English Country Home & Tour Companion Guide

Welcome, friends! Today, you’re invited to visit our home for a full English cottage tour. This house was originally built in the 1960s as a typical brick home, but over time, through budget updates, vintage/antique finds, and a lot of DIY projects, we’ve transformed it into a warm, cozy English-cottage feel on the inside.

Note: At the end of this post, you’ll find a room-by-room resource list with links for paint colors, hardware, lighting, and much more!

Over the years, we’ve learned that a well-appointed English cottage home that feels authentic is never finished quickly. It’s layered slowly with memories, experiences, vintage furniture, handmade textiles, imperfect patinas, and garden views that blur the line between inside and out. We’ve embraced that mindset as the house evolved with us.

Think of your entry as a “story starter,” the first hints of what’s to come in the rest of the house. The welcome begins as soon as the guest steps out of their vehicle. When possible, an overflow of bright flowers is a certain smile-maker. Not only do I love greeting friends this way, but every time we come and go, and every time I do dishes at the kitchen sink, our hearts are uplifted by the beauty.

“The English cottage is less about perfection and more about a warm welcome.”

The Front Entry

The first impression sets the tone. In our entryway, tongue-and-groove wood paneling, the texture of the warm brick, and the rich wood tones of the buffet greet you with a gentle welcome. Nothing says “come on in” like the soft glow of a lamp. Believe it or not, that gorgeous antique Jacobean buffet was found on the side of the road with a sign that said: “Free to good home.” Makes me smile. The blue and white umbrella stand was spotted at a flea market while shopping with family.

This space is small, but hard-working. The buffet holds our games and serves as a drop zone for our returning library books and donations. Matt made the peg rail for guests to hang their bags and coats. Shoes are tucked under the buffet.

Takeaway idea: Begin your cottage style with something functional but beautiful right by the door. A sturdy wooden piece, a woven basket, or even a well-placed hook can combine practicality with a sense of ease.

The Kitchen

The first room you enter in our home is the kitchen. This space has seen more in-depth changes than any other room in the house. For many years, we lived with the original 1963 kitchen, then once we had the budget and the vision, we completely remodeled top to bottom! This builder-grade, dark and dreary 1960s kitchen has become the “dream kitchen” we love to spend time in every day, and beautifully depicts the English country cottage style we have come to love. Here is a glimpse of where the kitchen came from.

Here, the kitchen has been pulled from 1963 to 2022.

Layout and vision: From the beginning, we knew this room needed to be both functional and beautiful.

Cabinetry & Woodwork: We had a very tight budget (which can bring about the most fabulous creativity!), so we reused the original cabinetry and repainted the cabinets ourselves. For color choices, we refreshed the cabinetry with paint choices drawn from our cottage home palette, creamy neutrals balanced with soft greens, blues, and touches of a soft red. These colors give the room calmness while still feeling cheerful and personal. The ivory color lightens and brightens the room, while the green adds a unique personal style and a classic country feeling.

Surfaces & Textures: To bring in traditional cottage texture, we’ve added beadboard and paneling details that instantly soften the space. For an old world touch, we displayed my collection of antique blue and white transferware platters as a group for the greatest impact.

Lighting: The vintage-inspired milk glass pendant over the kitchen sink not only illuminates dishwashing, but it gives an old-fashioned feeling as if the light was pulled from a pioneer schoolhouse. Lighting overhead brings warmth and a sense of timelessness.

Personal touches: No cottage kitchen is complete without handmade or collected details. From the handmade Zellige tiles shipped from India to the antique and thrifted artwork, the kitchen reflects our daily life and our love for creating a home that feels both beautiful and practical.

Heart of the home: This is the room where we gather, cook, share long conversations, and begin and end our days. It’s not just a kitchen; it’s the backdrop of so many moments, Saturday breakfasts, evening cups of tea, and conversations that linger long after the plates have been cleared.

Cottage touches: Beadboard paneling, corbels, a white farmhouse style sink from Marketplace, classic handmade brass hardware from Etsy, and the warm glow of copper all contribute to the feeling of intentionally blended textures, metal finishes, and practicality. I love how the blue and white Zellige tile plays off the transferware platters!

Takeaway tip: A cottage kitchen doesn’t need to be perfect or brand-new. What makes it special is the way it feels, layered, warm, and personal. By mixing old and new, practical and pretty, you can create a kitchen that serves your needs while telling your story.

