The Cottage
This little cottage has been our home for 5 years now, we love the place and will be sad when we have to inevitably move in the next few years. The nature of the cottage means we can’t extend it and we’re running out of room with us only have one bedroom. I suppose we’ve been spoilt; Our first house to be a little quaint cottage with fields to the front and fields to the back and a good pub within stumbling distance. It makes moving house difficult as the next house will have to match this house, but just be bigger. As from July this house will be my office, so I have to be happy here.
Living in a small house makes you become creative with storage solutions. What no-one knows when they visit the house is that the retro looking bread tin doesn’t contain bread at all, but it full of different packets of rice and flours. The antique chest is rammed with walking/camping equipment and also doubles up as extra seating plus the secret cupboard is just the right size for a small hover.
An advantage of a Georgian Cottage is the original beams. We’re not making a design statement by hanging various shiny utensils from it, but because we literally don’t have anywhere else for the items to be stored. At least it makes us look like we know what we’re doing in the kitchen.
The final feature and probably the focal point is the fire. Not original, but provides all the heat we need to warm the house through considering 200-year-old cottages never came with central heating. Nothing is more comforting than huddling around the fire in the depths of winter while toasting marshmallows. The design of the house: south-facing, thick walls, well insulated roof means its warmer than many centrally heated houses I’ve been in. Saying that, here your never far from a warm, snuggly fleecy blanket. Essential for any self-respecting cottage owner. Where are these sins against fashion? Hiding in the unassuming wicker basket just behind the setee…you’d never know.
I can assure you that as soon as you get a bigger house you will just find more things to put in it so it will never have enough storage especially if its an old house as they don’t seem to come with lots of storage space. But of course old houses are much more lovely.
Sounds like a lovely, cosy home Jules. Very nice.
What a beautiful home. All six of us live in a small home and we do the same thing, hide things all sorts of places. There is a small cupboard under a bookshelf in the living room and it is pantry space. A large old lidded wooden box in the kitchen holds all of my pans etc. I hope you are able to find a new perfect home.
Looks lovely, can understand why it will be hard to leave. You just never know what might come up though! I thought we would never top our last house, but we’ve been in this one 6 years, and I love it. No interesting features, but plenty of space and the kitchen I’ve always wanted, in that it now has a big table for working at, and feeding people at!
My dream is to have a big kitchen with a big table. I’ll get it one day!
we’ve just extended our house- and it’s already jam packed with stuff!! Shame you will hve to move sometime!!
What a lucky couple you are to have such a sweet home - I’m sure you’ll find some place wonderful to move to. Thank you for sharing it with us. xxx
Oh your cottage looks lovely!! You don’t have to move soon do you :-(
Sounds so warm and snug ;0)
Nice blog - i have big blogging L-plates on at the moment. And a lovely cottage. I’m jealous of your beam for hanging all your kitchen implements on! I want one of those!
Welcome to the world of blogging foolproofcook!
Digging out a basement? Unless you find a new River Cottage.
Looks lubberly. Only prob with having to leave kitchen equipment out is it attracts too much dirt/ grease :(
I have same prob with my 400+ year old cottage - running out of space. People stay on the sitting room floor or a tent in the garden when they stay over to help out. And you can see your breath indoors sometimes - I open the fridge door to heat the place up. Full of character & history though.
Our sofa turns into a sofa bed, meaning friends have an en-suite kitchen when they come to stay. It’s certainly worth it for the character & history.
Your cottage looks so lovely and cosy, can imagine you not wanting to move!
When you move Jules can I please buy your house??
Jen has asked for 1st dibs ;)
Oh I love the beams and the fireplace! Nice blog post!
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