We usually house crash people in person to grab a slew of shots with our own little Canon, but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to virtually house crash our friend Liz’s 200 year old cottage in England. Charming? Check. Cozy? Check. This cottage has got it going on. And we love that Liz has fun with her home and brings in everything from a lime green lamp to chocolate walls with writing on them. Enjoy the tour!
Liz, her boyfriend and their two cats have lived in their charming home for 2 years & she’s been decorating since the day they moved in. The house is quirky & unique – think Kate Winslet’s house in The Holiday. In fact, when her friends saw the movie, she got a dozen phone calls saying “Kate lives in your house.”
Here’s the simple and sweet kitchen. The countertops are solid oak & the Belfast sink is an original feature (!) that still works just fine. Liz loves her orange Le Creuset kettle (of course she fancies a spot of tea now and again) and the giant wall clock is from Habitat (a European home goods store that I pray will someday come to the good ol’ US of A).
This is the view from the kitchen into the living area with a fireplace that was once filled with real logs but has now has been fitted with a screen made of firewood “off cuts” that hides their TV & DVD player. Take a moment to wrap your head around that. Have you ever heard of such a clever thing? It looks like stacked wood but it hides the telly!
We love this cozy, welcoming little living area that Liz created with a simple set of comfy chairs and one amazing retro green lamp from Habitat.
And this room had a very sweet past life as well. For a while it acted as a formal dining room complete with this this table made from planks of wood & old chairs that hail from a school.
How great is this darling bedroom (with a sweet little fireplace- mmmm). The paint colors are Farrow & Ball’s “String” and “Pelt” and Liz applied the wall decal (in more than a few steps) for some fun and interest. It totally fits with her home’s warmth and the dark wall color creates a cozy, enveloping vibe.
And so ends the tour of Kate Winslet- errr, Liz’s quaint and comfortable cottage. Thanks so much for allowing us to virtually parade everyone through your lovely & soulful home, Liz. My next cup of tea will be raised in your honor!
Lori says
What a great cottage! (Makes me miss that magazine..sniff). Thanks for the tour. Lots of good ideas there!
Liv says
It’s so lovely! I’d move to England if it didn’t rain so much.
angie says
OMG, I just finished watching The Holiday yesterday. I was in love with Kate’s cottage.
Liz’ cottage is gorgeous! It’s sooo homey.
Allison says
I have always loved the idea of painting or stenciling a phrase on the walls so I LOVE the last photo of the white writing on a chocolate brown wall!
Mikaela says
How cute! Are those nails sticking out of the side of the steps?
Samantha says
love that fireplace idea, brilliant :)
bungalow_bliss says
Very cute. I could totally get comfy here. I think my fave was the screen covering the tv–I had to look twice! My first thought was, “what an interesting way to store firewood!”
Thanks for the tour!
Kim says
I LOVE the idea of wooden countertops and open shelving in the kitchen.
Ele says
This house is so charming!
Missy says
Splendid! Cozy up in the brown chairs with a book and a glass of wine… perfect!
Ann-Marie says
This is such a sweet space. I love so much of it, but my favorite part, by far, is the table and chairs. So beautiful and unique!
And, Mikaela, I think they have Christmas lights attached to the stairway.
Denise T. says
Love the dutch door in the picture with the comfy chairs and lime green lamp. A dutch door is on my wish list! Charming cottage.
Jennifer says
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT.
Arlene says
Did you all notice the dutch door in the picture with the brown chairs. I love those things!!!
Great pictures!!
Anna See says
How cozy! I love the fireplace idea. Wow.
Tamstyles says
Very charming
Brian says
nice place. I love the old homes in England. This makes me want to take another trip over there
Sarah says
LOVE this little cottage! It is JUST like in the Holiday, they are right! I love the cozy bedroom and the quote on the wall! And of course, the kitty curled up in the cozy chair! Perfect!
Averill says
that green lamp IS amazing. great tour, guys!
Claire says
Hey, I love this site! It’s great you have managed to write about a house all the way over here.
Elizabeth says
Thank you everyone for the nice words, we love our house too. It’s very high maintenance right now though – it’s an old old lady! & yes, they are fairy/xmas lights on the staircase.
Thank you Sherry & John (& Burger) for a cute post! Liz xxx
YoungHouseLove says
Smooches right back atcha Liz! Thanks for letting us crash your charming little cottage. Hugs to those kitties!
xo,
s (& j)
Courtney McIlwain says
I love the quote above the fireplace. Do you happen to know where she got it?
YoungHouseLove says
I do! She actually got it stateside from this site: http://www.fruitfulvinecreations.com.
Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
Courtney McIlwain says
Can you tell me what the whole quote says? I can only read some of the words and the website she got it from does custom orders. Thanks so much!!! I love your blog!!!!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Courtney,
Maybe it’s a famous poem or the lyrics to a song? Here’s what it says:
If I could see into your heart.
Then would I know just where to start?
Because I’m lost and I need to be found.
Crazy as it sounds, I need you around.
I’m gonna feel this way ’til I’m six feet underground.
Crazy as it sounds, I need you around.
xo,
s
kari & kijsa says
What a beautiful tour! The quote is amazing!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
Karen MacKay says
I used Google and discovered that the quote on the wall is by the Smoking Popes’ song “Need You Around”. They are an American band from Chicago.
If I could see into your heart
Then would I know just where to start?
Because I’m lost and I need to be found
Crazy as it sounds
I need you around
If I could stand to be on my own
Then I would probably just leave you alone
But I’m gonna feel this way till I’m six feet underground
Crazy as it sounds
I need you around
Turning, tossing and turning
My love is burning me down
If I could change one thing in this world
I’d change your mind and make you my girl
Because I’m lost and I need to be found
Crazy as it sounds
I need you around
I’m gonna feel this way till I’m six feet underground
Crazy as it sounds
I need you around [repeat until end of song]
Mike at The Big Stick says
I was just about to point out the Smoking Popes lyrics and I see the power of the internet revealed the answer. They are one of my favorite bands (though I suspect my wife wouldn’t go for their lyrics on one of our walls).
Dianna says
There is something great about old homes. We always say we are going to build an old house, but we find ourselves fixing up another original. This link will take you to a lake cottage we gave a face lift to.
http://www.decormadesimple.com/exterior-home-decorating.html