Words by Hannah Tapping | Images by John Hersey
Cornwall is home to many a hidden estate within which old buildings wait patiently to be rescued from an entanglement of brambles. One such property, at the heart of Cornwall’s mining country, has been sensitively converted into a four-bedroom home. Originally a small farmhouse with integral barn dating back to the early 19th century and associated with the larger mansion house nearby, this Grade II- listed building was converted into a home in the late 1990s. The owners, who had lived there for many years, always had a refurbishment in mind. When their busy family lives allowed, they enlisted the services of Absolute – a multi-disciplined Cornish design agency of architects, graphic and interior designers with experience of both residential and commercial projects – to reconfigure and re-design this historic property.
Absolute’s Creative Director Helen Stephens explains in more detail: “Our clients and their buildings are at the forefront of every project, so no two are the same. We pride ourselves in not having a ‘signature’ style. Whether it’s a home, office space, restaurant or bar, there are almost limitless ways in which a building’s interior expresses something about who our clients are. Their personality, priorities, and personal taste all go a long way in determining what that perfect space looks like for them. The more we understand about them, the more we can create an interior as unique and idiosyncratic as they are. We are committed to creating striking and inspiring interiors that reflect our clients. This is the Absolute difference.”
“We were approached by the owners at the planning approval stage. This meant that we could work closely with the architects, Laurence Associates, to develop an overall design styling route. The client had been collating images they love prior to us being instructed. This meant we could work with them to define exactly what styles they loved and support them in deciding what would work for their family’s needs and complement the buildings character. We always try and work with local suppliers as much as possible. We are so lucky in Cornwall to have such an amazing collection of them and have over the years built longstanding relationships with some great talents.
“The ground floor was completely reconfigured from three small rooms into one open-plan space to create a flow, and there are now four bedrooms upstairs. The intention was to design with a classic approach but adding a contemporary edge, making the property warm and homely, befitting for a listed farmhouse cottage.”
