Kelly & Ed’s Modern English Country Cottage & Studio

Name: Kelly and Ed Smithson
Location: Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
Size: 1,400 square feet
Years lived in: 8 years; Owned

This cottage — home to Kelly, who runs jewelry business Cabbage White England from her studio, husband Ed, their two children and Herbie the border terrier — is a fresh and vibrant take on a traditional English country home.

With its Victorian tiled floors, original cottage-style windows and doors, beamed ceilings and its location tucked away from the road, it feels at first as if you’ve stepped away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Inside, Kelly and Ed have brought this cottage up to date with their cheerful, eclectic mix of vintage and modern furniture, patchwork throws and Cath Kidston fabrics, fashion-inspired accessories, and impressive collection of urban art. The result is a fun, welcoming, contemporary-meets-traditional family home and work space.

From the entrance hall, with its original tiled floor and little window looking out to the front, there are doors to the living room and kitchen and a narrow staircase rising to the first floor. The cosy living room has windows overlooking a patio area and the garden; and the spacious kitchen-dining room at the back has Cath Kidston-upholstered sofa, a retro-style Smeg fridge and a large family-sized table. To one side of the kitchen is a small study, and to the other are patio doors that lead out to a courtyard, across which is an outbuilding housing a utility room.

Upstairs, you’ll find the master bedroom, with its lovely rural views; daughter Poppy’s room, which has a cushion-filled window seat any young (or not-so-young!) girl would love to snuggle in; and the small family bathroom. A second flight of stairs takes you, via more art on the wall, to a small landing area and Albie’s cool surfing-inspired bedroom.

Until recently, Kelly ran her jewellery business from the small study off the kitchen, but as her business grew she started to needed more space. She looked to the old garage at the bottom of the garden that was used to store bikes and surfboards, and was in a serious state of disrepair. With a new roof, flooring and lighting, white paint and fitted with a mix of Ikea and vintage furniture, it’s a seriously stylish and inspiring base for her burgeoning business. Enjoy the tour!

My Style: modern country

Inspiration: Colour, fashion, art, interiors magazines

Favorite Element: The location

Biggest Challenge: Working out where best to put my studio

What Friends Say: They love the fact it feels as if we’re in the countryside but it’s only a ten minute walk from town.

Biggest Embarrassment: The utility room

Proudest DIY: Converting an original garage into the studio

Biggest Indulgence: Art — we’ve been collecting contemporary pieces for two to three years now

Best Advice: Buy what you love!

Dream Sources: Graham and Green, Cox and Cox

• Farrow and Ball Blackened, Strong White
• Other rooms painted in basic brilliant white

• Walls painted in Farrow and Ball’s Strong White
• Painting above fireplace – Cyclops
• Sofas from Ikea
• Cushions – Graham and Green
• Dresser/table – vintage
• Colourful throw – RE

• Fridge by Smeg
• Sofa fabric by Cath Kidston
• Three large art works above sofa – Ben Eine
• Bench – vintage church pew
• Patchwork quilt from Greengate
• Chairs from Dwell

STUDY

• Trestle legs from Ikea, glass top custom-made
• Chair from Dwell
• Art by Ben Eine, Carl Cashman, Pobel, Atle Ostrem, Sweet Toof

MASTER BEDROOM

• Walls painted in Farrow and Ball’s Blackened
• Throw from RE
• Bag by Hipanema
• Art by Martin Whatson, Maya Hayuk, canvases by Ben Eine

• Wall sticker letters by Oakdene Designs
• Cushions – from Apple Juice, Cath Kidston, Cabbages and Roses
• Print – Above
• Quilt made by Kelly
• Desk and chair decoupage by Poppy and Kelly

ALBIE’S BEDROOM

• Rug – Cox and Cox
• Patchwork quilt made by Kelly
• Art by Pure Evil, Sweet Toof, COST, Remi Rough

LANDINGS

• Art by Banksy, Rene Gagnon, Carl Cashman

Thanks, Kelly and Ed!

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