ROOM ENVY
Each month we bring you a scheme that delights, dazzles and intrigues
The scheme that’s inspired us this month
The joys of the British countryside have been appreciated anew during the last year, and the staycation has never been more popular. Neither has our coastline. Artist couple Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson were onto something when they migrated to the Cornish village of St Ives in the 1930s to paint its special light and rugged coves. Since then, the resort has become an artistic outpost with international clout, drawing half a million visitors a year.
Those who want to enjoy the perennially popular coastline without the crowds – and soak up cool coastal style while they’re there – should head to Three Mile Beach, a new community of 15 beach huts at Gwithian, four miles east of St Ives. All of the two-, three- and four-bedroom cabins are typically Cornish in feel – wooden clapboard frames and white-washed wooden furniture punctuated with rustic accessories and colourful kilim rugs, resulting in the laid-back feel you’d expect from a beachside abode.
Although coastal in style, this is the UK, so the cosier elements have been considered too. Expect deep free-standing bathtubs in the bathrooms, wood burners in the living areas and hot tubs on the decking. Perfect for when the wind blows in and you want to soothe aching limbs after a day catching the waves.
Water sports, from surfing to paddleboarding, are in abundance and there’s no shortage of action on the water since Gwithian is one of the UK’S top spots for kitesurfing.