When Rebecca, of @rebeccainthecottage, and her family moved into their 200-year-old former farm cottage in December 2024, they knew they were stepping into a home with stories to tell. Thick walls, timeworn beams, and beautifully imperfect original features gave the property undeniable character, but it was also clear that years of little intervention meant a full update was on the cards.
For Rebecca, a garden designer by trade, any renovation needed to feel rooted in the building’s history. This wasn’t about stripping character away, it was about nurturing it.
“Very little had been done to it for a long time, but it was important to us that any renovation felt sympathetic to the age and character of the property. I’m a garden designer, so I naturally gravitate towards interiors inspired by nature and the outdoors, using lots of natural materials, simple colour palettes, and an overall sense of calm.”
That connection to nature became the guiding thread for the entire space. Soft neutrals, natural linens, and materials made the scheme feel honest and unfussy; a quiet backdrop to the cottage’s beautifully aged oak beams. There were however some necessary repairs that the family approached with sensitivity for the home’s history.
“The room originally had a floor that was rotten and badly affected by woodworm, so the original floorboards were beyond saving. While it was disappointing, it gave us the chance to take the space in a new direction. We began considering stone flooring as an alternative which kept in keeping with the property’s heritage.”
Losing the original floorboards could have felt like a setback, but instead it opened up a new design opportunity. Stone flooring would have also felt completely at home in a property of this age. Rebecca initially considered natural limestone, drawn to its warmth and variation. But with a young daughter and two dogs very much part of everyday life, practicality had to sit alongside beauty.
“We chose the Dijon Limestone Effect Porcelain Tiles. Initially, we had planned for natural limestone, but porcelain felt like the more durable and practical option. I searched for a long time to find a tile that truly captured the beauty of limestone, and when I discovered the Dijon range from Stone Superstore, it felt perfect. The subtle patterning, delicate markings, and natural variation really reflect everything I love about real limestone but without the high maintenance.”
An unmatched choice for the family home, our Dijon Limestone-effect Porcelain brought together the best of both worlds: the soft, chalky warmth and fossil-like markings you’d expect from natural stone, with the practical, lower-maintenance benefits of porcelain. But like many of our customers, the final decision for Rebecca came down to seeing the tiles properly in person.
“We selected our tiles during a visit to the Wilmslow showroom and had such a positive experience. We originally went in to view another tile, but after chatting with the showroom team, they recommended the Dijon, and we’re so glad they did. Delivery was smooth and on time, and our tiler had no issues laying them. We now have them over underfloor heating, and they work beautifully. They’re easy to clean, incredibly practical, and look absolutely perfect in the space.”
The finished result is a home that feels calm, cohesive and completely in tune with the cottage’s heritage, a space that balances the romance of natural materials with the realities of modern family life.
With the kitchen works still underway, you can follow Rebecca’s home design journey @rebeccainthecottage to see how our Dijon Porcelain turns out in her next stage of the renovation!
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