An Interior Stylist’s Vintage-filled Vacation Home
Welcome to the BLOG,
If you're in awe of stunning interiors and crazy about home decor, you’re in the right place. As an interior writer with a background in styling and photography for leading magazines around the globe (see below) as well as an avid home renovator, I am here to help you style and decorate your home with ease and confidence, like a pro.
On this blog, I’ll be sharing insightful articles packed with advice, tips, and ideas for home styling and decoration, along with inspiring tours of beautifully styled spaces. Having styled countless homes with very different interiors, I know it’s the final touches and thoughtful curating that make a space magazine-worthy, regardless of whether it’s an architectural masterpiece or filled with high-end furniture. And, rather than focus on one particular interior look or style, I aim to open your eyes to a wide variety so you feel inspired, not limited. Ultimately, I’ll show you how a little bit of styling can be transformational and take your home to a whole new level. In this week’s blog post, I’m taking you on a tour of The Biscuit Cottage, a vacation rental which was designed and styled by Clare Southcombe-Holmes, an interior stylist and owner of award winning-interior boutique - No 64 The Biscuit House.
Photo credit: all photos Sandra van Aalst
Today I am showing you around The Biscuit Cottage - a stunning bijou vacation home on the South Coast of England, designed and styled by interior stylist Clare Southcombe-Homes, who is also the owner of interiors shop No64 The Biscuit House. Vintage and retro pieces always tell a story and can also prevent an interior from looking too contrived. Clare is the best person I know for hunting out the most striking vintage pieces and weaving them beautifully into her home and The Biscuit Cottage. She enjoys upcycling and repurposing, and is forever sourcing items and trawling reclamation yards, antique shops, and flea markets for several special finds that you will see in the images to follow. Besides her talent for vintage styling, Clare can effortlessly mix different styles and elements together, such as rustic pieces with retro and classic furniture for a unique individual scheme. You may have already seen a snippet of The Biscuit Cottage in my post with the pick of the most stylish vacation rentals, www.interiorstylehost.com/blog/stunning-vacation-rentals, but for the full tour, read on.
THE BISCUIT COTTAGE AT CHRISTMAS
The Biscuit Cottage was a more recent project which was thoughtfully designed and styled by Clare as a gorgeous vacation rental retreat. It is balanced with both comfort and style, where old meets new. When styling vignettes, Clare also adds meaningful objects to the cottage and her own home that she has accumulated over the years. These could be in the shape of canvases from local artists, driftwood she’s found on the beach, together with keepsakes, like her dad’s classic box camera, all bringing a personal touch to the interior. Named after a biscuit tin bought whilst holidaying in Italy, Clare, along with partner Glen, in February 2017 opened the doors to their interiors emporium - No 64 Biscuit House. The décor of the shop really harmonises with the style of the house and cottage, uniting the interior scheme of all three. Here is a little taste of The Biscuit Cottage at Christmas.
THE ORIGINAL BRICK FIREPLACE IN THE LIVING ROOM TAKES CENTRE STAGE
The original brick fireplace, complete with its time-worn rustic charm and modern wood-burning stove, serves as the backdrop, bringing both warmth and character to the room. Clare has teamed a rich velvet sofa with a deep-buttoned ottoman that doubles as a coffee table, to bring luxury to the otherwise rustic room. Styling-wise, she has used a decorative tray to display a mix of greenery, a scented candle, and vintage glassware. The television is barely noticeable placed on a rustic unit with a plant and pots styled next to it so it doesn’t take centre stage. By blending it with home decor, Clare's thoughtful styling has turned it into a curated display and not a focal point. Instead, your eye is drawn to the fireplace and wood-burning stove as the standout feature in the room.
RUSTIC MEETS REFINED IN THE LIVING ROOM
As the building dates back to the 1800s, Clare wanted to keep many of the original features, including the wooden flooring. Clare had this sanded and varnished, then dressed it with a large rug to anchor the seating area. Clare chose a blue-toned grey velvet sofa in a traditional design, which she styled with a mixture of different cushions to give that layered look. A styling tip from Clare is to have cushions in different shapes and sizes, as well as printed, striped, and plain. Mixing cotton with velvet and embroidered fabrics, as well as a wool throw, the room is filled with texture for that tactile feel.