• View everyday items (mugs, bowls, wooden spoons) as an opportunity to select attractive décor
• Add herbs or potted plants on the windowsill for life and color
• Bring in warmth and handmade textures with natural wood cutting boards or stoneware mixing bowls
• Consider open shelving, or a glass-fronted cabinet to display functional yet beautiful pieces

If you are interested in a full drawer and cabinet tour, then check out our “English Country Kitchen Tour & Organization” blog post.

Just for fun, below are a favorite pair of before/after pictures from remodeling our 1960s kitchen.

When you spend so much time in this vital space, creating meals for family and friends, it is worth every penny to make it functional and lovely!

The Dining Room

The kitchen opens into the dining room, where both the antique dining table and matching buffet, handed down from Matt’s grandpa, anchor the room with warmth and history. This space is small, so we scaled the furniture to fit the room, allowing as much space for dining as possible. Our dining room is where family meals and celebrations take place, and it’s also one of the most personal spaces in our home. Around it, we’ve layered in details that make the space inviting and relaxing.

Fresh backdrop: We painted the walls and added a Laura Ashley wallpaper that brings in timeless cottage charm. The soft pattern creates an elegant backdrop without overwhelming the room.

Furniture with history: To complement the inherited buffet & dining table, we paired it with antique dining chairs from Marketplace. The combination feels collected rather than matched, which is at the heart of cottage style.

Connection to the kitchen: One of our goals was to create a natural flow between the kitchen and dining room. Both spaces share the same English cottage style and complementary color palette, which means they feel connected visually while also working well together in daily life.

• Invest in a simple, sturdy wooden table as the centerpiece
• Mix chair styles for character and informality
• Use warm, soft lighting (lamps or a dimmed chandelier) rather than harsh overhead light.

Keep fresh flowers or a seasonal centerpiece on the table to make meals feel special

Takeaway: A dining room doesn’t have to feel formal or “finished.” By mixing heirlooms with vintage finds, grounding it with classic wallpaper, and carrying design choices from the kitchen, you can create a space that feels like it’s always been that way ~ inevitable.

The Living Room

Our living room is where English cottage style really comes to life. This small space has been a slow evolution. It’s so cozy that it could easily be called a “snug,” as the British call their small living rooms.

“Cottage style is built on collected comforts, not coordinated sets.”

Bookcases in place of built-ins
Instead of expensive custom built-in cabinetry, we chose a pair of second-hand bookcases for $85 from Marketplace and painted them ourselves. The bookcases give the look and function of built-ins and help add a homey presence to the room. They’re filled with well-loved books and collected treasures. Bookcases are one of the easiest ways to add both practical storage and character without major construction expense.

This space has evolved slowly, over the space of many years. We’ve waited to purchase many of the larger furniture pieces until we had the budget and the right pieces came along. The English rolled arm sofa was discovered on Marketplace after 14 months of searching, and it replaced a hideous, saggy brown couch that we’d been given over ten years ago!

Thrifted Art
Every wall tells a story. We’ve collected art slowly over the last seven years, piece by piece, much of it thrifted or found at antique shops. The beauty of this approach is that it’s affordable and unique. Art is one of the very best ways to put your personal stamp on your home.

Mismatched Marketplace & Inherited Furniture
Nothing here came as a set. Each chair, table, and sofa has its own history. By shopping secondhand, we’ve created a room that feels warm, approachable, and lived-in, not staged. This also means the look is attainable for anyone; there is no need to buy everything new or all at once.

Vintage lighting
Do you love the warm cottage-y glow of lamplight? Me, too! Lighting is often overlooked, but it makes a huge difference. We swapped out builder-grade fixtures for vintage finds from FB Marketplace, antique shops, and thrift stores. Lamps are a great way to add that warm, cozy glow that is irresistible in a cottage. Vintage and antique lighting is one of the best ways to share your personality, as each one can be so very different. I love stout brass lamp bases, blue and white chinoiserie, and French bouillotte lamps. A small change via a lamp or a brass and crystal chandelier can completely shift the atmosphere.

