Perfect English Cottage
The word cottage is surrounded by a rosy glow. Add ‘English’ and the glow becomes a little rosier. All the connotations are good. We think small and cosy, rural and peaceful, simple and modest, pretty as the picture on a tin of toffees. We exhale a sigh of relaxation; a cottage means a holiday, escapism, nostalgia.
Left: Finishing touches add character and charm. Right: All the furniture here is painted in pastel shades. The 1930s butterfly mirror was found in a charity shop
England is stuffed with lovely cottages in an array of appealing styles. There are the plump curves of cob and thatch in Devon, the black and white timber frames of Herefordshire, the wavering stripes of Kentish weatherboarding, the golden gables of the Cotswolds and the knobbly flints and rosy brick of Norfolk.
Left: Set for an English tea party, with glass and china cake stands. The curtains and tablecloth are vintage. Right: A simple wooden shelf shows off an array of pictures and bric-a-brac that hold special memories for the homeowner
All the cottages featured in this book date back a hundred years or more. Unlike cottage architecture, which has arguably coalesced into a recognisable style, cottage interiors remain endlessly open to interpretation.
Left: This kitchen is a lean-to at the back of a cottage. A small Belfast sink is set into a wooden work surface with curtained cupboards beneath. Many implements are stored on the wall. Right: Finishing touches add character and charm
Each home is as individual as its inhabitants, mirroring their tastes and their preoccupations, and organised to suit their particular needs. All are inspiring in their own way.
This eye-catching selection of fabrics blends beautifully
Perfect English Cottage, by Ros Byam Shaw, with photography by Jan Baldwin, is published by Ryland Peters & Small, priced £30.
Left: Finishing touches add character and charm. Right: All the furniture here is painted in pastel shades. The 1930s butterfly mirror was found in a charity shopEngland is stuffed with lovely cottages in an array of appealing styles. There are the plump curves of cob and thatch in Devon, the black and white timber frames of Herefordshire, the wavering stripes of Kentish weatherboarding, the golden gables of the Cotswolds and the knobbly flints and rosy brick of Norfolk.
Left: Set for an English tea party, with glass and china cake stands. The curtains and tablecloth are vintage. Right: A simple wooden shelf shows off an array of pictures and bric-a-brac that hold special memories for the homeownerAll the cottages featured in this book date back a hundred years or more. Unlike cottage architecture, which has arguably coalesced into a recognisable style, cottage interiors remain endlessly open to interpretation.
Left: This kitchen is a lean-to at the back of a cottage. A small Belfast sink is set into a wooden work surface with curtained cupboards beneath. Many implements are stored on the wall. Right: Finishing touches add character and charmEach home is as individual as its inhabitants, mirroring their tastes and their preoccupations, and organised to suit their particular needs. All are inspiring in their own way.
This eye-catching selection of fabrics blends beautifullyPerfect English Cottage, by Ros Byam Shaw, with photography by Jan Baldwin, is published by Ryland Peters & Small, priced £30.