Houzz Tour: Sensitively Renovated, Light-Filled Waterfront Home
Period character and modern comfort combine with playful touches to create an inviting family house in Cornwall, England
The owners of this Victorian townhouse had originally hired interior designer Tanya Bentley to help them update their kitchen, but, after some lengthy discussions, they realized there was the potential to redesign the whole house.
Bentley suggested a reconfigured floor plan, put together a design scheme to reflect the architecture of the house and its surroundings, and project-managed the extensive renovations. There’s no doubt it was a big undertaking, but the result is a wonderfully welcoming, light-filled home that will stand the test of time.
Bentley suggested a reconfigured floor plan, put together a design scheme to reflect the architecture of the house and its surroundings, and project-managed the extensive renovations. There’s no doubt it was a big undertaking, but the result is a wonderfully welcoming, light-filled home that will stand the test of time.
In contrast, further along the hallway Bentley added a more contemporary element by replacing a solid wall between the hall and dining area with a steel-framed glass panel to bring a light, open feel into the space. The frame is painted dark blue, similar to the deep blue baseboards in the hallway. “Dark blue is a color that runs throughout the house,” Bentley says.
Baseboard paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
Baseboard paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
There was originally a door to the kitchen in the hallway, but Bentley decided to use this space for a powder room. The downstairs bathroom used to be at the back of the house with the laundry room, which meant guests would have to walk past all the laundry to get to it.
Bentley covered the top half of the powder room walls in a gorgeous wallpaper to make the space feel luxurious, and chose Victorian-style fixtures in keeping with the age of the property.
Wallpaper: Pierre Frey
Wallpaper: Pierre Frey
A recessed shelf above the toilet is outfitted with a stain-resistant Corian surface and LED lights.
The living room is at the front of the ground floor open-plan space and looks out to the river. “It’s a lovely east-facing view that gets the morning sun,” Bentley says. “We chose armchairs with low backs so you can see the view from the dining room behind.”
The room’s color scheme was inspired by two paintings by a local artist that hang above the sofa. There’s more of that mix of old and new in here with the pendant light, which is a pared-back, modern take on a Victorian chandelier.
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The room’s color scheme was inspired by two paintings by a local artist that hang above the sofa. There’s more of that mix of old and new in here with the pendant light, which is a pared-back, modern take on a Victorian chandelier.
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The dining area sits alongside the glass panel, while another glass door leads out to a mudroom and laundry room at the rear of the house.
The ceiling in the kitchen area was originally much lower, so the team raised the floor of the room above by 1½ feet. Now the kitchen ceiling perfectly aligns with the top of the back glass panel. It’s a detail you might not immediately notice, but it’s important for helping to give the home a balanced, harmonious feel.
A roof window brings plenty of light into this middle space, which is illustrated in this photo. The dark blue cabinetry and steel frame at the back look much lighter than they are due to the reflected sunlight.
Kitchen island and banquette seating paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
The ceiling in the kitchen area was originally much lower, so the team raised the floor of the room above by 1½ feet. Now the kitchen ceiling perfectly aligns with the top of the back glass panel. It’s a detail you might not immediately notice, but it’s important for helping to give the home a balanced, harmonious feel.
A roof window brings plenty of light into this middle space, which is illustrated in this photo. The dark blue cabinetry and steel frame at the back look much lighter than they are due to the reflected sunlight.
Kitchen island and banquette seating paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
The team borrowed some space from the original kitchen to make a larger utility room, which is behind the oven wall and accessed via the rear door. “We then wrapped the storage around into the dining room, but changed the style of it to reflect the space it was in,” Bentley says.
The reeded panel on the dining room storage picks up on a recurring design elsewhere in the house.
Bentley chose a marble-effect worktop and splashback to bring character into the space and broke this up with a wooden surface on the island.
A striking orange pendant adds a quirky element to the room, while open shelves allow the owner to display her collection of ceramics.
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The reeded panel on the dining room storage picks up on a recurring design elsewhere in the house.
Bentley chose a marble-effect worktop and splashback to bring character into the space and broke this up with a wooden surface on the island.
A striking orange pendant adds a quirky element to the room, while open shelves allow the owner to display her collection of ceramics.
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The ground floor plan shows the new layout.
A previously unused outdoor space, which provides access to the sloping garden via a staircase, was replaced with a useful mudroom. A paneled coat storage and seating area is positioned alongside a space-maximizing understairs cupboard. Behind those sliding doors are generous, LED-lit shelves with room for about 30 pairs of shoes.
The reeded design from the dining room is seen here again on the back door.
The reeded design from the dining room is seen here again on the back door.
The laundry room, which is connected to the mudroom, contains a dog shower for the family’s two spaniels.
Above the kitchen was an old sunroom, seen here on the second-floor plan.
Before: The original sunroom felt dark and enclosed.
After: Bentley’s team transformed the room into a bright, comfortable conservatory-style family space. The room is lined with traditional sash windows and French doors that lead out to the sloping garden, while a roof window brings in even more sunshine.
A large sofa and additional seats provide enough room for all the family to relax together.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
A large sofa and additional seats provide enough room for all the family to relax together.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
As the kitchen is downstairs, Bentley thought it would be a nice touch to add a kitchenette in the sunroom so the family can easily grab a drink or snack. Double doors open up to reveal a brightly lit unit and sink area with an antique glass backsplash and warm yellow cabinets.
Kitchenette cabinets paint: India Yellow, Farrow & Ball
Kitchenette cabinets paint: India Yellow, Farrow & Ball
The team opened up the single door to form a large opening, which floods light into the first floor landing. A couple of steps lead up to the room, as the floor was raised to accommodate the higher kitchen ceiling.
The main bedroom is at the front of the second floor and has views out to the river. Bentley designed wall-to-wall wardrobes for the couple with textured wallpaper on the doors.
A couple of chairs provide a quiet spot to gaze out at the water.
A couple of chairs provide a quiet spot to gaze out at the water.
The en suite was completely open to the bedroom, so Bentley added a door. A contemporary vanity unit and shelf storage contrast with vintage patterned floor tiles. “The faded design makes them look as if they were already there,” she says.
A contemporary version of a traditional freestanding bath sits in front of the window, while a sheer linen curtain provides privacy when needed.
Bentley introduced a brighter palette in the guest bedroom. Wall lights on either side of the bed save space on the small bedside tables.
A wall-hung basin in the guest en suite tones with the bedroom’s color scheme.
There are two bedrooms, a bathroom and a study on the second floor.
Bentley’s team also renovated these third floor rooms (see photos here) and built a fun, practical garden room. The whole project was carried out during the pandemic and took two and half years. “They were wonderful clients to work with,” Bentley says. “[They were] really trusting, which was great.”
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Bentley’s team also renovated these third floor rooms (see photos here) and built a fun, practical garden room. The whole project was carried out during the pandemic and took two and half years. “They were wonderful clients to work with,” Bentley says. “[They were] really trusting, which was great.”
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Who lives here: A couple with two older children and two spaniels
Location: Fowey, Cornwall, England
Size: Five bedrooms and three bathrooms
Designer: Tanya Bentley
Bentley’s aim when designing her clients’ home was to seamlessly incorporate contemporary touches while staying sensitive to the property’s period architecture. You can immediately see this at the home’s entrance.
The front door, for instance, was refurbished to be more in keeping with the age of the home. Bentley commissioned a local craftswoman to replace the plain glazed panels with beautiful stained glass.
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