Home Style: Coming Full Circle

The owners of this bijou cottage in historic Rye have given it new life with an impactful decorating scheme and a cheerful combination of family treasures, vintage finds, and modern touches 

Sometimes in life, past and present seem to criss-cross in time, coming together quite unexpectedly. “When my partner Rupert was a little boy, he used to visit a cousin in Rye who lived in a little house in the centre of the town,” explained Amy Maynard. “He loved coming here and remembers being charmed by both the house and the higgledy-piggledy little streets and lanes: he thought it was like a storybook...” 

Fast forward several decades and one day, in 2023, the couple were idly looking at a property site when a familiar-looking cottage suddenly appeared. “Rupert recognised it instantly as the house he had visited all those years ago,” Amy recalled. “It was one of those serendipitous moments: we’d been looking for a bolthole in Rye, and he immediately knew that this was meant to be...” 

The timber-framed cottage is perched in the Citadel, this cinque port town’s ancient heart, tucked down a narrow passageway between winding cobbled streets of medieval and Georgian buildings. 

The town itself is steeped in history – from defending against invasions to becoming a royal shipyard, and not least as a haunt for 18th- century smugglers who used the labyrinth of secretive alleyways and underground tunnels to their advantage. 

“It’s fascinating to consider what this modest little cottage would have witnessed over the centuries,” said Amy. “While we don’t know its precise history, we often wonder about the people that would have lived under this roof, and what they would have experienced and seen here...” 

Fast forward to the present, however, and what Amy and Rupert clearly needed to see was how their new home could be transformed into a stylish comfortable retreat without detracting from its original charm and character. “Very little had been done to the place for years,” Amy recalled. “It was in a time warp with really dated fixtures and fittings, and we knew it was going to require a top-to-toe overhaul to bring it back to life.” 

With a trusted builder on site, the six-month renovation began. “Before we could get to the fun stuff – the interior design – we had to go right back to basics, replacing the wiring and plumbing, as well as some damaged sections of the roof, and deal with a few damp issues,” she said. 

As in all renovations, certain compromises had to be made, too. “The little kitchen was added on at the back of the cottage some 50 years ago,” Amy explained. “Originally, I intended to turn the adjoining dining room into a big kitchen and use this galley space for a table and chairs. 

However, both practicalities and budget constraints eventually meant we had to abandon that idea as it would have involved a lot of furthertime, work and cost. Rather than try to cram too many fittings into the narrow galley – which would have made it even smaller – we deliberately chose a neat run of units on just one side, instead. It’sstill perfectly functional, but paring back gives the impression of more space.” 

The good thing, though, was that as work progressed, many of the cottage’s original features were discovered. The fireplace, which had been filled in to accommodate an ugly electric fire, was opened up so that the chimney, once lined, could be used properly again. Upstairs, it was discovered that the original ceiling beams were in good condition, too. “We decided to keep them exposed– they’re such a great feature in this room,” said Amy. 

Amy’s interior designer skills meant she was more than confident to fly in the face of well-trodden decorating ‘rules’ that decree only light neutral shades should be adopted in small spaces. “I wanted to create a sort of cosy impact the moment you walked through the front door,” she explained, “So I persuaded Rupert to go for a warm pink in the sitting room, and a rich terracotta in the main bedroom: we went for an extra dash of drama with a free-standing black bath in there, too!” 

In contrast, other aspects of the house feature fresh, white walls or cheerful stripes, with a combination of contemporary art and quirky vintage finds adding dashes of colour and interest. 

“I don’t hold with sticking lavishly to a particular style or period,” Amy explained. “There’s nothing to say an antique piece can’t work comfortably alongside a modern statement. I think that we often over-think interior design decisions: if the items somehow complement each other – in colour, shape or even texture – just go for it!” 

With that ethos in mind, Amy has judiciously combined brilliant bargain finds with splashes of luxury. 

“This area has a wealth of vintage, antique and reclamation treasure troves,” she said. “I’ve also made good use of family heirlooms and pieces that have a sentimental value and a comfortable familiarity – such as some of the artwork that was once in our own childhood homes. 

“The cottage feels welcoming and homely now, and it’s such a special little place to come and relax for a few days,” Amy said. “I love reflecting on the fact that it now belongs to the man who came here as a little boy all those years ago – and was as charmed by it then as he is now.” 

Photography: Richard Gadsby / Living4media

Words: Sharon Parsons/living4media