It was important to the owners of this house that wherever they lived be a bright, quiet and comfortable place. That’s certainly what they achieved by renovating and refurbishing this 350-year-old Welsh country house, filled with blue and white decorating ideas.
They were looking for an old stone house to renovate when they came across this amazing property. Originally a pair of cottages, it was converted into a single house in the 1970s and was ready for conversion.
In fact, it was so perfect that they made an offer at the asking price within an hour of watching it.
‘The house was structurally sound, but the decor was a little dated. And they say: It was the right project for us.
Read on to find out how they transformed it from dark and dated to light and uplifting.
Replace dark colors with white
(Image credit: Rupert Sanderson)
Owners can envision adding a light touch to interiors that feature dark colors, wooden beams and an outdated kitchen.
They wasted no time replacing the kitchen and remodeling the entire home. We worked on the cottage, one room at a time, painting throughout Loft White by Little Greene. A limited color palette keeps the cottage light and fresh.
“The paint is easy to touch up, and it’s almost pure white but not bright, so it’s easy on the eye and makes the house much lighter.” This is one of the best white paints for walls.
Kitchen renovation
(Image credit: Rupert Sanderson)
By creating their own blank canvases, owners can then start thinking long-term. “The kitchen was comfortable, but we barely had a view of the back garden or the stunning mountains, hills and fields of the Welsh countryside beyond,” they explain.
“So we decided to build an open-plan kitchen extension with custom-made external French doors, painted blue, as we wanted it to be suitable for a huge dining table for gathering with family and friends.”
It was important to the owners that the new space had character and did not look too modern, as it should blend in with the rest of the cottage.
‘We had the builder build a fake chimney breast to house the kitchen cooker. We insisted on reclaimed brick and then painted it white. The builder thought we were crazy, but we wanted it to look naturally shabby and irregular.’
As a kitchen tile idea, the faded pattern wall tiles behind the range add interest to this blue and white scheme.
(Image credit: Rupert Sanderson)
A butler sink and quartz countertops add a bright and light feel to the space as white kitchen ideas.
They didn’t want wall cabinets, just base units as an idea for the kitchen layout, but they chose open shelving to display their Cornish pottery collection, and added a large custom pantry to complete the country kitchen look.
Recycled old kitchen units
(Image credit: Rupert Sanderson)
The owners repurposed old kitchen units in the new laundry room, where they also created French farmhouse-style worktops and shelving from reclaimed scaffolding boards.
In keeping with the blue and white theme of the rest of the home, the units are painted in Duckling Al Fresco by Frenchic Paint, while Faded Delft Pattern tiles from Baked Tiles match those in the kitchen.
Light and bright living rooms
(Image credit: Rupert Sanderson)
In the two living rooms, parquet floors were discovered under the old carpet. It has been restored and finished with a light varnish to give the ground floor more character. Check out our guide on how to restore a parquet floor for a similar project.
Rooms are furnished with reclaimed wood pieces, simple sofas, antique linens, and pretty floral pillows, creating a space reminiscent of a French farmhouse.
“We love this relaxed style,” say the owners.
Vintage bedroom style
(Image credit: Rupert Sanderson)
The owners were able to indulge their passion with floral wallpaper wraps and roses upstairs.
‘The walls downstairs didn’t fit due to the plaster finishes. It was different upstairs and we covered one wall over the new baseboards we had installed in the master bedroom and master bathroom; we also collected spare rolls for the future!’
In the bedroom, they coordinated the bedding to match a gray floral pattern creating a vintage bedroom feel.
Wallpapered bathroom
(Image credit: Rupert Sanderson)
Bathroom wallpaper ideas can add instant impact, and in a rustic bathroom, a painted shelf picks up the blue florals on the accent paper behind the repainted roll-out shower.
Painted wall panels beneath the wallpaper add interest and build on the bathroom’s vintage rustic feel.
Living outdoors
(Image credit: Rupert Sanderson)
To make the most of the wonderful views, the owners have also added an inviting outdoor seating area, which is much like a cottage interior, filled with antique furnishings and accessories and decorated with pretty bunting.
“This old country house is definitely home: it’s cozy and welcoming, and gives you a hug when you walk through the door. We’re so lucky to live here.”
