The season of long relaxed days is here with outdoor living and balmy evenings chilling out with a glass of something cool and bubbly. Halcyon memories of holidays spent on the beach, watching the children build sandcastles and chasing the waves. But when the sun starts to sit lower in the sky and summer ebbs away, how can we keep that holiday vibe going all year?
Professional surfer and instructor Alan Stokes and his photographer wife Philly have done just this in their Cornish cottage. The home of British surfing, Newquay is a holiday paradise with a beautiful sandy beach, wide skies and spectacular surf. So when Alan and Philly renovated their holiday rental they wanted to reflect all the character of the area with the simple charm of modern coastal style.
Alan explained: “The Cornish coast is my life. There’s no better place in the world and we love sharing our hometown with visitors. When I’m riding the waves I’m in the moment and feel alive so I wanted to bring this carefree attitude to our cottage.”
Reflecting the timeless charm and tranquil appeal of the British seaside, Alan’s cottage oozes serenity and invites guests to unwind and soak up the healing power of the Cornish coast.
Starting with a warm neutral base of off-whites, natural materials and interesting textures, the cottage makes the most of the coastal light. Understated yet full of personality, the simplicity of the décor is enhanced by intriguing rustic elements such as a handmade grass lightshade and an ancient stool repurposed as a side table.
Featuring Texas White Ash from our recently updated Van Gogh Rigid Core range.
Keeping the walls predominantly clear for a restful feel, Alan has used a single stunning painting of crashing waves to great effect, bringing the unique spirit and energy of the Atlantic Ocean straight into the living room.
When it came to the floor, Alan wanted a hard wearing surface with an authentic wood look. After ordering chip samples of his favourite designs and considering these in situ, Alan opted for Texas White Ash from our recently updated Van Gogh Rigid Core range.
With its warm pinky beige tones and straight grain detailing which adds a crisp clean finish, the Texas White Ash floor complements the fresh neutral colour scheme and brings the classic coastal theme bang up to date.
Alan told us: “We wanted to take the same flooring throughout the entire downstairs of the property to give a connected feel and enhance the cottage’s flow. Our old cottage has uneven floors, as you might expect, so it was good to know that the rigid core format can be fitted over the existing floor without lots of subfloor preparation. Most importantly for us, hosting surfers and beach lovers, we were impressed that Karndean flooring is super durable and waterproof.
“It’s the perfect surface for a holiday getaway as there’s no need to worry about walking in sand or water and it’s totally pet and child friendly. While you’re on holiday you don’t want to be thinking about cleaning so it’s great to know that it just takes a quick sweep and damp mop. What’s more, with an attached acoustic layer, the floor simply eats up any noise from running feet or paws. Everyone who has visited has had only complements for the cottage and the floor!”
Find your coastal inspiration on our Instagram or use our room visualiser, Floorstyle, to see your favourite floors in your home.