COSY LIVING ROOM NOOK
In the living room, Clare has created a rather stylish yet serene corner for guests to enjoy with a good book or listen to music. Hanging above is coastal artwork by a local artist, which reflects the cottage’s seaside location. Next to the chair, Clare has placed a shelving unit complete with books and a retro radio. Along with a vase with dried eucalyptus leaves, she has styled the shelves with a globe, hurricane lamp, vintage No. 64 sign and other interesting items.
RETRO PAIRED WITH RUSTIC IN THE LIVING ROOM
A rustic stool, crafted from a solid piece of weathered wood, acts as a side table – one of Clare’s many special finds that adds a touch of raw nature to the space. This is juxtaposed with the plush velvet ottoman where she has displayed a faux plant in a vintage vase on a rustic metal tray, bringing in more texture and contrast to the room. If you have an ottoman instead of a coffee table, a tray is ideal so you can display a plant or vase of flowers, and also keep other items such as coasters and remote controls in it. A modern version of the butterfly chair creates another cosy corner, styled with a sheepskin and cushion.
CAREFULLY CONSIDERED KITCHEN
In the small but well-designed kitchen, the soft-toned cabinetry and pale wooden worktop stand out against the deep green painted wall. Designed with guests in mind, Clare opted for open shelving to display all the essentials with style. Even the glassware and ceramics are a carefully curated mix of old and new, with an old wooden chopping board and retro-style labelled jars for tea, sugar, and snacks. On the worktop, Clare has grouped together hand soap and other items and displays them in a small vignette on a rough-cut piece of timber. She has added a vase with eucalyptus to bring natural greenery into the kitchen and complement the wall colour.
NEUTRAL TONES IN THE BEDROOM
This is one of my favourite bedrooms; it feels luxurious but characterful. Clare's styling is all about layering with texture and combining this with vintage finds. Although the bedroom is very spacious, the bed is undoubtedly the centrepiece. It is actually an old French bed that Clare bought from a friend. She has completely transformed it by painting it with a slightly distressed finish. A vintage chest of drawers repurposed as a bedside table, is styled with retro items and a vintage vase filled with faux flowers and greenery. Clare has dressed the bed, starting with crisp white bedding from The White Company, with soft green cushions that echo the natural tones found elsewhere in the room. At the end of the bed, an ottoman has been draped in a sumptuous sheepskin for a touch of understated luxury.
VINTAGE MEETS RETRO IN THE BEDROOM
In this close-up of the bedroom, you can see two of Clare’s vintage pieces: the chest of drawers, which acts as a side table, and the French-style bed frame. To light up the space, Clare hung two gorgeous glass pendants from the ceiling, but also placed an anglepoise lamp next to the bed to bring in that retro feel and give guests a good reading light. An original retro telephone is also displayed on the surface, bringing in another retro item, which, along with the black lamp, contrasts with the neutral-toned interior.
STYLISH BEDROOM NOOK
Between the bedroom and bathroom is a small nook where Clare has created a vignette on a vintage side table, making this little corner feel just as considered as the bedroom. As guests walk through to the bathroom, the sculptural wooden figure of a fat lady doing the splits makes them smile, while the scented diffuser fills the air with a subtle fragrance. To complete the vignette, Clare has added a framed butterfly print, adding a touch of colour and curiosity.
STYLISH BATHROOM
The white wooden shelf is a simple addition, but it dresses up what would be a plain wall and allows for home decor items to be displayed in a vignette. Similarly, the attractive wrought-iron table offers the perfect spot for a vase of flowers which, although looking convincing, are actually artificial.
SPA-LIKE BATH ROBES
No detail is overlooked, and in the bathroom, Clare leaves out two gorgeous linen robes on hangers for guests, styled on a vintage wooden hook. Hanging next to the robes is a heart decoration made from pebbles, for that coastal touch.
FRENCH-STYLE BASIN CONSOLE
The bathroom is also filled with vintage charm. The standout features are a beautiful round mirror, which Clare found second-hand and painted in a soft green, and the La Chapelle basin which she sourced on eBay. The touch of French style combines modern functionality with a large walk-in contemporary shower. On the basin, to keep the space feeling calm and uncluttered, Clare has kept the styling minimal with just a soap holder, a fragrant hand wash, and a small vase of fresh flowers.
LET’S SUM UP
Before photographing The Biscuit Cottage, I had photographed Clare's home, which appeared in three different magazines. Look out for my forthcoming blog post featuring The Biscuit House for even more beautifully styled interiors and vintage finds. In the meantime, check out their website www.no64.co.uk
