INDUSTRIAL REVELATION
Reclaimed furnishings enhance the rustic charm of this Cornish former engine house
When searching for a place where she could get away from it all, Jess Clark had a specific wish list. ‘I was trying to find somewhere that was interesting architecturally, located on the north Cornish coast and close to the beach,’ she says. ‘I fell in love with this amazing Victorian industrial building as soon as I saw it from the top of the long path that leads down to its front door.’
The former engine house extends over five floors and is surrounded by rolling countryside. The previous owners had extensively refurbished the property, stripping it back to the original stonework throughout. ‘Their renovation had respected the house’s history,’ says Jess. ‘The result was an interior that was pared back, rustic, and a little rough round the edges. It inspired me to create a raw feel that wasn’t too neat. I wanted a relaxed family home that was great for holidays, and was a cosy place to spend Christmas with my children, Lola, 10, and Bodi, six.’
Working with an older property wasn’t without its challenges, however. The long path leading to the house made it difficult to get things inside. The five floors also meant there were plenty of narrow stairs to climb. ‘Getting furniture in was quite a struggle,’ says interior designer Jess. ‘One of the sofas got wedged between floors, so the builders had to try another route, taking it through the window. That experience certainly dictated some of the future decisions I made when choosing furniture.’
Jess was keen to maximise the stunning location of the house, so she built a deck area at the rear, complete with a whirlpool tub that made the most of the surrounding views. An outdoor kitchen was also added. Inside, changes were made to the layout. ‘On the second floor, there was a large main bedroom and a snug, and I wanted to create more space for a sitting room,’ says Jess. ‘So I repositioned the wall and reduced the size of the main bedroom. I also added a cloakroom on the same floor.’ A basement room became a cosy cinema room, as it has no windows, and Jess has stuck to the cinematic theme by displaying vintage film reels and movie memorabilia around the room.
Redecorating the house took three months, and Jess had clear ideas of the look she was keen to achieve. ‘I wanted to have a different theme in each room,’ she says. ‘For instance, one of
the guest bedrooms had an exposed, peeling paint wall with an interesting patina, which inspired a Moroccan look for that room. Then I went for a stargazer theme in another bedroom, with vintage books and a telescope. I wanted to combine industrial and rustic elements, as well as vintage finds throughout. Many of the lampshades are reclamation yard finds and I pick up old kitchenalia whenever I see it. Brand-new things wouldn’t suit this house – I wanted the interior to feel as if it had evolved organically over time and have a very lived-in mood. I was lucky enough to discover my Ercol sofa on free cycle. I’ve also added in pops of colour, such as mustard, and opulent fabrics, such as velvets.’
With the renovation and redecoration complete, the house is now ready to receive visitors. ‘I’m so pleased with how it has all come together,’ says Jess. ‘It’s such an amazing building, that my main aim was to make the most of all those elements that make it unique. The house has a lovely warmth, which comes into its own at Christmas. This really is a very special place.’