Home coming Salvaged furniture and raw finishes combine to create a rustic feel inside this rural cottage

THE PLAN WAS TO RENOVATE AND ‘FLIP’ THIS COTTAGE UNTIL ITS FASHION STYLIST OWNER FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SPACE AND MADE IT HER OWN

Agently worn sophistication defines this country cottage in a small village two-and-a-half hours from Cape Town in South Africa. It’s a stylish blend of found and collected furniture, decorative details from yesteryear and a plethora of clever retweaks intended to look like they’ve been there forever. Homeowner Charlotte has created an idyllic escape, where log fires after long walks are a part of everyday life.

The beautiful life that’s bloomed here has come as something of a surprise to Charlotte, a seasoned renovator and decorator − yet some finds take hold of one’s heart more than others. Charlotte’s journey to falling in love with the tiny town where this home can be found was unplanned. “I went there to help a friend of mine with the interior of her home and had never even spent a night here,” she recalls. “Originally my intention was to ‘flip’ the house that I found (my friend convinced me to buy it) but as I got further into the project and spent time in the village, I decided to keep it as a weekend spot.” says Charlotte.

The now two-storeyed home comes complete with three ensuite bedrooms plus a cottage in the garden, but it started life rather differently. “When I first saw it, it was literally a box with one room for the bedroom, a tiny room off the side, one bathroom and a living area and there was nothing in the roof,” says Charlotte, who spent just under a year breathing life into what was once a nondescript space.

With a background working on advertising-production sets, Charlotte is fearless and resourceful in trying to create a look and feel that fits a brief for a client; in this instance, that client was her. “I wanted to make the house that you would imagine the perfect little country cottage to look like and I love how it reflects my love of all things salvaged,” she says. “I really feel that items with history can conjure up such a wonderful mood.”

Colour plays a huge role in Charlotte’s life and work, and yet finding the ideal shades was not without its trials. For instance, to find the perfect green for the wood-panelled back wall (a clever old-yet-new addition), “I took 10 tester pots to find it and it was the last one I tried,” she recalls with a laugh. “Everyone is now obsessed with it.” If it sounds like Charlotte has luck on her side – as much in colour choices as in stumbling upon her cottage – there’s no doubt the enchanting results testify to her vision and determination to bring her ideas to fruition. The home may only have been a year or so in the making but feels like it already holds generations of happy memories.

DINING AREA The dining table (opposite) by contemporary South African designer Gregor Jenkin is an elegant foil to the history-laden details that surround it, from original Danish vinyl-seated chairs to the exposed wooden beams and reed ceiling and handcrafted staircase, built from salvaged scaffolding planks. Slasto (slate) crazy paving completes the eclectic scene (get the look at Stone Pavers Australia). “I love a mix of old and new but anything that has history and conjures up a life gone by is what I truly love,” says Charlotte (pictured above left with her faithful rescue, Oily). “We didn’t name him, he was found on the highway covered in oil. The vet reckons he’s about 18 years old.” >

“IT WAS love AT FIRST SIGHT WHEN I SAW THE COTTAGE ... IT HAS A LOVELY VIEW AND FEEL” ~ CHARLOTTE

INNER LANDSCAPE This weekend retreat outside Cape Town, South Africa, is the epitome of the country-cottage dream – a moody space with an atmospheric fireplace and captivating decor details, it’s the perfect home away from home for fashion-stylist Charlotte and her daughter Willow. “We love the ability to disconnect from city life and spend time surrounded by beautiful nature,” says Charlotte. To create ambience in the living room, Charlotte cleverly added the panelled timber back wall painted in an evocative shade of green (try Dulux Nereus), a brand-new element that calls to mind another time. The coffee table is an old wheelbarrow topped with glass. “I love it!” says Charlotte. >

KITCHEN Charlotte created a central island using a piece she discovered at a retailer known for its eclectic mix of furniture; spotlit by a trio of industrial-style pendants, it takes the lead in the cook zone (try Fat Shack Vintage for similar pendant lights). The worn duck-egg blue paint helps to create just the right heritage-inspired mood. Oozing personality, the timeworn sideboard was a lucky find from a salvage and vintage specialist. Ever the curator, Charlotte created open shelves laden with daily essentials that are as beautiful as a still life. The unpretentious planks and brackets are the perfect utilitarian touch and become an attractive focal point where less really is more. “The kitchen/living area is the centre of the home and where we spend most of our time – cooking and entertaining,” says Charlotte. >

LIVING AREA Poised invitingly beneath a window, the love seat (top, left) was reupholstered in a simple linen fabric showing off its elegant lines. STAIRWELL An avid collector of vintage portraits, Charlotte felt the stairwell (top, right) was the ideal canvas for a gallery wall. “I bought new scaffolding planks off Gumtree and traded them with builders for their old worn planks,” says Charlotte. “My amazing carpenter then used these to build the staircase to connect the rooms in the roof and the downstairs part of the house.” KITCHEN A corner of the kitchen is home to a porcelain butler’s sink (above, left). Find a similar sink at The English Tapware Company. READING NOOK A previously unloved space (above, right) was reborn as a reading nook. Scatter cushions in a mix of lustrous fabrics and jewel tones on the day-bed elevate the sense of luxury. For similar cushions, try Domayne. >

BATHROOM Charlotte’s penchant for marrying old with new shines through in this bathroom – the upcycled clawfoot bath (above) was given a lick of green paint – the same shade that stars on the living room’s panelled wall. The heritage tone pairs well with other vintage touches, such as the faded Persian rug, which provides muchneeded warmth underfoot during the cooler months. For a custom-painted, freestanding bathtub, try Luxe by Design. The round mirror was a vintage find and sits elegantly in the space. To keep things simple, towels are rolled up and placed in a basket right next to the bath. For a similar basket, try Freedom. >

BEDROOM As an ex-advertising set stylist, Charlotte knows just how to create a historical narrative but with all the cosy, comfortable touches we expect today. The two upstairs bedrooms are a case in point. Tucked into the roof, each comes with its own compact bathroom and is dressed in a mix of inviting textures and shades. For a similar quilt, try Pottery Barn. The contrasting monochromatic tones in the ceiling create a dramatic effect, toned down with salvaged and antique finds. For a similar industrial-style pendant light fitting, try The Lighting Outlet. >

OUTSIDE Charlotte added an outdoor patio to the front of the house, effectively creating a second living area that’s just made for alfresco living. The built-in seating areas were designed to mimic the seating areas often found on either end of old Cape Dutch farmhouse porches. A fan of subtle shades, Charlotte chose a grey-and-white fabric for the upholstery and cushions. For similar folding chairs, try Patio & Balcony Outdoor Living.