Time & Tide

This Cornish home owes much of its warm, relaxed ambience to the carefully considered layering of furniture, fabrics and interesting finds.

- Jessica Doyle

Everything about the interior of Treverra Cottage anchors it within its location in the Cornish seaside town of Rock, from the local slate floors and fresh white walls that reflect the coastal light to the charming nautical accessories scattered throughout the rooms.

Its owner, Liz Berman, and her family spent summers there for several years before moving into the house next door, and now use the cottage for visiting family and friends, so when Liz renovated it, with the help of interior designer Marion Lichtig, a comfortable, welcoming environment was an essential. We spoke to them both.

What interior style were you aiming for? 

LB The building is an early 19th-century farm cottage, so I wanted to keep that idiom: simple, but with a nice, fresh feel; nothing too grandiose. I wanted it to be smart, but with a bit of kitsch so that it’s not too perfect. 

ML We’d worked together closely before so I knew Liz’s taste: relaxed and of today, but with a twist.

How did you achieve a feeling of warmth and ease? 

LB A mix of old and new pieces creates patina and warmth. As it’s a seaside place, we didn’t want too much strong colour. The base is quite neutral.