Alan’s coastal cottage has natural charm

The home of British surfing, Newquay is a holiday paradise with beautiful soft sand, wide skies and spectacular surf. So when Alan and Philly Stokes renovated their holiday rental cottage they wanted to reflect all the character of the area with a modern coastal theme.

Alan, a professional surfer and instructor who posts about their Cornish idyll on Instagram @coastalhomecornwall, explained: “The Cornish coast is my life. There’s no better place in the world and we love sharing our hometown with visitors. When I’m riding the waves I’m in the moment and feel alive so I wanted to bring this carefree attitude to our cottage.”

Summer vibes all year round

Reflecting the timeless charm and tranquil appeal of the British seaside, Alan’s cottage oozes serenity and invites guests to unwind and soak up the healing power of the Cornish coast.

Starting with a warm neutral base of off-whites, natural materials and interesting textures, the cottage makes the most of the coastal light. Understated yet full of personality, the simplicity of the décor is enhanced by intriguing rustic elements such as a handmade grass lightshade and an ancient stool repurposed as a side table.

Keeping the walls predominantly clear is a useful technique to achieve a restful feel as there are no focal points to create a visual distraction. Alan has used a single stunning painting of crashing waves to great effect, bringing the unique spirit and energy of the Atlantic Ocean straight into the living room.

Floor installed: Texas White Ash

A sense of space

When it came to the floor, Alan wanted a hard-wearing surface with an authentic wood look. After ordering chip samples of his favourite designs and considering these in situ, Alan opted for Texas White Ash from the Korlok range.

With its warm pinky beige tones and straight grain detailing which adds a crisp clean finish, the Texas White Ash floor complements the fresh neutral colour scheme and brings the classic coastal theme bang up to date.

Alan said: “We wanted to take the same flooring throughout the entire downstairs of the property to give a connected feel and enhance the cottage’s flow. Most importantly for us, hosting surfers and beach lovers, we were impressed that Palio Express flooring is super durable and waterproof.”

Installation in no time at all

A Korlok floor is ideal for an older property where the existing floors can be worn over time. With a strong rigid core format, Korlok can be laid directly over uneven surfaces. Installed with a familiar drop and lock mechanism, this is a great choice for the savvy DIYer and requires only a few everyday tools.

Alan told us: “We love the light wood tones and interesting grain details of Texas White Ash and we were impressed how easy it was to cut and lay. It’s the perfect surface for a holiday getaway as there’s no need to worry about walking in sand or water and it’s totally pet and child friendly.

“While you’re on holiday you don’t want to be thinking about cleaning so it’s great to know that it just takes a quick sweep and damp mop. What’s more, with an attached acoustic layer, the floor simply eats up any noise from running feet or paws. Everyone who has visited has had only complements for the cottage and the floor!”

Shop the Korlok range.