Down a country lane, near the village of St Agnes and nestled within the backdrop of a delightful rose garden, The Fable is The White Company's first ever immersive retreat and it's beautiful
A countryside haven where timeless luxury and rural life collide - The Fable is an inimitably charming and cosy thatched cottage - tucked away up a tiny well-trodden track, surrounded by quintessential rose gardens; set in a pretty rural village, three-miles from the expansive sands of Perranporth Beach in north Cornwall. The quaint property has recently been redesigned by luxury lifestyle brand, The White Company for their first ever immersive holiday cottage experience.
Anyone obsessed with the brand will now have the chance to stay in a storybook home. Having undergone an extensive transformation, The Fable provides an all-immersive White Company private home experience with everything from the brand’s natural-blend bed linens to signature candles and scents, quality tableware and the much-loved fluffy robes and classic furnishings. Interior schemes been carefully curated, resulting in a unique holiday experience where guests get to live the brand’s distinct style from the moment they step inside.
Owner and founder of Unique Homestays, Sarah Stanley had been looking for a characterful property with a hideaway essence and a beautiful garden, with close proximity to the coast - to create a space in which guests felt entirely at ease from the moment they entered; immersed in nature with every little luxury considered – a place to simply hunker down and enjoy the peace and quiet in beautiful surrounds.
‘We fell for The Fable on first sight - it was truly magical and in great condition. The transformation was more a case of taking the simple country look that the previous owners had adopted and adding a more rustic edge to the scheme. Although we did replace flooring where necessary and design a new kitchen and bathroom, the layout remained the same as when we purchased,’ says Sarah.
Sarah’s love of scouring reclamation yards and sourcing interesting furniture finds, creating spaces that are as homely and welcoming as they are interesting was put into practice with redesigning the space.
‘The homes I’ve created have always been the backdrop to a hive of activity, so I’m accustomed to creating functional spaces that are beautiful to live in, where sociable spaces combine with places that you can enjoy quiet time away from the group.’
The redesign incorporates a fusion of texture and natural materials - reclaimed, reuse and reinvent framing the look and feel of the cottage. Originally a dairy, it was key not to lose sight of its agricultural Cornish roots. Inspiration was taken from the setting of The Fable, as well as its unique character; it was key to showcase original features - a neutral, muted palette set the scene for layered linens, one-off furniture finds and botanical artwork.
‘With The Fable, it was all about highlighting the verdant setting – we used lots of plants, and natural-inspired artwork throughout. It’s pared back, yet cosy and confident in its simple aesthetic with a muted palette of whites, greys and taupes. It’s an immersive experience from the moment guests arrive - with the ambience achieved through lighting choices, scent and beautiful tactile fabrics.’
Sarah chose to design the Fable in collaboration with The White Company as she felt there was a great alignment with the cottage. As she explains: ‘There was a natural synergy due to the tones and textures that we wanted to feature within the scheme. We were keen to create a ‘real home’ aesthetic; to ensure that all the touchpoints – from blankets to crockery – were all high quality and individualistic, yet classic and timeless by design. Likewise, that the scent in the cottage was as lovely inside as the natural in-bloom scent within the garden. Partnering with The White Company enabled us to set the scene throughout the cottage.’
Guests can ensconce themselves in simple luxury - think rooms filled with the uplifting scent of Lime & Bay, crisp-cotton bed sheets, luxurious throws, and artisanal clay mugs. Complete with a hot tub, it’s set to offer an undeniably dreamy bolthole to unwind.
Coming from a farming background, it was important to Sarah to create a warm, farmhouse feel whereby the kitchen is the heart of the home, centred around the walk-in pantry, huge, reclaimed radiators, range cooker and her mum’s old farmhouse table - upcycled with a zinc top.
‘The large open plan kitchen and heavy pendant lighting really gives it that Nordic family home feel, with rustic but utterly comfortable elements. The gardens that surround The Fable were a little wild and unloved, so my first job was to clear the garden beds and visit the Cornish Rose Company. We planted over 30 varieties of beautiful roses, as I wanted to keep the ‘Darling Buds of May’ theme running through the garden; choosing soft pinks, creamy whites and champagne tones.’
It was important to Sarah for everything to have a real feeling of interest and age – to be tactile and special, not just purely functional. This was achieved by creating authentic interiors that reflect the property style and setting ensuring a timeless look, with the addition of one-off finds to create a distinctive aesthetic.
‘It’s all the finer details that help to elevate a lovely cottage experience to a memorable stay,’ says Sarah. ‘In the kitchen we used the original units and remodified and reinvented them – worktops were stripped and sanded and re-oiled, cupboard doors were remade and repainted with blacksmith iron handles added – accessories are all vintage and have come from auction rooms, antique shops and online auctions. The artwork was sourced similarly – one of my favourite pieces is a Morning Coffee sign in the kitchen that came from an old Cornish Village Hall – painted by a WI member’s late husband in the 1960s! The bathroom is one of my favourite rooms – I adore the bespoke scaffold board cupboard with the Galvanised wash tub and worn zinc top, along with the old salt-glazed loo and the bespoke reclaimed wooden cistern. The main sitting room is such a lovely contrast to the rest of the cottage – you become really aware of the age of The Fable in this room – the gorgeous, gnarled beams, the huge granite fireplace and the cottage doorway.’
Spectacular walks can be enjoyed from the doorstep, perfect for those holidaying with their dogs. Venture out and you will find white sandy beaches of Perranporth and Holywell Bay just ten-minutes away through the country lanes.
‘Simple, cosy and calming, The Fable affords guests the best of both worlds; creating an authentic ‘owner essence’ experience, which is seen in everything from the books that line the shelves to the accessories that frame the scheme. Above all, it’s about creating a tranquil living space that enables those with busy lives to completely unwind and leave feeling rejuvenated,” enthuses Sarah.
uniquehomestays.com/self-catering/uk/cornwall/perranporth/the-fable
Sarah’s top tips
Ensure you kit the space out with lots of crockery and kitchenalia as well as towels, linen and robes that have that luxurious feel.
Layer and texture - mix jute with crumpled linens and chunky woollen blankets to achieve a homely aesthetic.
Add lots of plants to bring the outside in.
Keep the palette muted and add interest through objects and accessories.
Mood creation is key - from the cosy sitting room to the light-filled conservatory; use candles and scent to elevate your scheme.
Ensure your design details are in keeping with the overall look and feel of the scheme – from the books that you choose to the crockery selection.
Keep your larger items, such as sofas, neutral and classic in style – this allows you to shift the look and feel of a scheme through lighter touch soft furnishings over time.
