The idyllic Cottage Orné in Cornwall arrived in January. But it’s already the kind of place that beckons design-savvy, in-the-know Londoners down south.
Best for…a cutesy Cornish countryside retreat
Give us the lowdown
Tucked just outside Looe, close to the Cornwall-Devon border and just minutes from the coast, Cottage Orné occupies a 17th-century hamlet – formerly Tremaine Green, a working farm rich in local lore – lovingly brought back to life by owner India Serlin and her family. A clutch of sweet stone cottages, framed by bloom-heavy hydrangea bushes and centred around a traditional village green, are all set against a postcard-worthy backdrop of rolling wildflower meadows. Orné means ‘adorned’ in French, and it certainly lives up to the billing: playful interiors and macaron-inspired colours sweep through each of the hideaways. The whole place feels like its own private universe: a welcome antidote to city life, and worlds away from the everyday grind.
What’s in the Suite?
Housekeeper’s Cottage. Image Credit: Rebecca Hope
Each of the estate’s 14 cottages has been individually dressed by Studio Alexandra, and no two are the same. All feature jewel-like colour palettes, touchy-feely fabrics, and antique furnishings layered against original beams and restored fireplaces. Ceiling hooks from a former cheese room hang in Ploughman’s Cottage, and faint boot imprints on the stairs of Blacksmith’s have been carefully preserved too. There’s plenty of design kudos to ogle, from House of Hackney wallpapers to funky, patterned headboards and wiggly lighting fixtures from Matilda Goad. We stayed in Housekeeper’s Cottage, dressed head-to-toe in shades of soft pink, featuring a squashy magenta sofa in the living room, and with views straight onto the central village green. Several cottages open onto private gardens, and a lucky handful come with outdoor Japanese wood-fired tubs.
How’s the Crowd?
Image credit: Kip Hideaways
A design-conscious mix, including Londoners and creatives from across the South West making a weekend of it. Expect loved-up couples on romantic getaways, and families taking over the larger cottages (the pool and private-estate feel make Cottage Orné very child-friendly).
Where can we eat and drink?
There’s no restaurant on site, but you’ll still be well fed. Generous hampers appear on your doorstep at breakfast, packed with loaves from acclaimed Gorse Bakery, homemade granola, rhubarb jam and elderflower cordial by Cornish chef collective Agweres, plus locally-churned butter and cheese. Seasonally-shifting vegetable baskets, seafood deliveries and private chef experiences can also be arranged.
Later this year, The Store will open on site: a curated pantry stocked with local provisions and gifts you can take home. Beyond the property, the wider region is a hotbed for good eating; in one direction, you can head to Coombeshead Farm, a now-legendary restaurant-with-rooms close to the Devon border, where you’ll feast on hearty, seasonal suppers. Or venture further west into Padstow, where Paul Ainsworth’s restaurant empire holds court: his fine-dining flagship No6 is worth booking well ahead for its nostalgic, playful tasting menus, all immaculately executed and championing hyper-local produce. Closer to home, North Street Kitchen in Fowey remains one of the area’s most talked-about tables, where you can slurp down fresh oysters and just-caught seafood.
Are there any stand-out touches worth mentioning?
The Workshop, the estate’s on-site art studio, hosts a rotating programme of hands-on classes for guests to get crafty: think pottery, painting, and floristry. Sessions are open to locals too, so you’ll likely rub shoulders with a mix of fellow guests and Cornish creatives.
What’s on the to-do list?
Carve out ample time to move between the property’s small but mighty wellness offerings. The outdoor pool is heated from May to September and doubles as a cold plunge during the winter months, while two shepherd’s hut saunas – complete with ice bucket showers – offer the classic hot-cold ritual on a Cornish scale. Facials, massages, and restorative body therapies can also be booked at the on-site treatment hut, and you can drop into classes at the yoga studio.
There’s plenty of striped deckchairs and loungers to sprawl across – there’s no need to wrestle other guests for a place to perch. Beyond the estate, the surrounding landscape is dotted with quaint fishing villages worth pootling round, alongside spectacular stretches of Cornish coastline for long walks and secluded afternoons on the beach (my personal favourite is Lantic Bay).
What else should we know before we go?
If you’re travelling in a larger group, splash out on the Manor House: it sleeps 14 across seven bedrooms, with two kitchens, a dining room, a games room with a pool table, and two outdoor hot tubs.
What should we pack?
Flip-flops and swimwear for pool dips and beach visits. Walking shoes for coastal wanders, and relaxed everyday wear for the in-betweens. Plus a raincoat…this is Cornwall, after all.
Lead image: Rebecca Hope
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