A pretty Victorian cottage in Cornwall

Looking for a change from city life, Nicola O’Mara fell in love with a pretty Victorian cottage in Cornwall that needed a lot of TLC. Words ALEXANDRA PRATT Photographer MARC WILSON

Meet the owners Nicola O’Mara owns an interior design practice, nicolaomara.com. Her partner, John Merriman, is a carpenter. Their daughter Lola is 7 House details The couple’s home is a threebedroom Victorian cottage in Port Isaac, Cornwall, which is spread across three fl oors Facts & fi gures The property was bought in May 2015 for £285,000, and work completed in October 2017. It now has an estimated value of £650,000.

Relocating from Bristol to sunny Cornwall happened rather quickly for Nicola O’Mara’s family – in fact, the decision to move was made in just a weekend. ‘My partner John and I felt like we were in need of a lifestyle change, and the slower pace of Cornwall and its beautiful coastline really appealed to both of us,’ she explains. ‘After doing a bit of research online, I drove down there the following Monday with just my mum and my daughter, Lola.’ They headed to the picturesque village of Port Isaac on the north coast to start their explorations, as a few relatives already live there. However, they didn’t get much further, as it wasn’t long before Nicola spotted a three-storey, traditional stone cottage for sale, just yards from the harbour. ‘I fell in love with it on the spot – both the house and the area,’ she says. ‘I knew I’d found our future home.’ 

Fortunately, Nicola’s partner John agreed that the cottage was perfect. It had been standing empty for six years, so there was a fair amount of work to be done, but the couple were just the team to bring it back to life. John, a carpenter by trade, can turn his hand to anything, while Nicola has her own interior design practice, and between them, they knew they could give their new home a truly elegant makeover. Their goal was to remodel the cottage, making better use of the space for modern family life, while also respecting the fabric – and period – of the building. This was no small task, as the structure needed considerable work, along with new wiring and plumbing throughout, but it was the kitchen that needed immediate attention. ‘It felt like a damp cave, dripping water,’ grimaces Nicola. This space was built partly into the side of the hill, so John dug it out, removing the original and humongous Delabole slate tiles in the process, adding a damp-proof course, a window at one end and heating beneath the new oak floor.

The kitchen is now a triumph of understated modernity that sits easily in this refurbished period property. John upcycled the Siematic cabinets to fit the slightly irregular space and added oak worktops that chime with the newly-laid wooden flooring, which flows through to the living room. The other end of the kitchen has a small seating area that opens on to the garden and features the same Delabole slate that John painstakingly saved when he first began the renovation.

The biggest change, however, was the relocation of the stairs from the centre of the house to the side. This allowed Nicola to create more space, especially downstairs in the cosy living and dining area. ‘I wanted a calm, classic feel that is still inviting,’ Nicola explains. ‘First, I created a blank canvas, then added a selection of lovely pieces that are textural and interesting, such as the gorgeous pendant light over the dining table, which was a great eBay find.’ The pair opted for strong whites and neutrals in the decor throughout, with just a dash of soft blue on the sofa, which came from Homesense. Nicola retained the authentic feel of the property by restoring the original fireplace and exposing one stone wall. She also used raw materials, such as rustic-look oak on the floors, industrial-style lights and one of- a-kind vintage pieces – for instance, a restored Scandinavian church pew works beautifully with the re-laid slate in the dining area. ‘I focused on natural textures, rather than patterns or colour,’ she smiles.

Nicola and John’s drive to preserve the rich history of the house, saving and restoring features wherever they could, can be seen throughout the property. The couple repointed the interior stone walls with limestone mortar, restored the sash windows and fixed the original panelling around the living room window, which Nicola extended and painted in Farrow & Ball’s Pavilion Gray. Continuing their restoration journey upstairs, they repaired the ornate balcony balustrade to the French doors in the main bedroom. ‘It was made by a previous owner, but had become rusty and unloved,’ Nicola adds. ‘It looks as good as new now – I love its style.’ In this restful space, it’s easy to see the success of Nicola’s decision to use texture over pattern or colour. Velvet, faux fur and sheepskin soften the bed and the eyecatching swing chair, while the room is finished with oak carpentry and the refurbished windows offer glimpses of the balustrade’s romantic swirls.

The couple sacrificed a bedroom on the top floor to create a new bathroom, so the luxurious master suite occupies the whole of the first floor, complete with a deep Victorian claw-footed bath and twin basins. On the top floor, the new shower room has a walk-in enclosure with a drench head. ‘Both the bedrooms up here now also have conservation Velux windows, and the extra light has really transformed the space,’ says Nicola. Her approach to combining pared-down décor, Scandinavian-influenced furnishings and original features means the cottage wears its period charms lightly. ‘Things were a little chaotic for 18 months – and then, suddenly, it was transformed!’ Nicola reflects. ‘I’m so glad that we took a leap of faith and moved down here. It’s definitely the best thing we’ve ever done.’

Sources: GoodHomes Uk, September 2018

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