We Love Our Cosy Cottage

Retro patterns, a vibrant palette and some characterful handmade touches put heart and soul into Bek Tainton’s Somerset home

- Annabelle Grundy

The character and sense of history you find in an older house has always appealed to me and it was definitely a factor when we chose this property,’ says Bek. ‘The moment my husband Andrew and I walked in, we knew this was the one. The peaceful setting, quirky layout, and beautiful old wooden banisters and inglenook fireplace in the living room sold it to us.

‘Luckily, the house was in good condition inside, though the walls were mostly painted off-white, so it seemed quite cottagey and a little too cool for my taste. My starting point for decorating is always colour. I’m drawn to deep, autumnal shades of red, orange and yellow, and I like similar tones running through the rooms to bring everything together. The stronger colors tend to accent and there are plenty of neutrals for balance and light.