Delightfully bright and textured interiors set the tone of this gorgeous 18th-century stone cottage with its high ceilings, cosy and inviting rooms and quirky elements throughout. Furnishings, sourced from around the globe sit alongside distinctly local touches, hidden within the uncompromising scheme - think classic Boconnoc toile and hand-carved oak furnishings, sourced directly from the estate, set against Sarah’s signature floral wallpaper, brightly patterned upholstering and clever colour pops.
Over 80 years ago, Mr Peter Brown and his family lived at the Dairy House, and although it has now been masterfully transformed, many of the original features remain.
With its fascinating history and distinct décor, the Dairy House is the ultimate fusion of old meets new.
A family business, Sarah Fortescue works on the design and décor for the commercial properties. To date, she has completed the interior of Boconnoc’s main house, a Georgian Manor and three smaller houses that are used by guests, of which The Dairy House is one.
From her early teens, Sarah lived and breathed her father’s restoration of Boconnoc House – an exquisite Grade II-listed house in Cornwall - that during her childhood, sat derelict.
‘It was my father’s dream to see the lights on, once again after 40 years of falling into a state of disrepair.’
Sarah’s design-vision behind the project stems from the vibrancy of nature’s palette in spring, in particular the hues in the garden from March through to June.
The Dairy House is a peaceful space to enjoy the beauty of Boconnoc, and the transformation project provided an opportunity for Sarah to enhance the use of colour, creating a playful scheme, achieved through an eclectic mix of textures and fabrics.
Colour palettes used throughout the property range from peony and salmon-pink to berry fizz, lime sherbet and sunshine yellow.
‘I am a great believer in using gloss as a paint finish, painting ceilings in high gloss which expands the sense of space and results in a wonderfully elegant look.’
‘The Jungle palms, leopard and hibiscus on the kitchen blinds that I designed stand out against its pink peony walls and the African-inspired giraffe print as you climb the stairs to the bedrooms, is gentle and pretty.
Leading through into a cosy bedroom with my Chinoiserie Grandiflora wallpaper in Wedgewood Blue, engulfing you in the magnolia, grandiflora and camelias. I created this space with the sloped ceilings, papered all the way up, giving a beautiful serenity as your eye wanders across the winding branches, camellia buds and magnolia. The design was inspired by my love of magnolias, chinoiserie and the Cornish gardens in full bloom.’
‘In particular, I wanted to bring the new dining area into focus - previously the boot room, it was rarely utilised to its full potential. Now it is a fabulous peony-pink room with the dining table that is made from a cross section of an ancient Boconnoc Oak. On the wall is mounted a Crittall metal mirror that enhances the sense of space, creating a modern and uplifting setting to dine in.’
As with all of Sarah’s design projects at Boconnoc, the surrounding landscape is a strong influence, with elements of nature present in every room.
As with almost all restoration projects to old buildings, there were challenges found along the way.
‘It is only when the project begins that issues are highlighted, when you go under the floors or into the walls for example. The challenge for The Dairy House was working with a tight budget that I had to rearrange meticulously in order not to reduce the design element, whilst ensuring the essentials were completed first.’
It’s an incredibly restorative house – the perfect spot for a Cornish adventure – think peaceful coastlines, deep valleys and cider farms with the exquisite energy of the estate.
‘They say the air is very soporific, so deep sleep is had here; nature is at its finest and the house itself is comfortable and enlivening. To think the main house was derelict and very little occurred at Boconnoc after World War II until Anthony and Elizabeth Fortescue took over, restored the main house and set up the events business that thrives - from Morcheeba Festival (Paradhis) to steam fair, yoga retreats, farming, deer safaris, dawn bird walks, craft space – is quite incredible,’ muses Sarah.
‘I love old pieces of furniture, particularly when fused with modern interiors. The art in my mind, is combining both - blending eras and styles in order to create a completely unique design. I also think juxtaposition within design is great to highlight how things change over time and how taste moves forward. There is the most fabulous wooden staircase at this old dairy which demonstrates this perfectly – it’s these moments of time and those who have been here before, stamped into the treads, that make it such a special space, ensconced in nature, it is vibrant and alluring.”
