Our Interior Design Tips on How to Create a Beautiful Home in Cornwall: A Discussion with Interior Designer Chloe Woods
Chloe’s Sketches for the Minack Theatre
Autumn is one of my favourite seasons – it’s not too cold and miserable yet, and there’s an exciting novelty of staying indoors after a busy summer. Autumn is a time to nest, to transform your home from the summer’s indoor-outdoor hybrid, into a cosy, warm and inviting space that you can retreat to.
Cornish homes are about versatility and durability. They need to withstand changing seasons and provide a snug, welcoming shelter during the harsher months. As it warms up and we head outdoors, walking, surfing, and foraging, we want a home that feels light and bright, and that can cope with a few muddy boots and trails of sand here and there!
Autumn in Cornwall
Ever lusted after the Cornish ‘look’ that many Cornish homes do so well but struggled to pinpoint exactly how to do it yourself? We’ll chat with the interior designer Chloe Woods, who has so much fabulous advice on how to create a beautiful home in Cornwall.
Chloe is also an artist, and we feel honoured to have exhibited her coastal paintings in Inspire Makers. Her creative eye and integration in the Cornish art scene lend themselves naturally to her interior design practice, and she is the perfect person to give us some tips on adjusting our home for the seasons.
A Discussion with Chloe Woods – An Interior Designer
Hi Chloe, thank you so much for chatting to us! At Inspire Makers, we focus on artisan homewares, but not so much the spaces they go in – which is where you might be able to help us. With over 20 years’ of experience in the industry, we’d love to pick your brains on how to create a beautiful home in Cornwall.
What drew you to becoming an interior designer?
Chloe:
I grew up in a very creative household surrounded by all sorts of arts & crafts so I always knew I would have a creative career. Attending Art College was inevitable. I got to try various processes and techniques and particularly enjoyed the combination of creativity, spatial thinking and problem-solving that Interior Design involves. I graduated with a BA in Interior Architecture in 1999 – wow that seems like a long time ago!
You designed interiors for the Minack, that must have been a challenge?
Chloe:
The Minack Theatre drew its inspiration from the natural surroundings and the story of Rowena Cade. She mixed concrete with sand from the local beach, which she carried up the cliffside on her back! The cafe counters were finished in concrete-effect clay produced by a local manufacturer in Helston. Hexagonal motifs in warm wood were used to create feature areas around the counters and reflect the stage area.
Relaxed sofas and booth seating were created with a gorgeous herringbone textile with colours reminiscent of beach shale. All the finishes were paired back and natural to allow the gorgeous surroundings to take front stage through the new picture windows.
Details at the Minack Theatre by Chloe Woods
How to Decorate a Cornish Home without Resorting to Clichés
There is a boatload of Cornish clichés, if you’ll pardon the pun! If you’re looking for a tasteful, quiet Cornish home, it’s best to avoid a high quantity of any one ‘Cornish’ thing. There’s often a tendency to go wild with nautical artwork and objects, which can be great fun to start with, but result in a space which is a little more ‘holiday’ than ‘home’.
A Cornish home tends to be a relaxed space, so how is this achievable?
Chloe:
The key to a relaxed interior is using lighter tints and shades of colour combined with natural materials and finishes. Focus on a palette of soft tones like warm whites, soft greys, muted greens, and gentle blues. These colours evoke the natural landscape of Cornwall without being overtly coastal.
Incorporate deeper tones like charcoal or olive for a more sophisticated look or turquoise and orange for a pop of colour and character. Add texture with fabrics such as soft weaves and linen or canvas, that are reminiscent of sailcloth.
Use natural materials for furniture and flooring; rattan furniture, seagrass or jute rugs to add an earthy, tactile feel that complements the natural surroundings. But lastly, I would say that if you like a seaside cliche and want to use rope, driftwood and anchor motifs – go for it – our interiors should bring us joy!
