A Design-Led Escape in Dorset

A Design Escape Rooted in Place

In the quiet aftermath of the first pandemic lockdown, Mark and I, both creatives, felt the pull of open space and sea air. London, once a vibrant engine of inspiration, had become claustrophobic. Like many, we began to rediscover the UK’s landscapes not as backdrops, but as destinations in their own right.

With childhoods shaped by coastal living, me on the Isle of Lewis and Mark in North Yorkshire, the sea was more than scenery. It was memory. While the dramatic coastlines of Cornwall and Devon had long been celebrated, it was Dorset’s lesser-known eastern edge that truly seduced us. Just a few hours from London, it offered a unique blend of rolling countryside, cinematic light, and wildly varied seascapes. Our first visit quickly became the first of many.

It wasn’t long before the idea of a more permanent escape began to take shape. A slower pace, more grounded. The cottage, only the second property we viewed, had an instant pull. Beneath layers of dated décor and coastal clichés, we saw structure, story, and soul, a home where we could gather with friends and family, sharing stories old and new.

The Architecture of Time: Reworking a 16th-Century Cottage

Tucked in the historic village of Corfe Castle, our Grade II listed cottage dates back to the 16th century. Surrounded by centuries of English history, the house offered a deeply tactile canvas, its uneven walls, timeworn beams, and intimate scale felt like an invitation rather than a constraint.

With our professional backgrounds in construction and design, we approached the restoration with care and sensitivity. We weren’t interested in reimagining the space; we wanted to reveal it. Drawing inspiration from the quiet restraint of Axel Vervoordt and the monastic clarity of John Pawson, we curated a palette of natural materials: oak, limewash, and Tadelakt.

Instead of correcting every curve and angle, we chose to celebrate them. A bowed shower wall was preserved and finished in Tadelakt, transforming what might have been seen as a flaw into a unique feature. Original timber beams and floorboards were painstakingly unearthed, stripped, and sealed to highlight their age and texture. Where new infrastructure was necessary, such as plumbing, we embraced visibility, with polished copper pipework installed by local artisans now running like sculpture through the space.

Cast iron radiators and handcrafted fittings add honest detail, creating a visual dialogue between the old and new. Each intervention was purposeful, quietly expressive, and deeply respectful of the building’s past; infusing the cottage with a character that feels lived-in and welcoming.

A Palette of Stillness

Throughout the interiors, colour plays a supporting role. Muted, chalky tones from Atelier Ellis bring cohesion and calm. The flow from room to room is subtle and tonal, soft clay pinks, warm stone, and earthy neutral greys echoing the surrounding landscape. Our two bedrooms, in particular, are hued with delicate pinks that cradle you into sleep.

Layering Eras: A Curated Interior Narrative

The cottage is not a period piece, it’s a carefully layered story. Mid-renovation escapes to Bridport became treasure hunts for character and contrast. At Stowaway and Port Antiques, we found pieces that echoed our eclectic sensibility: Georgian armchairs now lovingly reupholstered, mid-century ceramics, and Victorian curiosities. Each object was chosen for its narrative, not its trend appeal.

Modern pieces live comfortably among the antiques. HAY Palissade garden furniture from Holloways of Ludlow offers a clean-lined counterpoint in the lush walled garden. The Tala Muse portable lamp, also from Holloways, extend garden gatherings late into the evening with a gentle warmth.

Local Inspirations & Insights

Dorset’s beauty doesn’t stop at the coastline. Life in Corfe Castle is enriched by a rhythm of small, everyday luxuries, fresh produce, handmade goods, slow mornings, and walks that begin the moment we step outside.

The village itself is perfectly self-contained. Just minutes from the cottage, there’s a well-stocked store for essentials and local produce, a charming bakery, and the Green Goat café and deli, a curated corner of fancy goods, coffee, and conversation. For fireside evenings, Norden Farm Shop is a quick drive for seasoned firewood and farm fare, while the Saturday market in Wareham is a weekly ritual we look forward to: seasonal seafood, game, breads, cheeses, and a real sense of community.

There are three pubs within strolling distance. Two of which serve honest, thoughtful menus and local ales with charm. A favourite local walk crosses the heath and wildflower meadows to Kingston, where the Scott Arms pub sits high above the valley with views back toward Corfe Castle. The food, Caribbean made by a local family, is as memorable as the view.

Just a short drive away, you'll find destinations that feel like they belong in a different world. Lunch or drinks at The Pig on the Beach offers garden-to-table indulgence followed by a barefoot walk on South Beach. Shell Bay restaurant is a destination in itself for the best seafood in the area, ideal at sunset.

Studland Bay is glorious at sunrise, perfect for a morning swim or an evening wander among the dunes. If the day is warm, we often make our way to Worbarrow Bay, a little off the map and all the better for it, with turquoise waters and a peaceful atmosphere. For the more adventurous, Kimmeridge Bay is rich with fossils and big waves, while Dancing Ledge offers rock climbing, sea swims, and post-adventure pints at the Square & Compass.

A little further afield, day trips to Bridport or Bruton offer antique hunting, standout meals, and a deeper dive into the region’s creative heart. Highlights include Dorshi in Bridport, Osip in Bruton, and the Hauser & Wirth gallery with its famed Piet Oudolf garden. For wine lovers, Dorset’s emerging vineyards offer tastings and tours in landscapes as beautiful as the bottles they produce.