That time we downsized to a cottage in the countryside
I thought it might never happen but six months after spotting this dreamy 3 bed cottage on the internet we’re finally able to call it home.
We’ve given up 250 sq ft, a drive, a garage, a garden, a dedicated office, an entrance hallway and a conservatory – and so far we LOVE it!
The thought of downsizing had been buzzing around my head for months before I finally managed to convince J to even open his mind to the idea. It took showing him what we could get in return to get him on board. A 19th century cottage nestled in the Peak District, bursting with character and period features finally did the trick. Its wonky walls, original stone fireplaces and history of being a mill worker’s cottage at the dawn of the industrial revolution was irresistible to us. We knew it was the one by the time we’d seen the roll top bath on our first viewing.
Although I’m currently drowning in the sound of renovation work – I can’t wait to show it to you in all its unfinished and imperfect glory. I think it looks big in the photos but the whole place is less than 1000 sq ft.
As well as my daydreaming about downsizing I’d also contemplated switching to a life of renting – where we’d have the freedom to uproot whenever we felt like it and weren’t tied down to owning a property. I thought about this option a lot and there’s no doubt renting has its perks, but after exploring all the costs it was cheaper for us to buy. I also realised I have a strong desire to truly be able to call a place home and a rental property wouldn’t have ticked this box. I like to feel secure, like I belong and owning my own place does this for me.
Why do you live where you live? Over time I couldn’t shake the realisation that I lived in the house I did because it was less than ten minutes from my mum, sister and grandparents and was everything a young couple in the north of England were supposed to own. It was a three bedroom house on a quiet estate with easy access to the city, a manicured garden, open dining kitchen, a drive for two cars, a conservatory and room for extension. To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with a property like that – it just wasn’t right for me. I want to live in a house that plants me in the way of beauty and where every square inch is of use to me without feeling like I’m living in a tiny cave. When you both work from home and have two teenagers coming to stay over every other weekend such a place isn’t easy to find. But we found it!
Benefits of downsizing to a country cottage SO FAR
The house may or may not be cheaper to buy (ours wasn’t) but maintaining it definitely is – you need less of EVERYTHING!
Bills are cheaper
The countryside is like medicine and so good for both our physical and mental health
Less cleaning!!!!!!!!!!!!
You get a real satisfaction from using every inch of space
There’s no room to hoard things that aren’t of value or you don’t find beautiful
Being able to walk to a local shop, post office and cafe will save you a small fortune in travel costs
It feels soooooo cosy
The WIFI isn’t nearly as bad as you fear it will be
People are really friendly in villages and although I’m extremely introverted I’m really enjoying that community feel
Cottages have so many quirks and features that any furnishing and decoration required is minimal
You have to be more intentional with your time. If you’re going somewhere i.e. to visit family then you may as well make the most of the trip because you can’t justify stopping by for ten mins and a cuppa
Shall I go on????
As moving day loomed I don’t mind telling you my anxiety went into overdrive. What on earth are we doing – there’s nothing wrong with the house we have now, what if I don’t like it? (I once moved in to a place and was in tears the next day because of how much I hated it. 6 months later it was back on the market) and what if I hate the extra travelling I have to do? were all questions on repeat in my head. It might not sound like a big deal depending on your outlook but although our new house is only a 35 minute drive from our old one, this is the furthest I will have lived from my family and everything I’m used to. It feels strange and the idea of living in a tiny village adrift in the Peaks was both alluring and terrifying. So far (10 days in) it’s wonderful and I don’t miss a thing about the city or the suburbs. I’ve got so much more to write about this in another post, but feeling like I tuned into my intuition and made a decision that was right for us is one I’m revelling in.
Renovation plans
There’s work to be done, no house is ever exactly as you want it when you buy it and this is no exception – but the bare bones are beautiful and I can see past the yellow walls, orange oak and grotty dusty carpets. I’m planning to share the renovations via a new interiors category on the blog, partly as an online scrapbook I can look back on but also to show you what can be done with a small space and how I create something timeless, minimalist but still cosy. I’m really keen to keep this place practical but imperfect and looking like a real home.
Here’s the brief so far. It’ll be interesting to see if it all goes to plan but I’ll keep you updated along the way…
Paint the entire place white
Sand all floors then stain downstairs dark and paint upstairs white
Stain beams dark
Stick to a stripped back colour palette of black, white, grey, dark wood and green (plants)
Save and restore what can be saved and restored
Paint the kitchen white but remove top cabinets and then replace the worktops, taps and tiles
Paint outside windows white
Install new period style column radiators and some underfloor heating in kitchen
Paint the red bath black
Sand the oak door, try to fit some glass in the top section and then paint the door white
Spray the gold window hardware black
Now pass me a paint brush and a tin of white paint!
