Want a cosy cottage that isn’t twee.. help!

[lastqueenofscotland]

Just in the process of buying a lovely stone cottage in a rural small town/large village.
The current owners have it nicely done but not to my taste or really in the style of the property.
Id like a cosy cottage/countryside feel to the house, but I can’t bear “twee” so gingham bunting etc is a hard no!
There is a lovely wood burner and stone fireplace, lovely high ceilings and big windows so lots of light… hit me with inspiration please MN!

Pinterest is your friend! Search country modern for this sort of style. This is what my house is like even though it is a 1970s bungalow!

I second Pinterest. I get so many decor ideas from there.

Start buying 'country living' Magazine for cottage decor, plus home and garden type magazines. They will all be available as digital copies, free from your local library.

www.thespruce.com/what-is-modern-cottage-style-5079398

Some of my favourite insta accounts for that sort of style:
myoldpub
Anna Haines Design
Storybehindthe_stone
Tallboysandme

Have you looked up cottagecore, this may be more up your street for inspiration.

For non-typical English cottage style, I love looking at the cottages of Carmel-by-the -Sea (California, obviously). There is certainly at least one website about them; I'll try and find it to link them.

carmelbytheseaca.blogspot.com

This is more exterior, but looking for ones for sale and you will see some interiors.

Here's an example from Hooked on Houses

carmelbytheseaca.blogspot.com

No - THIS is the Hooked on Houses one (sorry)

hookedonhouses.net/

I would white wash it and go for a white interior with lots of houseplants. Shutters.

Check out Osborn Interiors on Instagram, how she’s done her own cotswold cottage is beautiful! Very cosy but not twee at all.

Oh, I’d absolutely call Osborn Interiors twee! Different twee from the gingham (and presumably raffia heart, rustic wooden letters spelling LOVE, etc) of the OP, but twee nonetheless.

Sophie Allport . Beautiful prints / fabrics / furnishings.

Congrats on your new place op! When we bought our place I came back to this article again and again: www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/caroline-holdaway-fatimah-namdar-cotswold-cottage

@crispinglovershighkick That’s glorious! Recognise the exterior from trying to pin it repeatedly while Pinterest shouts at me that I already have

This is a very colourful favourite, OP: www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/molly-mahon-house

My house is actually called that! I’d never have named it myself but as it wasn’t my decision I feel I can keep it.

I think simplicity is the key, I love a neutral Scandi type look but with the odd burst of colour. It works well with the more cottagey features like slightly uneven walls, latched doors etc.

Having previously lived in quite a modern house I love the way both modern and older styles work here whereas anything old just looked wrong before.

Rustic modern is the phrase you need to google or search on Pinterest. I'd love a country cottage to make over!

Country living do some periodicals under their brand, I agree Modern/rustic is the look

www.coldatnight.co.uk/ty-fforest

Keep walls neutral, but not necessarily white.

Save your colour for curtains/rugs/cushions etc. I’m in the process of building up two sets - doesn’t need to be expensive. I’ve got richer/warmer colours for autumn/winter and will be getting brighter/fresher colours for spring/summer. I’ll feel like I get a real change around without too much effort.

Having high ceilings and large windows is an absolute bonus in a cottage, so maximise on that wherever possible.

Don’t dive straight in though. Spend a bit of time first just getting to know your house. Where the light hits at different times of the day etc. I chose what I thought was a lovely colour for my downstairs hallway - turned out that it looks shite in east-facing light so I’ll be redoing it.

Thanks everyone. Lots of food for thought and insta rabbit holes to go down