Some homes feel like a warm embrace from the moment you push through the door; a grandmother not seen in years but still as comforting as ever. Decorative, layered and stitched together with inherited wisdom, such homes were born of another time, often fashioned from the community in which they were created; driftwood turned into coffee tables, shells into mosaics and hand-dyed blankets made from the sheep of the neighbouring farm. It is in such homes that the true spirit of the UK and its folk show themselves in genius creativity, skill and craftsmanship. This month we round-up unique homes that embrace all that the folklore aesthetic represents.
Tincture
Mountain views from every window, furniture made from discarded wood found around the farmstead and unique artwork created by the typographer owner; Tincture is a sweet-scented cauldron of old meets new, nature meets mankind. Wholly embracing its surroundings and natural resources, go off the grid at this fairytale cottage in Wales’ Cambrian Mountains.
Heddwen
Alchemy twists through the foundations of this stone farmhouse on the Snowdonia coast. In the bedrooms, headboards have been carved from oak trees, while a hand-forged iron chandelier glows with Welsh hospitality over the dining table and window shutters have been refashioned from old wooden doors. There's also vintage patterns and colours in-keeping with the wild landscape at every turn. Folkish to its core, Heddwen sings a song of Welsh beauty.
The Summer Folly
Created by Sir John Vanbrugh, who also built Blenheim palace, The Summer Folly hides within the grounds of one of Lincolnshire’s greatest country houses. Intricate hand-painted murals adorn the sitting room and snug, designed as a personal account of the previous tenant’s life in a Renaissance-style take on Pompeii. Not just a pretty folly, here is a cleverly designed and uplifting home woven together with a thousand stories.
Pearl’s on Sea
Trailing lace, vintage chairs, fringed lampshades and mismatched prints make Pearl’s on Sea a relaxed family home on the Winchelsea coast. Curated with the help of East Sussex’s glut of vintage shops, this beachy shack takes influence from Rye’s treasure trove of glittering relics. Outside, shells found on the beach adorn the walls and garden sculptures, while a pool, sauna and wood-fired hot tub ensure wellness all round.
Sundance
With a roving spirit and bohemian soul, this unique couples’ hideaway resides off the beaten track ten minutes inland between Mawgan Porth and Watergate Bay, two of Cornwall’s favourite beaches. The central shepherd's hut has undergone an ingenious renovation, modernised and extended on two sides to include a double shower room with roll top bath and glass garden room overlooking the pond. Moss green clapboard mimics the surrounding verdant hills, while reclaimed furnishings hark back to this wayward gypsy’s roaming roots.
Little Inka
Bringing the towering granite tors of Cornwall’s moors and shimmering copper of the county’s underbelly together in one sensual couple's retreat, Little Inka was designed around the foundations of its surroundings. Dark and inky to reflect the often-moody skies which rumble over Bodmin Moor but with a roll top and king-size bed perfectly positioned for stargazing, this luxury retreat soaks in the very heart of Cornish heritage.
