ESSEX COTTAGE CONVERSION
A gorgeous mix of rustic, period features and modern furniture bring this old shop to life
Giacinta Del Monaco and David Pearson’s Period cottage has been transformed from an old shop into a stunning country cottage that combines a luxe interior with old world charm
Itwas a chance find and a little bit of persuasion that lead giacinta Del Monaco and her husband David Pearson to buy this pretty little cottage. Bought as a home-from-home for when they are visiting the UK, the property is a place to escape, relax and catch up with their english family. ‘We split our time between here and the states,’ explains giacinta. ‘David is from this area originally and still has family nearby. We’ve always liked it here as the village has a lovely feel
– it was once an antique hunters’ paradise with a number of vintage shops and this has always been one of our interests. so when we started looking for a property in england, it made sense to make this village our home.’
although the house is stunning now, it was a very different picture back in 2011. the property had been a shop until around 2000, and had an incredibly unattractive sixties-style double frontage. ‘When my sister-in-law first suggested it to us, we both said no,’ says giacinta. ‘We saw the photographs and thought it was too ugly, but she persuaded us to go and have a look at it. once we’d stepped through the threshold, we started to see its potential.’
In need of a total renovation inside and out, the tudor building was dark and dingy and hadn’t been touched
for years. Period features had been obscured, all the beams had been painted black, accentuating the gloomy feel, and the cluster of small rooms made the cottage feel very small. ‘We wanted to make it bigger, lighter and brighter,’ says giacinta. ‘We like period charm but we also wanted it to feel modern, too, so we enlisted the help of local architect Neil Jennings and interior designer Rebecca Brooker of Little White Box, to help us achieve this.’ the plan was to add a single-storey extension to the back of the house and new simple-front windows to the façade, as well as to remodel the interior.
to get the cottage into a reasonable state for decorating, it was gutted, rewired and the beams were stripped. Floors were rescued and renovated, walls re-plastered and new heating installed with period-style radiators, which Rebecca found. Rebecca and Neil also custom-designed a modern kitchen and separate utility room to go in the new extension. Keeping the two separate has given the couple a smart entertaining space that flows seamlessly into the dining area. ‘We like the contemporary country blend and it works well when we have guests over,’ says giacinta. ‘all our family gravitate to the cottage when we’re here which is lovely, especially at christmas time.’
this smart country-style is repeated in the first-floor bedroom and bathroom areas. Both bedrooms are
pared-back yet luxurious, featuring designer beds and classic-style furniture. the size of the main bedroom meant there was scope for an impressive en-suite bathroom to be added into the space. specially-sourced fittings and furnishings for this room successfully created a smart cottage look with a handsome designer twist. ‘We wanted that contemporary-country vibe, so went for a tiled wet room from which you could then walk into a bedroom backdrop full of tudor timbers and features,’ says giacinta. ‘It really did play with that old-meets-new look.’
the couple enjoy their home all year round, but it’s over the christmas period that the house really comes into its own. It’s the perfect canvas for the festive decorations that are added throughout, and the couple embrace the festive atmosphere. ‘We entertain family and friends and love dressing the house for our guests,’ says giacinta. ‘We buy a fresh tree, hang up foliage and have ornaments that we’ve picked up on our travels arranged around the home.’
the spacious house design and easy room flow means the couple have created a stylish setting for guests to enjoy their open-door policy, both at christmas and throughout the rest of the year – be it for cosy nights by the roaring fire, cocktails in the kitchen or fine dining at the festive table.