• Use textiles to soften the space (linen, wool, cotton)
• Layer textiles like throws, pillows, and rugs in natural fabrics
• Layer in vintage finds
• Embrace mismatched/inherited furniture
• Mix furniture styles/eras
• Add stacks of books, candles, or a log basket by the fireplace
• Display fewer meaningful objects

Takeaway idea: Choose pieces you love over matching furniture. Embrace inherited pieces, and if they aren’t really “you,” then take the time to re-imagine them in a different finish, upholstery, or paint color. It’s worth taking the time to put your touch on a piece, and sometimes it’s finding the right fabric, etc., that gives that ugly thing new life and charm. The magic lies in the mix. Add softness with textiles, throws, pillows, or curtains that make the room feel welcoming.

The Guest Bedroom

Design goal: When guests come to stay, our main focus is always comfort. Will they be warm? Do they have a choice of firm or soft pillows? Is there somewhere for them to charge their phone, to check themselves in a full-length mirror, or to hang their clothes? This guest bedroom is small, but cozy.

Furniture: We used a mix of vintage and antique finds that feel timeless and solid, yet welcoming. The antique cannonball bed we found on OfferUp, the little tufted chair from Goodwill, and the campaign side table from Marketplace. The layered history gives the room warmth.

Artwork: One painting in this room was sourced from Etsy; the rest of the art was found at thrift stores over several years. It takes time to amass good art, and it is surprising how much a house can consume! Thrifted art brings character and charm to the walls, and since each piece was discovered over time, the room feels personally curated.

Window treatments: DIY curtains topped with a handmade pelmet add a touch of traditional cottage charm, while also being a budget-friendly solution.

Color palette: A cohesive palette ties everything together, keeping the room calm and intentional. As you’ll see when we reach the master bedroom, each bedroom carries its own distinct look yet remains tied to the whole house. Soft floral patterns, layered bedding, and a mix of antique and handmade pieces create spaces that feel restful and personal.

A stack of handmade quilts is ready for a chilly night.

Takeaway ideas & best advice: Stay in your own guest bedroom for several nights. You’ll discover the light bulbs that are burnt out, the blind that doesn’t quite shut out the light at night, and the closet door that squeals every time you open it. Taking care of these little details for your guests will ensure they have the most pleasant stay possible. Prioritize comfort, layered bedding, and soft lighting to set the tone. You don’t need a big budget to create a guest room that feels special. A tidy, clean space with thoughtful gestures (like fresh towels and a new bar of soap on the end of the bed at their arrival) will create a retreat your guests will love and want to return to!

Hall/Guest Bath

The hall bath is the one space in our home where we’ve done the least in terms of remodeling, but it’s also a great example of how you can make the best of what you already have. This room came with a full set of vintage pink fixtures: the sink, the tub, and the toilet. Instead of a costly renovation, we leaned into the vintage charm and just applied some elbow grease!

What we changed: We stripped away the dated blue floral wallpaper, re-textured the walls, and painted them a combination of a soft beigy-pink and a creamy white to complement the existing fixtures and brighten the room. This simple makeover instantly freshened the room, amplifying the retro vibes while erasing the dated wallpaper.

The effect: What could have felt like a dated space now reads as intentional, almost like stepping into a preserved cottage bath from another era.

Best Advice: Not every room needs a gut renovation now. If you inherit a “time capsule,” consider working with it. Highlight what’s special, soften what feels dated, choose a timeless color palette, and enjoy the quirks!

Takeaway ideas: Even if you can’t remodel right away, swap in vintage mirrors or sconces for instant character. A limited budget doesn’t mean you can’t have style. Sometimes the smartest choice is to pause, embrace what’s there, and let vintage quirks shine until you’re ready for bigger changes.

The Master Bedroom

For our own bedroom, the goal was a serene retreat. This space is the most minimal area in our home. As we’ve moved towards minimalism and gotten rid of over 3,230 items (at the time I’m writing this post), we’ve enjoyed our home so much more! We both have capsule wardrobes and a few cosmetic needs. This means that we don’t need much storage in the bedroom or the bathroom, and everything stays tidy!

Palette: One way we created the calm feeling in our room was to paint the walls, trim, and ceiling in the same color (while we did choose differing shades of white, which is more traditional). This technique is called “color drenching” and is effective in many colors (as you’ll see once we reach the sun room).

Artwork: This neutral backdrop is not only calming, but it also gives the ideal backdrop to set off our collection of brightly colored original oil paintings. These paintings are larger, making a bigger statement and helping to set the design style. Pops of a soft, light blue appear in the decorative bed pillows, handmade pleated lampshades, and antique transferware dishes. Original colorful art anchors the walls, and landscape scenes bring peace and a touch of nature indoors.

