A Cozy 1901 English Cottage Has Been Transformed into a Chic, Glam Home
Name: Amy York
Location: Leicester, England
Type of home: 1901 Cottage
Time lived in: 6 months, owned
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I bought my 1901 cedar cottage six months ago after it was vacant for over a year. It had struggled to sell as no one could see its potential, but I felt it the minute I walked in. This house would become a part of me. I moved in two weeks before Leicester went into lockdown, and working from home for six months has meant that I have been able to do a little improvement every day. Having so much time meant that I was able to mindfully work on every detail rather than the usual tactic of “quick get it all in and paint it all.”
As it’s so small, I wanted to ensure all the space could be used as efficiently as possible, so I did away with the dining room (I’m no cook) and instead opted for a cocktail room, centered around my 1970s drinks trolley. I travelled around 57 countries, so my collection of Lonely Planet guides adorn my built-in bookcase, and my gallery wall consists of odd art I picked up through the years, including a miniature painting painted using the smallest paint brush in the world, something I came across in India.
How do you identify? Is your identity reflected in your home? I am not one for color. Anyone who knows me will say I only wear black or very neutral colours with splashes of gold. Well, apart from my mustard sofa, my house follows the same colour palette. I’m the kind of women who will put a lot of thought into my outfit but will forget to brush the back of my hair, and that’s a lot like my house. I like beautiful things, but I don’t get distracted by imperfections. Many of my frames are scuffed, but I think it adds character, and I like that it shows its age — age is not something to be ashamed of!
What is your favorite room and why? I love my living room with its original brick on show. Those bricks have been there over 100 years, and I love to think about who might have sat there looking at them, what might have been hung on them.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last things I bought were some throws from Etsy USA. I only wanted one but really couldn’t decide so ended up buying two. I also found in the attic the original building plans paperwork dated 1877, which I have now framed on my wall.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Only buy things you love — obvious, right? But there is always that pressure to complete a room, so you rush to buy the rug or basic plant pots. I have this problem too, so I buy secondhand or cheap until I find something I love to replace it with. This way you take the pressure off yourself to do it all now.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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