HARBOURSIDE HYGGE
When new owners arrived at a draughty 200-year-old Sussex cottage six years ago, they found a property ripe for renewal. Now, restored period features are set against a pared-down, super-comfy Scandi look with a coastal vista
Living by the sea is a dream many of us secretly hold. Breathing in coastal air, watching the waves and listening to the sound of the ocean creates a sense of calm and wellbeing. The stresses of daily life instantly slip away at Island Cottage, which sits in a nature reserve surrounded by water, close to Pagham Harbour on the Sussex coast.
Dating back to the 1800s, this brick and flint cottage would have been small when first built, just one room deep, with an outhouse. However, over the years it had suffered numerous unsympathetic extensions and additions. When Athena and Mark bought it in 2015, the interior lacked light and was both damp and draughty. It was a mishmash of different styles and materials and seemed to have lost its identity.
UNLOCKING POTENTIAL
Luckily, the couple, who grew up in the area and wanted to relocate back from London, were able to look past the jumbled layout (which led to the house being nicknamed Narnia by their friends) and see the cottage’s underlying potential. They worked closely with Paul Cashin Architects to unpick the work that had been done and to realise their vision of blending the house into the surrounding nature reserve.
Athena and Mark wanted to complement the local landscape by using natural materials for the exterior at the rear, replacing the existing white render with larch cladding. Planning was a challenge –
resistance to the cladding took them by surprise given the existing materials, which were at odds with the surroundings. However, the couple didn’t give up. They walked around the area taking photos of agricultural buildings to prove that vertical cladding would be in keeping with the location, and eventually they were given the go-ahead.
LINKING TO THE LANDSCAPE
The architects were asked to devise a layout that would link the interior to the landscape and create a better sense of continuity. An extension/addition was built to rationalise the space rather than to add to the house’s footprint. Great attention was paid to the materials used for the walls and floors, which include lime plaster and timber to bring together the old and new parts of the house.
The heart of the home is the kitchen and dining area, which houses a modern black wood kitchen. Athena’s brother owns a kitchen company and Mark’s son is a CAD designer, so they had expert help to come up with a layout that would make the best use of the space. Oak panelling was added to the walls to contribute texture and warmth. Sliding glass oak-framed doors run across the back of the house, where the dining table is situated, and open onto a cantilevered steel frame. The table was built by Athena’s father from wide chestnut planks from a local wood yard. It can seat up to 12 people and is perfect for family meals and gatherings.
There are three bedrooms on the first floor, all unique in style and with a different view. Each one has fitted wardrobes that offer practical storage, pale wooden floors and large rugs for a comfortable feel. The bathrooms continue the pared-back scheme, giving the house a calm Scandi feel.
UPSTAIRS VIEWS
The main sitting room is upstairs and makes the most of the views over the nature reserve. Plump sofas, Berber rugs, wide-plank oak flooring and a woodburning stove create a cosy mood, while the