Understanding the Cornish Aesthetic
At a glance a Cornish aesthetic matches that of other coastal areas, the kid’s call it ‘coastal chic’ on Tik Tok apparently. It’s luxurious, relaxing, soft and inviting. It makes you think of white and blue tones, glass expanses to let the light in, and wooden furniture and panelling. There is a definite image associated with a Cornish aesthetic. So how do we narrow down what this style is, and how do we achieve it ourselves?
Do you feel there’s a certain ‘look’ that suits Cornish homes more? Perhaps one that encourages the active/outdoors lifestyle that many of us have here?
Chloe:
Yes, there is definitely a style that suits Cornish homes and it’s a combination of practicality, comfort and connection with our inspiring surroundings. Things like durable yet comfortable furniture that invites relaxation after outdoor activities. Sofas and oversized armchairs with throws and plenty of cushions to create a welcoming space to unwind, and can be thrown in the washing machine to wash off that sea salt!
Natural finishes, wood and stone reflect our local landscapes and are easy to clean, so practical too. Artists often talk about the unique light in Cornwall and taking advantage of that with light reflecting colours and surfaces is key. That feeling of connection with our community feels particularly important here in Cornwall too. With so many talented, local artisans it’s easy to add unique touches to our homes that have that Cornish heritage too.
Chloe’s Top Interior Design Tips
We love a quick and easy guide to creating a gorgeous Cornish home. As we’re in the throes of autumn, here’s Chloe’s top tips for making your house a cosy home with a few seasonal twists.
Chloe:
– Slowly collect seasonal decorations that can be stored and brought out during different times of the year. This is a great way to keep your home feeling fresh throughout the year.
– The easiest way to do this is with soft furnishings and small decor items. Add thick, plush blankets and throws to your sofas and beds.
– Swap out your regular cushion covers for ones with autumnal colours and richer fabrics like felt, wool, or tweed.
– Swap light reflecting glass vases for tactile, textured ceramics and pottery.
– Use warm-toned light bulbs in your lamps and add string lights or candles to create a gentle, inviting glow.
– Tealight holders with scented tea candles in autumnal scents like cinnamon, pumpkin spice, or cedarwood can enhance the cosy ambience.
– Lastly, bring in elements of nature like dried flowers, pinecones, or wooden accents and put them in tactile ceramic pots and vases.
Styling Different Rooms
If you’re the type of person who gets excited about designing and decorating your home, then why not approach each room as a new opportunity? Consider what the room will be used for, and how you’d like to feel in it.
The master bedroom works well as a calming space, free of the distractions of daily life. Soft and inviting, with little ‘clutter’, neutral or earthy tones work well here alongside contrasting textures.
If you work from home and have an office or a study, these can be great spaces to play with. You might prefer a dark, cosy space with richly painted walls in deep jewel tones, framing dark mahogany furniture and plush seating. Or you might need a space in which minimalism allows your ideas to take space. Light colours, and white furniture, with large windows to let the light in.
It’s a fantastic process of self-discovery to understand what sort of interiors align with you, and how different décor can inspire, calm or motivate you. Enjoy the research, and visit local shops, cafes, galleries, look a little closer at your friends’ homes, dive into Pinterest and flick through interior journals. Take photos of rooms, interiors, and furnishings that you love, and slowly build up a vision of your perfect home. When it comes to making your dream home a reality, you’ll do so confidently.
Incorporating Local Art and Craftsmanship
One way to make a home feel ‘Cornish’ is to incorporate artwork and objects made by local creatives. Their work is often inspired by the Cornish coast and landscape, and is a great way to bring the outdoors inside.
Chloe:
Unless you’re creating an entire interior from scratch, start small. Introduce local art with small pieces like ceramics, textiles, or wall art that complement your existing decor. Combine these with reclaimed finds to create unique, personalised displays.
