This Kenmare cottage has been opened up to maximise its space without extending
Once vacant, the home is now cosy and warm inside, with biophilic details that connect it to the landscape outside.
When interior designer Emma Lee first drove up to this Kenmare cottage, she could see there was plenty of potential. “I was delighted to see large established gardens and what could be a charming home,” she explains. “Unfortunately, inside the home that uplifting feeling disappeared. The home had been vacant for a long time and it was pretty dismal. The house was freezing and dark, and like many older houses there were too many rooms and hallways, all disjointed with no feeling of space. I immediately felt locked into the house, with no connection to its best asset; the stunning grounds outside.”
Because it had been left uninhabited it was obvious the house needed a new heating system and insulation, windows and doors, and re-plumbing and wiring, while Emma knew she wanted to rethink the internal layout.
Her client, Emma says, had been working in a city for years, and living in cramped rented spaces. “First and foremost, she wanted a feeling of space, comfort and a home that really felt like her own. A young independent woman, she was very practical and she accepted that a lot of her budget would first have to go towards the construction elements of the home, so that it was solid, warm and future-proofed. She also wanted her dream interior however, one filled with character and charm and classic details blended with personality. So we were determined to work with the footprint of the home and maximise its potential.”
This involved ensuring that the existing space in this home was being used to its maximum efficiency, without extending the space. “I wanted this cottage style house to retain its cottage character but with a modern layout that performed differently,” Emma explains. “Opening up spaces, whilst at the same time creating those all-important nooks and snugs is always the balance I like to achieve in a home.”
These layout changes have meant that the home has been totally transformed. “As a biophilic designer, I always prioritise working with the light and the environmental setting of the building,” Emma says. “Originally the sitting room was at the front of the house and the kitchen was to the back. I could immediately see that the orientation and light in the spaces justified reversing that layout. I also felt that rather than completely losing the sense of multiple living spaces, by fully opening the ground floor, retaining the chimney breast and installing a double sided stove would suit better. Changing window opes gave me the kitchen layout I wanted and the picture windows into the garden made a lovely focal point.”
Replacing the windows opened up the opportunity to extend the front bay windows, so they matched the projection of the existing porch. This small amount of extra space gave room for a dining nook in the kitchen, and a bench seat with storage in the bedroom.
Light was prioritised in the sitting room with French doors and a large cottage style window to make the most of the evening light at the back of the home. “We knocked walls separating the hallway from the kitchen and sitting room and this dramatically increased the square footage of actual ‘living’ space,” Emma explains.
Although not often a priority, Emma explains that she paid plenty of attention to this space. “Hallways in smaller homes are often wasted and hidden as purely A to B zones. Instead, I gave the hallway the full treatment. A barrel style arch was created to highlight the hallway as an inviting pathway to explore. Classic wall panelling, beautiful brass and linen lighting and a rich wallpapered ceiling made the hallway a dynamic part of the home rather than a forgotten functional necessity. With a new smaller heating system, space was also reclaimed from the hot press in the hallway to create a small utility housing the washing machine, dryer and storage all hidden behind bi-folding doors that were incorporated into the panelling design.”
This newfound feeling of space and light was complemented by the colours and materials that were chosen. “In a biophilic home, a connection with nature and the surrounding environment is paramount,” Emma says. “Natural materials, organic shapes and curves, light distribution, texture and pattern are all important features. My colour scheme was inspired by the changing of the woodland surrounding Kenmare Cottage throughout the seasons. A broader base of subdued tones such as grey green, khaki and stone is accented with hints of dusky pink and burgundy, reflecting the hydrangeas and wildflowers that age in faded beauty along the woodland. Calacatta Gold sintered stone countertops and brass lighting and hard finishes throughout the home add warmth and old world charm.”
Emma’s aim for this home, she says, was for it to feel like a calm woodland retreat, and the space feels simultaneously serene and spacious. “My client says she wakes up feeling calm and happy here and she loves walking in her door every day,” Emma says. “That’s exactly how I want every home to feel.”
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