This Modernist Seaside Retreat in Cornwall Is One Couple’s Retirement Plan

When a Cornwall couple began thinking about where they might want to retire, they settled on Coverack, a picturesque village on the wild Lizard Peninsula, the most southwestern point of the British mainland. They bought a dilapidated 1960s house and, with the help of architecture and interiors practice Linea Studio, reinvented it as a weekend retreat where they could eventually live out their days.

"The client wanted to create a bolthole that avoided Cornish seaside cliches and maximized the views," reveals architectural designer Kathryn Tyler, founder of Linea Studio. "We worked together and agreed on an approach of enhancing as much of the original structure as possible while adding an eclectic mix of finishes and curious furniture pieces."

Nestled among traditional Cornish cottages, the resulting renovation is strikingly modern, nodding to the language of a Scandinavian summer house. In a culture mashup, Tyler named the home Ukiyo, a Japanese term that she describes as "a blissful state of detachment from the bothers of everyday life." The concept is immediately apparent in the modernist forms and raw materiality that combine to create a serene atmosphere.

The site is sheltered from prevailing winds and boasts spectacular views over the Guthens, a rocky outcrop on the coastline. Generous windows on both levels frame and celebrate the mesmeric view of the rocks on the headland. "The interiors are oriented to maximize the view out of various apertures, all designed for the residents to sit quietly and enjoy," says Tyler.

The original home was completely opened up to create a single living and dining space on the ground floor, with a kitchen at the rear. The entrance to the home leads to a simple hall, where a glimpse of a view draws you into the main living space. There, a hearth flows into a bench seat in the dining area. The interiors are filled with a mix of antique and vintage furniture and decorative items that were found at dealers and markets both locally and from as far afield as Northern France.

The dining area flows into the kitchen, finished with ash timber, brass elements, larch cabinetry, and counters by Altrock, a company creating surfaces from predominantly recycled materials. Rounding out the first floor is a guest bedroom.

Back toward the dining area, a floating stair with shou sugi ban treads and ash bannisters leads to the primary bed on the second level. A bathtub in front of a window offers a bird’s eye view of the seascape below.

"You enter via an en-suite," says Tyler. "This was a controversial proposal which I had to fight for, but I’m so pleased I did as it gently introduces you to the magnificent view through a glazed ash screen."

The home’s harmonious material palette of clay-plastered walls and ceilings, linen textiles, brass, and timber is designed to develop a patina over time that echoes the textures of the surrounding landscape. Situated outside in a garden, a cedar hot tub echoes the timber cladding of the house. Its Siberian larch exterior features battens that catch the light, creating a play of shadows.

"I’ve stayed in the house, and it was incredible to witness the moonrise from the horizon, its shard of light reflecting on the sea as it traversed the large picture window up and out to one side," recalls Tyler. "Sitting in the bath in the main bedroom, it feels like you’re floating high in the sky, especially as the seagulls fly past the window."

Related Reading:

A Cornwall Cottage Maintains Its Funky Maritime Charm

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Linea Studio / @x_kathryn_tyler_x

Builder: Gekko Designs

Interior Design: Linea Studion

Landscape Design: Iron Orchid Landscapes

Photographer: Mark Anthony Fox / @mark_anthony_fox