Create focal points around the fireplace or on sideboards and bookshelves with local art as the centrepiece. Choose pieces that you feel connected to, perhaps a painting or print that depicts your favourite beach, tactile ceramics that you will use every day or a centrepiece vase with dried local flowers. Pieces that have a story are a great conversation starter.
Attend local art shows or visit artisan markets to discover unique pieces that resonate with your style. And of course, get on the mailing list of fab creative spaces like Inspire Makers so you can get the latest cream of the crop in one location!
What impact can artwork have in a space? How do you consider the artwork for your clients?
Art has a huge impact on a room. Sometimes, a piece of art can be the starting point for an interior – an heirloom that takes centre stage, and the colour scheme and finishes are built around it. At other times it’s the finishing touch, the cherry on top.
Art sets the tone and atmosphere of a room; it reflects the homeowner’s personality and style.
Practically, I think of size, style and the artwork’s relationship to the furniture around it. Is it part of a group or standing alone? Do all the pieces have elements that relate to one another, whether that is through colour, materials or motifs? Does it balance and harmonise with the other elements in the room? Ultimately, it makes a space feel complete and uniquely personal.
Sustainability in Interior Design
More of us are shifting our habits to make them more sustainable. Whether we’re avoiding mass-produced fast fashion, investing in more expensive pieces, supporting local artisans, or upcycling furniture, we are slowing down both our consumerism and our product disposal.
How important is it to approach the interiors of our homes through a sustainable mindset?
Chloe:
Incredibly important for both the environment and our well-being. With so many sustainable products available there’s no excuse not to. Shopping second hand and from reclamation yards not only gives new life to beautiful, time-worn items but also reduces the demand for new resources.
Sourcing eco-friendly products, such as carpets made from 100% recycled fishing nets, creates a space that is both stylish and responsible. Choosing investment pieces from local artists and creators not only supports the local economy but also ensures our home decor doesn’t end up in landfill. Now more than ever we have to make thoughtful choices so that our homes demonstrate values of conservation and creativity and reflect our regional identity.
Chloe’s Favourite Resources and Inspirations
Do you have a go-to resource to get the ball rolling and creative juices flowing?
Chloe:
I’ve always enjoyed Living Etc and World of Interiors magazines for inspiration. More recently, I’ve fallen in love with Reclaim magazine, which combines sustainable thinking with beautifully unique interiors and lots of great hints and tips.
Seeking out independent stores for a shopping trip is fun too, you’re guaranteed a wider variety of tastes and styles. Lastly, who doesn’t love a bit of Pinterest!?
Where do you find inspiration when it comes to designing and sourcing finishings/furnishings?
Chloe:
Inspiration can come from anywhere; it could be the red seaweed washed up on a beach or the particular green of the sea on a stormy day. It’s often something that comes from the client – a piece of furniture they adore, or an heirloom piece of art that will take centre stage – and I build around that. I do visit interior trade shows, and we have a good Home Show twice a year here in Cornwall at the Royal Cornwall Events Centre in Wadebridge. I also love local Art Fairs and Christmas Markets, and can happily spend a day trawling our local antiques centres and reclamation yards.
Chloe’s Top 10 Product Picks
- This painting by Erica Ankers beautifully captures all the different colours seen in the Cornish Landscape.
2. An intricate, nostalgic reminder of a typical Cornish day. Capturing all of the best bits of Cornwall.
3.Really enjoy ceramics with vibrant pops of colour.
5. Love the pop of colour on this driftwood bowl. It would look great on a side table;
6. I’d love a morning tea in one of these, but they would equally look great on a sideboard;
7. Lovely Inky marks, which will bring some texture to the room;
There you have it, an in-depth insight from interior designer Chloe Woods on how to create a beautiful Cornish home. You know where to find us if you’re in search of Cornish artwork, ceramics, and homewares, to add a refined and creative touch to your space. In case you don’t – Inspire Makers is located at the top of Falmouth’s Old High Street, and you can purchase many of our pieces online too.
Get in touch with Chloe via https://www.chloewoodsinteriors.com/
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