Furniture: We’ve kept furnishings minimal, which allows each piece to shine. The few we have are statement antiques, gorgeous Marketplace finds with rich, dark finishes that ground the room beautifully. Antique statement pieces, chosen sparingly, provide presence without overwhelming the space.

Window treatments: To keep the room from feeling too formal, we paired casual bamboo blinds with relaxed white linen pinch pleat drapes. The result is a balance of elegance and ease.

Tips for a serene cottage look:

• Keep décor simple to create a restful atmosphere
• Choose a neutral-ish color palette
• Layer bedding with quilts, throws, and pillows for coziness
• Mix patterns in scale, intensity, and design
• Incorporate vintage or handmade pieces for character
• Choose fewer, larger decor pieces

Takeaway idea: A restful master bedroom doesn’t need to be crowded. Choosing fewer, well-crafted antique pieces and balancing them with relaxed finishes allows the room to feel both sophisticated and comfortable. Aim for coziness above all. Layer your bed with quilts, mix patterns in gentle colors, and allow each room to have its own personality within the larger story of the home. The soft blues from our bedroom flow seamlessly into this space.

Master Bath

Design goal: Our master bath is small, truly tiny, but we see that as its greatest strength. The aim in this space was to maximize the space both in terms of storage and visually. Because of the size, we were able to splurge a little more on materials and details, transforming it into an efficient little blue jewel box.

Here is a (rather blurry) photograph of the master bath from the property listing. The wallpaper was so vibrant and busy it seemed to vibrate! You can see on the left the (impractical) shallow glass shelves for storage over the toilet, and the dropped ceiling over the shower. I’m not sure why these were popular – they just make the space feel claustrophobic. The sink vanity was essentially the only storage, and it gave little clearance for the shower door to open…

Here is the after. Sometimes I forget how far we’ve come on this renovation journey until I see pictures. I just love the personality of this little space!

Fixtures: Instead of a bulky vanity, we found an elegant pedestal sink at the ReStore for just $40, a budget-friendly find that feels like a luxury. Because we saved on the vanity, we were able to splurge on the taps. The vintage vibe of the polished chrome faucet fits with the style of the pedestal sink. We carried the polished chrome throughout the rest of the space in the light fixture, glass shelf over the sink, towel bar and holder, and toilet tissue holder.

Storage: This pretty tall, wicker basket appeared at the thrift shop, and it slides perfectly under the sink for storing rolled up bath towels. I sewed a French blue toile to the top of the liner for a handmade touch. For additional storage, Matt built a custom cabinet box over the toilet and repurposed the original vanity cabinet doors, blending function with thrift.

The addition of this cabinet gave us the storage we needed! To the back of this cabinet, I added a blue French toile wallpaper found on Etsy. Whimsy that makes me smile!

The last bit of storage is in the original medicine cabinet. Here we replaced the wobbly wooden shelves with glass (cut from the shelves that were over the toilet), papered the back of the cabinet, and gave it a fresh coat of paint. This tiny cabinet stores essentials for getting ready every day.

Tilework: This room was the first space where we did true remodeling (vs a makeover) in our home. Until this point, Matt hadn’t done much tilework, and we really bit off a lot in this space with the “wainscoting” and pencil trim tile! In the shower, we added a strip of shimmery blue mother-of-pearl quatrefoil accent tile that not only echoes the blue paint, but also draws the eye upward, creating the illusion of more height. A custom niche at the back of the shower keeps soaps and shampoos tidy and accessible.

Atmosphere: The combination of white tile, blue accents, and carefully chosen fixtures makes the space feel serene and refined, while its scale keeps it intimate. Every square inch was considered, making this little room one of the most satisfying transformations in the house.

Takeaway idea: A small bathroom can be an advantage. Fewer square feet mean you can invest in higher-quality finishes without breaking the budget. Clever storage solutions and repurposed elements balance practicality with beauty, creating a space that feels both thoughtful and luxurious.

Butler’s Pantry & Laundry Room

Tucked into a narrow hallway behind what used to be the garage, this space is one of the hardest-working areas of our home. Originally, it was bland, dark, and purely utilitarian, the kind of space you pass through without much thought. Today, it’s bright, efficient, and surprisingly homey.

Here is another dark, grainy original listing picture. Not a very inspiring space…

Here is the same angle of the laundry room with the makeover in progress (hardware was on the way). So much brighter and inviting!

