Curved plastered chimney breast with restored cast-iron fire grate, embroidered fire screen and antique plates
Curved plastered chimney breast with restored cast-iron fire grate, embroidered fire screen and antique plates

Wimborne, Dorset

Acorn Cottage, Wimborne: Country Cottage Interior Design in Dorset

A sympathetic update of a former National Trust cottage in Wimborne, bringing modern comfort to the master bedroom and en-suite without losing any of their character.

Updating a former National Trust cottage without losing its character

I was appointed to redesign the master bedroom and en-suite of a former National Trust cottage in Wimborne. The client wanted a sympathetic update that kept the cottage’s character while improving how the rooms worked. The original layout, with its corner bath and oversized fireplace, needed rethinking for modern living.

In the en-suite, I removed the existing suite and created a spacious walk-in shower in green “grass wall” tiles, with a Neptune vanity unit and polished chrome Victorian heritage taps. Access was tight, so the new freestanding bath was hoisted in through the dining room ceiling.

In the bedroom, I reshaped the chimney breast and finished it in breathable lime mortar. A reclaimed antique fire grate was restored and installed to strengthen the room’s heritage feel. To improve storage and layout, I had a wardrobe and matching bedside furniture custom built.

A wool loop pile carpet, new curtains, bed linen and soft furnishings brought the scheme together. The client’s own antiques, artwork and decorative plates completed it, giving a refined, characterful country cottage interior that suits how they live now.

Interior design for rural hospitality: what this project shows

Old buildings fight back. This project meant working around tight access (the bath went in through the ceiling), handling heritage materials properly (breathable lime on the chimney breast) and making a layout work harder without losing its character. They’re the same challenges I solve in my interior design for country pubs, holiday cottages and boutique hotels, where guests pay for the character, but the rooms still have to work every day.

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A hand picked selection of projects managed by Sonia Aucott, Interior Designer