G
ettingherteethintoa projectofherownwas
interiordesignerJillStein’smotivationfor
renovatingthischarmingCornishescape.‘I had
beenworkingonfivepropertiesfora clientand
wantedtodosomethingformyself,’shesays.‘I didn’thavethe
budgetfora sea-viewproperty,soI wentinlandtoa villageI
knowwell.Walkingaround,I sawthishouseforsale.It wasa wreck,
butattherightprice,andit certainlytickedthe“project”box.’
Thedeceptivelylargehousewasoriginallya Victorianbarnand
cottage,withlateradditions.‘Itwasaninteresting-lookingplace,
asit wasneglectedandhadbeenonthemarketforsometime
- butthatwasthechallengeforme,’saysJill.‘Therewasa garage
thatI wantedtoturnintoa kitchen-diner.Thecentralroominthe
housewasthekitchen,butI thoughtit wouldworkbetteras
a livingroom.I alsowantedtoaddanotherbedroomdownstairs.’
JillenlistedthehelpofherfriendTimPerring,a building
contractor.‘I didn’tneedtoemployanarchitect,asTimand
I workedoutwhattodobyourselves.Weworkedreallywell
togetherandit wasgreattochangeourmindsaswewentalong.’
Injectingextraperiodcharacterintothepropertywasa must.
‘Asit’sa cottage,I wantedit tohavea cottagefeel,’saysJill.The
ceilingswereopenedupinmanyoftheroomsandbeams
addedtocreatedrama.‘Timvisiteda reclamationyardand
boughtreclaimedbeamsthatwouldmakethehouseappear
older,’saysJill.‘Thisworkedespeciallywellinthekitchen-diner - theformergarage.I knewthefeatureshadtolookasif they
hadbeentherefora longtime.Weremovedplasterfromsome
ofthewallsasI wantedexposedstone– butit justdidn’twork.’
Jillwasabletoputmanyofherotherideasintopractice,
though.‘I wantedtoinstalla tiledfloor,soweincorporated
reclaimedterracottabrickstolayinthelivingroomandkitchen.
Weusedwoodenflooringthroughouttherestofthehouse,
whichhasstooduptowearandtear,andweaddedwood-
cladwallsandceilingsinvariousroomstoemphasisetherustic
look.I waskeentocreatea verytraditionalschemeratherthan
acontemporaryone.I alsowantedtoinjectwarmcolours.’
Amorechallengingtaskwasthelivingroom.‘Weputa Velux
windowintheceilingtobringinmorelightbutI didn’tlikeit,’
saysJill.‘NoteveryroomhastobefloodedwithlightandI
wantedtocreateanatmosphereinthisroomwherepeople
couldgatherfordrinks.Webuilta windowseat,whichmakes
theroommoreintimate,andprovidesplentyofspacetosit.I
alsoinstalleda woodburner– mostofthetimewehavecold
weather,andthedesignhastoaccommodatethat,aswellas
thefewweeksoftheyearwhenthesunshines.I letoutthehouse
asa holidayhome,soI didn’twantit tobecoldandclinical.
Myaimwasforpeopletowalkinandfeelcocooned.’
Thestructuralworktooka coupleofyears,buttheinterior
decorwentsmoothlyandJillis thrilledwiththeendresult.‘I love
thehouse.It’ssucha greatplace– it’slookssosmallfrom the
exterior, but when you go inside, it goes on forever.’
At home with...OwnerInteriordesignerand
businesswomanJillStein.Jillhas
threegrown-upsons,Edward,
JackandCharlie.
HouseFour-bedroomVictorian
propertycomprisingbarnsand
a cottagewithlaterextensions.
Jill bought the house in 2015.Cornish Cottage