A fresh start with color: We had fun here experimenting with a new paint color for the cabinets and woodwork. It’s still within our home’s color palette, but different enough to feel distinct. That little risk paid off, giving the space personality and life.

Decluttering and reimagining: After a deep purge, we were able to reconfigure storage and make room for something unexpected: a butler’s pantry. Two cabinets now hold our tea party china and special serving pieces, which are not only easy to access but also beautifully displayed.

Form meets function: What could have stayed a back-of-house utility area is now one of my favorite parts of the home. It’s proof that even practical spaces deserve attention and charm.

Takeaway idea: Don’t overlook your utility areas. With fresh paint, decluttering, and thoughtful storage, even the most functional corners of your home can feel special and connected to the overall design.

Blurring Indoor/Outdoor Living

Integral to cottage living is the outdoors. At the back of our house, a large picture window in the living room frames the yard and garden, drawing your eye outward.

The Patio, Garden, & Yard

Our patio has undergone one of the most dramatic transformations on the property, turning a drab, uninviting outdoor area into a cozy extension of our home, allowing us to dine outdoors during the pleasant months of the year. It has taken three seasons to get to where we are today, but every patio DIY project as part of the total patio makeover has been worth it!

Hiding the practical: One of the biggest eyesores, the outdoor A/C unit, we hid behind an open-frame trellis that Matt built and painted in the house trim. It blends in beautifully now, becoming part of the design rather than a distraction.

For seating, I found a set of four woven rattan patio chairs on FB Marketplace. They were a great price but in need of cleaning and some repair. We cleaned, repaired, and repainted the bases, and I recovered the seat cushions. This patio chair makeover was a bit time-consuming, but worth it in the end!

The first season, when we began working on the patio, we started by building cottage-style shutters by hand. Painted in a rich, grassy green, they immediately set off the windows and gave the house exterior warmth and personality. The original 1960s screen doors were replaced with vintage-inspired ones, painted to match the shutters. We added cream-painted metal gingerbread trim, complete with whimsical bird details, for a playful cottage flourish.

Here is another fun pair of before/after photos of the patio makeover transformation. If you want to see the entire process, check out our “DIY Patio Makeover” post.

The beginning: the best place to start was with a fresh repaint of the house. Then over the next three seasons we tackled many different DIY projects, such as: covering the unsightly a/c unit, covering the wall meter, replacing the screen doors with new cottage-y doors, adding gingerbread, adding bistro lights, building handmade custom shutters, painting doors and shutters green, painting the patio floor to unify the many different surfaces, building a tree bench, and sourcing/recovering some lovely woven patio chairs for seating.

Spring patio

Summer patio

Fall patio. We love this space in every season!

Outdoor spaces deserve the same attention to detail in terms of function and aesthetics as indoor rooms. With this in mind, we covered the unsightly metal fence poles with the same pickets as the fence and stained them to match the fence. This was a seemingly small detail, but it elevated our yard from the common backyard to a park-like feeling.

Tree bench: Matt built a round bench around one of our trees, creating overflow seating and a park-like spot to pause. Our tree bench was inspired by Pinterest, and has been great for hosting outdoor dinner guests in the spring and summer.

Pathways: Curved red brick paths now edge the flower beds, adding structure and storybook charm.

Cottage garden beds: The beds hold cottage classics like roses and irises, giving us blooms across the seasons. There are potatoes tucked in the flower beds, and at the back of the yard is a raised bed with tomatoes, Bok Choy, green beans, herbs, and peppers.

Transforming a 1960s brick house into an English cottage has been a journey of layering story, charm, and personality one DIY project at a time. I hope that this tour inspires you to see the potential in your own home, no matter the starting point.

Additional Resources:

• Paint colors
• Throw pillow sources
• Antique shops or flea markets you love
• Favorite online resources for cottage-style accents
• Link to the cottage resource page

Thank you so much for touring our English cottage home! We have enjoyed sharing our journey with you over the years, from the thrift hunting to the remodel projects that have slowly shaped this house into a place that truly feels like home. I hope these extra details and resources inspire your own journey toward an English country cottage home! Whether you’re dreaming of wallpaper and wainscoting, or simply adding a thrifted lamp or a pot of roses by the back door, every small step brings you closer to creating a place you love.

Thank you for visiting!

Warmly,

Rachel