THE BULL HOUSE - Cornwall
Destination: The bull House
Location: Cornwall, UK.
The Bull House - Cocooned in the Cornish countryside.
Located quietly within the rolling Mylor countryside in Cornwall, The Bull House is a romantic hideaway designed for two. Tucked away and surrounded by open fields, the only soundtrack here is birdsong. It’s a place that gently encourages you to slow your pace, settle in, and cocoon yourself away from the outside world.
We took the long drive down to Cornwall to celebrate our birthday. Alex and I share the same day, the 21st of December, wanting a cosy escape to spend the weekend together. The Bull House proved to be exactly that. Previously studying Interior Architecure & Design at Falmouth University, Cornwall holds a special place in my heart. Returning to this area always brings a quiet sense of familiarity, nostalgia and home.
We embraced the winter elements outside, crisp air, muted skies, long beach walks but truthfully, we spent most of the weekend sitting on the sofa, cuddled up with the log fire burning. Only getting up to make another hot chocolate or prepare yet another cheese and charcuterie board. Slow, indulgent, and exactly what we needed.
Mornings began gently. Waking beneath soft linen sheets, the striped navy headboard framing the wall behind us, winter light filtered in as we opened our presents. The space felt calm, warm, and unhurried, the kind of morning that doesn’t ask anything of you.
The barn door became a small but meaningful ritual. Opening just the top half allowed light to spill into the cottage, bringing with it a gentle breeze and a framed view of the outside. A moment to check the weather, feel connected to the landscape, without ever leaving the warmth of the space.
On the morning of our birthday, we made blueberry pancakes, sitting perfectly on the blue and white plates, which just so happened to match my pyjamas. We ate them perched on antique chairs painted in a red earth tone. A moment of contrast and warmth, adding an element of fun to the otherwise calm, neutral palette.
Inside, the interiors reflect the way the weekend unfolded. Soft textures balance the harder, more tactile building materials. Lime plaster walls in a warm, muted white act as a gentle canvas, allowing light to move softly throughout the day. Exposed beams and a dark stone worktop introduce depth and weight, grounding the interior.
The use of antique furniture is one of my favourite elements of The Bull House. The antique armoire in the bathroom sits firmly at the top, it’s almost storage as architecture. Throughout the cottage, pieces feel inherited rather than sourced, nothing competes for attention, instead working closely together to tie the space as one cohesive whole.
Above the antique writing desk, light enters gently rather than flooding the space, creating a perfect vignette and reinforcing a mood of calm. A space that naturally invites you to sit, journal, read, or simply pause.
The bathroom continues this sense of quiet indulgence. The bathtub invites you in, with traditional stainless silver tap fittings and a contrasting little red chair placed beside it. It’s the perfect spot to warm up, wind down, and linger.
In the kitchen, handmade cabinetry paired with open shelving replaces high-level storage, giving air to the space and enhancing its sense of height. Blue and white ceramics punctuate the otherwise neutral palette, subtly referencing the surrounding environment and region without leaning into pastiche.
From the outside, the rough stone walls and muted shingle roof create a modest, unassuming silhouette. The architecture feels calm and reassuring, a gentle cue to pause, arrive, and take things a little slower. Soft sage green painted joinery offers a subtle contrast to the stone, an intentional nod to the surrounding landscape without blending into it entirely. It feels considered, respectful, and quietly appreciative of its setting.
A small vignette of red metal café table and chairs introduces a contemporary note, bringing contrast and personality to the exterior. It strikes a thoughtful balance between old and new, antique forms softened by modern simplicity. Stylish, yet always functional.
By the end of the weekend, it was the feeling of the space that stayed with me most. There’s a softness to The Bull House, the weight of the stone grounding you, the warmth of the plaster softening the edges, and the way light moves gently rather than dramatically. Everything feels designed to soothe rather than stimulate.
It’s a space that asks very little of you, yet gives a great deal in return. The balance between softness and weight, old and new, creates an atmosphere that quietly holds you. You leave feeling rested and grounded, carrying the calm of the weekend with you long after the fire has gone out.
We hope to be back soon.
Sophie x
