Focusing on history-rich interiors, the popular instagram channel MyOldPub is a treasure trove of inspiring and calming period cottage decor from Kate’s beautiful 16th century former inn in Hertfordshire. From rustic wood beams to roaring open fires here’s a look at Myoldpub‘s stunning period cottage:
Kate, who runs My Old Pub, has the authentic English cottage aesthetic down to a fine art and it’s no surprise, as well as studying Historic Building Conservation and working with historic buildings for fifteen years, she now runs a business specialising in the field. “I am really lucky to work with some incredible buildings and places,” she explained on instagram “and I am absolutely passionate about breathing new life in to old buildings.” The proof of which can be seen in the various before and after photos she shares on her stories.
When the property was purchased a few years ago it was in dire need of care and attention, with leaks, rats, windows ready to fall out and suspect electrics. Half done paint jobs and dingy corners required the vision and the passion to transform the place into the beautiful home that it is today.
Operating as a pub until the 1980s, the property is believed to date back to the 1590s, if not earlier, and for those of us who enjoy historic homes, Kate goes into detail about how she uncovered the property’s roots through archives, old maps and other records to discover the home was a whole century older than initially believed.
After experimenting with bright greens, deep reds and even aubergine, Kate realised the nature of the house required a different approach to decor. It is the paired back skill in restrained decor that makes the whole house calming and cosy, with the warm tones of Farrow and Ball’s Slipper Satin providing the backdrop, which allows the beauty of the beams, the exposed brick of the fireplaces and the natural light from the cottage windows to add the texture and drama that already inherently exists in the building.
Sticking to the same tonal family, certain elements are painted in different hues to add further depth, such as the traditional Old White by Farrow and Ball, which dresses the powder room, or the moody Mouse’s Back by Farrow and Ball, which covers the sitting room’s bookcases.
If you love to indulge in restorations or are thinking of purchasing your own slice of history, Kate provides a broad range of tips and resources from how to find out the history of your own home, to a history of choosing the right wall colours and even tips on energy saving in an old house. There are also lots of other topics covered in various archived stories, as well as helpful details in new posts.
If you love old architecture, cosy homes and English farmhouse decor, then @myoldpub is the instagram account for you. What are you waiting for? Follow here. Alternatively, you can find some more English cottage inspiration in previous posts such as the homes of Amy Fitzgeorge-Balfour or Victoria Roper-Curzon, on in this collection of cottages.
Images copyright @myoldpub