stop Jane and her husband, Owain. Damp was fixed by removing the problematic plasterwork, revealing an appealing stone wall.

Jane has also added soundproofing to the ceiling and painted the entire house with eco-friendly, low-VOC paints made from plants. A second bedroom, formerly a part of the original workshop, was created after one of the two stairs was taken out.

The cottage features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open-plan living-kitchen-diner, and a separate utility area, providing plenty of space for a group of four to relax in comfort.

2. CURATED A RELAXED AND COZY AESTHETIC

Jane claims, “I get ideas from everywhere.” “Publications, online image repositories (like Pinterest and Instagram), and home interior stores. I prefer something other than elaborate designs. While aesthetically pleasing interiors are essential to me, it’s important to remember that you’re a family with a lot of stuff when making design decisions.

Our preference is for a cozy, well-appointed space. Purchasing this house was a wonderfully romantic gesture, as you have taken on the challenge of making a once-loved but now-forgotten old lady your happy home again. It has been quite satisfying to make it a comfortable place for a family to live again.

3. STYLED THE COTTAGE SITTING ROOM TO FESTIVE PERFECTION

The cottage has a warm and inviting atmosphere thanks to the thoughtful combination of treasured heirlooms and lucky finds that illustrate the family’s story. The sofa was a gift from a friend, and Owain’s parents gave him the rocking rocker he slept in as a baby. Original quarry tiles were used for the floor.

4. ADDED CHARACTER TO THE LOUNGE WITH VINTAGE DECORATIONS

The cottage has been decked out in an array of vintage ornaments befitting its quaint atmosphere for the holiday season.

Jane discovered the paper lanterns in an abandoned suitcase a friend had given her. And some new greenery has been arranged on the stag’s head that was purchased at a flea market.

5. PARED-BACK THE KITCHEN TO EVOKE A COUNTRY CHARM

To reflect the rustic nature of a cottage kitchen, the sink options you consider may differ from those you’d find in a more modern kitchen.

The exposed pipes that provide service to this area add a charming rustic touch. In the garden, perhaps employed as a planter, Jane discovered this sink and was thrilled to dig it up since she liked how it looked.

6. TRIMMED THE KITCHEN FOR CHRISTMAS

Open shelving is a great way to showcase items and store other necessities in this unpretentious country setting. Jane learned how to dry orange slices and then strung them together on a piece of string to make a festive decoration. The orange slices offer a splash of seasonal color to the kitchen and a refreshing aroma for the season.

7. DRESSED UP THE BEDROOM WITH STOCKINGS FOR GOOD CHEER

After seeing similar treatments in other country homes, the couple decided to update the main bedroom’s walls with wooden paneling. This little decorating trick improves the room’s aesthetic and makes it seem more welcoming.

The homeowners of this ranch-style cottage removed the render and inside plaster from the dampened wall before repointing it with lime.

Pipes and wires can be surface-mounted, a functional solution with straightforward aesthetic value.

8. DECORATED THE MANTEL WITH PINE CONES AND HOLLY

Though one would often find fireplace design inspiration in the lounge, the main bedroom of this cottage features a cozy tiled fireplace. The current owners think this 20th-century addition replaced an earlier inglenook fireplace.

The fireplace in the cottage has been decked out for the holidays, including a festive mantle. A casual arrangement of pine cones and holly branches spans the mantel, and a basket of greenery sits atop the fireplace.

9. CARVED OUT THE SECOND BEDROOM FOR GUESTS 

The removal of the second set of stairs was a shrewd move that allowed for the creation of an extra bedroom. It’s great for families with kids because of the two single beds. The bedroom’s original wooden floor has a charming patina that evokes rustic elegance.

10. INTRODUCE FESTIVE FRAGRANCE TO THE BATHROOM

The bathroom in this converted garage is located in what was formerly used as a utility room or cloakroom. Jane has been resourceful with her spending by combining inexpensive vintage items with more commonplace fixtures like these ordinary garden faucets.